NEWS & NOTES
AT RICHMOND: In 33 Sprint Cup Series starts at Richmond International Raceway, Jeff Gordon has posted two wins, 12 top-five finishes and 21 top-10s. He also has earned five pole positions and led 1,161 laps. Gordon’s average start at the .75-mile track is 7.7.
LAST TIME AT RICHMOND: Gordon, driver of the No. 24 DuPont/National Guard Wounded Warrior Chevrolet, started second and scored an eighth-place finish in May at Richmond. He led 96 laps and spent the entire race running in the top 10.
STATS IN THE NATIONAL GUARD CAR: In every outing with the National Guard on the hood of his No. 24 Chevrolet this season, Gordon has scored a top-five finish. His best effort was a win at Texas Motor Speedway (April), while he also scored runner-up finishes at Atlanta Motor Speedway in March, Michigan International Speedway in June and Chicagoland Speedway in July. He finished fifth at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway in May.
GRAND MARSHAL: Specialist (SPC) Anthony M. Landowski, who was wounded in the line of duty in Afghanistan on May 17, will be the grand marshal for Saturday’s Chevy Rock and Roll 400. Landowski, a 22-year-old native of Ringgold, Ga., and a soldier from the Georgia Army National Guard, was serving as a combat medic with the 48th Brigade Combat Team from Calhoun, Ga., when he was injured by an IED blast. He was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received in combat as well as the Combat Medic Badge for rendering aid while under hostile enemy fire. Landowski has been receiving care at Walter Reed Army Medical Center for the past four months and desires to return to his unit. He anticipates returning to Georgia, where he ultimately will finish his associate’s degree and further pursue a career as a physician’s assistant.
LOOP DATA AT RICHMOND: According to NASCAR’s loop data, which was compiled during the last nine races at Richmond, Gordon ranks in the top 10 in several categories—third in laps led (407), sixth in laps run in the top 15 (2,343 laps), ninth in driver rating (92.5), ninth in fastest laps run (119) and 10th in fastest driver early in a run (118.895).
DRIVER STANDINGS: Gordon and the No. 24 Chevrolet team currently sit second in the Sprint Cup standings going into Saturday’s Chevy Rock and Roll 400, which is the regular-season finale before the Chase for the Sprint Cup. This season, Gordon has scored one win, 11 top-five finishes, 17 top-10s and has led 601 laps.
RICHMOND CHASSIS: Crew chief Steve Letarte has chosen Hendrick Motorsports Chassis No. 24-524 for Saturday night’s race at Richmond. Gordon drove this same car to lead 147 laps and finish fourth at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway in March.
HENDRICK AT RICHMOND: Hendrick Motorsports, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, has 10 wins, 43 top-five finishes and 76 top-10s in 50 Cup events (154 starts) at Richmond International Raceway.
| 
|