NASCAR-WCUP: Gordon Due as He Looks to be First Two-time Winner at California
28 April 1999
FONTANA, Calif . Three-time NASCAR Winston Cup champion Jeff Gordon has the best overall performance after two races at California Speedway.Gordon started third and went on to win the inaugural event here in 1997. Last year, he won the pole and drove his DuPont Automotive Finishes Chevrolet to a fourth-place finish, leading to an average finish of 2.5 at the 2-mile oval.
Going into this Sunday's California 500, Gordon looks to get back into victory lane and become the first two-time winner of the event. "This has been a good track for us," said Gordon. "I really enjoy racing on tracks like California and Michigan where there's lot of room to pass. I think that type of racing is exciting for the drivers and the fans.
"It's also real exciting to race in southern California. Competing in markets like this is what keeps this sport growing."
Gordon has two wins after 10 races in 1999. He won the season-opening Daytona 500, but has not seen victory lane since race No. 4 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, faltering from his average win record.
With 44 wins in 198 NASCAR Winston Cup career starts, Gordon averages a win every 4.5 races. His career winning percentage is 22.2, the best of all time. Gordon has not won any of the last five events, which would not be an issue if this season mirrored the phenomenal success this team has experienced over the past four years.
Three DNF's this season have relegated the No. 24 team to fifth place in the points standings, 210 behind leader Jeff Burton.
"I'm more amazed at the good luck that we've had over the last four or five years than I am at the bad luck we've had this year," said Gordon " It's not because we haven't been running good.
"These things only make this team stronger. I've never seen them more together and as strong as they are right now."
Gordon's crew chief, Ray Evernham, agrees.
"We can't be upset over the way things are going this season," said Evernham. "The things that have happened to us have been beyond our control.
"We need to keep working hard to make sure that all the elements that we can control are not failing us. We've had good cars all season, and we've had a couple of setbacks. But, this team never gives up and we'll continue to work hard. We're not out of this thing yet."
Out of the points chase towards a third-consecutive Winston Cup championship with 24 races remaining?
Not Jeff Gordon and his team of Rainbow Warriors.
No way.
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