Complacency is not in Jeff Gordon’s vocabulary.
During his 14-year NASCAR Nextel Cup career, Gordon has proved this time and time again. By not being complacent, Gordon has won four Nextel Cup championships and is possibly in position for that elusive fifth crown.
Even with a 371-point lead in the series standings over Denny Hamlin, Gordon isn’t about to ease up off the throttle. Instead of racing conservatively in the remaining six races before the Chase for the Cup begins at New Hampshire International Speedway on Sept. 16, Gordon plans to gamble. David Exum, BostonHerald
Aug 01
There was laughter when Jeff Gordon said Sunday that his master plan leading up to the Chase for the Nextel Cup Championship was to win races.
The laughter was probably prompted by the fact that Gordon has a healthy lead in the series standings. He also has four race victories, the Chase bonus points that go with those victories, and eight top-10 finishes in his last eight races. JIM PEDLEY, The Kansas City Star
If Gordon is reaching toward the number seven, he obviously must begin with a fifth championship, and he clearly is the favorite as the season moves into its concluding months. Through 20 races, Gordon had four victories and 18 top 10s and an impressive 371-point lead in the Nextel Cup standings despite a 100-point penalty for some recent technical foolishness. The Chase format will eliminate most of Gordon’s points advantage, but considering the sort of season he’s having, that might not matter. Mike Hembree, SportingNews.com
Not even losing suspended crew chief Steve Letarte for six races because of a technical violation in June at Sonoma has slowed Gordon down.
In the four races so far without Letarte, Gordon has finished second, fifth, ninth and third.
“I’m excited because we’ve got a very strong, consistent team and we don’t have a crew chief right now,’’ Gordon said. “I think when Steve comes back, it’s only going to heighten us and make us stronger for what we’ve had to go through without him.’’ SportsIllustrated
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