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Jeff Gordon's convincing victory at the half-mile Martinsville, VA track was his way of saying that he's still in the title hunt.
Gordon's eighth win at the track tied him with spring winner, Jimmy Johnson, who finished fourth for most wins at the paper clip-shaped track. And it was his 88th NASCAR Sprint Cup victory and first of the year.
“Man, what a great race car,” Gordon said. “I thought we'd given it away a couple of times there; and I'm just so proud of how we fought. We had great pit stops and just that never give up attitude. I thought I got too loose there at the end, running with Matt (Kenseth). Every time he slipped the tires I just tried to let off a little bit.”
Gordon passed Kenseth with 21 laps to go and easily held off Kenseth for the win.
“Right now there are two that are in it. Our job is to go to Texas and make it three," said the four-time series champion
Of course he was referring to Matt Kenseth and Jimmie Johnson who are now tied in the points standings with only three races remaining in the Chase to the NASCAR Sprint Cup.
Kenseth, who considered Martinsville his worst track, had a career-tying best finish of second place after leading the most laps and struggling with the handling of his Toyota.
"I have nothing to complain about, just you always feel bad when you're leading at the end and your crew puts you out front and you can't hold on to win,” said Kenseth. “So, I'm disappointed about that. But, just Jeff's (Gordon) experience here got me. I'm just not that experienced running upfront here and I had something that was working but I was kind of hurting the rear tires and I hurt the front tires too. Just went away from me there at the end.”
Clint Bowyer finished third and five-time series champ, Johnson, who finished fourth tired to contain his disappointment at not taking home another race trophy.
“Just like it's been,” Johnson said. “ It's been a great battle with the No. 20 car (Matt Kenseth) and the No. 24 (Jeff Gordon) is really showing that he wants to be a part of this deal, as well; and there are some other guys back there kind of close. So, it's going to be a dogfight to the end. The way that I would want to go racing for a championship, and I know that's exactly what the fans want to see.”
Gordon, who was added as the thirteenth driver in Chase, after a NASCAR ruling following the Richmond race, is now 27 points behind the leaders in third place followed by Kevin Harvick, who finished eighth is 28 points back with three races remaining.
“Good tracks in three weeks, “said Harvick who joins Stewart-Haas Racing next year. “We just have to do what we have to do.”
Gordon's eighth win at the track tied him with spring winner, Jimmy Johnson, who finished fourth for most wins at the paper clip-shaped track. And it was his 88th NASCAR Sprint Cup victory and first of the year.
“Man, what a great race car,” Gordon said. “I thought we'd given it away a couple of times there; and I'm just so proud of how we fought. We had great pit stops and just that never give up attitude. I thought I got too loose there at the end, running with Matt (Kenseth). Every time he slipped the tires I just tried to let off a little bit.”
Gordon passed Kenseth with 21 laps to go and easily held off Kenseth for the win.
“Right now there are two that are in it. Our job is to go to Texas and make it three," said the four-time series champion
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| Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet SS, winner in Martinsville. (Photo: NASCAR) |
Of course he was referring to Matt Kenseth and Jimmie Johnson who are now tied in the points standings with only three races remaining in the Chase to the NASCAR Sprint Cup.
Kenseth, who considered Martinsville his worst track, had a career-tying best finish of second place after leading the most laps and struggling with the handling of his Toyota.
"I have nothing to complain about, just you always feel bad when you're leading at the end and your crew puts you out front and you can't hold on to win,” said Kenseth. “So, I'm disappointed about that. But, just Jeff's (Gordon) experience here got me. I'm just not that experienced running upfront here and I had something that was working but I was kind of hurting the rear tires and I hurt the front tires too. Just went away from me there at the end.”
Clint Bowyer finished third and five-time series champ, Johnson, who finished fourth tired to contain his disappointment at not taking home another race trophy.
“Just like it's been,” Johnson said. “ It's been a great battle with the No. 20 car (Matt Kenseth) and the No. 24 (Jeff Gordon) is really showing that he wants to be a part of this deal, as well; and there are some other guys back there kind of close. So, it's going to be a dogfight to the end. The way that I would want to go racing for a championship, and I know that's exactly what the fans want to see.”
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| Photo: NASCAR |
Gordon, who was added as the thirteenth driver in Chase, after a NASCAR ruling following the Richmond race, is now 27 points behind the leaders in third place followed by Kevin Harvick, who finished eighth is 28 points back with three races remaining.
“Good tracks in three weeks, “said Harvick who joins Stewart-Haas Racing next year. “We just have to do what we have to do.”