The pain was evident in Jeff Gordon's body language Monday afternoon outside the care center at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International where he was given the once-over after being involved in a frightening late race accident.
The resulting 37th place finish tied his worst showing of the season and was only his second finish outside the top-20 since April -- a dismal conclusion to an un-Gordon-like road course outing.
It's a safe bet his No. 24 DuPont Chevy team will rebound in the remaining four weeks before the Chase for the Championship 10-race playoff. The question is, how will his already aching back recover. And will it ultimately affect Gordon's title hopes?
"It wasn't that hard of a hit, it's just my back can't stand too many hits,'' said Gordon, who had a procedure on his lower back in May to relieve the pain and inflammation from mild arthritis. "I'm hurting.''
"It's just not what I needed you know,'' Gordon added. "You take three or four steps forward up to this point and you then you take a hit like that and you take a couple steps backwards.''
Sam Hornish Jr. was pinched off-course while racing side-by-side with Kasey Kahne. The impact into the tire barrier lifted Hornish's Dodge off the ground and spun it wildly back across the race course into traffic. Gordon had nowhere to go and the cars collided violently, sending Gordon's Chevy head-on into a retaining fence.
"My first reaction was, 'man that hurt,' and then you hope you don't get hit again,'' Gordon said. "Then I just wanted to get out and see what kind of pain I was in with my back. I knew I was hurting and then was wondering if Sam [Hornish] was OK because he took a couple of heavy hits.''
Hornish was okay although that was the second major accident in the course's Turn 9 -- Jason Leffler wrecked there in Nationwide Series practice -- and already there are calls for NASCAR to look into the safety of that portion of the track.
Monday's result cost Gordon points in the title chase, but he's still ranked third, comfortably in the Championship fray. And that may be the only thing comfortable for the four-time Champ this week.Gordon has said his back is more affected during intense short-track races, not so much at the larger speedways or road courses. Fortunately for Gordon, the Sprint Cup Series races at the 2-mile Michigan Speedway on Sunday before moving to the bump-and-bang Bristol, Tenn., half-mile bullring on Aug. 22.
"Oh man, my left side and my back is super sore,'' Gordon said. "It's going to take probably a couple of weeks for it to heal completely and then we'll be back to new. ... Luckily we've got Michigan coming up next week, it's pretty easy on things. If we were going to Bristol next week, I'd be concerned.''
DYST V3 test
LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers watches as Mo Williams #2 takes a shoe to the face by Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers after a steal in the closing seconds of the first half at The Quicken Loans Arena on February 8, 2009 in Cleveland, Ohio. (David Liam Kyle, NBAE/Getty Images)
David Liam Kyle, NBAE/Getty Images
Brazil's Diogo (L) vies for the ball with Paraguay's Hernan Perez during their U-20 South American Championship football match in Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela on February 8, 2009.(Juan Barreto, AFP/Getty Images )
Juan Barreto, AFP/Getty Images
A Dalmatian looks at its handler as a judge goes to touch the dog during the first day of the 2009 Westminster Dog Show in New York February 9, 2009.(Lucas Jackson, Reuters)
Lucas Jackson, Reuters
Denver Nuggets forward Chris Anderson touches his head during a time out in the first half of their NBA basketball game with the New Jersey Nets in East Rutherford, New Jersey February 7, 2009. (Ray Stubblebine, Reuters)
Ray Stubblebine, Reuters
Margarita Marbler, of Austria, skis to a bronze medal finish the ladies moguls freestyle FIS World Cupskiing qualification at Cypress mountain in West Vancouver, British Columbia, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009. (Jonathan Hayward, The Canadian Press/AP)
Jonathan Hayward, The Canadian Press/AP
West Virginia guard Darryl Bryant (25) is fouled by Providence guard Jeff Xavier (1) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Morgantown, W.Va. Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009. West Virginia won 86-59. (Don Wright, AP)
Don Wright, AP
Missouri's DeMarre Carroll, top, celebrates the Tigers' 62-60 win over Kansas in Columbia, Missouri, Monday, February 9, 2009. (Rich Sugg, Kansas City Star/MCT)
Rich Sugg, Kansas City Star/MCT
David Clarkson #23 of the New Jersey Devils fights Erik Reitz #4 of the New York Rangers during their game on February 9, 2009 at The Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey (Al Bello, Getty Images)
Al Bello, Getty Images
Driver Patrick Sheltra (60) begins to spin coming out of the fourth turn during the ARCA 200 auto race in Daytona Beach, Fla. Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009.
Darryl Graham, AP
Spain's Nuria Llagostera Vives serves the ball, in this multiple exposure, to Iveta Benesova of the Czech Republic during their Fed Cup tennis match in Brno February 7, 2009.
Petr Josek, Reuters
Comments (Page 1 of 4)
get well soon jeff,you are mr.nascar in my eyes today,since the loss of earnhardt sr.
My first thought was uggggggggg, out of the race. That lasted about a 10 seconds before I so said OH NO HIS BACK. I love you Jeff. Good luck.
Get better ,Jeff. Get that cup!
Whaaaaaaaa, whine, oh my, time to retire.
JUJU - There is always one in the bunch. Who needs your opinion. It stinks, just like you.
You are a Jerk. You obviously know nothing about Nascar or Jeff Gordon. He has done so much for the sport and may have to retire early due to injuries to his back. He's a class act and will be missed by millions. Get better Jeff and go for your fifth championship! Go 24!!!!
OH PLEASE.... Jeff Gordon has never whined about a race or the rusults thereof in his enitire racing career.....
jeff you are a tropper Good luck to my favorite driver
Notice how it's still Jeff & Jimmie after all the early season hype about Martin & Earnhardt. Martin's won some, but the focus still is on Gordon and Johnson. I think if equal effort had been given to all four drivers all season long the rest of the field would be trying to decide positions 5 - 12 in the Cup chase. As for the Cup chase, they should split the 12 contenders away from the rest and hold a series of contenders only races instead of putting them in the field with all the non contenders. That would mean more, cleaner racing. Certainly would eliminate one or more contenders getting taken out by eone running h place. If not seperate races, start them at the front of the field. Running up front to start certainly would lessen the likelyhood of a wreck involving the contenders.
I agree that those drivers in the top 12 for the championship should be permitted to skip qualifying for the chase races and run in their perspective places during the chase races. As you said, this would keep them away from the guys in the back of the pack who are not chase contenders and make it a more even, clean race for those in cup contention.
Kim
Jeff my wife and I are thinking of you take care and get better, don't let this crash get you down.
JUJU- WHAT A WITCH YOU SOUND LIKE... YOU ARE PROBABLY A DALE JR FAN HUH? HOW ABOUT HIS LATEST GREATEST PERFORMANCE, IS IT TIME FOR HIS CRYING AND COMPLAINING ASS TO RETIRE? POOR DALE JR., IF HE CAN'T WIN IN A HENDRICK CAR HE WILL NEVER WIN....SEE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU RIDE DADDY'S NAME TOO LONG? NOW THE REAL DALE JR IS SHOWING AND HE SUCKS AS A RACECAR DRIVER. POOR JUJU, CRAPPY NAME AND A CRAPPY ATTITUDE, MAYBE YOU SHOULD RETIRE FROM BLOGGING!
What gives you the right to call names. i could care less about either driver but your comments were way worse than hers. you just wanted to turn something into a slam dale jr session. i think before you start ragging on other people you should take a good look at yourself
IM so sick and tired of all the nasty remarks about JR. No one likes to see anyone get hurt when watching the race. WE are all on the same team now cant we all get ALONG?? Gordon is my husbands #1 driver and JR is mine. Hope the back gets better soon Jeff!!!
How very sad... I am a LONG time Jeff Gordon fan. I never really did like Dale Sr BUT did recognize his invaluable contribution to NASCAR. I have however always like Dale Jr. I can't even begin to imagine what it would be like to be the son of one of the greatest drives ever...what pressure. Then to top all of that off....he has to read/hear crap like this too. Give it a rest already. You probably wouldn't be able to was 3 steps in his shoes much less complete 3 laps on a NASCAR track. As much as I LOVE Jeff Gordon, I am not going to trash another driver simply because that drives fans trash Jeff. Also, duh, they are friends... Jeff, sorry about your bad day. The day you call it quits is going to be our bad day, but we will understand and always love you!!!
lmao. i love it how anyone that doesnt like jeff gordon's fruity as* is automatically a dale jr fan. i saw the race and both of then had accidents beyond their control.
Yeah Julia, juju might be a jerk but since you brought Jr. into the pitcher just where the hell did you park your BROOM, if your going to trash someone for commenting on your driver then please at least try to do it while changing the color of your own pot.
All you stupid people on here that is wishing Jeff Gordon well do you really think that he is going to see those comments. Come on do you really think that he goes on AOL and reads comments. Get a Life.
I guess us (stupid people) are just supporting our favorite driver and hoping/praying he gets better. Whether he reads this or not- who cares? I love seeing how many fans he has and how many care.
Hmmmmm, I wonder if Nascar is going to drug test him if he runs a race?? Pain meds, arthritis drugs are illegal by nascar standards are they not?? Or is that only for those who question the fat bully's ?