And that’s\u00a0why Gordon’s win at Las Vegas Motor Speedway that year was so important.<\/p>\n
Safety was at the forefront of many discussions\u00a0in the days and weeks immediately following Feb. 18, 2001. From car design, track design and guard rail construction to the operational procedures of the at-track rescue crew, everything came under the scrutiny of NASCAR.\u00a0<\/p>\n
RELATED: Check out Alex Bowman’s special ride for Las Vegas<\/a><\/p>\n At the same time, championship-winning sports car racer, Jim Downing, and brother in-law, Dr. Robert Hubbard, were also trying to place their names at the forefront of auto racing safety and innovation. In the early 1980s, the duo invented the Head and Neck Supportive Device, or HANS Device as it\u2019s popularly known. <\/p>\n By tethering helmet to collar, they had created a device that stabilized and supported a driver\u2019s head from whipping around during a crash. The system helps prevent fractures and injury to vulnerable areas around the head and neck that can lead to severe injury or death. It remains a\u00a0true breakthrough in technology.<\/p>\n \u201cIn that Las Vegas wreck, I know for a fact that the HANS Device saved my life that day.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n Jeff Gordon<\/p>\n However, early iterations were thought to be too restrictive and uncomfortable, affecting how drivers competed during longer events. It also carried a negative stigma within the garage area. And prior to 2001, Gordon was among those who were hesitant to adopt the new system.<\/p>\n \u201cSome drivers like Brett Bodine were early,\u201d said Gordon, talking to Fox Sports in a 2021 interview. \u201cI remember at a test, he came over to me, this is before Dale. He said, \u2018You need to wear this (HANS device), you need to try this.\u2019 And I was like, \u2018What is that?\u2019 I put it around my neck and I\u2019m like, \u2018No way I\u2019m wearing that, that is so uncomfortable.’<\/p>\n RELATED: Kyle Larson, Zac Brown Band and four fresh looks for Las Vegas<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cI may have even tried it in the car for a couple of laps, and it was hitting my collarbone, and I don\u2019t think I could race like that.\u201d
\n <\/p>\n Everything changed with the passing of Earnhardt. While still uncomfortable, Gordon was one of the drivers who adopted Downing and Hubbard\u2019s restraint system, wearing the device heading into the March race at\u00a0Las Vegas Motor Speedway<\/a>, only a few weeks beyond Daytona. But more positive buzz\u00a0was needed, as no one wearing the device had enjoyed much on-track success.\u00a0<\/p>\n That was also\u00a0the case for Gordon, who had continued his struggles from the season before early on at Vegas.<\/p>\n The No. 24 Chevrolet had a challenging practice, as crew chief Robbie Loomis and the team were chasing the car\u2019s handling. Qualifying 24th\u00a0wasn\u2019t ideal either.\u00a0<\/p>\n Things weren\u2019t much better at the start of the race. Handling issues continued and lasted well into the latter third of the event as Gordon battled an extremely tight race car and was mired just inside\u00a0the top 20 for most of the day. Then, with a little more than a third of the race to go, Gordon came to life, quietly edging his way towards the top of the scoring pylon. They had finally found something, and the Hall of Famer was on a mission immediately after entering the top 10. Suddenly, he was the fastest car at the facility.
\n <\/p>\n With 26 laps to go, Gordon moved by Dale Jarrett for the lead. It was a moment of relief, as tension had built in the No. 24 pits with stakes increasing with every pass that was made. <\/p>\n Adding to the drama was NASCAR fan Rodney Mims from Alabama. He was in attendance as part of the No Bull Five program in which a\u00a0team and fan would collect $1 million by winning at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on that day. It was obvious how big the moment was.<\/p>\n As the laps wound down, Mims watched nervously. With 10 to go, Gordon extended his lead to more than 1.5 seconds, holding off a late-race charge from Jarrett and crossing the start-finish line for his first win of 2001 and the\u00a053rd\u00a0of his career. It was the first big step in what would be a\u00a0very meaningful season, and a once in a lifetime payday for a jubilant NASCAR fan.
\n <\/p>\n “I love races like that \u2013 where you get better as the day goes on and you just pick away at it,\u201d Gordon said in victory lane. \u201cAll of the sudden you look around and go, \u2018I\u2019m leading this thing \u2013 I can\u2019t believe it.\u2019
\n <\/p>\n “Early on there it was pretty frustrating,” Gordon added. “The car was real, real tight. And we were in a lot of traffic, and it was very hard to pass out there. I think the key seemed to be when they made the two-tire change and got us a little bit of track position. \u00a0We were driving by guys who took four tires on. The car was just on a rail.”
\n <\/p>\n RELATED: Kyle Larson, William Byron and Alex Bowman among Las Vegas winners<\/a><\/p>\n Globally, it was a bigger win for the sport of NASCAR. It was the first time a driver had won a race sporting the HANS device. Changing perceptions that you couldn\u2019t win or be competitive while wearing one. Momentum had started to build for its usage.<\/p>\n That May, Gordon was involved in an accident at Charlotte Motor Speedway, stopping action at the start of the All-Star Race. A sudden shower had caused slick driving conditions, taking out nearly half the field on the race\u2019s opening lap. <\/p>\n \u201cI hit at about the worst possible angle,\u201d Gordon said in the post-race press conference. \u201cIf you look at the right front of that car, it took a big impact. My neck snapped really bad \u2013 it really stretched out there.\u201d
\n <\/p>\n However, Gordon wearing his HANS Device, was immediately able to jump into a backup car without hesitation. With the race being an exhibition and the incident coming as a result of mother nature, NASCAR encouraged involved teams to grab their backups and restart the race. <\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/ElliottHANSDeviceKansas2025.jpg\"\/)
Chase Elliott sports the modern-day HANS device prior to his win at Kansas Speedway earlier this year<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/jeff-and-dale-1.jpg\"\/)
Jeff Gordon (No. 24) and Dale Earnhardt had one of the great rivalries in sports.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/3QV11.jpg\"\/)
Gordon and the No. 24 team celebrate an extra $1 million for winning at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2001<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/hmshof20001.jpg\"\/)
Jeff Gordon, your 2001 NASCAR Cup Series champion. The fourth of his Hall of Fame career.<\/p>\n