John Andretti struck gold twice in the NASCAR Cup Series. Pay dirt was hit for the first time at Daytona International Speedway driving for Cale Yarborough in the 1997 Pepsi 400.
The win was huge and it was far from a fluke. Andretti took the field to the woodshed that day in Daytona leading 113 of 160 laps including the final 24 circuits. Three future Hall of Famers finished in the top five that day: Terry Labonte (second), Dale Earnhardt (fourth) and Dale Jarrett (fifth) with Sterling Marlin coming home third.
RELATED: Full race results | Andretti passes away after battle with colon cancerWhile the win wasn’t the only victory for Andretti, it was the only win NASCAR Hall of Famer Cale Yarborough would earn as a team owner. An incredible stat when you consider his 83 career wins as a driver.
Andretti would have to wait two years before he was able to win again, and that victory came at Martinsville Speedway in April of 1999 when Andretti took Richard Petty’s No. 43 to Victory Lane.
MORE: Listen to the MRN radio call of the raceRelive the day John Andretti took his famous last name to Victory Lane in this week’s NASCAR Classic Full Race Replay of the 1997 Pepsi 400 from Daytona.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3jtPnwU1tc&feature=youtu.be