Jeff Gordon : News

FOR GORDON AT BRISTOL, EQUATION COULD ADD UP TO VICTORY

BRISTOL, Tenn. (August 22, 2006) - According to five-time Bristol Motor Speedway winner Jeff Gordon, a good car is only 60 percent of the winning equation at the Tennessee short track.

Gordon, who enters this Saturday night's Sharpie 500 sixth in the points standings, needs three more strong finishes to secure a spot in the "Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup." And while a good-handling car is required at each track, "luck" enters the equation at Bristol where 43 cars battle for position on the tight, high-banked 0.533-mile track.

"At Bristol, I would say it's 60-40," said Gordon, driver of the No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet.

"Sixty percent of it you're in control, and 40 percent you're not. Even if you have a good race car, it doesn't guarantee you'll stay out of trouble."

Along with five victories, Gordon has achieved four poles, 10 top-fives and 16 top-10 finishes in 27 career starts at the Tennessee track. He has a 4.9 average starting position and has qualified in the top 10 on 23 occasions. In fact, he has started outside the top 15 only once - his first race at Bristol in NASCAR's top division in 1993.

"This DuPont team qualifies well here, and that certainly helps at the start of the race," said Gordon. "But it can pay dividends at the end of the race, as well."

"Sure, I'd love to get our sixth win here on Saturday, but we've got the 'big picture' in mind. We want to contend for a fifth championship this season, and that means we must first get into the Chase."

"We want to leave Bristol with as many points as we can possibly get. And staying out of trouble is the key to doing that."

MEDIA INFORMATION:
Jesse Essex, Hendrick Motorsports
704-455-0527
jessex@hmsracing.com

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