Jeff Gordon Races For Fifth Indy Win

“The straightaways are really long and you build up a lot of speed. You have this tunnel vision, and all you see is wall and grandstands. The corner appears to be extremely tight and extremely narrow – and it is.”

Wow!!!! What a freaking thrill it must be to be able to not only read these words, but to actually live them out on one of America’s most historical tracks that any racing series could ever visit. Jeff Gordon, NASCAR’s version of the Unser family who have nine Indianapolis 500 victories of their own. Just about put NASCAR into a tailspin when asked about what its like to drive a 3800 pound, boxy, unpredictable race car, around a track that was designed for the more narrow, sleek, and the ultra gripping power characteristics of an Indy car.

Gordon, who was born in Vallejo, California farther than a stones throw away from Indianapolis, Indiana where his life long dream lived. Had an ambition to someday get the chance to become an Indy champion. “And earn you that special, gritty kiss with the bricks that’s what we all want,” was the only thought that bounced around Gordon’s mind. Gordon’s family would eventually make the move to where their son could be closer to the real world of racing, which was also a place that had more opportunities for the younger generation driver to make a name for himself.

Even though Gordon was winning championship after championship driving in the U.S.A.C. series, which would have been the stepping stone to a dream he was hoping someday would come true. Gordon instead would make a switch, and decide that NASCAR would probably be the better choice to make his living on. Along with the move, also went his chances of living out his childhood fantasy of becoming an Indy 500 champion.

So as the days and months continued to slowly trickle right by him. Gordon still had his mind set on someday getting the chance to kiss that old set of bricks, which many of his childhood idols had already conquered. It wasn’t until 1994, that Gordon would finally get the chance to test his skills on a track that had been a lifelong dream of his. Tony George was finally going to break tradition, and allow of all things, a stock car onto his hallowed race track. Gordon would take full advantage of the opportunity and win the inaugural Brickyard 400, which is what NASCAR and George decided would be the appropriate name for the race.

Gordon would not only win the inaugural race, but he would add another three wins to go along with his three poles, nine top-fives, 12 top-10's and an 8.6 average finish in 15 starts – all tops among NASCAR drivers at the 2.5-mile track. Gordon would also lead a track record 440 laps – 225 more than his closest competitor. Gordon who will be making his 16th start at the historic eight turn 2.5 mile oval, still talks about how intimidating the track is that he used to stay up late at nights thinking about as a young up and coming driver.

After thousands of competitive laps and four trips to Victory Lane at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, what will Jeff Gordon feel as he takes his first trip around the historic speedway this weekend? Intimidation. “You always snap out of the gas way too early and use too much brake because the corner is intimidating at first. But you realize the track can handle more than that and the car can handle more than that.” “After a few laps, you get back into the groove and regain a level of comfort.”

Jeff Gordon the driver of the No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet has his own agenda when he enters into gasoline alley this weekend. Gordon already knows that he will be the odds on favorite to win this weekend, and there is no other driver that knows how to race this track better than him. “The entry into each of the four corners is different, and I look at the exit of each as a different corner, as well. Exit speed is important, especially leading onto the long straightaways.” Gordon also brings with him many years of racing experience and knowledge, to a track that is unique in its own way and should be treated that way. So it shouldn’t come to anyone’s surprise if Gordon gets to once again kiss the bricks for NASCAR record fifth time.


“There is no other track like this, and it has four unique corners,” said Gordon, who is second in point standings, 175 behind leader Tony Stewart. While he is the lone stock car driver with four wins at the famed track, Gordon – who grew up in nearby Pittsboro – understands each win here is not the accomplishment of one individual. “More than most race tracks, Indianapolis Motor Speedway is about the team,” said Gordon, “It’s about good communication prior to the race in setting up the car. It’s about the pit crew being solid throughout the race. And it’s about good communication during the race while tuning on the car that will hopefully get you to victory lane.” Im Out

Kyle Busch Wins At Gateway

Race fans at Gateway International Raceway Saturday night saw what the rest of NASCAR Nation has seen the past two years: a dominating win by Kyle Busch and his Joe Gibbs Racing team. Busch won his sixth NASCAR Nationwide Series race of 2009 when he took the checkered flag at the Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers 250 Presented by Ventrilo, finishing a full second ahead of runner-up Reed Sorenson.

Two-time race winner Carl Edwards finished third with Mike Bliss and Brad Coleman rounding out the top-five. With the victory, “Shrub” pads his lead in the Nationwide Series standings to 212 over second-place Edwards. “Things went really well for us tonight,” Busch said after the race. “The car drove really well. We didn’t qualify as well as we would have wanted to…but it right at the start at the green flag, it ran like a rocket ship.”

Kevin Harvick, making his first start here since 2006, led a race-high 105 laps, seemingly poised to become the first NASCAR driver to win three races at GIR. It wasn’t to be for “Happy,” however, as he ran out of fuel during a long green-flag stretch of racing in the closing laps. He would finish the night in 17th, two laps down.

“I feel for him,” Busch said. “I feel like if we could have pressured him, we had a little better car at that point in the race. But I had no point in going up there and racing him because we were racing our own race to make it until the end. If I would have went up there and passed him and wasted fuel, it would have been for no point.”

Edwards came into the night as the two-time and defending race winner and while he was disappointed that he didn’t take home a third race title, he made it clear that he would be back to try again.

“I wanted to win this thing so bad. These wins here are really special, but we put out our best effort and gave it 110 percent,” Edwards said on pit road following the event. “There at the end, if we would have had a caution, we would have had four fresh tires and (Busch) would have had two and we would have had something for him. Just not the way it went, but I’ll be back next year. I love racing here. We’ve won every other year, so maybe next year will be the one.”

The race saw several strong battles, including some back-and-forth between Scott Lagasse Jr. and Steve Wallace that ended when Lagasse got loose going into Turn 1 and moved up into Wallace’s US Fidelis machine, putting it into the wall. Wallace was able to re-fire his car and followed Lagasse around the track under caution, earning the ire of NASCAR. He was penalized two laps and ordered to the NASCAR hauler following the race. The event saw seven cautions for a total of 34 laps.

The day started with both Sorenson and Brad Keselowski breaking Scott Wimmer’s 2007 qualifying record with identical speeds (135.714), but Keselowski got the pole award and the record since he was higher in owner’s points. Keselowski led only the first lap before being passed by Harvick and never led again.

Justin Allgaier, driver of the #12 Penske Racing Dodge, had more than 1,000 fans in the stands Saturday night, many of whom traveled from his hometown of Riverton, Ill., via bus to see him make his NNS debut at Gateway. Although he ran in the top-ten for most of the night, the 2008 ARCA RE/MAX Series champ finished the race in 11th.

Now if only Kyle can take some this racing karma with him up to the Sprint cup series. Kyle just might be able to show the rest of the racing world, that he is a legitimate contender to bring home the championship at the end of the season. But with only two top 10 finishes in his last nine races, that is not how a driver sets himself up for the final 10 races that will be deciding factor. But right now as it stands, he needs to first stay within the top 12 to even have that chance. Im Out

Frevr3fan Mysteriously Transformed Into Joe Gibbs

Consequences have and always will play a big part in our lives, and it’s our own actions that usually get us caught up in them.

Because we already know that with every action, there will always be some kind reaction, whether good or bad. So what happens when one of NASCAR’s most controversial drivers today decides that he wants to spout off to the media again?

Is this really showing his fans that he appreciates them showing up to watch him race, or is this just plain old bad sportsmanship?

Well, whatever you want to call it, what Kyle Busch did on Thursday during a media conference was absolutely uncalled for.

It was Kyle being Kyle. If I could be Joe Gibbs just for one day, this would probably be my speech to Kyle.

Joe Gibbs, president of Joe Gibbs Racing, had a teleconference with some members of the media on Thursday night to discuss the displeasure that he had in Kyle’s attitude after his press conference earlier in the day.

Joe Gibbs started out the news conference by saying, “We here at Joe Gibbs Racing run a very respectable, as well as a very tight knit operation.

"Not only do we expect our crews and employees to be on their best behavior at all times, but we expect it more from our drivers, since they are the ones who are in the spotlight more then anyone in the organization.

"I, as well as my son, J.D., put a lot of time and effort into making sure that each team has the best equipment, as well as the full support from Toyota Racing Development, who has given us the opportunity to race in this well managed, and highly competitive sport.”

Joe went on to say, “No how, no way will any more attitudes be tolerated within this organization. We already had a team discussion about this before the season started, once Tony Stewart had finally left the team.

"One of the biggest things that were discussed was, the consequences if any member of this team got out of hand, and made the team look unprofessional.

"Because after all, we are all professionals, and that is why I hand picked all of the employees that make up the three teams.

"I told each member that we will uphold the highest of standards, even if it meant having to replace someone if they didn’t feel that they could control themselves, which included team members, and the drivers themselves.

"The last thing that I want to encounter is another situation like we had when Tony was around during his first few years with the team. It’s not fair to the younger members to have to put up with such behavior, because I feel all its doing is throwing our chemistry off.”

Team chemistry is what can make and break a team these days, especially when you look at the level that the top three or four teams are playing at.

We already know that Joe Gibbs is a very forgiving man. But, just like anything else, there comes a time when even they hit that breaking point, and they sit back and say enough is enough.

Maybe Joe is already at that point because in all reality, he is no longer the spring chicken that he was back in 1999 when Tony was just a rookie, and he also has two other drivers who are just as important to the team.

“It's not fair to Joey or Denny that we have to almost bring our season to a halt in order to deal with a driver who feels that he can do things his own way.

"We are a team, and we all need to act like a team if we expect to win championships. Look around at the teams that have multiple championships.

"They were able to dominate because they worked as team, and not as individuals.” So how will, or should I say does Joe Gibbs handle a situation like this?

“I, as the team owner, will not put up with it. There will be no second chances like I have given in the past. I can’t see allowing one driver to destroy what I have spent countless hours, and a lot of money trying to build.

"I want all my drivers to have some kind of integrity when they get behind the wheel of my race cars, and especially when they are in front of the media. That’s what this organization was built on, and it will continue to run in that same manor.

"If Kyle can’t control his anger, and learn to deal with his inner self on his own, then maybe he needs to seek some help. I have always been fair, and have treated all my drivers equally.

"But I also won’t allow anyone who works for me, the chance to bring any of these teams down because we are a professional organization, and I expect everyone involved to act in the same way, which includes Kyle."

Joe also added, “The behavior that was displayed on Thursday was way below par, and is not what I expect out of any of my drivers.

"I understand that he was still upset about the racing incident that happened on Saturday night, but he is still out there representing Joe Gibbs Racing, and his first commitment is with this organization.

"Kyle needs to sit back and reevaluate what he has done, but most importantly he needs to ask himself if he can handle these types, especially with the level of competition that is out there.

"I have never once told any of my drivers what they can, and what they cannot do, and I have never told them what to say to the media.

"But, instead, I have stood behind all of them in anything that they have ever asked of me, but maybe now its time that I step in as an owner, and protect my investment which is running the Nationwide, as well as the Sprint cup teams.”

Those were some very powerful words, coming from a very influential team owner. When you sit back and put yourselves in Joe’s shoes, can you really blame him for wanting what’s best for his franchise driver?

Then, when you begin to look around the whole organization, Joey does need someone to look up to, as well as someone that might be able to give him advice when he needs it, and Kyle is not that much older then him.

But looking at the flip side, how can Joey trust anything that Kyle might tell him, especially when, at times, he acts younger then him?

JGR is still going through their growing pains, especially now that the one driver who had the experience is no longer with them.

Its time that Kyle and Denny step it up and help their young teammate along because, after all, they were young once, too.

Kyle may be able to win 10 races this season. But, without the teamwork from everyone involved, he could very well fall short again and how many more seasons will he be able to take knowing that if he had just put his temper under control, the championships may not have slipped through his fingertips so easily?

"Some guys need to learn how to bump"

Dale Earnhardt Jr. summed it up the best, "Some guys need to learn how to bump, a couple of them, they hit too hard, and it doesn't accomplish anything." When we as fans begin to think about these words, it's not hard to look back at the many instances where this type of racing has come under a lot of criticism. This after all is one of the drivers biggest fear when coming to Talladega, or Daytona that are known for its close side by side racing at speeds in excess of 185 M.P.H.

Ever since the introduction of the restrictor plates to slow down the cars because of the high speeds they were attaining, modern technology was to blame for the cars being able to go faster year after year. Then you add the high banking along with the length of the track, NASCAR felt that the speeds they were traveling at was making it more and more dangerous not only for the drivers, but the fans as well. All the plates did was tighten up the racing, and bring the cars closer together, which in turn made the draft the only effective way to pass at these high banked superspeedways.

Basically the draft is the low-pressure wake behind a group's leading car, which reduces the aerodynamic resistance on the front of the trailing car, allowing the second car to pull closer. As the second car nears the first, it pushes high-pressure air forward so less fast-moving air hits the lead car's spoiler. The result is less drag for both cars, allowing faster speeds. The only way to maintain sufficient horsepower and to be able to pass is to have a "drafting partner," or another driver that you feel comfortable with that can execute the draft the proper way, without getting the both of you in a wreck. Bump drafting is another technique that is used more and more on tracks such as Daytona and Talladega. Bump drafting starts out while 2 drivers are already in the draft. The driver in the rear will bump the car in front of him with just the right amount of pressure or "bump," to push the driver a little faster so that he can maintain his momentum.

If done properly, it is a very effective way to push another driver out to the front of the pack. But if it is executed too aggressively, or while entering a turn, the results can easily alter the handling of the car in front, which in turn will cause it to lose control and wreck as we have seen many, many times. Dale Earnhardt Sr was a master of both the draft, and of bump drafting. The drivers who raced against him knew that he had it mastered, and were always looking for him towards the end of the race. But time after time, it was Earnhardt who would use the draft to his own advantage, and he usually came out on top. Earnhardt was able to grab 35 total race wins at Daytona using the draft, while only winning 1 Daytona 500 back in 1998. How ironic it is that the same track where he had most of his race wins is also the same track that took his life back in 2001?

Year after year, the drivers as well as the fans look forward to the excitement that these 2 superspeedways bring us, but not without the controversy of the dangers of plate racing. How else can NASCAR keep the drivers and fans safe, without slowing the cars down and still have some sort of excitement? The risk factor jumps up tremendously by letting these cars race around at speeds in excess of 220 M.P.H. Rusty Wallace tested a car some years back at these speeds and his first reaction was, "someone is going to get seriously hurt if and when they wreck." Not only that, but he was also talking about parts flying off during a wreck, and going into the stands. NASCAR is doing all it can to keep the drivers and fans as safe as possible. All we can do is continue to support them, whether they are right or wrong. Because the bottom line is, do they even listen to us? I'm Out

Mark Martin "That was fun"

Ever since Mark Martin joined forces with Hendrick Motorsports to start the 2009 racing season, he has taken on the identity of a race car driver from the past that is quietly showing the younger generation of fan, just how dominant he was during his younger years. Martins display of youthfulness is a breath of fresh air, during a time when all the focus seems to be riding on the shoulders of a few drivers who are hell bent on keeping all the attention on themselves.
When you think about a dream season, its usually a season that far excels a drivers expectations beyond his wildest imagination. It can also be used to gauge a maturity level, that all of our drivers are trying to reach while driving in one the most grueling racing series in out modern day.

At the young age of 50, does this statement hold true for Mark Martin who is not having one of the most consistent seasons, with his five top five’s, and nine top 10 finishes. Its hard to believe that a driver who has four wins while leading the Sprint Cup series, is still in danger of not making the chase while barely clinging on to an 11 point cushion from dropping out of the top 12?
Its not hard to see that Martin still has a lot of fight left in him, as yet he continues to make this dream season a reality.“I was going to go down fighting. The high side was the best side for me. So I was going down fighting." Not even when adversity tried to put a damper on him getting his fourth win of the season did Martin crumble like a week old Christmas cookie, but instead he held his ground and kept his focus.

“Well, the double-file restarts are really here to mess up the best car and that is what makes it exciting for the fans. We got shuffled back to third there. You know, we were just trying to make the best race of it we could.” When you look back to Martins other three wins, the 50-year-old Martin who won from the pole. Was able to streak away from Tony Stewart after a restart with six laps remaining to win the SUBWAY Fresh Fit 500 at Phoenix International Raceway.

Martin became the oldest driver to win in the series since Morgan Shepherd won at age 51, and at the same time broke a 97 winless streak which dated back to Oct. 9, 2005. Martin was able to validate his first win, while proving to his fellow competitors that he was not out of his league when he took the checkers for his second win of the season. So as the music played and the infamous stripes are given away, it was Martin who danced with the, “The lady in black.”
Martin was able to tame the untamable track that is known as Darlington Speedway , and at the same time he held of his Hedrick Motorsports teammate Jimmie Johnson for his second win of the season. His patience along with his many years of experience played a major role in him finally getting to visit an old friend from the past. Mark waited 11 long years to get back to victory lane, and the chance to relive some old memories with the track known as Michigan Speedway.

This race was on gas mileage as the two race leaders Jimmie Johnson, and Greg Biffle both ran out of gas while headed for the finish line. Martin would finish ahead of his Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jeff Gordon. Four races later, and Martin would once again beat the four time champion, and his teammate Jeff Gordon to keep himself within reach of making the chase for the Sprint cup championship.

“We knew that the Champ with fresh tires could probably suck me around too on that first corner there. I didn’t want him on the outside. I knew there was a good chance the same thing could have happened.” Martin has been a driver on a mission, and just like every other driver is still trying to get used to the double file restarts. "Well, the double-file restarts are really here to mess up the best car and that is what makes it exciting for the fans. And it did, it messed us up.”
But that didn’t stop Martin from the dominating performance that he displayed while leading a race high, as well as track record 195 out of the 267 laps that were run. Mark Martin continues to show the racing world that he is not yet ready to hang up his helmet just yet, even though NASCAR has already given him his rocking chair. From the youthfulness that Martin continues to display each week. Its easy to see how he can sum up winning in just these few short words. “That was fun! That’s what life’s all about right there.” I’m out.