NASCAR WCUP: Gordon looks to break record at Sears Point
Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
June 23, 2001SONOMA, Calif. - A fourth consecutive win in this Sunday's Dodge/Save Mart 350 at Sears Point Raceway would leave Jeff Gordon standing alone -- in the record books.
Gordon, driver of the DuPont Chevrolet, is currently tied with Richard Petty, Bobby Allison and Rusty Wallace for the most all-time road course victories (six) in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series. Gordon has won six of the last seven road course races.
In the last six races of this season, he has two wins, three second-place finishes, has led 679 of 1,850 laps, or 37 percent, and moved from 145 points behind points leader Dale Jarrett to 36 points ahead.
Gordon leads in many statistical categories this season including poles (3), top fives (10), laps led (1,221) and average start (8.1), and is tied for first in wins (3) and races led (13).
"We've been competitive in every race this year," Gordon said. "We're leading laps and putting ourselves in position to win races.
"That is what we need to do at this point. It's too early to start thinking about the championship. We just need to keep running well, lead laps and win if the opportunity is there."
Gordon, a native of Vallejo, Calif., has taken advantage of those opportunities at Sears Point. In eight starts at the newly reconfigured 2.0-mile track, Gordon has three wins (1998-2000), two poles, five top five's, six top-10's and has led 183 laps. During his current three-race winning streak, he has led 171 of 336 laps, or 51 percent.
"These road course races are tough to win," Gordon said. "Last year's race was a battle with some hard racing. Guys were bumping and banging all day. If you get distracted, you start to make mistakes. You just have to keep your cool and keep your rhythm.
"With so many turns and shifts throughout the race, you are going to make mistakes. You just have to recover from them, put them behind you, focus on the next corner and get back into your rhythm.
"Fewer mistakes and your ability to bounce back from them increase your chances at winning." And increase your chances at rewriting the record books.
Text provided by Jon Edwards
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