LARGEST FAN CLUB BASE, PAST SUCCESS SUPPORT GORDON AT POCONO

    POCONO, Pa. - Despite the fact that four-time Winston Cup champion Jeff 
Gordon was born in California and planted his racing roots in Indiana, it is 
Pennsylvania that boasts more Gordon fans than any other state.
    As of February, the state that hosts this weekend's event at Pocono 
Raceway holds the most memberships to the Jeff Gordon Fan Club (JGFC). Gordon, the 
driver of the No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet, acknowledges this by hosting a fan club 
event each year near the Long Pond track. Gordon shows his appreciation to 
these dedicated Keystone State fans by spending a few hours with them signing 
autographs, posing for photographs and answering questions.
    "It is truly an honor for me to meet race fans, especially these die-hard 
fans in Pennsylvania," Gordon said. "The fans out here not only enjoy NASCAR 
Winston Cup racing, but you can find a lot of them at the local short tracks 
on a Saturday night.
    "Some of my most exciting racing memories are right here in Pennsylvania. 
The first year I raced Sprint cars (1985), I had a lot of fun racing Doug 
Wolfgang at Tri-City Speedway. We also had a lot of fun racing at places like 
Selinsgrove and Silver Springs Speedway in the late ‘80's.
    "Then when I started racing stock cars in the Busch Series, we'd race at 
Nazareth (where his best finish was a fifth in two starts). Now, of course, we 
come here a couple times a year to Pocono where this DuPont team has had a 
lot of success. No matter which series I've raced in, the fans have always been 
nothing but supportive. They're some of the greatest race fans in the world."
    Approximately 60 tracks in Pennsylvania breed a lot of race fans and 
racers. Many of the people who Gordon is able to interact with ask him about 
everything from setups to how he got started in racing. They also sport t-shirts 
and hats pronouncing themselves Gordon fans.
    "When I first started racing, I tried to learn as much as I could from 
guys like Steve Kinser and Rick Mears," Gordon said. "To see young people using 
me as an example now only makes my position as a role model more important.
    "It's hard to explain how good it makes you feel when you see people 
wearing shirts in support of your team. Seeing that makes what you're doing that 
much more important because you're not only doing it for your team but for your 
fans."
    Gordon returns to Pocono for the Pennsylvania 500 with three wins (1996, 
1997 and 1998), two poles (1996 and 1998), 10 top-fives and with 15 top-10's 
in 21 starts (71 percent).
    Gordon put on a show for his fans in June when he blew a right-front tire 
on lap two and rallied back to finish 13th in the Pocono 500. As he tries to 
win his 63rd NASCAR Winston Cup race and claim a fifth Winston Cup 
championship, a conglomerate of Pennsylvania racing fans will converge at the track to 
stand strong behind him again on Sunday.   
    "Having fans like we have in Pennsylvania really gives the No. 24 DuPont 
team the confidence and motivation to step up our performance," Gordon said.  
"We are so thankful to have fans that will stick with us no matter what."
    Gordon and the DuPont team have 17 races remaining to gain one more 
position in the point standings.  If so, they will be celebrating their 
championship 80 miles east of Pocono in New York City.