NASCAR BGN: In final BGN race, Jeff Gordon hopes to celebrate winning
8 November 2000
Posted By Terry CallahanMotorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
Homestead, Fla. - Two of NASCAR's most famous drivers will compete in their final Busch Series event in the Hotwheels.com 300 at Miami on Saturday.
While Jeff Gordon appreciates what all-time series victory leader Mark Martin has accomplished, he hopes to be the driver who stops Martin from adding to his record.
"It would be great to end my Busch career with a win for Pepsi, but it's going to be tough," Gordon said. "With this also being Mark Martin's last Busch race, I'm sure he's going to be strong.
"But there will also be 41 other drivers fighting for this win including Jeff Green, who's had an incredible season."
Gordon's lone victory in 11 NASCAR Busch Series events with Pepsi as his sponsor was the 1999 Outback Steakhouse 200. Ironically, Outback was his sponsor in his first Busch Series start which came at Rockingham in 1990. Last year's victory came at Phoenix International Raceway - a track with similar characteristics to Homestead-Miami Speedway.
"The layouts aren't the same but there are some similarities," Gordon said. "You carry a lot speed into the corners here. But the key to carrying a lot speed into the corner is getting your car to work off of the previous corner."
Gordon would love to capture his second victory for Pepsi, fifth overall, in the season finale of the highly competitive Busch Series.
"I was first associated with the Pepsi Cola Company when the Diet Pepsi brand sponsored me when I raced midgets. Then Pepsi came aboard as an associate on our Cup car and, in 1999, they stepped up their program to include this two-year Busch Series sponsorship.
"For 2001, Pepsi has elevated their involvement to include two special paint schemes for two Cup races. I'm excited about building my relationship with Pepsi and a win on Saturday would be a great way to say thanks."
Text Provided By Charles Hudson
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