Jeff Gordon likely would not mind if there were a few more right turns in NASCAR. When it comes to turning both left and right at the two road courses in the Nextel Cup series, few can compare with Gordon, who scored his ninth career road course victory Sunday at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif.
The surprising part is not that Gordon won, but that his first victory of the year comes almost halfway through the Nextel Cup season.
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After crew chief Robbie Loomis, who led Gordon to the 2001 Nextel Cup Championship, left at the end of the season to return to Petty Enterprises, Gordon chose a young and unproven replacement in Steve Letarte. When Gordon struggled to win at the beginning of the season and then fell out of the top ten in the standings, the decision to go with such a young crew chief drew scrutiny.
“You can?t pay attention to outside criticism,” Gordon said in defense of his crew chief a few weeks ago. “There?s no doubt in my mind that Steve Letarte is capable of doing the job and capable of getting us to victory lane and in the Chase.”
Gordon put an exclamation point on that statementSunday at Infineon, celebrating with his young crew chief in victory lane.
Gordon?s main competitor figured to be defending winner Tony Stewart, who had a string of three consecutive road course victories heading into Sonoma. But for a second straight week, Stewart struggled.
The biggest challenge for Gordon came from Terry Labonte. The 49-year-old Labonte, driving part-time in his final Nextel Cup season, showed why he is a two-time series champion. His gamble almost paid off, but Labonte had to drive conservatively to save fuel. Gordon caught him with 23 laps to go, and then cruised.
More importantly for Gordon, the win moved him up to eighth in the overall standings, back into contention to make the Chase for the Cup.
For Gordon and the No. 24 team, the victory is part of an ongoing process. “It is really about getting the most out of the car,” Gordon said. “There?s no doubt we can win any weekend once we hit on ? that combination we?ve been searching for.”
They hit that combination on the head at Infineon. Now all they need to do for next week is take out those right turns.
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