Gordon Looking For Sixth Bristol Win with Invite to Chase and Showdown

Jeff Gordon's last Bristol win came in 2002 (Getty)

BRISTOL, Tenn. – Win it, and Jeff Gordon is in it(s).

If five-time Bristol Motor Speedway winner Gordon takes the checkered flag in Saturday’s IRWIN Tools Night Race, he will clinch a spot in the 2011 “Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.” Along with earning one of those 12 coveted spots in the 10-race playoff, Gordon would also secure the final spot in the Sprint Summer Showdown –joining Paul Menard, Brad Keselowski, Marcos Ambrose and Kyle Busch as those racing for the bonus in Atlanta on September 4.

“We have one more chance to earn a spot in the Showdown, and I really want to be the driver that wins a fan one million dollars in Atlanta,” said Gordon, driver of the No. 24 Drive To End Hunger Chevrolet. “I think this such a cool program by Sprint that is a great chance for a fan — and a charity — to win a million dollars.

“The Bristol night race is just a completely different atmosphere. The intensity level may be even higher with the final Showdown spot on the line.”

Also on the line for the four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion is a berth in the Chase. If Gordon wins Saturday night, he would secure at least a “wild card” spot –entries into the playoff for the two drivers with the most wins that are outside the top 10after race No. 26 at Richmond. He can also secure his spot in the Chase if he holds at least a 97-point advantage over 11th-place in the standings following Bristol. That gap currently sits at 69.

“Even though we have a little bit of a cushion, the focus hasn’t changed,” said Gordon, who has earned the most points in the last 10 races – moving from 13th up to sixth in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series point standings while cutting the deficit to the leader from 121 to 60 during that span. “ The goal is to win each and every week. With the cushion, how we go about it has changed.

“With that cushion, we can take more risks with fuel or pit strategy the next few races to try to get another win.”

Along with his five wins at the 0.533-mile high banked short track, Gordon has earned five poles, 14 top-fives and 20 top-10’s. Much of that success occurred before a track reconfiguration in 2007.

“There was a groove – a rhythm – that I found on the old layout,” said Gordon. “I just haven’t found it yet in the new layout.”

If found this weekend, it could be worth a million dollars.

2011 NASCAR All-Star Race Odds & Ends

The All-Star weekend brings fun to the teams like the Pit Crew Challenge

Charlotte Motor Speedway Data
Track Size: 1.5 miles
· Banking/Corners: 24 degrees
· Banking/Straights: 5 degrees
· Frontstretch: 1,980 feet
· Backstretch: 1,500 feet

2011 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race
Entry List
Bayne, Trevor
Biffle, Greg
Bowyer, Clint
Busch, Kurt
Busch, Kyle
Edwards, Carl
Gordon, Jeff
Hamlin, Denny
Harvick, Kevin
Johnson, Jimmie
Kahne, Kasey
Kenseth, Matt
Martin, Mark
McMurray, Jamie
Montoya, Juan Pablo
Newman, Ryan
Reutimann, David
Smith, Regan
Stewart, Tony
Fan Vote Winner
Winner Sprint Showdown
Second Place Sprint Showdown

NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race
Notes
· There have been 26 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Races.
· The first NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race was in 1985.
· 25 have been held at Charlotte Motor Speedway. In 1986, the event was held at Atlanta Motor Speedway, and won by Bill Elliott. That season was also the first year for what is now known as the Sprint Showdown.
· 84 drivers have run in at least one All-Star Race.
· There have been 18 different winners of the All-Star Race.
· Mark Martin has participated in 21 races, more than any other driver.
· The race has featured a field that ranged from 10 drivers in 1986 to 27 in 2002.
· Dale Earnhardt (1987, 1990 and 1993) and Jeff Gordon (1995, 1997 and 2001) are the only three-time winners of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race.
· There have been seven different winners in the last seven NASCAR Sprint All-Star races.
· Davey Allison (1991 and 1992), Terry Labonte (1988 and 1999), Mark Martin (1998 and 2005) and Jimmie Johnson (2003 and 2006) are the only other drivers to post multiple victories in the All-Star Race. Allison is the only driver to ever win consecutive All-Star events.
· Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2000) and Ryan Newman (2002) are the only drivers to win the All-Star Race in their rookie season.
· Jeff Gordon is the youngest winner of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race at 23 years, 9 months and 18 days (1995). Mark Martin is the oldest at 46 years, 4 months and 12 days (2005).
· Matt Kenseth has a 6.6 average finish in 10 appearances in the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race, the best of any driver in this weekend’s field; followed by Jimmie Johnson with a 6.7 average finish in nine appearances. The best average finish by a driver with more than five starts is Ken Schrader, at 6.125.
· The NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race has been won from the pole position four times; the first three came in consecutive years: Dale Earnhardt (1990) and Davey Allison (1991 and 1992). Kurt Busch posted the fourth win from the pole last season.
· The deepest in the field an All-Star Race winner has started was 27th, by Ryan Newman in 2002.
· Hendrick Motorsports drivers have won six All-Star Races: Jeff Gordon (three), Jimmie Johnson (two) and Terry Labonte (one).
· Five drivers have won the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race and the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship in the same year: Darrell Waltrip (1985), Dale Earnhardt (1987, 1990, 1993), Rusty Wallace (1989), Jeff Gordon (1995, 1997, 2001) and Jimmie Johnson (2006).
· The record for lead changes in a NASCAR Sprint All-Star race is 10 in 2004. The most different leaders is nine in 2002.

Winning the All-Star race brings over $1 million to the winning team

NASCAR Sprint All-Star Wins List
Year Driver
1985 Darrell Waltrip
1986 Bill Elliott
1987 Dale Earnhardt
1988 Terry Labonte
1989 Rusty Wallace
1990 Dale Earnhardt
1991 Davey Allison
1992 Davey Allison
1993 Dale Earnhardt
1994 Geoff Bodine
1995 Jeff Gordon
1996 Michael Waltrip
1997 Jeff Gordon
1998 Mark Martin
1999 Terry Labonte
2000 Dale Earnhardt Jr.
2001 Jeff Gordon
2002 Ryan Newman
2003 Jimmie Johnson
2004 Matt Kenseth
2005 Mark Martin
2006 Jimmie Johnson
2007 Kevin Harvick
2008 Kasey Kahne
2009 Tony Stewart
2010 Kurt Busch

- compiled by Ray M. Smith, NASCAR Integrated Marketing Communications