THREE-RACE STRETCH FAVORABLE TO GORDON

    LONG POND, Pa. - He may be down, but he's not out.
    Despite a 21-race winless streak, his longest since winning his first 
race in 1994, Jeff Gordon has managed to climb to third in the NASCAR Winston 
Cup point standings. 
    He should continue his climb considering his history in the next three 
Winston Cup events at Pocono, Michigan and the road course at Sears Point. He 
has won three times and scored 14 top-10 finishes, including five runner-up 
finishes, in 18 starts at Pocono. He also has two wins and 14 top-10's in 18 
starts at Michigan and three wins and seven top-10's in nine starts at Sears 
Point.  
    "Pocono has always been good to me," said Gordon. "We have a good balance 
between the horsepower you need to get down the long straightaways and the 
handling you need to get around the flat corners.
    "The tunnel turn (turn 2) is one of my favorite turns on the Winston Cup 
circuit. It's a difficult turn because only one car can go through there, but 
passing is still possible and you can set someone up for turn three."
    Gordon's climb up the point standings started after the Bristol event in 
March when he dropped to 10th in the point standings after finishing 31st due 
to an accident while running in the top five. Since then, he has finished in 
the top-10 in five of the last seven races and has steadily moved up to his 
current points position amidst talks that he is in a slump.
    "I'm certainly in a race-winning slump, which is a slump of a different 
kind," said Gordon. "But, we're in a top 10 streak of late and it's just a 
matter of time before we win again.
    "I think some people may have counted us out, but I never thought we were 
out of contention for the championship. I think this team will draw from our 
experience last year to get us back on top."
           Gordon is only 24 points behind his employee, driver of the No. 48 
Chevrolet Jimmie Johnson, for second place in the point standings and 160 
behind leader Sterling Marlin.
    "We definitely have a chance to close the gap a little before our last 
off weekend before Daytona," Gordon said. "We know not to focus on what the 
other teams are doing or where they're finishing. The only team I'm concerned 
about is the 24...and the 48."