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Top-30 NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers: Jeff Gordon, seventh
By David Exum - SceneDaily Staff Writer
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Hendrick Motorsports' Jeff Gordon failed to win a race in the 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup season.
Robert Laberge
Getty Images for NASCAR
Hard to believe, but for the first time since his rookie season in 1993, Jeff Gordon went winless in 2008 in NASCAR Sprint Cup competition.
Gordon's streak has reached 41 races since his last victory in the fall race at Lowe's Motor Speedway in 2007.
Gordon, 37, who holds the record for having the most victories of any active driver in Cup with 81 wins and is sixth in all-time wins, did make the Chase For The Sprint Cup in 2008 for the third consecutive season.
Despite not winning in 2008, the four-time Cup champion had a season that many of his fellow competitors would likely be envious of.
During the offseason, SceneDaily is taking a look at the top 30 in the 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup driver points. Here's how Gordon's season unfolded:
By the numbers: In 36 starts, Gordon collected 13 top-five and 19 top-10 finishes. His average finishing position declined substantially in 2008 (14.5) compared to 2007 (7.3). Another statistic that dropped off in 2008 was the number of poles Gordon won. In 2007, he started first seven times, his highest number since 1999, but in 2008, he rolled off first just four times. He also led far fewer laps in 2008 (447) than in 2007 (1,300).
Season highlights: It appeared that Gordon might finally conquer Texas Motor Speedway, one of only two tracks (along with Homestead) where he remains winless. In the fall race at the 1.5-mile Lone Star State facility, Gordon won the pole but couldn't keep up with eventual winner Carl Edwards, who led 212 of the 334 scheduled laps. Gordon's second-place finish at Texas was his best finish there since he was second in 2002.
Key setbacks: The dreaded DNF acronym returned again to haunt Gordon in 2008, as he accumulated six. After not finishing three of the first 10 races of 2008, Gordon fell out of the top 12 in the series standings, but he was able to improve, and his next DNF did not occur until the 23rd race of the season at Michigan. Gordon's fifth and sixth DNFs came during the Chase and are arguably a key reason he did not crack the top five in the final standings.
Newsworthy moment: Gordon's horrific crash at Las Vegas Motor Speedway made plenty of headlines in 2008. While flying down the backstretch of the 1.5-mile track, Gordon hit Matt Kenseth coming out of Turn 2 and then the inside retaining wall. The hit was so severe that the radiator came flying out of the car.
In his words: "I have to thank my guys on this team for an awesome year. It wasn't from lack of effort that we didn't win any races or be more competitive in the championship. I am still proud of everything that they did. We didn't win a race this year, but I am really excited about 2009. We have got a lot of great things happening."
Mentioned Drivers: Jeff Gordon
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Comments
23 responses to "Top-30 NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers: Jeff Gordon, seventh". Post a Comment.
Anonymous said:
Dec 30, 2008 at 9:39 AMJeff,hope you have a great Holiday season,and I'm looking forward to an awesome 2009 on the track.See ya at Bristol!One of your fans in Owensboro,KY Jeff Schroader
Pat Draper said:
Dec 30, 2008 at 12:46 PMI would be great to have a season where Johnson gets no wins and Jeff get a few. Not a johnson fan at all. I really hope Jeff has a better year in 2009.
Meg said:
Dec 30, 2008 at 3:32 PMGordon is a driver of great sportsmanship and skill regardless of fan support. I truly admire his dedication, individual achievement and ethics in NASCAR. I too wish Jeff all the luck in 2009.
Anonymous said:
Dec 30, 2008 at 3:47 PMGood luck Jeff in 2009.
Candace Wilcox said:
Dec 30, 2008 at 4:01 PMJeff, I'm a diehard Dale Jr fan, and I'm thrilled he has you for a teammate now. I want him to win...and I want you to win, too!! When I'm at the 2 Texas races this year, I'll of course be pulling for my man, but I'll be pulling for you, too...maybe even a little harder! He's won a race there, and you haven't. This only 1 of 2 tracks you haven't won at, and I'd give up Jr winning if you could win!! I'd by crying and yelling for you all the way to Victory Lane, and you know what? Jr would be, too!!! Good luck to you in 2009!! Oh, BTW...ELLA IS JUST PRECIOUS!!!!!!!
Heather Blackwood said:
Dec 30, 2008 at 4:41 PM2008 was an odd year with Jeff not winning. While I like Jimmie, I agree that it's time for someone else to contend in the Cup series--whether it be Jeff, Jr, Carl, or Kyle. I'm wishing better luck for Jeff next season.
Patsi Wilbanks said:
Dec 30, 2008 at 5:10 PMI never thought I would say I like Gordon...but he has been more of a teammate to Jr than anyone else. Gordon has become quite a different person in the past few years. Never thought i would say this....good luck Gordon in '09.
rae said:
Dec 30, 2008 at 5:16 PMI agree with all of the previous comments regarding Jeff as a driver and a gentleman. Good luck, Jeff! Let's see you and your team back on top in '09... you deserve it
joe bender said:
Dec 30, 2008 at 5:32 PMJeff, you are without a doubt the best there ever was. This year just lit a fire under the 24 team and they will be hot all year in '09. Congrats to Jimmie and Chad, they are deserving but Jeff is the man! By the way, Im still waiting for the Evernham-Gordon-24 reunion. I think even Steve LeTarte would like to see that!
joe bender said:
Dec 30, 2008 at 5:33 PMJeff, you are without a doubt the best there ever was. This year just lit a fire under the 24 team and they will be hot all year in '09. Congrats to Jimmie and Chad, they are deserving but Jeff is the man! By the way, Im still waiting for the Evernham-Gordon-24 reunion. I think even Steve LeTarte would like to see that!
debra bates said:
Dec 30, 2008 at 5:48 PMJeff this is your year to win. i want to hear this is Jeffs 5th championship. not jimmie 4th championship. all btw ella is a very beautiful little girl she looks like you good luck in 2009
Werner Boehmert said:
Dec 30, 2008 at 6:03 PMJeff is an accomplished star of NASCAR and i respect him for that...but i can't forgive him for dumping Bill Davis and FORD..."show me the money" didn't cut it with me...it was then i realized it was all about the money and not about alliances...gone were the days of handshake deals...
Georgia Ross said:
Dec 30, 2008 at 6:38 PMThanks to The Jeff Gordon Foundation, many deserving people have been helped and had their lives completely turned around for the better. I have watched Jeff race since the Baby Ruth BGN days, cheered for the Man in Black when they raced side by side in Cup races and seen both ups and downs happen in Jeff's life. He is in such a good place now with his beautiful wife, Ingrid and their daughter, Ella Sofia, so look out--he wants to win races and he will in 2009!
teresa beachler said:
Dec 30, 2008 at 8:34 PMJeff is one of the greatest, hell win again.
Patty L. Wilson said:
Dec 30, 2008 at 11:31 PMJeff Gordon is the best and always will be in my book, I stand behind him regardless of the kind of year he has. He is a winner and will win lots more races. I'm glad to see all the positive thoughts in the comments. GO JEFF GO And by the way Jeff should have won the Most Popular Driver award. Lets all get him their next year!!!!
Jerry Allison said:
Dec 31, 2008 at 1:00 AMHey Candace,your my Texas girl,I agree with 100%,except for the crying part,I miss my Mother-land homestate,come to Alabama soon,and experiance the Super Speedway thrill of Talledega baby,I camp out at the free family South Park.
Jerry Allison said:
Dec 31, 2008 at 1:05 AMCandace,your too sweet,I miss my home state of Texas,and agree 100% with you,except for the crying part,come on down to Alabama soon,and experiance some Super Speedway racing at Talledega,God bless Texas,and go Jeff,and Dale Jr.!!
Calvin Hall said:
Dec 31, 2008 at 2:31 AMTo werner I believe since Jeff joined NASCAR he has always been with Hendrick and the dupont label. I am a Jimmie fan and my husband is a Gordon fan and we cheer for both. Good Luck Jeff
Tim the Fan said:
Dec 31, 2008 at 9:00 AM#12 you need to take a better look at Bill Davis. He's dumped a lot of drivers himself. Didn't he just dump another one? A Champion? Ya.......
Georgia Ross said:
Dec 31, 2008 at 9:23 AM#18 Calvin: Werner is our NASCAR guru when it comes to knowledge. The man knows his facts. Jeff's first full year in NASCAR (sponsored by the Carolina Ford Dealers) was 1991 in the BGN (Bush Grand National Series). In 1992 he drove the Baby Ruth car (also BGN) and both were for Bill Davis Racing. In 1993, he moved to Cup and Hendrick........from a Tony and Jr fan who also cheers for Jeff and Jimmie.
Werner Boehmert said:
Dec 31, 2008 at 11:03 AMthank you Georgia...you are also most knowledgeable...i forgot about the Carolina sponosorship...Mark Martin also had them...how ironic...Chevy paid Gordon and now Stewart to switch...years ago in a former NASCAR chatroom, i learned to check my facts before i posted them...i hear you're an AK fan...
Brent Chambers said:
Dec 31, 2008 at 4:44 PMJeff has a long way to go before he hangs up his helmet!
Kim Palmer said:
Jan 2, 2009 at 1:12 AMAt the crack of the new year12:01 2009, I raised my glass of cheer and my FIRST toast was to the "RETURN OF THE 24" May Jeffie win the 2009 Cup Championship, then I kissed my wife.