NASCAR: Latest UPDATE On Status Of Jeff Gordon For Tonight
Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports
Stay here for all of the latest news and updates regarding Jeff Gordon’s status for the Coca Cola 600 on Sunday. Refresh the page for more updates through the day.
UPDATE #1 – Regan Smith is on standby in case Gordon cannot race on Sunday.
UPDATE #2 – Gordon is “100 percent confident” that he is going to be able to run “all 600 miles” in the Coca Cola 600.
UPDATE #3 – Sources around HMS are very confident as of early Sunday morning that Gordon will start the race on Sunday evening, from there anything could happen though depending on how his back reacts. Regan Smith will be in the pits ready to go the entire night if Gordon needs to get out of the No. 24 machine.
UPDATE #4 – Gordon spoke with FOX Sports this afternoon and he confirmed that he will run the Coca Cola 600 tonight and that he does plan on running all 600 miles. He went onto say that “I’m certainly feeling better than I was yesterday. The doctors have done everything they possibly could to get me prepared. I feel like we’re going to be OK, but you just never know until you get in the car and get in those loads.”
UPDATE #5 – 1/4 of the way through the Coca Cola 600 Gordon is running inside of the top-10. Thus far it seems all is well with Gordon. Get love race updates from the Coca Cola 600 HERE.
END UPDATE —
Jeff Gordon is just a couple of weeks removed from his first win of the season and in the midst of one of his best seasons in years. Heading into the Coca Cola 600 from Charlotte Motor Speedway, Gordon and the No. 24 team were eying possibly winning their second race of the season. The teams earlier win in Kansas almost guarantees them a spot in the chase but a second win would without question lock that spot up. Everything seemed to be going okay for Gordon and company this weekend until Saturday’s practice session.
Gordon had to pull out of practice on Saturday after completing only 11 laps due to back spasms. Gordon had began to have spasms in practice the day before but was able to complete qualifying. When Gordon left the track on Saturday the No. 24 machine was the 6th fastest car on the track. Gordon also compiled the fastest 10 lap average of any of the other cars out there at that time. Shortly after leaving the track Gordon took a moment to speak about the issue and the outlook for the Coca Cola 600 on Sunday.
"It’s unfortunate. I’ve had some spasms in the past, but this one is a little bit different. I just want to be cautious and take care of it. It doesn’t do me any good to be out there in the car right now, especially as good as it is.It’s really about getting prepared for 600 miles tomorrow. I have no doubts that I can be in this car and be competitive if I just take it easy over the next 24 hours."
If Gordon is able to start the race on Sunday one would have to imagine that his back may be a concern considering how physically demanding this race is.
Christopher Olmstead is the Editor of BeyondTheFlag.com on the FanSided Network. Follow us on Twitter @Beyond_The_Flag and “Like” us on Facebook.