Jeff Gordon

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Here are the contenders for the crown: Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Denny Hamlin.

Oddly, neither won a Martinsville race last year (Kevin Harvick and Tony Stewart did), but that was a rarity.

Every year since 2003, at least one of those three drivers has won a Martinsville race. And even though Martinsville’s history goes all the way back to 1949, the three already reside near the top of the track’s wins list. Gordon has seven wins (tied for third-most); Johnson has six wins (tied for fifth); and Hamlin has four wins (tied for ninth).

Gordon needs the usual Martinsville success most – he currently sits 25th (the lowest points position through five races of his career), 51 points outside the top 10.

If a Gordon victory occurs (or a Johnson, Kasey Kahne or Dale Earnhardt Jr. win), it’ll be Hendrick Motorsports’ 200th win. That scene would be fitting – Martinsville was the site of Hendrick’s first win in 1984. Hendrick would also tie Petty Enterprises from most wins all time at the Virginia short track.

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Hendrick’s Hiccups Only Temporary
You don’t hear this often: Hendrick Motorsports has only one driver in the top 10 and three outside the top 20.

No need to worry just yet. Jimmie Johnson, currently 37th due in most part to a 25-point penalty after Daytona, has won four times at Las Vegas, more than any other driver.

Jeff Gordon, currently 22nd, won at Las Vegas in 2001.

Currently 32nd, Kasey Kahne earned his first pole at Las Vegas, in 2004. He has four top 10s in eight races at the 1.5-mile track.

Continue reading “No worries, Hendrick’s Hiccups Only Temporary”

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Two of Jeff Gordon’s 85 NASCAR Sprint Cup wins have come at Phoenix, and both were of the milestone variety.

With his first win at Phoenix in this race in 2007, Gordon tied Dale Earnhardt on the all-time wins list at 76. With his win in this race last year, Gordon snapped a 66-race winless streak and tied Cale Yarborough on the all-time win list with 83.

He’s got a shot at notching another milestone this Sunday with Hendrick Motorsports 200th career win in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. A victory would extend Rick Hendrick’s NSCS win record at Phoenix to 10.

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For NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champions Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon, holders of a combined nine titles, the good news coming out of the Daytona 500 is that in one important respect the schedule’s signature event pays the same points as this week’s Subway Fresh Fit 500 and the 24 races that follow leading up to the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup™.

To say it wasn’t their night – despite having won The Great American Race a combined four times – would be an understatement. Johnson was the second car out in 42nd. Engine failure relegated Gordon to a 40th-place finish. Until last night’s D500, Johnson and Gordon had finished 40th or worse a combined 21 times, and never in the same race.

Continue reading “No Big Thing: Johnson, Gordon Have No Reason To Worry”