Jeff Gordon on Right Track, For Now

It's quite easy to think that after the season's first two races, Jeff Gordon's 2009 appears headed in one direction.

A direction, that is, that will lead to his four Sprint Cup championship trophies earning a fifth partner on Gordon's mantle.

But lest we get caught up in the hype -- or is it desire? -- of seeing one of the sport's icons rise back to the top before realizing that the No. 24's disappointing 2008 started out in much the same fashion.

Starting with the Daytona 500, Gordon looked to be a solid competitor in the season-opening race a year ago by leading five laps before a suspension failure relegated the team to a 39th-place finish.

Then, Gordon took home a third-place finish in the rain-marred 2008 event at Auto Club Speedway and would have been well on his way to a Top-5 the following week at Las Vegas Motor Speedway until a late crash -- one that was virtually heard around the world -- left him shaken and with a 35th-place after leading 19 laps.

The next week, Gordon earned a 5th-place finish at the 1.5-mile Atlanta Motor Speedway, followed by an 11th-place run at Bristol and 2nd-place run at Martinsville. However, the Sprint Cup's first visit to Texas Motor Speedway finally unveiled to the whole NASCAR world that the No. 24's intermediate track program wasn't up to par.

That day, Gordon started 18th but by the first caution on lap 29, he was within car lengths of going a lap down. Following the caution, adjustments on pit road didn't make much of a difference and on lap 109, a lapped Gordon spun off turn four and ended his day with a dead-last finish.

So how does this all relate to what looks like a promising reversal of fortune in 2009 for Gordon? Well, perhaps, we all might be jumping the gun.

Just two weeks ago, Gordon had easily a Top-5 car at Daytona, but the rain left him mired with a 13th-place finish. And Sunday at California's ACS, Gordon was quite racy with winner Matt Kenseth and led 58 laps. For the first time in a long time, it seemed, Gordon was able to make up ground on the race track as green flag runs progressed, rather than slip back as was the norm often in 2008.

Two races, though, don't make a season and if 2008 was any indicator, Gordon's early success isn't necessarily a good indicator of his championship chances.

It's a great story for NASCAR to have Gordon -- a guy with such a large fan base and one that serves as a notable face of the sport -- coming back to prominence after some of things he's been through lately. But for now, I'm not quite ready to jump on that bandwagon that Gordon is indeed back to championship form.

36 races, after all, is what determines that, not two.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)

2-24-2009 @ 12:50PM

DA24JG said...

Hey Miller, Jeff could care less 'who's on first,' 'who's on second' or who's on board. JG will let his driving do the talking. (of course, LeTarte and crew will need to be on their 'A' game).

2-24-2009 @ 1:12PM

Bob said...

The "fat lady" doesn't sing for quite a few months, and many races from now--heck, she isn't even on the way to the concert hall yet. While I would definitely like to see Gordo win another Cup, I wouldn't even dare to state it openly that he is headed there at this point in time. Let the poor guy build some momentum first, and maybe after ten or so races we'll see what's what. Don't forget two seasons ago, when the cup was all his, with seemingly no challengers, and then Jimmie swooped in from nowhere to swipe it at the eleventh hour. I prefer to be patient and cautious, yet hopeful.

2-24-2009 @ 1:20PM

Bob, 'Trust Me!' JG 'will' win number 5! I'll bet 'anyone' $1,000 on the side. Hell, I'll throw down $5K!

2-24-2009 @ 1:52PM

I hope you're right, DA24JG. One thing's for sure, though--his crew needs to get back on their game, or Gordo's going to have trouble in any close ones. He can't keep having to get back what was lost in the pits. They ARE good, but they're not where they need to be, when the competition keeps jumping up 1-3 spots on every stop. Jeff is clearly doing his part.

Now stand back and wait for the "haters" to chime in!

2-24-2009 @ 2:05PM

agreed...

2-24-2009 @ 1:57PM

illsell4u said...

Bob, you just said what I have been saying all last season and already this season. It is not like it once in a while, it is EVERY SINGLE TIME he goes in the pits he comes out 1-3 places back from where he when he went in.
MBL

2-24-2009 @ 2:23PM

I hope Childress and co. figure out that engine problem, too. That's going to be really annoying if they get the people doing their part, and then the equipment fails them. Three out of four in one race is NOT a good sign!

2-24-2009 @ 4:01PM

rangel6653 said...

GORDON WELL GO ALL THE WAY THIS YEAR

2-25-2009 @ 2:41AM

Don Emerson said...

I'm not a hater, but Gordon won't win his " 5th " this year or any other. His best days are behind him and he should start planning his retirement. Sure, he might win a race or two, and at times flashes of the Gordon of yesteryear will give his fans hope, but he can no longer close the deal. Time has taken its toll on his reflexes, and motor skills, and the best ride in the world can't overcome that. He's in the same boat as Oscar Delahoya, the boxer. who can no longer pull the trigger in big fights. They want to win big, but they can't, and it's hard for them to let go. But let go they must....Let's just hope they don't tarnish their images by hanging on until they become a joke in their sport. Works for me.......

2-25-2009 @ 12:46PM

ONTO NASCAR said...

....Hey Don,.....'you're an idiot' 'GETTA OUTTA HERE!!' (this knucklehead is always spouting off from his rubber room.

3-02-2009 @ 7:42PM

Michael Scott said...

Don! Be a man and tell all of us WHO YOUR Driver is? When he gets near 70 wins then you can start blogging! Gordon learned from the best!

2-25-2009 @ 4:25AM

demzrdopes said...

Gordo should be at the top of the food chain at Hendrick, that's where he belongs..

2-25-2009 @ 7:16AM

I guess then Don, you must think Mark Martin is not only a joke, but a bad one.
I agree JG's best days are behind him but I do not think you would find one driver out there that actually would agree with you that he has no chances of winning another championship. And as I said in another post, when the day comes, it is better to be a "has been" then a "never was".
MBL

2-25-2009 @ 9:31AM

Kim said...

I completely agree with Mike on this one. Jeff Gordon still has the fire in his belly and more talent wrapped up tight in his little finger than more than half of the other drivers in the field today have in all ten of theirs. Jeff's problem isn't his driving or his "drive" to win, it's his pit crew and crew chief. Steve Letarte is the one who has lost the fire in his belly and should be replaced with a younger version, not Jeff.

I kept track of Jeff's pit crew times toward the end of last season and followed how many times Jeff went into the pits in a top five position and left the pits pushed back somewhere in the top ten. It worked out to being 4 out of every 5 pit stops, Jeff lost spots instead of gaining or remaining in his current spot once entering. That's not only pitiful for a four-time championship crew, it's disgusting. I am amazed how Jeff has held his composure with his crew and crew chief with those kind of stats. Jeff's not losing races.....His pit crew loses them for him. There is no excuse for poor workmanship and low employee effort in any organization, but especially one as high regarded as Hendrick Motor Sports.

If Jeff is going to have a successful year and be a contender for that fifth championship, major changes must be made to his crew and fast.

As a fan who finds Jeff awe-inspiring, it saddens me to watch him "fade away" because of sucky staff! I really hope something turns around for him soon enough.

Kim

P.S. Don....always the optimist!

2-25-2009 @ 1:20PM

....ye of little faith.....(sigh**)

2-25-2009 @ 12:49PM

PS. And I belong with Don Emerson! ;-)

2-25-2009 @ 12:56PM

Emerson & illsell4u,
Put your money where your mouths are and bet me $5k on JG winning #5!! You two wouldn't dare and if so, you don't have the cash! You guy's are low I.Q.,big mouths. Can't wait till JG wins #5 and sticks that trophy up your assess! >-)

2-25-2009 @ 1:19PM

Brad said...

Sorry folks just couldn't pass this one up,,,,,

Well I se D-umb A-ss 24 is up to his idle threats, and 'Gaurantee's' again along with his 'TRUST ME' bull*&%# he's been slinging for the past 2 yrs. Hey DumbAss don't jump on Mike he's one of JG's biggest fans and Don's just spouting his version of the future but if you want to make bets hell just give me your address and I would love to come talk to you in person and I will bet ya that probably after about 10 minutes or so you'll be tying my shoe with your teeth cause that's how far my foot will be up your A&#.

2-25-2009 @ 1:23PM

......another low I.Q. hot shot that resolves with fighting as the only answer......Brad, go get an education you fool....lol

2-25-2009 @ 1:24PM

You stupid idiot. Go back and re-read what I wrote. It is obvious his best days are behind him, unless you think he has 82 MORE wins left to give and 5 MORE championships. I personally would love to see he makes it to 100 wins and at least one more championship. Time will tell on that.
Anna gets a lot of crap for all her rants but there is nobody that writes into the fanhouse that is dumber, more hostile, and more threatening than you are DA. One day your mommy is going to catch you and wear your ass out.
Snarky
One of the nicknames we have for my son in law is DA. It stands for Dumb Ass. Coincidence? Probably not.