GORDON WILL TAKE RULE CHANGES IN STRIDE AT TALLADEGA

    TALLADEGA, Ala. - As the NASCAR Winston Cup Series travels to Talladega 
Superspeedway for Sunday's EA Sports 500, the No. 24 DuPont team is prepared 
for NASCAR's new rule changes, fuel strategy and to ending Dale Earnhardt, 
Inc.'s (DEI) dominance here.
    Rules will go into effect for this weekend's race that will increase the 
size of the restrictor plate by 1/32 of an inch which will, in turn, increase 
horsepower and drafting speed.
    However, NASCAR also increased the spoiler size to produce more drag, 
offsetting the increased horsepower.
    "With the new spoiler changes, we are half a step in between where we 
were with roof rails and restrictor plate racing recently," said Robbie Loomis, 
crew chief of the No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet. "The team has been working hard on 
our superspeedway cars, including two trips to the wind tunnel since Daytona. A 
recent trip to the wind tunnel included testing the new spoiler changes." 
    "It will be interesting to see how much, if any, effect is noticed from 
these new changes," Gordon said. "We always seem to be racing three and four 
wide in packs of 40 here and I don't think you'll see that change this weekend."
    Fuel and pit strategy have proven to be a key element to winning NASCAR 
Winston Cup races recently. Due to the new restrictor plate dimensions 
implemented at Talladega, more fuel will be funneled into the engine thus creating yet 
another puzzle piece in the game of fuel strategy. 
    "We anticipate that the new modifications will alter fuel strategy by 
backing us up a lap or two," Loomis said. "We'll figure out our fuel range during 
Saturday's practice sessions."
    Not only does the DuPont team have to adjust to the new rules but they 
also have to approach Sunday's race with another goal in mind -- ending the 
dominance of DEI.
    In the last 11 restrictor plate races, DEI has eight wins including four 
consecutive wins at Talladega by Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
    "I thought the No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet was capable of beating DEI last 
year, but we weren't there at the end," Gordon said. "Earlier this year, we led 
some laps and I thought we were in great position with four Hendrick cars in 
the top-five."
    Gordon has visited victory lane twice at Talladega.  He also has eight 
top-fives, 11 top-10's and has led 427 laps on the 2.66-mile superspeedway, 
second only to Bill Elliott among active drivers.
    In addition, he has 22 career starts at Daytona including two Daytona 500 
victories, two Pepsi 400 victories, eight top-fives and 11 top-10's.
    "It's a long race with a lot of action," Loomis said. "I just sit on the 
pit box and hold my breath for 188 laps."