Throwback Thursday: Eddie Lawson Leading the Daytona 200 (1994)

Larry Lawrence | March 7, 2024

Steady Eddie Ran Up Front Early, but Scott Russell was On the Charge

In this week’s Throwback we wind the clock back 30 years to March of 1994 and that year’s Daytona 200 at Daytona International Speedway. In that year’s 200 Eddie Lawson ran in the lead early on after qualifying fifth on his factory Yamaha. Lawson was near the front all day, but a wrong tire choice late in the race meant the four-time 500cc Motorcycle Grand Prix World Champion could not quite keep pace with Kawasaki’s Scott Russell (who charged from the back of the field to win after an engine failure during one of the Twin 50 qualifiers made him start from the back of the grid) and young Ducati ace Troy Corser, who finished runner up. Lawson was third. In this photo taken early in the race, it’s Lawson (No. 7) leading Doug Polen (No. 1), Dale Quarterley (No. 32), Corser, pole winner Pascal Picotte (No. 21) and Fred Merkel (No. 27). Fans will gather this Saturday at Daytona International Speedway for this year’s running of the Daytona 200.

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