#24 TEAM SHIFTS INTO 'DRIVE FOR FIVE' MODE
LOUDON, N.H. (September 12, 2006) - Following last year's absence from the Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup, Jeff Gordon and Team DuPont hope to celebrate the end of the 2006 season with a fifth.
Sunday's Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire International Speedway marks the first of 10 races that will decide this year's champion. Only two participants, Gordon and Matt Kenseth, have championships on their resume. Kenseth won the title in 2003 while Gordon's championship years were 1995, 1997, 1998 and 2001.
But all of those championships were under the old, season-long points structure, not the new 10-race Chase instituted by NASCAR in 2004. Kurt Busch and Tony Stewart, the two previous Chase winners, are not eligible for this year's showdown.
"Under the old system, you were battling three or four guys at this point in the season," said Gordon. "The key was to be consistent down the stretch.
"The Chase has changed everything. Now you're dealing with 10 guys and you have to push every week, every race. I don't think our four championships under the old system is an advantage.
"I'm in the same position as the other nine drivers - trying to win my first championship under this format."
In 23 career starts at the 1.058-mile track, Gordon has posted three wins, three poles, nine top-fives and 12 top-10's. He has led 15 races for a total of 1,070 laps, both records for the Cup Series at NHIS.
Gordon, who missed the Chase in 2005, is certainly glad to be back in contention for another title. While a 31st-place finish at Richmond on Saturday night may have stopped some of the momentum the No. 24 team gained during the past month, he is optimistic about the team's chances during the final 10 races.
"Making it in was a season-long effort, and I'm proud of how this DuPont team performed and improved this year. We can breathe a little easier this week, but the intensity will pick up this weekend and remain through the final race.
"It's a whole new ball game now."
MEDIA INFORMATION:
Jesse Essex, Hendrick Motorsports
704-455-0527
jessex@hmsracing.com
News Archives:
Jeff Gordon Ready to Fly at Daytona
Gordon Could Tie Earnhardt, Schumacher at Indy
Gordon Guns for Road Course Sweep
For Gordon at Bristol, Equation could add up to victory
Gordon wants to Keep Riding Wave in California
#24 team shifts into 'Drive for Five' mode
Texas victory has eluded Gordon - So Far
Gordon and Vandebosch Married in Private Ceremony
Fifth Championship Still Possible for Gordon at Homestead-Miami
Jeff Gordon has announced that wife Ingrid Vandebosch is pregnant.
Gordon Not Affected by Weather at Daytona
Gordon Finishes Second at California Speedway; Now Third in Standings
Gordon Believes "Tomorrow" will be much like the Past at Bristol
Gordon Wants to add to Collection at Martinsville
First Phoenix Victory may be in Gordon's Future
Gordon Triumphs at Talladega, 77th Win Makes History
All-Star "Test" Could Provide Team Dupont Long-Term Gains
#24 Team Wants Return To Victory Lane At Lowe's
Jeff Gordon Wins Rain-Shortened Pocono 500
Gordon Heads To NHIS On Top Of The World
#24 Team Finishes Third at The Brickyard
Gordon's Goal Overshadows Milestone Start at New Hampshire
Gordon Expects Talladega Race to be 'Spectacular'
Gordon Hopes to Catch Sight of Checkered Flag at Lowe's
Gordon Wants Better than 'Average' Finish at Phoenix
©2007 Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP. All rights reserved. Sparkle, Sparkle & House logo, Complete Clean at the Right Price and ¡Limpieza Completa a un Buen Precio! are trademarks owned by or licensed to Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP. Todos los Derechos Reservados. Sparkle, el logotipo de Sparkle con la Casa, Complete Clean at the Right Price y Limpieza Completa a un Buen Precio son marcas comerciales de Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP. The likeness of Jeff Gordon, the #24 DuPont Chevrolet, and other related trademarks and copyrights are used with the permission of Jeff Gordon, Inc.
