NASCAR owner who found Jeff Gordon and won Daytona | Sports News

Former NASCAR workforce owner Bill Davis has died on the age of 74, and the motorsports group has paid tribute to the person who helped uncover Jeff Gordon.

NASCAR introduced Davis’ passing because the Enjoy Illinois 300, the second race of the Cup Series Playoffs, bought underway. Denny Hamlin won the race at World Wide Technology Raceway, ending forward of Chase Briscoe.

It’s been an emotional period for NASCAR. Zachary Yager, a member of Ricky Stenhouse Jr.’s pit crew, died aged simply 35. Davis, seen as one of probably the most influential workforce homeowners in NASCAR historical past, has now handed.

“A championship-winning leader and owner, Bill Davis made a lasting mark on our sport through his passion and unwavering belief in the people around him,” NASCAR wrote in an official assertion. “His teams celebrated some of NASCAR’s most prestigious victories, including the Daytona 500 and the Southern 500.

“Bill was more than a competitor — he was a buddy to all within the storage, revered for his kindness, generosity, and real love for racing. NASCAR extends its deepest condolences to his spouse and business companion, Gail, the Davis household, and Bill’s many mates during this troublesome time.”

Davis founded Bill Davis Racing and celebrated championships in all three NASCAR series. Ward Burton won the Southern 500 and the Daytona 500 for BDR, and five Cup Series races in total.

Mark Martin and Bobby Labonte also raced for BDR, but one of Davis’ most significant achievements was spotting Gordon as a teenager in the 1990s. After driving for BDR, Gordon won the Xfinity Series Rookie of the Year award but then moved to Hendrick Motorsports.

Gordon went on to win four championships for Hendrick, but his departure hurt Davis. The legendary team owner was proud to have helped discover Gordon, but wished he’d stayed at BDR longer.

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“He bought a higher offer,” Davis told DirtyMoMedia in 2023. “We had been harm, we actually preferred Jeff. We felt prefer it was form of mutual, ? We had spent all that we may spend.”

During an interview with HendrickMotorsports.com, Gordon explained how his move came about. “I used to be simply with Rick (Hendrick) the opposite day and he was telling this story,” he said. “He was at Atlanta (Motor Speedway) and I used to be operating within the Busch Grand National Series (now NASCAR Xfinity Series) for Bill Davis and driving a Ford… I went on and won the race.

“I think the next day I was at Rick’s office and we were talking about how do we get you to Hendrick Motorsports. At that time, there wasn’t even a third team. It was a two-car operation with Ken Schrader and Ricky Rudd as the drivers.

“I wish to say that was March or April in 1992 and by the tip of that yr, I used to be driving in my first race as a rookie and beginning my (full-time profession) in 1993 with Hendrick Motorsports. From that time, the remaining is historical past.”