subscribesubscriber servicescontact usabout ussite mapBuy a Classified
Wed, Nov 25 2009 

Published: September 30, 2009 11:49 pm    print this story   email this story  

Gordon moving up Chase standings, but his teammates are in his way

By Tom Reck
Tribune-Star Correspondent

Jeff Gordon is off to a slow start in the NASCAR Chase for the championship but the four-time series champ thinks he still could take top honors.

To do it, he would have to win a race or two and pass Hendrick Motorsports teammates Mark Martin and Jimmie Johnson to do it. Martin and Johnson rank one-two in the Chase point totals and have won the first two races in the championship series.

Gordon placed sixth in Sunday’s race in Delaware and moved up two spots in the standings to eighth going into this Sunday’s Price Chopper 400 at Kansas Speedway.

“We had a great car and a great performance … the finish is not what we wanted,” he said on a teleconference of the race at Dover International Speedway.

Gordon won the first two Cup races run at Kansas Speedway in 2001 and 2002. His last championship came in 2001.

The native of California who grew up in Indiana and began his driving career on such tracks as The Action Track says his team’s program on11⁄2-mile tracks such as Kansas Speedway is much better than last year.

“We are just two races into the Chase and things haven’t gone our way but it could have been worse. If Jimmie and Mark continue the way they are, we will need to win some races,” he said.

“We need to race to our potential in each race and try to finish in the top three. If we don’t do that, we need to be in the top 10 in the DuPont Chevrolet. We have to do our absolute best,” he said.

This season, Gordon has one win, 12 top fives, and 19 top 10s. He ranks in the top three in three categories including most laps in the top 15.

Gordon began his NASCAR run by winning his four championships in seven years in the series and his first 10 years in NASCAR, all with Rick Hendrick.

He finished second two years ago. Asked what has kept him from winning again, he said, “I never thought I would [do what I did]. I’ve exceeded all my expectations,” he said.

He said he likes the new championship system but also liked the pre-Chase format where everything was based on what was done in 36 races.

“My teammate has won the last three. That makes you want to win that much more. We know we can do it,” he said.

Sizing up the eight races left on the schedule, he said he is “excited” about going to Kansas in addition to Martinsville, Homestead [Miami] and Texas, where he won his race this year.

Johnson won the 2008 race at Kansas Speedway while Greg Bifflee won in 2007 and Tony Stewart in 2006.

Gordon is the only driver to win more than one time at the track while Johnson has been on the pole three times, including the last two races.

print this story   email this story  



Terre Haute Progress Retail health medical manufacturing education

Terre Haute
autoconx
Visit zip2save.com for all your favorite circulars & coupons!
Circulars
Coupons
Deals Zip2Save.com, online advertising circulars, deals, coupons and travel specials.
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide
Terre Haute

Terre Haute News Morning Headlines

Terre Haute ClickLocal

Terre Haute Tribune-Star Newspaper Dial-A-Pro

Terre Haute Tribune-Star Newspaper Live in the Clubs

Terre Haute News on Twitter

Premium Jobs

ADULT THERAPIST
LifeSkills has a full-time Adult Therapist position available for our service center in Metcalfe County. The position is...>MORE

ELECTRICIAN WANTED. KY LICENSE PREFERRED.
OSHA 10 hr. 10+ years exp., commercial, EOE, Drug free workplace. Job is located in Glasgow, KY. Interested applicants c...>MORE

MANAGEMENT (KEYHOLDER) POSITION WITH LOCAL
shoe store. Exciting career opportunity. Retail experience preferred. Competitive benefit package. Apply at SHOE SHOW, 2...>MORE

DENTAL HYGIENIST POSITION,
part time and or as needed. Send resume to P.O. Box 1172, Tompkinsville, KY 42167.

...>MORE

NOW HIRING OWNER OPERATORS
Call 270-678-7379....>MORE

CAREER MINDED INDIVIDUALS SEARCHING FOR A HOME
We offer HOME ON WEEKENDS!!
2500 miles per week
100% no touch freight
No force dispatch to NYC. Safety & ...>MORE

EXPERIENCED DENTAL ASSISTANT NEEDED
to work 2-3 days a week in a busy dental office, emphasizing in oral surgery. Pay commensurate on experience & backgroun...>MORE

See all ads
Premium Autos

2002 HONDA TRIKE GL-1800
40k miles. Asking $27,000. For more info call 270-404-2959.

...>MORE

LOOKING FOR A GREAT AUTO DEAL?.....
Looking to buy or sell?
Check here for the Premium Auto Section.
You can post an ad with unlimited text and ...>MORE

93 CHEVROLET CONVERSION VAN,
123,000+ miles., new tires, runs & looks great. Must see. $1795 O.B.O. 453-3726 or 670-8131.

...>MORE

2000 NISSAN QUEST SE, 114K.
98 Chevy Lumina, 77K, excellent tires on both. $3,200 each. Call 270-590-2789.

...>MORE

See all ads
Premium Homes

GREAT LOCATION! BEAUTIFUL WELL KEPT HOME
at 97 Garet Way (Garnett Grove Subd.) 3 BR, 2 BA, finished basement, 2 car garage, approx. 2,000 sq. ft., mature landsca...>MORE

2 BR TOWNHOUSES, LAUREL BROOK TOWNHOMES
(located behind Red Cross Elementary school on Lovers Lane) includes all our move-in special. Security Dep. $300. 270-78...>MORE

PRICE REDUCED $25,000. STEEPLECHASE SUBD.,
2500 sq. ft., 3 BR, office, 2 1/2 BA, fireplace, 2 car attached garage. $224,500. 270-670-8903.

...>MORE

2 BR, 1 BA TRIPLEX ON IVY ST.
Deposit & reference required. 270-590-0969. Cfter 6 pm. 270-646-2938.

...>MORE

LAST WOODED LOT IN HIDDEN ACRES,
gentle slope, perfect for floor plans that incl. walk-out basement. City utilities available, 2.0 ac. Call 670-8486.
...>MORE

2 BR MOBILE HOME IN EDMONTON
& 2 BR mobile home in Randolph-Summer Shade area, references & deposit required. Call 432-5245.

...>MORE

PRODUCTIVE 55+ ACRE FARM FOR SALE.
Flat, fenced, cross fenced, cattle waters, pond, spring, 56x112 metal barn, 40x120 metal feed shed w/concrete floors, me...>MORE

RENT TOO HIGH? CALL US FOR SPECIALS.
Best Deal In Glasgow. November Free! Only $350 mo. Newly remodeled 2 BR, 1 BA apartments, all appliances furnished. WD h...>MORE

2010 FLEETWOOD 32X80, 4 BR, 2 BA, FAMILY RM.,
fireplace, mud room, 6" walls, thermo windows, appliances, airs, OSB wrap, 2279 sq. ft., delivered, set up skirting, lis...>MORE

2 BR, 1 BA HOUSE,
refrigerator and stove furnished. $400 mo. plus $200 deposit. 270-576-4209.

...>MORE

See all ads
Today's Featured Jobs

Sales
SALES CAREER
You supply the hard
work, we’ll supply the
rewards. We offer: In-
tense company train...>MORE

LPN's or RN's
Meadows
Manor North

SIGN ON
BONUS!!!

LPN or RN’S
Part-time &
Full-time
...>MORE

See all ads
Today's Featured Autos

98 Buick Regal
95 Buick Regal,
132k mi., white,
$1250 Call
(317)242-8111
...>MORE

94 Mercury Van
1994 Mercury
Villager Mini van,
Asking $1400 Call
460-0313 aft. 4pm.

...>MORE

See all ads
Today's Featured Homes

Near Riley
LAKEWOOD APTS
Near Riley Ele-
mentry
1 & 2 Bdrm units.
894-3688
...>MORE

833 S 8th
1/2 Month Free Rent!
1 bd lower spacious
$350+util & dep 833
S. 8th. 234-3977
...>MORE

See all ads
Today's Cool Stuff

Queen sz bed
bombay company
queen sz bed
w/night stand, chest
& dresser, $500.
(812)236-2237

...>MORE

Mini Storages
FoR Rent 3 bdrm
home, corner of 15th
& Ohio. AC. $500.
month + dep + util.
Refs req. Call
...>MORE

See all ads

Loading Calendar...
(requires Javascript)
© 1995-2009, The Tribune Star, TribStar.com 222 South 7th Street, Terre Haute, Indiana 47807 • Phone: (812) 231-4200
Advertising • Circulation • Editorial • Administrative • Online
Place a Classified Ad
rtj

 

Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc. • CNHI Classified Advertising Network • CNHI News Service
Associated Press content © 2009. All rights reserved. AP content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Our site is powered by Zope and our Internet Yellow Pages site is powered by PremierGuide.
Some parts of our site may require you to download the Flash Player Plugin.
View our Privacy Policy
Advertiser index