Garage Keeping Eye On Gordon
Sunday, April 22nd, 2007 10:20am CDT
By Luke, Thunder Lounge
Published on Thunder Lounge.
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With a win (finally, they’re saying) at Phoenix last night, Jeff Gordon accomplished several things.
First, he put win number 76 in the books which moves him into a tie with Dale Earnhardt on the all-time win list. Something that the team has been chasing since Chicago last July.
Second, he knocked Phoenix off the list of tracks where he had never visited Victory Lane. The “never won at” list is now down to two tracks, Texas and Homestead, which don’t appear to be coming off the schedule anytime soon. Next crack at either one will come in November, and if current season performance is an indication then Gordon may very well have a chance to scratch another track off the list. However there is still a lot of racing left to go.
Finally, yet another record/history entry as Jeff Gordon became the first person to win a Cup race at Phoenix from the pole. Speaking of poles he’s now at 59, which is a modern-era record.
So, onto the topic at hand. The competition has their eyes on Gordon, and rightfully so. You can’t deny the guy has talent. Early on, that talent was enhanced as Ray Evernham put together the “Rainbow Warriors” and they became a serious threat week in and week out. Earning positions on the track and on pit road, Jeff was quite the happy camper on the track. He was also quite happy and content off the track, which enhanced his on-track performance.
Enter a bitter divorce and an unhappy/distracting personal life, and it showed on the track. Coupled with set-up issues, and what appeared to be a lack in team cohesion, and it made for some tough seasons. Well, tough for a driver that had seen so much success up to that time frame.
Enter Steve Letarte. As Robbie Loomis stepped aside during the 2005 Chase, Steve Latarte stepped up to the challenge. Rebuilding the team that was once a threat every time the car came off the truck. It’s an on-going challenge, but thus far it has been successful. In 2006 Gordon saw a turn-around year. Performance was up across the board, and confidence and spirits were building strength within the team.
Hi there, Ingrid. As well known and publicized, Jeff met super model Ingrid Vandebosch, which turned into an engagement and finally marriage last year. Now, as a little racer is on the way, Jeff Gordon is happier than he has possibly ever been in his racing career. This is why the garage is watching Gordon. When he’s happy in his personal life, it carries over to the track.
Thus far in 2007, it certainly has. Add into the mix much improved communication within the team and between all of the Hendrick teams, improved R&D and engineering, and who knows what else is going on in the Hendrick stable, and there you have it. Not that Hendrick was having struggles. There’s thirty some teams out there that would “love to have their problems”. I’m sure Michael Waltrip and the rest of the Toyota camp would be quite happy to have those worries.
Gordon’s always been a streaky driver. Capable of popping off a few wins over a short period of time. The old momentum theory definitely applies to Gordon, and he’s building that momentum early on in the season.
Now where the Gordon fans may need to worry, or where others may find relief. Gordon looked to be on a much similar roll in 2005. That is until his rendition of “Take Me Out To The Ballgame” should have been taken out with the trash, which in turn should have proceeded directly to the nearest landfill without passing Go and collecting $200. It was all downhill from there.
For the Gordon fans, don’t get discouraged. The team is much stronger, the support much better, and your driver much happier. For non-Gordon fans, you have your hope as well. However, the garage doesn’t seem to be taking any chances at this point.
Filed Under: Drivers, Hendrick Motorsports #24, Jeff Gordon, Nascar, Nextel Cup, Phoenix, Tracks
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Gordon is always scary. Even more so when he gets on one on his rolls. For the last four years though, Jimmy Johnson has been the most consistently successful driver on the circuit. It never seems to me, that Johnson is as feared as his mentor. I am not particularly a fan of either driver and so, I don’t have a dog in this fight. I just wonder.
charlie said this on April 22nd, 2007 at 5:11 pm
Scary indeed.
If there were any doubt as to his level of commitment or determination, that’s been put to bed with Phoenix. Granted the race wasn’t decided on the final lap, but the final battle a few laps earlier was nonetheless just as intense.