As the NASCAR circuit rolls into Dover, Delaware this weekend, Jeff Gordon is still patiently licking his chops for a win.The four-time Sprint Cup Champion, winless in his last 39 starts, has every reason to be eager.
He's seen win after win slip away this year in the closing moments, all while leading more laps (709, to be exact) than any other driver and recording four top three finishes.
And what does Gordon have to say about those statistics?
"I've been doing this long enough to know they don't give out trophies for leading any lap other than the last one," said Gordon. "We're leading laps, a bunch of laps, at a lot of different types of tracks. I think our team is really on top of our game."
The all-important win could finally come this weekend at a track where Gordon has had plenty of success over his 19-year Sprint Cup Series career.
But the "Monster Mile," as the racing world has come to know Dover International Speedway, hasn't been so nice to Gordon as of late.
It's been nine years since the NASCAR star has visited Dover's victory lane, a June 2001 win in which Gordon dominated, leading 381 of 400 laps.
Since that win, Gordon has posted an average finish of 14.8 at Dover, with a disappointing four DNFs.
However, Gordon didn't seem to remember his recent bad luck at the Delaware track in his comments following last Saturday night's Showtime Southern 500 at Darlington, a race that Gordon seemed to have in his back pocket before falling late to finish 4th.
"This team is doing the job we need to do to get in to victory lane," Gordon said. "Right now, we are knocking on that door. We are leading laps, we are running up front. We are having a lot of fun, that is for sure. It has been a while since this No. 24 car has run like this. I can't wait to get to Dover."
FOX's television coverage of The Autism Speaks 400 from Dover, Del. begins Sunday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. ET.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/391575-nascar-heads-to-dover-jeff-gordon-still-seeking-first-win-of-2010
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