Search results matching tag 'jeff gordon'

Season First For Four-Time Champion

TMS Media Relations — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:07:00 GMT

Four-time Sprint Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon has been “streaky” at Texas Motor Speedway this year.

Gordon’s victory in April’s Samsung 500 snapped a 47-race winless streak and during his return visit for last week’s Dickies 500 he extended a streak. He captured the Dickies 500 pole Friday – his first since, you guessed it, last year’s Dickies 500 – to extend the record of 17 consecutive seasons with at least one pole.

Gordon also became the second driver to win consecutive poles in the same event at Texas Motor Speedway, joining Texas native Bobby Labonte (2003, ’04). The pole was the second of his career at Texas Motor Speedway and it placed him in a tie atop the list for most poles with Labonte, Ryan Newman (2005-S, ’05-F) and Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2001, ’08-S).

“It’s an honor to have 17 straight seasons,” Gordon said. “To finally get it, it doesn’t matter to me if it happens the first race or the last race really, other than it just takes a little bit of heat off you if you do it early. But the fact that we did get it and to do it here at Texas, a track where we have struggled at until recently, this is a great place to do it and we’re focused on ending this season the best we can.”

Start Of The Dickies 500

TMS Media Relations — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 02:36:41 GMT

FORT WORTH, TX - NOVEMBER 08: Jeff Gordon, driver of the #24 DuPont Chevrolet, leads the field to start the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Dickies 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on November 8, 2009 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images for Texas Motor Speedway)

Kyle Busch, Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr. During Dickies 500

TMS Media Relations — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 02:27:05 GMT

FORT WORTH, TX - NOVEMBER 08: Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M's Toyota, leads Jeff Gordon, driver of the #24 DuPont Chevrolet, and Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the #88 National Guard/AMP Energy Chevrolet, during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Dickies 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on November 8, 2009 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images for Texas Motor Speedway)

Jeff Gordon Pits During Dickies 500

TMS Media Relations — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 02:22:17 GMT

FORT WORTH, TX - NOVEMBER 08: Jeff Gordon, driver of the #24 DuPont Chevrolet, pits during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Dickies 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on November 8, 2009 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Jeff Gordon Wins Dickies 500 Pole

TMS Media Relations — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:29:27 GMT

FORT WORTH, TX - NOVEMBER 06: Jeff Gordon, driver of the #24 DuPont Chevrolet, poses in victory lane after qualifying for the first position in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Dickies 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on November 6, 2009 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by John Harrelson/Getty Images for Texas Motor Speedway)

Four-Time Series Champion Jeff Gordon Wins Pole For Sunday's Dickies 500

TMS Media Relations — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 23:08:00 GMT

FORT WORTH, Texas (November 6, 2009) – Four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon (No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet) won the Dickies 500 pole for the second consecutive year, earning the position with a lap of 191.117 miles per hour during Friday’s 7-Eleven Qualifying Day at Texas Motor Speedway.

Gordon’s second pole at Texas Motor Speedway moved him into a tie for most career poles at “The Great American Speedway!” with Dale Earnhardt Jr., Bobby Labonte and Ryan Newman. The pole was his first since winning the Dickies 500 pole a year ago and 68th of his career.

Gordon, who won April’s Samsung 500, will be looking to join Carl Edwards (2008) as the only Sprint Cup Series drivers to sweep both events in the same season at Texas Motor Speedway when the green flag waves at 2:30 p.m. CT Sunday for the Dickies 500.

Kasey Kahne (No. 9 Budweiser Dodge) qualified second with a lap of 190.975 mph for his fourth career top-three start at Texas Motor Speedway. The effort is only bested by the pole position he earned for the 2006 Samsung/RadioShack 500.

Kurt Busch (No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge) ran a lap of 190.941 mph to equal his personal-best qualifying effort at Texas Motor Speedway that was set at the 2006 Dickies 500. Tony Stewart (No. 14 Office Depot/Old Spice Chevrolet) established a personal best at Texas Motor Speedway by qualifying fourth at 190.624 mph. His previous-best qualifying effort at Texas was seventh in April’s Samsung 500.

Kyle Busch (No. 18 M&M’s Toyota) rounded out the top five qualifiers with a lap of 190.523 mph. It is Busch’s third top-five start at Texas Motor Speedway, with his best being third in the 2008 Samsung 500.

Defending Dickies 500 champion Carl Edwards (No. 99 Aflac Ford) qualified sixth with a lap of 190.148 mph, and three-time defending Sprint Cup series champion and current Chase points leader Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe’s/KOBALT Tools Chevrolet) qualified 12th at 189.860 mph.

The 43-driver field is set for Sunday’s Dickies 500, the eighth race in the 10-event Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, and frontstretch tickets, starting as low as $86, are still available by calling the Texas Motor Speedway ticket office at (817) 215-8500 or by visiting www.texasmotorspeedway.com.

	Pos	Car	Driver	Team	Time	Speed
Row 1:	1	24	Jeff Gordon	DuPont Chevrolet	28.255	191.117
	2	9	Kasey Kahne	Budweiser Dodge	28.276	190.975
Row 2:	3	2	Kurt Busch	Miller Lite Dodge	28.281	190.941
	4	14	Tony Stewart	Office Depot/Old Spice Chevrolet	28.328	190.624
Row 3:	5	18	Kyle Busch	M&M's Toyota	28.343	190.523
	6	99	Carl Edwards	Aflac Ford	28.399	190.148
Row 4:	7	5	Mark Martin	CARQUEST/Kellogg's Chevrolet	28.408	190.087
	8	16	Greg Biffle	3M/Super 33 Tape Ford	28.413	190.054
Row 5:	9	88	Dale Earnhardt Jr.	National Guard/AMP Energy Chevrolet	28.427	189.960
	10	33	Clint Bowyer	Cheerios/Hamburger Helper Chevrolet	28.428	189.954
Row 6:	11	77	Sam Hornish Jr.	AAA Dodge	28.436	189.900
	12	48	Jimmie Johnson	Lowe's / KOBALT Tools Chevrolet	28.442	189.860
Row 7:	13	00	David Reutimann	Aaron's Dream Machine Toyota	28.448	189.820
	14	20	Joey Logano #	Home Depot Toyota	28.451	189.800
Row 8:	15	83	Brian Vickers	Red Bull Toyota	28.452	189.793
	16	44	A J Allmendinger	Ford Drive One Ford	28.466	189.700
Row 9:	17	6	David Ragan	UPS/Boys & Girls Clubs of America Ford	28.466	189.700
	18	43	Reed Sorenson	Valvoline Dodge	28.482	189.593
Row 10:	19	47	Marcos Ambrose	Little Debbie/Kingsford/Clorox Toyota	28.483	189.587
	20	42	Juan Pablo Montoya	Target Dream In Color Chevrolet	28.510	189.407
Row 11:	21	02	David Gilliland	Farm Bureau Toyota	28.579	188.950
	22	26	Jamie McMurray	Crown Royal Ford	28.589	188.884
Row 12:	23	70	Mike Skinner	TRG Motorsports Chevrolet	28.595	188.844
	24	29	Kevin Harvick	Shell/Pennzoil Chevrolet	28.617	188.699
Row 13:	25	11	Denny Hamlin	FedEx Office Toyota	28.619	188.686
	26	39	Ryan Newman	Haas Automation Chevrolet	28.625	188.646
Row 14:	27	1	Martin Truex Jr.	Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats Chevrolet	28.634	188.587
	28	71	Bobby Labonte	TRG Motorsports Chevrolet	28.670	188.350
Row 15:	29	7	Robby Gordon	MAPEI Toyota	28.675	188.317
	30	17	Matt Kenseth	DeWalt Ford	28.677	188.304
Row 16:	31	82	Scott Speed #	Red Bull Toyota	28.721	188.016
	32	78	Regan Smith	Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet	28.725	187.990
Row 17:	33	19	Elliott Sadler	Stanley Tools Dodge	28.732	187.944
	34	87	Joe Nemechek	NEMCO Motorsports Toyota	28.751	187.820
Row 18:	35	12	Brad Keselowski	No. 12 Penske Dodge Dodge	28.754	187.800
	36	07	Casey Mears	Choctaw Casino/Resort Chevrolet	28.755	187.793
Row 19:	37	36	Michael McDowell	Wave Energy Drink Toyota	28.804	187.474
	38	96	Erik Darnell	Academy Sports + Outdoors Ford	28.849	187.182
Row 20:	39	98	Paul Menard	Vertis/Menards Ford	28.903	186.832
	40	55	Michael Waltrip	NAPA Auto Parts Toyota	28.964	186.438
Row 21:	41	34	John Andretti	Taco Bell Chevrolet	Owner Points
	42	31	Jeff Burton	Caterpillar Chevrolet	Owner Points
Row 22:	43	21	Bill Elliott	Motorcraft Ford	Past Champion
Did Not Qualify: # 37 Tony Raines; # 66 Dave Blaney; # 13 Max Papis #; # 09 Mike Bliss. # Denotes Rookie

Jeff Gordon says his Texas win in April is a win he thought he'd never get

TMS Total Access — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:20:10 GMT

Jeff Gordon says his Texas win in April is a win he thought he'd never get

If Jeff Gordon were to dress up for Halloween, what would he wear? Find out what both Jeff and Jimmie Johnson say

TMS Total Access — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:41:24 GMT

If Jeff Gordon were to dress up for Halloween, what would he wear? Find out what both Jeff and Jimmie Johnson say

Texas Sized Hospitality

TMS Media Relations — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 19:17:00 GMT

Fans can experience hospitality like never before prior to the Dickies 500 with a pass to the new Time Warner Cable Pit Stop Pavilion at the Village of Champions featuring an appearance by four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon.

The Time Warner Cable Pit Stop Pavilion pass includes access to an exclusive Q&A session with Gordon; a continental breakfast and buffet lunch in the Time Warner Cable Pit Stop Pavilion tent; and a VIP pit pass with pre-race access to pit road.

For a limited time, fans can purchase a special Time Warner Cable Pit Stop Pavilion combination package for $199 that includes a Dickies 500 frontstretch ticket in addition to all the other amenities. For fans who have already purchased Dickies 500 tickets, Time Warner Cable Pit Stop Pavilion passes are $149. Passes can be ordered by calling the TMS ticket office at (817) 215-8500.

The Hunt for Checkered October: Heat Up the Hounds

ThunderStruck — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 04:06:19 GMT

ThunderThoughts: Another No Need to Read

The Hunt for Checkered October: Heat Up the Hound

The Columbian Collider: Education on the Fly; No Curve Grading

When Juan Pablo Montoya, driver formerly known as the 'Columbian Collider" due to his uncanny ability to hit whatever came within his tormenting touch, first came into the rank and file of drives who were looking to make a name for themselves in stock car racing he needed more talent than others just cause of his relationship to both open wheel racing as well as his status as a foreigner (not U.S. Born). He was given the equipment, the crew, and a sponsor that has stuck with him throughout it all. Good times were few and far between getting little to no respect or breaks on the track from anyone. Some said NASCAR used him as a Token Driver to fill the need of the sport to have someone, anyone who was not a native son driving enabling the sport to boast it was diversified. The sports officials may have wanted it but no fan wanted it. The fans spoke very loudly of their displeasure with the decision and with every little mishap involving the Man from the Land of Coffee they stood and yelled 'Foul'! It was then that I began to call him the "Columbian Collider" simply due to the fact that it seemed that every single time he got close to another car, he hit it. No, not just once or twice, it happened over and over again. Often taking out some Very Big Names in the sport infuriating the driver involved, the owner, the other cars that got took out, the officials, and worst yet, the fans. They did not like it and they let their opinions be heard screaming from the mountaintops to all listeners. They were Mad, Period and they wanted him out. Slowly, very slowly, people began to notice that this feller had one thing that every fan likes to se in a driver. They used to call it MOXY, nerve, guts, whatever you want to call it, he had it, and the fans seen it. He had no breaks on the track though often learning what he did learn all alone on the track. Letting Experience teach him was getting expensive however. To him, and to other drivers who got caught up in his lack of knowledge on how to handle the car. It took time, lots of cars but, with no "learning Curve" he did indeed learn. Winning where he could and finishing over and over again (un-noticed by some) in the top ten, which is why he is where he is, A Contender in the Chase. Today he came out with a Vengeance. Looking like a man with a cause and no fear to do what it took to do it, early too. He shot out over and over on the restarts. Over and over again he would be in the place to take the lead. Over and over again he applied what it is he learned and once again finished at the top. Question comes to mind, in fact a couple. Will he win a race in the chase pulling ever so closer to that thin spread of points that at the end, determines who wears that crown every driver out there wants. We'll see.

Sick and Tired: One Swine Flew into the Cuckoo's Nest

H1N1 Flew. It is in the headlines every day. People are passing; both young and old alike are falling prey to this new form of a deadly virus that we have known about for ages. The 'Flew' although we have known vaccines, can still kill people, and when it morphs into a new unknown form, well it is just not good. I know that the drivers that get behind those wheels want to drive. They want to win. So if they can walk then in their minds, they can drive. The CDC, the President, Doctors both for the vaccine and those who are not yet fans due to lack of results all recommend that if you even think you are sick, then stay away from those who not. They have asked that if you do not have to travel then don't. If you can avoid large crowds, do so. Do what common sense says. Do what your Momma told you. Do what your Grandma told you. Stay Away From People. If you think you may be ill then do us, yourself all a favor and stay home, get better, then Get Back to Work! Get Back to Work, ONLY when you know dang sure you ain't contagious. If you even think you can infect someone else, then wait till you know you will not. Today, yesterday, a Driver was ill a fact he made no secret about it. He let someone else drive his car when he himself was so ill he could not drive. He said he was going to the infield care center to take fluids and lay down. Look people am I the only one who sees a possible issue with letting someone, anyone who is ill in an area with so many people coming into contact with them directly? Am I the only one who seen that there could be a serious problem? Let us just say the worst of the worst scenarios plays out. Drivers begin getting very sick. Crew personnel too which leaves garages empty and no cars to drive even if a driver could drive. Soon, the sports season comes to an abrupt halt. No races to go to. No tickets to sell. I know this is extreme, but just what if. What if it happened? Drivers, team members, owners, press, officials, everyone, fans too, if you are sick, if you feel sick then stay home away from people. All People! Period, No Exceptions!

Bits & Pieces: In Trivial Pursuit; Very Interesting

Does NASCAR Officials know something they are yet telling? Is there some kind of secret about Hendricks and his engines that they do not want us to know? Is there something different or that does meet template standards? Well they must know something cause for the third consecutive week, NASCAR officials will take Jimmie Johnson's and Mark Martin's cars to the Research & Development Center in Concord, N.C., for further inspection. Very Interesting!

Fontana, Auto Club Speedway. Not the most loved track on the circuit. They try to make I better, but? In fact, I have looked at boards from almost every single site out there and 98% of the fans posts mention how dis-liked the track is. They tried to fix it by adjusting dates so that the weather conditions were friendlier. The track and NASCAR has take steps to fix a problem it took them decades to notice. It did not, however, take the fans that long. They have repeatedly voiced their dis-like of the track itself as well as the staff who operates it. Repeated steps taken by a sport trying hard to accommodate a track that by actions displayed have shown they could care less. I have friends there. They have over and over again defended the track. They have hopes that soon someone will come along and do what is right, get the track back in shape and ran by people who care. Care about the track and the fans who visit. The location is superb; the fan base is awe inspiring which you would think would entice even the tightest pocketbook to open up and paint a prettier picture. They had today. The weather was great and the fans, the press, all were there hoping to find a different track than the one they left behind on their last occasion to visit what appears to be a Doomed Track. Only time and accountants will tell. If they made money, perhaps they will do what it is they know needs to be done. What NASCAR has told them to do. What fans have screamed for them to do. If they do not, there are tracks all across America waiting for their chance to become the next place to host a race but Fans that are close in proximity want it there. NASCAR wants it there. What NASCAR does not want is for the operators to leave it like it is especially when they have adjusted the schedule to see if it could be made a worthwhile venture. We will see if they listened, learned, or even care. Very Interesting!

Shark Attacking Fish Bait: Women Race Rights; The recent overkill of interests in a certain woman who has made it everyone's business to know hers, has possibly found someone who thinks as much of her as she does. She may well have talent in the sport from which she crawled out from under but, to assume that the talent, as little as it is, will just transfer into the stock car world is simply arrogant on her part as well as presuming by the garage showing interest. She has done nothing except to cause disruption in the driver's world by potentially taking a seat away from a driver who is more deserving as well as talented. I am just as inclined to have a woman driving in the series, but, doesn't anyone else see a need for her to be able to drive and not just look good sitting in the car. Sure she is pretty, but pretty ain't going to cut the mustard when time comes to pay them there bills. Beauty is great, glad she is pleasant to look at, but, she does not or at least has not shown she can drive in a stock car. Oh please don't give me all that about her driving in that other series. Everyone knows that if she was all that she would have done way better and probably still be there with bells on. She has hung out for any and all fish to bite on. Some have shown interests. Question is, "Is She the Shark or the Bait?" Very Interesting!

Second Class Citizen: Realization Frustration; New Sensation Bad Vibrations

"We're doing everything we can to be good enough, but it's just not there, so we've got to search and find something. We've got to be better than that. I felt like we were like in a second-class category, that's the only thing that bothers me a little bit. We're just not good enough. We're good, but we're not good enough."

The entire above are quotes by none other than Jeff Gordon. He is one driver who knows that finishing in second is just what Dale Earnhardt Sr. said it was the first loser. To some people he will always be the Champion that one day soon, history books will be kind to telling about all his achievements, all his trophies, all the wins, to those people he will always be their Champion, however, to Mr. Gordon, second is just not going to cut the mustard, not now, not ever.

Hopefully someday soon he will look back and see how he single handedly changed not only methods of racing both on the track and off. He made the marketing end what it is, sure he learned from others, they may have already been doing it, but none had done it the way that he did it. Now it is standard at every track and venue to do it the way he made famous, and profitable. His driving abilities have taken so many flags, enough to don any room to the ceiling. His talent, good looks, wry grin, and knowledge and skills on the track and in the board rooms are what legends are made of. He, even to those who do not adore him, was, is, and always will be that Rainbow Warrior, sure the colors may be different, but the Song Remains the Same. Play on Jeff,, Play On!

His skills speak handsomely for themselves; no one, not me, and definitely not him need to give excuses as to why he is not winning as much as 'They' want him to. Problem is, is that he does not like this crud. Looking at the rear end of a car he is trying so hard to catch and not being able to, is driving him insane. You can see it in his eyes. The way his brow twists, his grin is not the same. He is driving, yes, he is driving, but question is, can he drive this out of his mind and drive his car to the winners circle at the next race? In my opinion, everyone need beware. For when you least expect it, when you count him out, down for the count, is when you need to beware. He did not get to where it is he is by just accepting second place. On the Track or as a Citizen, he could never be second, not now, not ever.

Simple Questions Deserve Simple Answers: DUH

"Can anyone stop Johnson and the No. 48 Chevy team from winning an unprecedented fourth consecutive Sprint Cup crown?"

This question is being asked in garages, board rooms, and over water coolers all over the US. Everyone wants to know if that 48 Lowes Home Improvement Car (nice to see the foundation's cause on it this week) can be caught. Is the Chase still steal-able? Steal, Theft, look, at this point; if Mr. Johnson does not win this chase Championship, it is due to theft. A Championship Stolen away from him and allowed to be taken away by none other than him, himself. He has the skill, the crew, the owner, the car, equipment, and the thing I see that is his best asset is his attitude. If he can hold strong in his believing in himself, nothing except him can stop him.

To Close for Comfort: Point Spread; Gap Narrows He cannot sit still though. The lead he has in the Championship is not as great as to where it cannot be caught, caught and overtaken by another one of them there fellers who are staring at him in his rear view mirror. They know that they too have a chance to take the Championship. They and their team (s) can be the ones sitting at that table come time to Crown the next Ruler in the Kingdom of NASCAR. They want it bad, some for the first time, for the first of many, many attempts in a career that has lasted for decades and none being able to produce the Crown. Others want it bad for reasons all their own, one wants to make his story history adding his name to a very short list of Owner/Driver to take a Championship. He may well achieve his goal, that is if his own teammate and employee does not prevent it or anyone of the other top six or seven drivers up there in that list of names that are in the hunt for the Crown. The Points are that Close, so Keep Racing Boys, We'll Keep Watching!

Keeping the Faith