NASCAR WCUP: Gordon looks to help out victims; get back on track at Dover

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

September 19, 2001

DOVER, Del. - Jeff Gordon has two goals this weekend: help aid the victims of last Tuesday's terrorist attack and run well at Dover.

Gordon, driver of the DuPont Chevrolet, will host the third annual Jeff Gordon-DuPont Motorsports Golf Classic on Thursday in Wilmington, Del. On behalf of the Jeff Gordon Foundation and the United Way of Delaware, a portion of the proceeds will benefit families affected by last week's tragedy.

"Brooke and I want to donate a portion of the money raised to the children who were affected," Gordon said. "We are researching organizations that will directly aid the victims' families and especially organizations that will benefit children who lost parents in the attack."

While the tragedy is still on everyone's minds, Gordon will need to get back down to business this Sunday in the MBNA Cal Ripken, Jr. 400. Gordon enters the event with a 222-point lead in the race for the NASCAR Winston Cup championship with five wins, six poles, 16 top-fives, 18 top-10's and 1,921 laps led in 26 events this season. He looks to rebound at Dover after finishing 36th in Richmond and losing 120 points to second-place Ricky Rudd.

"I've been telling everybody that the race for the championship isn't over yet," Gordon said. "Another bad finish like we had in Richmond will pull a lot more drivers into the championship hunt.

"We have to stay focused on what our team is doing and not worry about the others. A win like we had in June would be ideal in getting back on track."

Gordon dominated the June race by leading 381 of 400 laps. He lost the lead only once on the race track for one lap. The other lead changes occurred during pit stops.

"That was the best car I've ever had here," Gordon said. "We made the right adjustments throughout the day and the team had phenomenal pit stops.

"As good as the car was, there's no easy way to get around here. Dover is a temperamental track you're driving on the edge at all times.

"This place chatters because of the concrete and that plays havoc with the grip the tires have on the track. The car can turn like you want in the middle of the corner then, all of a sudden, it jumps sideways on you."

In 17 events at the 1.0-mile speedway, Gordon has four wins, two poles, eight top-fives, 11 top-10's and has led 2,031 laps. All of his wins have come since the track switched to a concrete surface in 1995.

Text provided by Jon Edwards

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