In the fiercely competitive world of NASCAR there are few opportunities for teams to acquire a technological edge that can mean the difference between victory and defeat. Hendrick Motorsports found one in a motor oil capable of withstanding the brutal heat of a race while delivering more horsepower.

During Mothers Day weekend in 2007, Jeff Gordon was leading the race at Darlington Raceway with only 100 laps to go when his engine began seriously overheating. Against the odds, the team kept the No. 24 car on the track, running the engine at its max. Its hope for victory rested in the durability found in Quaker State racing oil. “Our confidence in our engine oil has never been greater or put to a more severe test than it was in 2007 at Darlington with the No. 24 car,” recalled Jeff Andrews, director of engine operations for Hendrick Motorsports. “We ran for nearly two hours at elevated oil temperatures above 340 degrees, and the motor oil was the only protection the engine had.” Gordon won the race – even pulling ahead near the end.

The “Miracle at Darlington” found its way into racing lore, retold by car enthusiasts who understand that using the right motor oil can help maximize horsepower in their own engines as well. Moments like Jeff Gordon’s Miracle at Darlington have cemented the importance of quality motor oil as a premier component in the sport.