"Drought" Over? Gordon Takes M'Ville Pole

So what's all this talk about a drought for Hendrick Motorsports?

Team driver Jeff Gordon gave the racing media a chance to quit their barking about the HMS performance over the first five races by putting his No. 24 Chevrolet on the pole for Sunday's Goody's Cool Orange 500.

His seventh-career Martinsville Speedway pole -- yep, that's just one shy of the track record -- came quite solidly after picking up over two-tenths of a second from his fastest practice lap, enough to make his qualifying lap of 19.666 over a tenth quicker than 2nd-place Denny Hamlin.

The pole was Gordon's 65th of his career, 2nd of the season, and yada yada yada. In other words, Jeff Gordon is in normal form at Martinsville this weekend and barring a large concrete block hitting the front end of his car, he's gonna be tough as nails on the .526-mile track.

Aric Almirola, David Ragan, and Jamie McMurray rounded out the latter half of a top-5 that could easily be mistaken for a Nationwide Series lineup. The rest of Hendrick will line up 10th (Jimmie Johnson), 22nd (Dale Earnhardt Jr.), and 39th (Casey Mears).

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

3-29-2008 @ 2:55AM

anzajoe said...

WHOOPY DU, THE GREAT JEFF GORDON HAS GOTTEN THE POLE. I'll subscribe for him leading 25-30 laps before DENNY,KYLE OR TONY takes the lead away and JEFF and JJ fade away.Little E. is the only driver so far this year keeping the HENDRICK'S on the map.
What in the world has happened to the GODS OF NASCAR?? Whoopy du. Works for me.

3-29-2008 @ 7:37AM

Mike said...

Just like last year at Talledega, there really is no reason to lead at the beginning of the season "Joe". It is who is in front at the end that counts. Saint Jimmie and Jeff, the God of Thunder Row, will be in the top five at the end of the season.
MBL

3-29-2008 @ 1:14PM

Don Emerson said...

Begging your pardon Mike, but track position is all important at a track like Martinsville. To compare it to Talledega is a little foolish, don't you think. So far this season, starting fast then fading has been Gordon's trademark, so we will just have to wait and see. Saint Jimmy, and God of Thunder Row ???? C'mon man, give me a break and you might ant to lay off the joy juice. Works for me....

3-29-2008 @ 6:07PM

My comparison to Talledega was not the Martinsville race. It was the season as a whole. It is not necessary to lead the points race at this point is what I meant. Much like it was not necessary to lead the race at Talladega until the end.
Much like a joke, if my comparison had to be explained it must not have been very good.
And you have to know the "Saint Jimmie and God of Thunder Row" was all for Anna.
Michael Bishop LeVan

3-29-2008 @ 9:24PM

Susan said...

Mike,

I understood the joke and knew what you meant. I think 3 Hendrick drivers will be in the chase. Junior will probably drop lower ONLY because it's his first year with Hendrick. :)

I think we should all pick out the 12 drivers that will be in the chase and see who ends up being the closest.

Susan

3-29-2008 @ 11:42PM

INTRODUCING THE 12 DRIVERS THAT WILL COMPOSE THE 2008 NASCAR CHASE:
KYLE busch, d. hamlin,tony stewart, jeff gordon, jimmy johnson, dale earnhardt, matt kenseth,g. biffle, ,kurt bush,c.boyer,harvick, j bourbon.
LISTING OBTAINED from my tarot cards and my crystal bowl. works for me.

3-30-2008 @ 9:41AM

My top 12 are Tony Stewart, Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick, Clint Bowyer, Matt Kenseth, Carl Edwards, Jimmy Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Dale Jr, Greg Biffle, Denny Hamlin, Jeff Burton.

3-30-2008 @ 10:52AM

Kim said...

Interesting indeed my friends.

My top twelve would be: Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, Jeff Burton (not bourbon, is someone thinking about drinking here), Clint Bowyer, Jimmie Johnson, Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards, Kevin Harvick, Matt Kenseth, Denny Hamlin, Kurt Busch, and this one is a stretch, Ryan Newman.

I guess we'll see. :-)

Kim

3-30-2008 @ 11:43AM

Brad said...

Gordon, Johnson, Jr, Stewart, Kyle, Harvick, Burton, Kurt B, Newman, Kenseth, Biffle, Edwards

Aloha, Brad

Kim........your already giving up on Jr.? The same guy that at the begining of the year already proved to you that he could produce with the right team and 5 races in....he's back under the bus?????LOL

3-30-2008 @ 2:37PM

Hello Brad!

Yes, he (Jr.) has been thrown back under the bus. Sorry. :-( I am not saying he isn't improving, he is. I just have to agree with Ron, Don, & Mike. His crew chief is an idiot and is not doing him any favors. He consistenly makes bad calls that very well could have already cost Jr. some wins & will continue to do so. I believe as long as Eury Jr. is around, Little E. will never be a complete success. Sorry. :-( New, team, new owner, new car number, new sponsors, new crew, should have also included new crew chief. Perhaps he will prove me wrong. We'll just have to wait and see.

Kim

3-30-2008 @ 6:20PM

It pains me to read the negative remarks about Jr. I am going to take my toys and just go home. :)

3-30-2008 @ 10:26PM

Actually so far this year,it has'nt been so bad.
If you had been on this pages throughout last year,
and viewed every week the anti jr and anti stew. campaign,you would grabbed your toys and begun fireing back. works for me.

3-31-2008 @ 2:04AM

Well Kim all I can say is that so called idiot has Jr. in 4th place overall so what's that make every crew chief behind him at this point BRAINDEAD???????

Aloha, Brad