FIFTH WIN, 15,000 CAREER LAPS LED IN REACH FOR GORDON AT THE GLEN

 
    WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. - As the all-time road course winner and four-time 
NASCAR Winston Cup champion, Jeff Gordon has yet another milestone to reach - 
winning his fifth Sirius at the Glen race this Sunday at Watkins Glen 
International.
    In addition, Gordon can become the second active Winston Cup driver to 
acquire a career-high 15,000 laps led, second only to Rusty Wallace who has 
19,313. However, Gordon can reach this mark of notability in just over 10 ½ years. 
Leading at least one lap at each track since his inaugural Winston Cup race 
in 1992, Gordon now sits with 14,917 laps led or 18,717.637 miles, 
approximately a trip to Sydney, Australia and back or seven driving trips from Watkins 
Glen to Infineon Raceway.
    Reaching this milestone assures him a place in Winston Cup racing's 
prestigious historical records. However, Gordon will need to control at least 83 of 
the 90 laps this weekend to reach this mark. Since racing there, Gordon has 
led 160 of the total laps he has ever raced at the 2.45-mile track. Despite the 
difficult task at hand, he did lead 80 of the 112 laps in the Dodge/Save Mart 
350 at Infineon Raceway in 1999. As the odds fall in his favor, Gordon also 
leads the series in laps led this season with 900.
    "Leading 160 laps sounds a lot easier than it is, especially on a road 
course," Gordon said. "Over time, we've gained the confidence to lead laps and 
win."
    Time and experience have proven to be in favor of Gordon. Through 
combined efforts at Infineon Raceway and Watkins Glen, Gordon has led 429 laps, the 
approximate driving distance from Charlotte to New Hampshire International 
Speedway. Capturing the record for the highest number of laps led at both Infineon 
and Watkins Glen, Gordon looks to extend that lead this weekend.
    "However, it is not about leading 83 laps but about leading one - the one 
at the end."
    The No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet has ample experience in leading that one 
important lap, especially at The Glen. As the all-time NASCAR Winston Cup winner 
here, Gordon has out-maneuvered the rest of the pack four times in 10 starts 
(1997, 1998, 1999 and 2001). In addition, he has recorded six top fives in 10 
attempts and one pole (1998) at The Glen.
    "Each week, we don't focus on improving our stats, just on staying near 
the top of the Winston Cup point standings," Gordon said. "But to reach 15,000 
laps led says more about the No. 24 DuPont team than anything. This team has 
overcome every obstacle in an effort to stay up front and they deserve that 
mark of achievement."
    After testing last week at Watkins Glen, the No. 24 DuPont team will 
unload a new chassis geared to winning yet another road course race. Gordon's 22nd 
road course race holds historical possibility for the Winston Cup champion.
    "A lot of teams have stepped up their road course programs," Gordon said. 
"We didn't run as well as we would have liked here last year, so that is why 
we decided to use one of our tests. We learned a lot and hopefully it will 
show in our results Sunday."