Martinsville Practice Notes: Gordon Dominates the Day, Fastest in Both Sessions

By Micah Roberts

Gordon gave us a blast from the past on Friday (Getty)

It’s been a while since we’ve seen Jeff Gordon thoroughly dominate a weekend practice schedule the way he did Friday in preparation for Sunday’s Goody’s Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway. In the only two practices of the weekend, Gordon came out on top with the fastest individual lap of each.

Gordon not only had the fastest lap of 97.028 mph in the final session, but it was almost 2 mph faster than the second fastest, Kurt Busch (95.937). Brad Keselowski was third fastest (95.728) followed by Ryan Newman (95.550) and a surprising name in the mix, David Stremme (95.463).

For Keselowski, who just won two weeks ago on the half-mile track of Bristol, he ran the second most laps (113) of the session just behind Kyle Busch (116). Busch came in 29th fastest, well off his second fastest run from the early practice. Newman also showed in practice once again that his car is capable of capturing his first Martinsville win.

Jimmie Johnson, who struggled in the earlier session, improved dramatically to 13th fastest but still doesn’t have the look of past No. 48 practices at Martinsville.

What Jeff Gordon did today is close, or better, to the standard Johnson has set at over the last few seasons at Martinsville. The fact that we rarely see this type of practice out of Gordon should say something about the seven-time Martinsville winner's chances on Sunday. Gordon’s domination in speeds were reminiscent of his practice times from his early years at Sonoma.

Gordon was also fastest in average speeds among all drivers that ran at least 30 laps. Having another good show in this category was Kevin Harvick along with Keselowski, Newman, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Clint Bowyer.

For whatever it’s worth, Harvick also had the best 10-consecutive lap average followed by Gordon, Bowyer, Martin Truex Jr, Earnhardt Jr and Johnson.

In short track racing with lots of laps being run on a single tank of fuel, I usually throw out the 10-lap averages because it’s not enough data to go off of in the grand scheme of things. 10 laps is hardly enough data to form an opinion like at the bigger tracks. But in this instance, almost all the speeds correlate with the overall averages.

I’m not a fan of any particular driver, but I must say I was excited for Jeff Gordon giving us a blast from the past on Friday. He has easily surpassed Denny Hamlin, who struggled in the final session, as the favorite to win Sunday. It's also encouraging that Junior looks like he has a car that can win and end his 134-race winless streak. Should be a good show!

Top-5 Practice 2 Speeds
1) Jeff Gordon 97.028
2) Kurt Busch 95.937
3) Brad Keselowski 95.728
4) Ryan Newman 95.550
5) David Stremme 95.463

Practice 2 (Final) Speeds



Gordon Fastest in First Session, Hamlin Best Average Speeds

Jeff Gordon looking for Martinsville win No. 8 (Getty)

With only three minutes remaining in the first Goody’s Fast Relief 500 practice session at Martinsville Speedway, Jeff Gordon laid down the fastest lap of the day at 97.048 mph. The seven-time Martinsville winner eclipsed the lap of Kyle Busch (96.595), who was second fastest, that had stood at the top of the charts for about 45 of the 90 minute session.

Denny Hamlin had the third fastest lap (96.835) at about the same juncture Gordon did in the final stages. Hamlin will be looking for his fifth Martinsville win and if average time is any indicator (it is), he’s well on his way. Hamlin had a session high average speed of 94.077 mph while running 36 laps.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. finished runner-up in this race last season and all indications from the first practice is that he’ll be right there contending again for his first Martinsville win. Junior ran the fourth fastest lap (96.686) and finished with a very respectable average of 93.798 mph.

Ryan Newman brought his winning New Hampshire chassis from last year in hopes of recreating some flat track magic and finished with the fifth fastest lap (96.376) of the session. Newman also raced this car in both Martinsville events last season and led a combined 44 laps.

The surprise of the entire practice may have been the absence of Jimmie Johnson among the top-10, top-20 and even top-30. Johnson ran a session high 67 laps, but was only able to muster the 38th best time, or better yet, ninth worse among the 46 drivers attempting to qualify Saturday.

Friday’s final session will surely decide the fate of the six-time Martinsville winner and something tells me they’ll be just fine. The car Johnson's using this week is the same one that was runner-up last fall at Martinsville.

A driver who didn’t place in the top-10 during individual lap times, but excelled with his average speed was last year’s winner Kevin Harvick. He was best lap of 96.111 was good enough for 12th fastest, but his average speed of 94.053 was second best to Hamlin’s. Hamlin and Harvick were the only two drivers to average over 94 mph.

The final 90 minute practice session is for 3:30 pm (ET).

Top-5 Practice 1 Speeds:
1) Jeff Gordon 97.048
2) Kyle Busch 96.959
3) Denny Hamlin 96.835
4) Dale Earnhardt, Jr 96.686
5) Ryan Newman 96.376

Practice 1 Speeds

Gordon-Gustufson Looking for Big Things in Second Season Together

Jeff Gordon is 10/1 to win Bud Shootout (Getty)

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (February 14, 2012) - The 2012 campaign consists of 36 stops from Florida to California and back. Will it end with Jeff Gordon set to serve another term as reigning NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion?

In 2011, Gordon and new crew chief Alan Gustafson teamed up to win three times – including an 85th career victory for Gordon that moved him into third on NASCAR’s all-time wins list. Now entering their second season paired together, the duo expects to battle for this year’s title.

“If you talk to Alan, man is he fired up [going into the new season],” said the driver of the No. 24 Drive To End Hunger Chevrolet. “We now have a year of working together under our belts, so our communication should be better and we should be stronger. We have a belief in one another, and that has me all fired up, too!

“If we’re not battling for this year’s championship in the final race of the season, it’ll be a disappointment.”

First up is the Daytona 500 – Gordon’s 20th time competing in “The Great American Race.” In 38 starts at the 2.5-mile track, he has six victories, three poles, 12 top-fives and 19 top-10 finishes. During a test here in January, the No. 24 was at or near the top of the timing sheets for many of the sessions.

“Our test here went very, very well,” said the 1997, 1999 and 2005 Daytona 500 champion. “And I thought NASCAR made huge gains in the effort to break up the tandem drafting that we have seen recently.

“I believe 95 percent of the [Daytona 500] will be the traditional big-pack racing. At the end, though, I believe we’ll still see the two-car drafts because it’s faster.

“It’s going to be very interesting and exciting, but we’ll know more after this Saturday’s (non-points) Budweiser Shootout.”

While this trip to Daytona will be his first Speedweeks as a 40-year old, it would be a mistake to think Gordon is “just making laps.”

“When I got into the sport, there were drivers that were racing at 40,” said the four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion. “I didn’t look [at racing at 40] as out of the question, although I probably looked at them and thought, ‘gosh, those guys are old!’ Now, I’m that person.

“It tests your passion, your abilities – it makes you work much harder. I’m more driven today and more excited about racing than maybe ever. I’m looking forward to the season because we have a great race team.

“One that I think can do something really special.”

- Performance PR Plus

Gordon Hoping for Concrete Improvement at Dover Like Bristol

Jeff Gordon has won at Dover four times, but none since 2001 (Getty)

DOVER, Del. (September 27, 2011) – It has been four months since Jeff Gordon finished 17th at Dover International Speedway, but the No. 24 Drive To End Hunger team feels they have made monster improvements on concrete tracks since that day in May.

There are only two concrete tracks on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule: Dover and Bristol Motor Speedway. Earlier this year in Bristol, Tenn., Gordon started seventh but led no laps en route to a 14th-place finish on the 0.533-mile track. That event was in March, and Gordon and company followed that up with their 17th-place finish on the one-mile track in Delaware two months later.

But the No. 24 team returned to Bristol in August with a vengeance, and Gordon led 206 laps in that 500-lap event before finishing third. Can the Alan Gustafson-led crew rebound similarly in Dover?

“I certainly hope so,” said the No. 24 crew chief. “We learned a lot from our first trip to our second at Bristol this year, and I’m hoping the success on that concrete track translates over to Dover this weekend.”

In 37 starts at “The Monster Mile,” Gordon has four wins, four poles, 14 top-fives and 21 top-10’s. He has led 2,231 laps here, which ranks first among active drivers. But Gordon believes padding those statistics begins on Saturday.

“Qualifying well on Saturday will be important,” said the four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, who is fifth in the point standings and 23 out of the lead. “This is a real fast track, so being in ‘clean’ air makes your life that much easier during the race onSunday.”

Another obstacle facing the drivers and teams will be the rubber-buildup on the race track.

“The rubber on the track will be a challenge, as usual,” said Gordon. “But this track is wide and the groove will usually widen out – so much so you can probably even run near the wall.

“But if there’s significant rubber-buildup, it can be challenging on the restarts and when trying to pass another car.”

One way to avoid that? Be the leader, like Gordon was for much of the race in Bristol last month.

- Performance PR Plus, Press Release

No One Hotter Than Jeff Gordon Heading Into Chase

Gordon has eight top-10 finishes in last 10 starts coming in. (Getty)

Joilet, Ill. (September 13, 2011) – If the past 10 races are like the last 10, Jeff Gordon could win his first “Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup” title.

Gordon won each of his four NASCAR Cup Series championships during season-long points battles, but he has yet to win one under the 10-race “Chase” format. However, he enters the 2011 version with momentum on his side.

“I haven’t felt like this in a long time and I love the position we are in as a team,”said Gordon. “We led the most laps at Bristol, and we led the most laps and won at Atlanta. We definitely have momentum on our side.

“I don’t feel that anybody has shown more strength than we have in the past 10 races.”

And statistics reflect that. Gordon has one win (Atlanta), four top-fives and eight top-10’s in the past 10 races. He has led 471 laps – 214 more than the nearest competitor – and scored 30 more championship points than his nearest rival during that span.

“We have some confidence right now, but we also know it’s going to be tough during the Chase,” said Gordon, who is now third in the standings and only three markers out of the lead since points were reset following race No. 26. We have to step up our game and we know there are a few tracks we have to improve at.

“If we can do that, we have a great shot this year.”

In 10 starts at the 1.5-mile track, Gordon has one win (2006), one pole (2004),six top-fives and seven top-10’s. But this year marks the first time the track has hosted a“Chase” event.

“I’m excited about starting the Chase in Chicago this year,” said Gordon. “This week, the Chase drivers are spread out all around the country going to different places to promote the Chase before we end up in Chicago for additional media opportunities. Then it’s off to the track.

“It’s a great track. It reminds me a lot of Kansas, and we ran really well there earlier this year. I’m excited about our chances at Chicago.

“The plan is to start off the Chase on a positive note.”

While Gordon will again be driving the familiar No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet at the Illinois track, gold ribbons will adorn the hood of the Impala.

“September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and, with the support of DuPont, the gold ribbon – a worldwide symbol for childhood cancer – will be featured on the car,” Gordon said. “That ribbon serves as a symbol for those children battling cancer, and a sign of support for parents and caregivers.

“And a memorial for lives lost.”

- Performance PR Plus for DuPont Motorsports, Press Release

Jeff Gordon Helped Richmond Safer Barriers on Backstretch Get Installed For Fall Race

Jeff Gordon visited the White House Wednesday after winning Tuesday

RICHMOND, Va. (September 7, 2011) – A very hard impact sustained by Jeff Gordon and the No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet earlier this season at Richmond International Raceway has resulted in a positive impact at the Virginia short track.

A new section of SAFER barriers along the entire inside backstretch wall has been installed at Richmond International Raceway in time for this weekend’s NASCAR races at the three-quarter mile oval — an improvement in safety equipment that will keep drivers protected should they take a hit like Gordon did on April 30.

When the DuPont Chevrolet was sent spinning after contact with another car late in the race, he slammed driver-side into the inside retaining wall, not only ending Team DuPont’s night early, but knocking the wind out of its driver. Gordon was vocal that all walls – including inside retaining walls – should be equipped with SAFER barriers. Richmond International Raceway officials announced on July 1, 2011, that SAFER barriers would be added to this section of track that was previously exposed.

This is not the first time Gordon has influenced the addition of SAFER barriers on inside walls. “Soft walls” were added to the inside retaining wall at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2008 following the “hardest hit [he’s] ever taken,” as described by the four-time champion.

“I hate that I’ve been the one that has pointed out the areas that need SAFER barriers installed at some of our race tracks,” Gordon said. “I don’t want to be the one who points out those areas to anybody else the rest of the season. I am happy that Richmond installed more SAFER barriers though.”

Another unique connection Gordon has had to the addition and improvement of this safety feature is through his relationship with longtime sponsor, DuPont.

DuPont, a global science company that deems safety a top priority, has teamed up with Owens Corning to combine two products that meet the special needs of SAFER barrier technology. Through combining DuPont Formacel® foam expansion agent with Owens Corning Hydrovac ® technology, a special foam was created. Working in concert, the two technologies have been engineered to meet the dynamic requirements of impact while meeting the wide range of elements to which the SAFER barrier is exposed.

In March of this year, Midwest Roadside Safety Facility at the University of Nebraska completed the qualification testing to certify the use of the new Owens Corning Foamular® with DuPont Formacel® foam expansion agent on all NASCAR and IRL tracks. As existing SAFER barrier is refreshed and as new SAFER barrier wall is added, the new Foamular® will be used.

“NASCAR has done such an amazing job at researching, developing and implementing new ways and technology to keep all of the drivers safe out there,” said Gordon. “And I’m proud to drive for a sponsor like DuPont that prides itself on safety and now has a hand in these developments.”

This weekend, Gordon and DuPont have made their impact on Richmond International Raceway before even arriving for the race.

- Performance PR Plus for DuPont Motorsports, Press Release

Jeff Gordon Wins at Atlanta For 85th Career Win, Good For Third All-Time

Jeff Gordon alone in third all-time wins with 85 NASCAR Cup wins (Getty)

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Sept. 6, 2011) – Further cementing his legendary status, Jeff Gordon won the AdvoCare 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, his 85th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victory. With the historic milestone win, Gordon took sole possession of third on the all-time series wins list. Only Richard Petty (200 wins) and David Pearson (105) have more.

“I have always liked him as a driver,” said Pearson, next on Gordon’s march up the wins list. “He is smart, takes care of his equipment and when it is time to go, he gets right up there with them. Reminds me some of the way I drove. … He has been the ‘head honcho’ for a long time in NASCAR. He was good out of the box and has been very good ever since.”

Gordon also became the Modern Era (1972-Present) wins leader, breaking a tie with Darrell Waltrip. (Note: “Modern Era” refers to the period in NASCAR Sprint Cup history when NASCAR shortened the schedule from as many as 62 races in 1964 to the 31-race schedule of 1972. Race numbers fluctuated between 28 and 36 since 1972.)

To commemorate the milestone, NASCAR President Mike Helton presented Gordon with an “85” mosaic featuring images from each of the four-time champion’s victories. Additionally, special commemorative “85” hats were worn by Gordon and his No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports team in Victory Lane.

During a career that began on the final race of 1992, Gordon assembled a list of accomplishments fit for a future NASCAR Hall of Famer: Four NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championships, three Daytona 500 victories, four Brickyard 400 victories, most road-course wins all-time (nine) and most restrictor plate wins all-time (12).

Still only 40 years of age, the highlight reel can only grow.

Below is a timeline of Gordon’s notable victories on his way to 85:

1 – On May 29, 1994 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Gordon won his first race. It was in one of NASCAR’s biggest events – the Coca-Cola 600.

2 – Gordon won the inaugural NASCAR race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Aug. 6, 1994. He would go on to win three other IMS races, in 1998, 2001 and 2004.

8 – Won another “crown jewel” race, the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway, on Sept. 3, 1995.

19 – On Sept. 29, 1996, won his only race at North Wilkesboro Speedway, the final race at the North Carolina short track.

20 – At the time, became the youngest winner in Daytona 500 history at 25 years, six months, 12 days on Feb. 16, 1997. His record was later broken in 2011 by Trevor Bayne (20 years, one day). Gordon also won the Daytona 500 in 1999 and 2005.

28 – On Aug. 31, 1997, won his second Southern 500, capturing a $1 million bonus in what was known as The Winston Million. The Winston Million was given to any driver to win three of the following four races: the Daytona 500, the Coca-Cola 600, the Southern 500 and the first Talladega race.

42 – In the season finale at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Nov. 8, 1998, won his 13th race of the season, tying a Modern Era record first set by Richard Petty in 1975.

74 – On June 25, 2006, won at Infineon Raceway, his record ninth victory at a road course.

76 – With a win at Phoenix International Raceway on April 21, 2007, Gordon tied Dale Earnhardt for sixth on the all-time wins list. Gordon memorably took a victory lap with a massive No. 3 flag waving out his driver-side window, a tribute to his long-time rival.

80 – On Oct. 7, 2007 at Talladega Superspeedway, Gordon captured his record 12th restrictor-plate victory.

85 – In a race delayed two days because of inclement weather, Gordon captures historic win No. 85 on Sept. 6, 2011 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Atlanta Results

Gordon Fastest in Final Atlanta Practice Session; Stewart Comes to Life

Jeff Gordon has four Atlanta wins in his career (Getty)

Jeff Gordon, with a lap speed of 182.392 mph, posted the fastest lap during the final AdvoCare 500 practice session at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Second fastest was Tony Stewart with a lap speed of 181.979 mph, and was followed by Clint Bowyer (181.675), Brad Keselowski (180.669) and Greg Biffle (180.557 ).

Stewart's impressive practice run was enhanced even more by running the quickest 10 consecutive laps on the day. As Stewart tries to hold onto his chase position he should be feeling much more at ease knowing his car should run well Sunday night. Stewart won the last race held in Atlanta, his third win on the track, and is also using the car that dominated Las Vegas earlier this year.

Rounding out the top-ten fastest during the final practice session were Dale Earnhardt Jr. (180.539) with his brand new contract in hand, Carl Edwards (180.504), Denny Hamlin (180.363), Kyle Busch (180.258) and Ryan Newman (180.252).

The teams will return a little later for their 5:10 PM (EDT) scheduled qualifying session to determine the starting lineup for tomorrow night’s race (which is scheduled to get underway approximately at 7:50 PM -EDT).

Final Practice Speeds

Jeff Gordon Hoping to Improve Upon Start Position at Michigan

65 of 84 Michigan winners have started top-10; 46 have started top-4

BROOKLYN, Mich. (August 16, 2011) – Points are awarded at the end of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races, but Jeff Gordon and Team DuPont believe that process begins much earlier.

Like, on Friday.

Through 22 races in 2011, the 84-time winner has one pole (Talladega) but an average starting position of 14.5. That average is the lowest of his 19 full seasons on the circuit, but it is something Gordon and the team are working hard to correct before the “Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup” begins after race No. 26.

“Qualifying better is something this team – including me – has to do better,” said Gordon. “It’s possible to not qualify well and still win like we did in Phoenix, but it’s much easier to have a strong finish after starting at or near the front.

“There are so many advantages gained by doing so like a better pit stall pick, less traffic to work through and ‘cleaner’ air. I think the likelihood of getting collected in someone else’s wreck drops, as well.

“Improving our qualifying is definitely something we are focused on right now.”

Their next chance to make gains in that department is this weekend’s Pure Michigan 400 at Michigan International Speedway (MIS). Gordon has always enjoyed racing at the wide two-mile track, and his statistics appear to echo that. In 37 starts, the four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion has two wins, five poles, 18 top-fives and 23top-10’s. One more top-five finish ties him with Richard Petty for second all-time at MIS,two behind Cale Yarborough.

“I love racing here because of the wide corners where you can run from the bottom to the top,” said Gordon, who is seventh in the point standings with two wins in 2011. “This is a really fast track with a high average speed, and you are in the corners for a really long time each lap. Ideally, you want to be right on the edge of tight and loose in the corners.

“But even with all that room to run side-by-side down the straightaways and through the corners, qualifying well on Friday can make the race easier to manage on Sunday.

“This race is 400 miles, but it seems to go by quick.”

- Performance PR Plus for Team DuPont, Press Release

Jeff Gordon Hoping For Old Road Course Magic at Watkins Glen

Jeff Gordon has nine road course win in his career, including 4 at the Glen

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (August 9, 2011) – Including this Sunday’s Heluva Good!Sour Cream Dips at the Glen, only five races remain before the 12-driver “Chase for theNASCAR Sprint Cup” field is set. For Jeff Gordon at this point of the season, who is“following” him may be more critical than who is ahead.

Halfway to the “Chase” after race No. 13 at Kansas Speedway in June, Gordonwas 13th in the point standings and 121 markers out of the lead. With a win, two runner-up finishes and seven finishes of 11th or better in the eight races since, the 84-time winner has moved up to seventh and is now 52 points from the top spot. Maybe more importantly, though, is the fact Gordon is now 50 points ahead of 11th-place – a“cushion” of more than one race – in his attempt to secure one of the coveted “Chase”spots.

“It’s definitely nice to have that gap to 11th,” said Gordon, who celebrated son Leo’s first birthday Tuesday. “It gives us the opportunity to take more calculated risks for a race win.

“It’s important to stay in the top 10, though, because bonus points for wins are only awarded to those inside the top 10. Any points advantage you can get will be worth it.”

Earlier this year, Gordon finished second at Infineon Raceway – the only other road course on the Sprint Cup Series schedule. But the tracks are polar opposites according to the four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion.

“Watkins Glen is a much faster and more aggressive track while [Infineon] is a finesse track,” said Gordon, whose nine career road course victories rank first all-time. “Here, you have to attack the track – without making too many mistakes.

“It’s easy to make mistakes here because you have so many turns and braking zones and obstacles with the down shifts – like wheel hopping in turn one. It’s just really, really difficult to get deep into turn one, not overshoot the corner while also not wheel hopping the rear tires.”

In 18 starts at Watkins Glen, Gordon has four wins, two poles, six top-fives, nine top-10’s and is the all-time lap leader with 227. During the annual visit to the New York track, the plan is to make an impression on and off the track with the DuPont Chevrolet.

“The DuPont Motorsports website is being re-launched on Thursday, and we have some cool things going on with that at Watkins Glen and in the future,” said Gordon, who has two wins in 2011 (Phoenix and Pocono). “I think the fans will really like some of the exclusive content that will be available there.”

While fans will now have access to more content, Gordon is looking for more followers – like 42 of them – come Sunday.

- Performance PR Plus, Press Release

Brickyard Preview: Gordon and NASCAR Grew Simultaneously Through Indy

By Micah Roberts
VegasInsider.com

Gordon and NASCAR grew at same time

Six seasons have passed since Jeff Gordon last won at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the longest drought of his career there. Winning in Indiana always came natural for the California kid who’s father-in-law moved the family to Indiana to get into more competitive races for the up and coming driver. At the time, Gordon had aspirations of competing in the Indy 500, but it’s safe to say that despite not ever competing in an Indy car race, things worked out for the best and Indiana was the major reason why.

After giving the stock thing a try, his tenacity and willingness to wheel the car at the highest possible speeds around corners caught the eye of Rick Hendrick who signed him to run full-time in the Cup series in 1993. In Gordon’s second season he won the Coca-Cola 600, one of the biggest races in the season. Two months later he would go on to win the inaugural Brickyard 400, a race that every veteran on the circuit wanted to win more than any other because of the prestige of the track.

When Dale Earnhardt won the following year, he was still burning from not winning the inaugural race -- losing to a kid -- prompting him in the post-race interview to say that he was the “first MAN“ to win the Brickyard 400. Gordon’s win thrust him into mainstream NASCAR and from there, not only did he take off as one of the best ever in the sport, but NASCAR began to take off from being a perceived ’southern thing’.

Madison avenue found the combination of Gordon’s boyish good looks and success on the track against drivers that many around the country thought were red-necks, too good to pass up on. Gordon soon found himself being publicized in national advertising to a degree that no other NASCAR driver -- not even Richard Petty -- had come close to before. And with that came a lot of resentment from some of the other drivers -- especially from Earnhardt -- and helped pave the way to a new prosperous era.

Gordon would have continued to win the way he did even if he hadn’t won the first Brickyard 400, but the win was monumental because it brought new fans to the sport nationally and Gordon was the face that did it. The Indy cars were in the middle of a battle that forever changed that type of racing for the worse and the Brickyard 400 brought an entire audience of mid-west folks into NASCAR who we’re always Indy car first and Gordon was the signature face that got it started.

Gordon had 13 wins in 1998

In 1998, after two consecutive 10 win seasons and winning two Cup championships, Gordon reeled off 13 wins, one of which was the Brickyard 400 to become the first to win the race twice. Three years later in 2001, Gordon won the Brickyard 400 again, and then again, three years later winning in 2004, which remains his last win there.

Jimmie Johnson has won three of the last five seasons at the Brickyard, but it wasn’t with the same type of impact that Gordon will forever hold at the track. Johnson came into an era that had already peaked with almost every corner of the country having a Cup race. Gordon’s aura at the track exits because of it’s importance to the entire growth of NASCAR. At the time, there were no tracks at Texas, Fontana, Las Vegas, Homestead, Chicagoland, Kansas or Kentucky.

This week Gordon has a great chance to win for the fifth time at Indy, largely on the basis of his Pocono win six weeks ago, but also because of past success on the track.

Even though Gordon is on the verge of tying the track record for career wins with five, he still holds the past history with great reverance and modestly down plays his accomplishments there in the broad scope.

"I don’t think what I’ve done should ever be compared to what A.J. Foyt or Al Unser or Rick Mears did here with their four Indianapolis 500 victories," Gordon said earlier this week. "And I don’t think Michael Schumacher’s five wins (in Formula 1) should be compared either. They are all completely different disciplines — sometimes on a completely different track.”

Pocono is always a great barometer to use when handicapping Indy even though the configuration is vastly different, but each track has similar flat turns and endless straightaways.

Others drivers that should perform well this week on the basis of Pocono include Denny Hamlin, the Busch brothers, Juan Pablo Montoya and of course, Johnson. On the basis of just running well consistently at Indianapolis, you have to begin with Indiana native and two-time Brickyard winner Tony Stewart. Kevin Harvick has also performed well annually in the race with a 2003 win and six other top-10 finishes in his 10 starts.

It's been hit or miss for the No. 48 team at Indy (Getty)

For Johnson, it's either hit or miss at Indy. In between his three wins in nine races, he's got finishes of 36th, 38th, 39th and 22nd (last year) giving him a poor average finish of 18.3 in those starts. At Pocono last month, Johnson finished fourth. This week he'll be using a brand new chassis as he attempts to tie Gordon's NASCAR record with four wins on the track.

Over the last six races at Indy, no one has a better NASCAR rating than Tony Stewart (109.3). NASCAR began keeping a rating system in 2005 that factored in detailed information like quality passes, laps led and finish position for each race and Stewart has been the best despite running for two different teams over that span. Stewart won in 2005 and 2007 while driving for Joe Gibbs and finished third and fifth the last two seasons driving for his own team.

Of course, Stewart also has extra incentive to win at Indy because of being an Indiana native, and like Gordon, he also had goals of winning the Indy 500.

“It’s my home race, obviously," Stewart said. Growing up in Indiana and every year watching the Indy 500 and the whole month of May leading up to it, a race at the Brickyard is more than just a regular points race. It’s always been a big race to all of the Cup drivers, but then when you grow up in Indiana, it just makes it that much more important."

An interesting note to consider is that a Ford hasn’t won at the Brickyard since Dale Jarrett did in 1999. A Dodge last won in 2002 with Bill Elliott, who incidentally also won at Pocono that year. A Chevy has won the last eight straight years. The surprise out of the short history of NASCAR at Indianapolis is that no Roush-Fenway car has ever won.

Edwards will attempt to give Roush his first Indy win (Getty)

Two years ago, Jack Roush finally got his first Daytona 500 win and he currently has the points leader, Carl Edwards, who has proven to be pretty good at both Pocono and Indy over the years giving him a great shot to break through.

Despite Roush being shutout in 17 tries, Edwards at least has a good handle on what it will take to win at the Brickyard.

“Indy is tough because you have to be able to turn in the center of the corners and that sounds very simple, but it’s very difficult because the corners are so sharp for such a high-speed race track," Edwards explained. "You have to have a really big engine because you slow down so much and then have these short chutes in between, so the FR9 should be a big help to us this year. I was second at Indy in 2008 and to be that close to victory and see the celebration going on makes you want it even more.”

It's also interesting to note -- with Edwards currently leading in points -- that eight of the 17 Brickyard winners have gone on to win championships the same year. Johnson has done it three times, Gordon twice, with Stewart, Jarrett and Bobby Labonte all doing it once.

Edwards is always a candidate to win, but I'll stick with mostly guys in Chevy bow-ties this week as recent history suggests.

Top-5 Finish prediction:
1) #24 Jeff Gordon (10/1)
2) #14 Tony Stewart (10/1)
3) #22 Kurt Busch (10/1)
4) #29 Kevin Harvick (10/1)
5) #48 Jimmie Johnson (6/1)

Jeff Gordon Attempting to Tie Indianapolis Track Record For Wins

Jeff Gordon is a four time winner at the Brickyard

INDIANAPOLIS (July 26, 2011) – Jeff Gordon grew up in the shadows — and in awe — of Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Four Brickyard 400 victories, 17 races and 440laps led later, the historic speedway still gives him a “whoa” moment during each visit tothe 2.5-mile track.

As a teenager, the 84-time NASCAR Sprint Cup winner lived in nearby Pittsboro with a dream of racing in the Indianapolis 500. That dream ended with his shift from open-wheeled cars to stock cars in the early 1990′s, but the possibility of winning on the hallowed grounds returned in 1994.

“I think NASCAR had a test session here in 1992 or 1993, and I was bummed that I didn’t get the chance to participate in it,” said the 1994, 1998, 2001 and 2004 winner of this event.

“When I finally got the chance to drive down the front straightaway,it was like ‘whoa.’ And then to win the inaugural race? Unbelievable.

“It’s still like that for me — just an incredible feeling driving here. But it also always takes me a few laps to get up to speed each year. The first time you drive off into (turn)1, it’s like ‘whoa, I can’t make this corner.’ Then you realize you let off (the accelerator)way too early.

“Other ‘whoa’ moments for Gordon have occurred off the track.

“Through the Drive To End Hunger program, it’s really opened my eyes to the more than 6 million older Americans that face hunger each day,” said Gordon. “But we’ve been able to provide more than 2.6 million meals to local food banks — and we’ll make another donation in this market.”

Last week during the final off-week/weekend of the 2011 season, Gordon witnessed “too many” ‘whoa’ moments during his visit to the Democratic Republic of the Congo as part of the Lead Group of the Clinton Global Initiative. His philanthropic work continues this week with the 10th annual Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation “Bowling Ball” that benefits Riley Hospital for Children.

On Friday, attention turns back to the track where the four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion begins his quest to secure win number five at Indianapolis. While four — and the elusive five — has always been a magical number of wins at the speedway, Gordon believes it should be discussed in context.

“I don’t think what I’ve done should ever be compared to what A.J. Foyt or Al Unser or Rick Mears did here with their four Indianapolis 500 victories,” said Gordon, who also has nine top-fives, 13 top-10′s and three poles — each the most among Sprint Cup drivers — in 17 starts here. “And I don’t think Michael Schumacher’s five wins (in Formula 1) should be compared either.

“They are all completely different disciplines — sometimes on a completely different track.”

But it is the NASCAR discipline that is front and center this weekend, and Gordon hopes to be front and center for Victory Lane photographs after securing a fifth win at Indy.

- Performance PR Plus, Press Release

New Chassis For Gordon at New Hampshire

Alan Gustafson: "In my career, I've been better on flat tracks...."

LOUDON, N.H. (July 12, 2011) – No. 24 crew chief Alan Gustafson believes New Hampshire Motor Speedway (NHMS) can be compared to Phoenix International Raceway (PIR), but the team cannot use the same chassis that visited Victory Lane earlier this year out west. So he has decided to use a new chassis in the LENOX Industrial Tools 301 on Sunday at NHMS.

A new car with updates.

“Sort of 24.1,” Gustafson joked. “The chassis that won in Phoenix was destroyed in a wreck at Richmond, so hopefully this new one is better.”

Both the one-mile Phoenix track and the 1.058-mile New Hampshire track are relatively flat, and the similarities has the No. 24 Drive to End Hunger team aiming for similar results.

“If I was to clip one section of a race track and compare it to Loudon, I would say turns 3 and 4 at Phoenix are the closest comparison to what we’ll race on this weekend,” said Gustafson. “And turns 3 and 4 was where our car was best at Phoenix.

“In my career, I’ve been better on flat tracks — and I don’t know why that is. This is a race I’m really looking forward to and on a track that I have a lot of confidence in.

“And Jeff Gordon is good at Loudon. Well, he’s good everywhere.”

In 32 starts at NHMS, Gordon has three wins and three poles, while his 14 top-fives, 18 top-10′s and 1,207 laps led are tops among NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers at “The Magic Mile”.

“I had the chance to run New Hampshire in the Nationwide Series before the Cup Series was racing here,” said Gordon. “I ran well then and had some success, and that transitioned over to the Cup Series.

“It’s a very flat, narrow groove, tight-corner race track. It’s one that seems to suit my style of driving and, as a team, it’s one where we seem to communicate well and get what we need out of the car to make it go fast.

“At Kentucky last weekend, Gordon and company posted their fifth top-10 finish inthe last six events to move from 16th to seventh in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Seriespoint standings during that span. But work remains.

“We’ve had some good finishes,” said Gustafson. “We need a good run where we lead some laps and have a good finish.

“Sort of like Phoenix?

- Performance PR Plus, Press Release

Kentucky Preview: Kansas Race a Great Handicapping Starting Point This Week

By Micah Roberts
VegasInsider.com

Similar track to Kansas, Keselowski using same winning car

We’ve had a nice mix of races the last four weeks with a superspeedway that runs like a road course, a wide two-mile track, a road course and a superspeedway with restrictor-plate racing, but this week we get back to racing on a type of track that will ultimately decide who wins the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship.

Whoever can prove that they are the best consistently on the type of track we'll see Saturday night will put themselves in prime position to win the title.

Kentucky Speedway gets it’s first Cup race ever this week and it should be a fired up crowd filled mostly from folks from Ohio as the track is located near the Ohio river. The 1.5-mile track could best compared to the old Las Vegas configuration and is comparable to the current Kansas Speedway layout.

Just before we got into the stretch of races at vastly different tracks, Kansas had a race run on June 5 that was won by Brad Keselowski. The race came down to fuel mileage, but was thoroughly dominated by Kurt Busch who sat on the pole and led four times for 152 of the 267 laps. Carl Edwards, Matt Kenseth and Denny Hamlin all ran very well too.

We should expect a similar cast of characters to be contending for the win this week, but to dig deeper we can reference Michigan, Fontana and sprinkle in data from the higher banked 1.5 mile tracks like Las Vegas, Charlotte and Texas.

Good sign for Kurt Busch this week because he ruled Kansas

Kurt Busch is the driver to key on here, but right behind him are the Fenway-Roush drivers who thrive on these type of tracks. It’s no coincidence that Edwards lead in points has been taken over by Kevin Harvick over this stretch because he’s now had back-to-back races on tracks that aren’t his best, or rather, where he’s not considered the favorite.

If we look at all the tracks we consider to be relevant to Kentucky, no one has been better on all of them this year than Carl Edwards. He won at Vegas, finished sixth at Fontana, third at Texas, won the All-Star race, and was fifth at both Kansas and Michigan. Although none of that means that he will win this week, it does provide a pretty good resume to make him the favorite. Making the resume look even better is that Edwards has raced nine times at Kentucky between the Nationwide and Truck series and has taken home two trophy's.

Matt Kenseth also has numbers similar to Edwards including wins at Texas and Dover this year and if we use some old school data, we can also fit his two Vegas wins under the old layout as a reference. This week Kenseth also has the benefit of using a proven winner as he'll be using his winning Texas chassis.

The scary driver of all, though, may be Kurt Busch. After screaming at his crew and engine builders over the radio -- for all to hear -- during the Richmond race, there has been a noticeable change in their performance, most notably the horsepower and it was never more evident than at that Kansas race that they were becoming an elite team.

Denny Hamlin also used Kansas as a stepping stone to getting back to close to his 2010 form with his third-place run. He followed that race up with leading the most laps at Pocono and then finally winning a race at Michigan the ensuing week. He should be expected to be able to continue his upward swing this week.

Harvick is using his winning Michigan car from last August

Kevin Harvick is bringing an impressive car this week to Kentucky. It's the same car that he won with at Michigan last season and finished fifth at Pocono this year. He has swooped in and won three races already this season and has an inaugrural Cup win under his belt already at Chicagoland. Harvick also won the first Nationwdie race at Kentucky in 2001.

The inaugural King has been Jeff Gordon as he'll look to take the checkers for the first time on a track for the fourth time Saturday night. Gordon has inaugural wins at Indianapolis, Fontana and Kansas. If we use Kansas as a barometer, Gordon should be considered even more to contend since he hasn't finished outside of the top-five there since 2006. In the June Kansas race Gordon finished fourth.

Even though Keselowski won Kansas as a 100-to-1 long shot, thanks to the race becoming a fuel mileage race, it’s more likely that this weeks race will come down to the heavyweights. However, Keselowski will be using the same car that he won with at Kansas.

Joey Logano is an interesting choice at 30-to-1 or higher this week just because he has won the last three Nationwide races at Kentucky from the pole. Granted, the cars are completely different, as is the competition, but that type of success and knowledge of the track should carry some kind of weight for the Cup race. Logano will be using his 11th-place Pocono car this week making it's second start of the season.

Top-5 Finish prediction:
1) #99 Carl Edwards (6/1)
2) #11 Denny Hamlin (12/1)
3) #17 Matt Kenseth (10/1)
4) #22 Kurt Busch (8/1)
5) #24 Jeff Gordon (12/1)

Jeff Gordon Trying For Fourth Inaugural Cup Race Win This Week at Kentucky

Gordon won the first Cup race ever at Indy, Fontana and Kansas (getty)

SPARTA, Ky. (July 5, 2011) – At Kentucky Speedway, Jeff Gordon will attempt to be first in the first — for the fourth time.

Among Gordon’s 84 career victories are three inaugural event wins at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1994, Auto Club Speedway in 1997 and Kansas Speedway in 2001 (four other tracks have been added to schedule since 1994 with no other driver winning multiple inaugural races). Saturday night’s Quaker State 400 marks the first visit for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series to Kentucky, and it could also mark the fourth trip to Victory Lane in a first-time event for the driver of the No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet.

“It may be our first race here, but a lot of drivers have logged a lot of miles here,” said Gordon, who has climbed from 16th to eighth in the point standings with four top- six finishes in the last five races. “Some of the guys have run Nationwide events here and we used to test here all the time — this was one of the tracks we could test at before it became a Cup track.

“Going back to those old testing notes will give us some information, but (Hendrick Motorsports teammate) Mark Martin participated in the tire test here earlier this year. That’s the most current data we have with these cars and setups we’re running today.

“It’s been a while since I’ve tested here, so it’ll be interesting to see what has changed.”

Gordon will get a re-introduction to the circuit during a test day on Thursday.

“It could take two or three laps, or it could take 100 before you get comfortable on the track,” said Gordon. “We’ve got a lot of track time scheduled for Thursday, so that should give us a good opportunity to get close (with the setup).

“There are a lot of unknowns like where you can push the limits, where your car is going to handle the best and what characteristics the track will have as the race goes on. Does the track get looser or tighter in certain parts of the corner?”
One of Gordon’s inaugural event wins occurred at Kansas Speedway, and he believes that 1.5-mile track — where he has two wins and eight top-five finishes in 11 starts — most closely resembles Kentucky.

“I would say the closest thing we run would be Kansas,” said Gordon. “Every mile-and-a-half track has a similarity as far as speed and grip level, so you try to maximize that.

“But while Kentucky has a lot more grip, it’s a little bit rougher than some of the other tracks. It’s also fairly flat, but it’s surprising how fast we get around here.”

On Saturday night, Gordon’s plan is to be the fastest — and first — to the checkered flag.

- Performance PR Plus for DuPont Motorsports, Press Release

Gordon Hopes To Work With Teammate Martin Again This Week

Gordon has three Firecracker 400 wins at Daytona (Getty)

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (June 28, 2011) – Three-time 400-mile-event winner Jeff Gordon is curious to see if higher temperatures create less grip — and less “stick” — in the annual Fourth of July weekend race at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday night.

Re-pavement of the 2.5-mile track surface in 2010 provided more grip to the competitors during Speedweeks earlier this year, but tracks tend to lose grip in hotter temperatures. Will that be the case this weekend? If so, how will it affect the two-car drafts that have become the norm during restrictor-plate races recently? Gordon is eager to learn the answers to those questions when the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series returns to central Florida this weekend.

“With the bump drafting and two-car drafts, we were able to push another car all the way around the track here in February,” said Gordon, who will drive the No. 24 Pepsi Max Chevrolet Impala this weekend. “We don’t know yet whether we’ll have the same level of grip this weekend with the higher temperatures. If we lose some grip, will one car still be able to ‘stick’ to another for a full lap or multiple laps?

“Right now, I’m expecting we’ll still be able to (push the entire track), so you’re going to have to find a partner. My (Hendrick Motorsports) teammate Mark Martin and I worked well at Talladega, so I’m sure we’ll try to work together again.”

In 37 starts here Gordon has six wins, including three Daytona 500 victories, three poles, 12 top-fives and 18 top-10′s. One thing has not changed during his 19-year career — the ability to adjust to change at the superspeedway.

“When I first started racing here, we had big single-file packs where you had to work lap-after-lap-after lap to finally make the right move to gain a position,” said Gordon, who is currently ninth in the point standings with two wins in 2011.

“Then, with some of the changes to the cars, we were racing in big packs two-and-three wide where a big ‘run’ could gain you a lot of positions in one lap or even just one straightaway.

“Now it’s evolved into the two-car packs. If you want to be good and have a shot at winning, then you have to learn how to two-car draft well. You have to learn how to cool the engine. You have to find somebody you can stick with who will stay with you all day.

“And you both need to be there at the end to have a shot to win the race.”

- Performance PR Plus, Press Release

Gordon Does Some Testing Prior To Get Back Into Road Course Winners Circle

Gordon is NASCAR's King of the Roads (Getty)

Calif. (June 21, 2011) – No matter the result of Sunday’s Toyota/Save Mart 350, this will be a memorable weekend for five-time Infineon Raceway winner Jeff Gorvette. Er, Jeff Gordon.

Gordon, a native of Vallejo, Calif., has a busy weekend planned. On Friday, he will practice and qualify the No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet at Infineon while also traveling the world as Jeff Gorvette — assisting buddies Lightning McQueen and Mater — in Disney- Pixar’s new release Cars2.

On Saturday after practice, Gordon and family will celebrate daughter Ella’s birthday (she turned four years old on June 20). On Sunday, the all-time leader in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series road course victories will attempt to reach double-digit wins at Infineon and Watkins Glen International combined.

“There’s no doubt this is probably my favorite weekend of racing, regardless of what happens on the track,” said Gordon. “It’s just a magical time for me with my daughter’s birthday party, seeing my biological father and other family members, and seeing friends I went to elementary school with and raced with out here.

“It’s just a special weekend and it puts me in an incredibly positive frame of mind going into the race on Sunday.”

Along with five wins here, Gordon has five poles, 11 top-fives and 14 top-10′s in 18 starts. He has led 437 laps, which is 276 more laps than the nearest active competitor, Mark Martin. To put that in perspective, Martin could lead wire-to-wire in the next two events here and he would still trail Gordon by 56 laps in that category.

But the four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion has not led a lap here in four years, and the No. 24 team has worked hard to correct that.

“We’ve struggled on the road courses recently, and that’s not something we’re accustomed to,” said Gordon, who is 12th in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series point standings. “It’s not something we like, so we tested at Mid-Ohio and have been working really hard to make improvements.

“I’m hoping that test will get us closer to being more competitive this weekend.
“This is a very challenging track. On a road course, you typically want to attack the braking zones. Here, with the elevation changes and the off-cambered corners, you have to be very careful not to over-attack or drive too hard.

“Hopefully we find the right balance with speed this weekend.”

But before Gordon battles the NASCAR Sprint Cup regulars in northern California on Sunday, Gorvette will race into theaters beginning Friday.

“My role is fairly small,” said Gorvette. “Lightning McQueen and Mater and some of his buddies are in the movie, and I’m one of their new buddies. It’s an international spy thriller, so they go all over the world.
“It was a blast.”

A blast — like every race weekend at Infineon for Gordon.

Gordon Looking to Pass Waltrip and Allison With a Win at Michigan

BROOKLYN, Mich. (June 14, 2011) – He now has 84 career NASCAR Sprint Cup victories, but Jeff Gordon constantly thinks about one win.

The next one.

Last Sunday at Pocono, Gordon led 37 of the final 41 laps en route to his second win of the 2011 season. That win also moved the Drive To End Hunger pilot into a tie for third all-time in career victories with NASCAR greats Darrell Waltrip and Bobby Allison. One more win and he becomes only the third driver in the series 62-year history to reach 85, trailing only NASCAR Hall of Famers Richard Petty (200) and David Pearson (105).

“I never thought I would reach that number,” said Gordon. “When I started, I wondered if I would ever get one win. Back then, I never thought of 84 as a number that was reachable.

“Forget about the number. Just matching something that Darrell and Bobby – two legends in this sport – have done is incredible.

“But ever since I won my first race as a kid, it was always about getting to the checkered flag first, and then going out and doing it again and again. Our goal every week is to win.”

Matching Allison and Waltrip may have been a feat, but 39-year old Gordon’s first chance to surpass them will be Sunday in the Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips 400 at Michigan International Speedway.

“I love Michigan — it’s one of my favorite tracks,” said Gordon, who has two wins (1998 and 2001), five poles, 18 top-fives (50 percent) and 23 top-10′s (63.9 percent) in 36 starts at the two-mile track. “Horsepower is important here because the straightaways are so long. You are on the throttle a long time.

“But handling well here through the corners – so you can carry speed off the corners and onto the long straights – is very important, too.”

After last Sunday’s victory, Gordon is now 11th in the standings, six behind 10th and only eight points behind eighth. And while Michigan — with its four high-banked corners – and Pocono – with its three distinct corners – may not appear to be similar, the four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion believes there are some similarities between the two events.

“It takes a lot of power and you have to get through the corners well at both places,” said Gordon. “To me, Pocono and Michigan take the same sort of package.”

But can the two tracks yield the same result for the No. 24 Drive To End Hunger team?

Jeff Gordon Going For Fifth Pocono Win

Gordon's last win at Pocono was 2007

LONG POND, Pa. (June 7, 2011) – In the 5-hour ENERGY 500 on Sunday, Jeff Gordon and Team DuPont are looking for the right shift – in momentum – at The Tricky Scalene. Pocono Raceway’s nickname, “The Tricky Triangle,” is due to its three unique corners, and it proves to be a challenge to the NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers each and every trip.

“The straightaways are so long but you have three distinct corners,” said Gordon, who has four wins, two poles, 16 top-fives and 25 top-10’s in 36 starts at the 2.5-mile track. “Trying to get the car balanced to go through those three corners fast is a huge challenge.

“They call it ‘The Tricky Triangle?’ It’s definitely a very tricky scalene.”

Gordon’s fourth-place finish last Sunday at Kansas was his first top-10 since a third-place finish at Talladega in the middle of April. But while the finishing positions have not been indicative of how the No. 24 team has performed during that stretch, the four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion knows momentum can change quickly.

“We’ve had good runs, we just need to start getting the finishes to match,” said Gordon. “Whether it was getting caught up in a wreck (at Richmond) or a caution coming out right after we pitted (at Charlotte) or whatever, we’ve been running much better than the finishes show.

“But that’s part of racing, and we just need to do whatever we can to learn from it and do our best – by qualifying better or doing this or doing that – so that we don’t put ourselves in those positions again.

“Hopefully, we can shift momentum the other way through the summer.”

And shifting of another sort will return to the Poconos this weekend.

“NASCAR is going to let us shift here again, so I’m pretty excited about that,” said Gordon, who is 13th in the point standings. “By allowing us to shift again, I think it’s going to make it more competitive and provide more opportunities to pass.
“You have to have good horsepower, and getting the gearing right and getting those shifts smooth is vital.”

A focus of No. 24 crew chief Alan Gustafson, as well.

“If you unload your car and you’re struggling with balance, the driver may not even shift,” said Gustafson. “But as you work through practice and get better, how you shift and where you shift changes.

“We may even see someone try to shift six times a lap – upshifting and downshifting along each straightaway.”

That would mean 1,200 shifts during the course of a 200-lap race. It could also mean a trip to “The Tricky Triangle’s” Victory Lane.

- Performance PR Plus for DuPont Motorsports, Press Release

Jeff Gordon Looking for Third Kansas Win in 11th Start

Gordon has an 8.5 average finish at Kansas

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (May 31, 2011) – In his 11th start at Kansas Speedway, Jeff Gordon can win an “inaugural” event at the 1.5-mile track.
Again.

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series first visited the Midwest track in 2001, and Gordon led the final 22 laps to secure the victory. He won again in 2002 and, along with those two victories, the driver of the No. 24 Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet has collected seven top-fives and eight top-10 finishes in 10 annual visits to Kansas.

But 2011 marks the first time Kansas will host two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events during a season. With temperatures expected near 90 degrees, track conditions could be very different compared to past fall race dates.

“Weather conditions always play a role, but I think tires play a bigger role,” said Gordon, who is 16th in the point standings. “I think the tire Goodyear brings is probably going to mean more than the time of year.

“This is a flatter race track, so grip is a premium. The tires wear quite a bit here, so tire management seems to be pretty important. And that falls back on the car, the team and your communication with them to get the car to work the way you want it to as the tires begin to wear.”

Gordon tops several statistical categories at Kansas Speedway. He has earned the most top-fives and top-10’s in the track’s 10-year history and is tied for most victories. But while he has the best starting average (9.2) among drivers who have participated in all 10 events, the track remains one of three where he has never won a pole (Las Vegas and Miami being the other two).

“Qualifying well each week doesn’t mean you will run well during the race, but it sure does help,” said Gordon. “Last week at Charlotte for instance, our car wasn’t bad – it was just tough when you were racing back in heavy traffic. Once we got out front in clean air, it was a totally different story.”

While a late pit stop for fuel with six laps to go and a caution one lap later at Charlotte resulted in a 20th-place finish, Gordon is hoping for a different result to this week’s story.

“For whatever reason, this track suits my driving style,” said Gordon. “Even in June, it’s still a mile-and-a-half and it’s still an important race track.

“And it’s still a track we want to win at.”

For the first time, again.

Jeff Gordon Using His All-Star Chassis in The Coca-Cola 600

Gordon always appreciative towards his fans

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (May 24, 2011) – If Jeff Gordon is to collect his fourth win in the 600-miler at Charlotte Motor Speedway, No. 24 Drive to End Hunger crew chief Alan Gustafson may be forced to “connect the dots.”

Sunday night’s event is scheduled to start just past 6 p.m. EDT, and track temperatures will likely cool through to when the checkered flag falls later that night. However, each of the practices this week will occur during daylight hours, and Gustafson believes the best source of information may have been the team’s strong run in last Saturday night’s All-Star event. How will he marry information learned then versus what is learned during the day practices this week?

“You mean like connect the dots?” asked Gustafson. “The All-Star race was frustrating because I think we had a legitimate shot to win the race until that last trip down pit road (Gordon lost nine positions during the stop when a No. 24 team member – who was uninjured – was clipped by another car). At the end of the day, though, the key thing for us is winning the 600, getting the most points possible from this event and contending for the championship.

“That wasn’t going to happen last Saturday night since no points were on the line. But it did offer us a chance to learn as much as we could for the 600.

“We’re bringing the same car back, and we know the tendencies of this car since we practiced it during the day last week and raced it at night.”

Going from a day practice to a night race is one factor that makes the longest race of the season so challenging according to the four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion.

“What is so difficult about the 600 is you are practicing during the day to try to get ready for a night race,” said Gordon, who has five wins, eight poles, 16 top-fives and 20 top-10’s in 36 starts at the 1.5-mile track. “You start the race in the late afternoon or early evening when the track temperature is still pretty warm, and it cools down quite a bit as you race into the night. The track conditions change dramatically.

“The setup has to be flexible and you have to stay up with the changing conditions.

“We’ve struggled early here before and been good at the end.”

Good in the beginning? Good at the end? Gustafson is hoping the No. 24 Impala is good throughout while peaking at the right time.

“Everybody is going to try to be good at the end – obviously, that’s the focus,” said Gustafson. “The track ‘swings’ so much that it’s really difficult to be good throughout the entire race. You’ll ‘err’ toward being good at the end.

“But I’ve seen the flipside where you’re better than expected early, and the concern is ‘if you’re good early, will you struggle late?’ If that’s the case, you try to exploit the fact you’re good and get as many drivers a lap down as possible. There may be someone who is biding their time and, if you put him a lap down, it’s going to significantly hamper their chance of winning.

“I think we were close to figuring out what we need to contend on Sunday night, but we need to be fast enough during the day to stay within shouting distance of the lead while also making sure we don’t get too far away from the setup needed in the closing laps of the race.

“You have to be good all race long, but you need to peak the last two to three runs.”

- Performance PR Plus for No. 24 Drive to End Hunger Chevy Team, Press Release