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NASCAR Sprint-Cup Series
CUP: Q&A - Jeff Gordon
Jeff Gordon has five victories at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, which is tied for most among active drivers..
Tom Jensen  |  Posted May 22, 2009   Charlotte, NC
Lowe’s Motor Speedway will always be a special place for Jeff Gordon. (Photo: LAT Photographic)
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Lowe’s Motor Speedway will always be a special place for Jeff Gordon, driver of the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Impala SS. Gordon earned his first victory here way back in 1994, when a call by Ray Evernham to take two tires in a late-race pit stop got him out ahead of Rusty Wallace, allowing him to win the Coca-Cola 600.

Since then, Gordon has gone on to win four more points race at LMS, plus three NASCAR Sprint All-Star races. Among active drivers, no one has surpassed those numbers.

On Thursday at LMS, Gordon qualified third for Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600, where he is one of the clear favorites. Following are excerpts from Gordon’s press conference at the track.

YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS WEEKEND’S RACE? We had a good DuPont Chevrolet last week. Even though it’s not the same car we should be able to get really close or maybe improve the setup from what had Saturday night for Sunday’s race. … A good starting position is certainly important. This is a big weekend for racing in general around the world and we’re really looking forward to what NASCAR has to offer in the motorsports world and this is a big event and one that we’re really looking forward to competing at. This being a points event we’re hoping that we get some better results than what we had the other night.”

WHY DOES THIS RACE LEND ITSELF TO FIRST-TIME WINNERS? I’m not really sure. You have to go back and look at each instance as to what made that happen. With ours it was good pit strategy that played out. With Ray calling two tires verses the four that Rusty took it really paid off for us. I think with a 600-mile race it does lend itself to some unique pit strategies that if you’re close and in the top-five and having a good day you can pull something off that can get you that win and possibly that first win.

HOW VIVID IS THAT WIN STILL IN YOUR MIND? I’ll be honest that was 15 years ago it’s been a blur kind of ever since then and to be honest since 1994 the things that have happened to this team and me personally have just been unbelievable. It’s been one heck of a ride. To try to break down the sequence of events and moments.

I always say that I really look forward to that day hopefully and whenever it comes to be able to go back and relive those moments because they’re awesome memories but it’s gone by so fast and because it’s such a hectic schedule and because things have gone so well I haven’t had the time to take a breath and go back and really think about it. Certainly I remember the closing laps knowing that Rusty wasn’t in my mirror and that we had the shot at winning it and all I had to do was bring it home in one piece. There’s no doubt that I remember those emotions taking over. I see the pictures all the time and the video of the victory because there’s trading cards and different things that I sign all the time from the fans, so I’m constantly reminded of that moment which are all great memories but a lot of it really is a blur. It’s hard for me to remember certain details of it.


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