Racing Sick? No Biggie for Jeff Gordon

Jeff Gordon was sick as a dog all weekend at Kansas Speedway, and ended with a fourth-place finish.

In other words, Gordon scored his best finish since June at Infineon Raceway despite the fact that JR Motorsports' Nationwide Series driver Brad Keselowski was ready to fill-in as needed in the No. 24 Chevrolet.

Gordon started 13th on Sunday and for the first time in a long time in 2008, he actually was a steady figure in the Top-10 and didn't fade over the course of the race, instead moving up steadily as the race wore on. Simply, it was a close resemblance of the No. 24 team of the 2007 season that was clicking on all eight cylinders.

In post-race interviews, Gordon cited a couple of factors for the decent performance:

"That's the thing about a great team. When one team member is down other guys rally and pick up the pace and that's what they did with me today. I'm very thankful for that. We had some pit practice this week not to mention the test in Charlotte. I think all of it paid off even though I'm sick it all paid off. Great top-five effort."

As for the pit practice comment, Gordon actually showed up this week with the pit crew last week -- likely at the Hendrick shop -- for practice as a whole, instead of having someone fill in as a driver.

While I doubt it made a big difference in his pit approach, it likely sent a message to the whole team that he's a team member, too, which can only build good things -- especially at a point in the season where the length of the NASCAR schedule starts to take a toll on a team that is hanging on for dear life at a potential Chase run.

Racing sick, and running exceptionally well for that matter, is something Gordon has done in the past at a road course race he won. The event was the 1999 event at the 11-turn Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif. and Gordon won the race that day despite being noticably under the weather in victory lane.

Gordon is indeed a longshot for the championship in 2008, but this team could sure use a dose of momentum to lead in to the offseason and it looks like it will get it.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

9-29-2008 @ 1:28AM

Stewart Fan said...

Jeff even went to a town in Kansas on Thursday that had been flattened by a tornado earlier this year. It was his 2nd trip and he was ill. It was in conjunction with DuPont but I was impressed.

I was not so impressed with the driver that was struggling. He told his spotter to tell the drivers around him that if they crashed then please crash him as well.

Two completely different attitudes

9-29-2008 @ 1:31PM

GregFos said...

sounds like he need an attitude adjustment. Hey if you're a big racing fan, then you should check out www.rickrushart.com. He's got some pretty cool nascar paintings as well as other sports.

9-29-2008 @ 2:08PM

DA24JG said...

I was on the race scanner from beginning to end and NEVER once did Jeff tell his spotter to tell the drivers around him that if they crashed then please crash him as well! (that's why some of you who can't handle your alcohol shouldn't drink and watch NASCAR...)

9-29-2008 @ 6:58PM

DA24JG,

Maybe you should lay off the alcohol. The first paragraph was a compliment about Jeff Gordon and I said I was impressed.

The second paragraph was referring to a driver that was struggling. Struggling meaning their car had problems and they were crying about it. I think they actually played that remark from that OTHER driver on TV. I guess you missed that.

I won't say anything nice about Jeff in the future . Apparently, 'some' of his fans are as rude or drunk or stupid as they claim other fan groups to be.

9-29-2008 @ 7:18PM

You're a great example of your own words.....(next time be more specific and not so damn vague...)

9-29-2008 @ 7:25PM

PS. Jeff is one of the nicest guys you would ever be lucky enough to ever have the chance to meet. He's one class act and in a league of his own.....period.

9-29-2008 @ 8:14PM

Brad said...

Da24jG,

Next time don't rush to conclusions and you won't be pulling your foot out of your mouth! ! ! Try being an example of YOUR own words, 'A CLASS ACT'............PERIOD. Nothing was said about Jeff that wasn't flattering and we all know he's a great driver and one hell of a person. If you think someone is being vague, and you listened to the scanner all day and knew what Jeff had said all day long then how the hell do you put 2 and 2 together and come up with 5.

9-29-2008 @ 8:23PM

Mike LeVan said...

Susan, everyone remembers the Talledega incident when a few drunkin idiots threw their cups and beer cans at Jeff Gordon after he passed Dale Earnhardt Sr on the wins list. Since Jr derives most of his fan base from his daddy's fans, the people that were the drunking idiots were labelled as being Dale Jr fans. This cast an ugly pall upon all the Dale jr fans that MOST did not deserve. I find many of Jr's fans to be good natured decent people that I enjoy joking and ribbing throughout the Nascar season.Decent people like Cynthia, Brad, Ron, and now we have Debra. They all share the shame every time someone wants to bring up the drunkin idiots at Talledega.
Now, as you have learned, this type of shame is not only restricted to the Dale Jr fans. There are idiots lurking about pulling for each and every driver. And yes, I am saddened to say that even Jeff Gordon fans have to hang our heads in shame when certain idiots open their mouths and let it be known that they too are Jeff Gordon fans. Please do not hold it against the rest of us just because you run into one Dumb Ass Jeff Gordon fan.
Now that I think of it, my wife and I refer to our son in law as D.A., short for Dumb Ass. I wonder if there is a connection.
MBL

9-29-2008 @ 10:10PM

brad and mike.........the two self proclaimed hotshot know it all nascar fans. you two boys keep humoring yourselves with your trailer trash mouths and attitudes. yeah, you two are 'real' class acts.....lol.

9-29-2008 @ 10:21PM

Jack Hall said...

Stewart fan's message was very clear to me Du Ass. Maybe it's your "vague" understanding of basic language skills that is the culprit.

9-30-2008 @ 8:11AM

.......'lol.....ok little jack hall, time for you to shove off to school now....'

9-30-2008 @ 10:43AM

I don't know if this knucklehead will ever get out the hole he's digging for himself but a wise man once said ' it's easier if you put down the shovel and stop digging '

10-01-2008 @ 10:13AM

.....'brad, you mean the hole you're digging for yourself......(brad appears to be a typical liberal indeed.........airhead!') lol

10-01-2008 @ 10:34AM

YYYYAAAAAWWWWWWWNNNNNNNN

10-01-2008 @ 10:42AM

Now, 'Back to the article'
Miller is right. To sum it all up, Gordon is one of 'very few' that can pull off a 4th place finish (not to mention a road course victory as well) when one is sick and not feeling well. Now that is a sign of a true 'Iron horse.' Next,......Talladega!

10-01-2008 @ 11:06AM

When was that road course victory?

10-01-2008 @ 11:31AM

(......paragraph 7 stewart fan.....)

10-01-2008 @ 1:51PM

Thanks