Swan Song – Can Jeff Gordon Win Title In Final Season?
By Mike Hutton
Talladega Superspeedway – One of Gordon’s best tracks. Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports
The Contender Round – Goal: Start winning to advance
Charlotte Motor Speedway: Night race. Home race. Important race. Gordon’s last two wins here have come in the fall race. Why not a third? I think this is another event where a team effort might be needed, this time at the hands of the No. 5 car of Kasey Khane. Kahne’s setup for Charlotte night races is among the best. Gordon needs at worst a top 5 here.
Kansas Speedway: This one is winnable, despite the fact that he has led only 49 laps here in the last 13 seasons combined. He won the very first two races here, leading about 1/3 of the laps in those years. He’s due. You can’t keep a future hall-of-fame driver that down for that long. Lock up your advancement here and you can breathe a little easier the following week.
Talladega Superspeedway: Of the three races in this round, this is Gordon’s best shot at a victory. He has always been superb in taking care of his equipment and being around at the end in plate races. He needs to do so again and be aggressive in taking a win, yet balance that with the realization if its not in the cards, to not throw it away being too determined. Ask Kyle Busch how that worked out.