JEFF GORDON Retires

The 2015 is purported to be Jeff Gordon's last season in NASCAR... or as it was quietly put, his last full-time season. What are the odds he starts his own garage somewhere?

via NASCAR Press Release

“Jeff Gordon transcends NASCAR and will be celebrated as one of the greatest drivers to ever race. We have all enjoyed watching his legend grow for more than two decades, and will continue to do so during his final full-time season. His prolonged excellence and unmatched class continue to earn him the admiration of fans across the globe. Today’s announcement is a bittersweet one. I’ll miss his competitive fire on a weekly basis, but I am also happy for Jeff and his family as they start a new chapter. On behalf of the entire NASCAR family, I thank Jeff for his years of dedication and genuine love for this sport, and wish him the very best in his final season.”

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NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Official Race Results - from Martinsville

{NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES OFFICIAL RACE REPORT No. 33
65TH ANNUAL GOODY'S HEADACHE RELIEF SHOT "500" POWERED BY KROGER
MARTINSVILLE SPEEDWAY

Ridgeway, VA - October 27, 2013
.526-Mile Oval
500 Laps - 263 Miles Purse: $5,013,097 }

Jeff Gordon won the Goody's Headache Relief Shot 500 Powered by Kroger at Martinsville Speedway.  This was his 88th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victory. Prior to the green flag, no cars dropped to the rear of the field.

TIME OF RACE: 3 hours, 44 minutes, 21 seconds       AVERAGE SPEED: 70.337 mph      MARGIN OF VICTORY: 0.605 second(s)

COORS LIGHT POLE AWARD:  Denny Hamlin (99.595 mph. 19.013 secs.)

3M LAP LEADER:  Matt Kenseth (202 Laps)

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Fin	Car			Series	Bonus		Laps
Pos	No	Driver	Laps	Points	Points	Status	Led
1	24	Jeff Gordon	500	47	4	Running	78
2	20	Matt Kenseth	500	44	2	Running	202
3	15	Clint Bowyer	500	42	1	Running	60
4	2	Brad Keselowski	500	40	0	Running
5	48	Jimmie Johnson	500	40	1	Running	123
6	29	Kevin Harvick	500	38	0	Running
7	11	Denny Hamlin	500	38	1	Running	14
8	88	Dale Earnhardt Jr	500	36	0	Running
9	16	Greg Biffle	500	35	0	Running
10	1	Jamie McMurray	500	34	0	Running
11	31	Jeff Burton	500	34	1	Running	5
12	99	Carl Edwards	500	32	0	Running
13	42	Juan Pablo Montoya	500	31	0	Running
14	22	Joey Logano	500	30	0	Running
15	18	Kyle Busch	500	30	1	Running	12
16	56	Martin Truex Jr	500	28	0	Running
17	10	Danica Patrick #	499	27	0	Running
18	78	Kurt Busch	499	26	0	Running
19	9	Marcos Ambrose	499	25	0	Running
20	43	Aric Almirola	499	24	0	Running
21	13	Casey Mears	499	23	0	Running
22	27	Paul Menard	499	22	0	Running
23	38	David Gilliland	499	21	0	Running
24	93	Travis Kvapil	499	20	0	Running
25	55	Elliott Sadler	499	0	0	Running	6
26	98	Michael McDowell	498	18	0	Running
27	5	Kasey Kahne	497	17	0	Running
28	32	Ken Schrader	496	16	0	Running
29	40	Landon Cassill	495	0	0	Running
30	36	J.J. Yeley	495	14	0	Running
31	17	Ricky Stenhouse Jr #	495	13	0	Running
32	47	Bobby Labonte	494	12	0	Running
33	87	Joe Nemechek	493	0	0	Running
34	35	Josh Wise	490	0	0	Running
35	30	Cole Whitt	459	0	0	Running
36	14	Mark Martin	455	8	0	Running
37	83	David Reutimann	451	7	0	Rear Gear
38	39	Ryan Newman	432	6	0	Running
39	7	Dave Blaney	357	5	0	Accident
40	95	Reed Sorenson	275	0	0	Rear Gear
41	33	Tony Raines	220	0	0	Brakes
42	51	Kyle Larson	160	0	0	Engine
43	34	David Ragan	109	1	0	Engine

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Caution Flags: 17 cautions for 111 laps. [Beneficiary in Brackets]
8-19 (Car #31 Spinout (Turn 4) [None]);
89-94 (Car #93 Spinout (Turn 4) [27]);
141-146 (Car #83 Spinout (Turn 4) [27]);
167-180 (Car #51 Fluid On Track (Backstretch) [55]);
183-191 (Car #5, 11, 32, 41, 56 Accident (Turn 1) [83]);
205-209 (Car #1, 14, 78 Accident (Turn 4) [13]);
219-222 (Car #93 Spinout (Turn 4) [10]);
230-234 (Car #83 Spinout (Turn 4) [38]);
285-290 (Car #95 Stopped (Turn 4) [13]);
299-303 (Debris (Turn 1) [99]);
310-314 (Car #5, 40 Accident (Turn 3) [42]);
319-324 (Car #39 Accident (Turn 1) [98]);
328-332 (Car #56 Spinout (Turn 1) [98]);
338-341 (Debris (Frontstretch) [98]);
366-372 (Car #30 Accident (Turn 4) [93]);
381-385 (Car #36 Spinout (Turn 3) [93]);
417-423 (Debris (Turn 1) [98]).

Lap Leaders:  15 lead changes among 8 drivers.
Hamlin 1-2, Johnson 3-24, Ky. Busch 25-36, Kenseth 37-110, Johnson 111-174, Burton 175-179, Johnson 180-216, Kenseth 217-237, Bowyer 238-281, J. Gordon 282-338, Hamlin 339-350, Bowyer 351-366, Kenseth 367, Sadler 368-373, Kenseth 374-479, J. Gordon 480-500.



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NASCAR Announces Decision Following Review Of Race At Richmond International Raceway

Via press release

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Sept. 13, 2013) – Following a comprehensive review of all available audio and video communications from last Saturday night's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Richmond International Raceway, along with interviews with team personnel, NASCAR announced Friday the following decision:

       Both the Front Row Motorsports and Penske Racing organizations have been placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31 for violating Section 12-1 (Actions detrimental to stock car racing).

      A 13th car – the No. 24 – would be added to this year's Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.

"Based on all of our findings this week, we determined both Front Row Motorsports and Penske Racing organizations would be placed on probation for the remainder of this season," said Brian France, NASCAR Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "Additionally, based upon the totality of our findings, to be fair and equitable we decided that adding a 13th car to this year's Chase is the appropriate action.

"Beginning with our decision Monday, which resulted in an unprecedented team penalty, and continuing with further examination of actions involving two other race teams, it is clear to us that attempts to manipulate the results impacted the Chase field.

"The integrity of our sport remains the cornerstone of NASCAR, and our actions this week speak to our commitment to ensure a level playing field for all competitors."

Additionally, NASCAR will conduct a mandatory meeting with drivers, owners, crew chiefs and other team personnel tomorrow to address this issue moving forward.

JEFF GORDON TV Appearance Tonight, Wed, Jan 9th

Tonight (Wednesday, Jan 9th) on TV, Jeff Gordon will be taking part in a show called I GET THAT A LOT.

The show has famous people doing things regular people do and they film the folks that interact with the stars.  On the episode tonight, stars appearing include Bruce Jenner, the late Larry Hagman, Jane Seymour and Cheech Marin.

Jeff Gordon will be in the episode selling auto parts.  How funny is that.

I Get That A Lot, is scheduled to be on CBS at 8 p.m..

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NASCAR Issues Penalties From Sunday to Gordon, Pattie and Keselowksi???

After all was said and done, by the end of the Advocare 500 at Phoenix, I was surprised at the few number of penalties that came out of that melee known as the Advocare 500.  I get Jeff Gordon's penalty.  I get Brian Pattie's penalty...  (I heard him say s*! on TV, so this was a no brainer!)

To some lesser degree, I get Brad Keselowski's cell phone penalty.  BUT that cell phone brought a huge amount of attention to the sport back in February at Daytona.  That phone was a cash cow for the sport as the headline that went around the world about a NASCAR driver tweeting an on-track image and gaining thousands of fans from it.

Missing from this list of penalties is what many fans are crying for, and that's for Jeff Gordon to be parked for next week.  But as one argument would have it... when Kyle Busch was parked, it took repeated incidents or a pattern, that got him the sit-down.  Jeff Gordon does not have that pattern.

Below is the summary list of penalties

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via press release

NASCAR Issues Penalties From Sunday's Event

At Phoenix International Raceway

Three Teams Assessed Penalties Following Post-Race Review From NASCAR

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Nov. 12, 2012) – NASCAR announced today penalties to three teams that compete in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, as a result of rule infractions at Phoenix International Raceway.

Jeff Gordon, driver of the No. 24 car:

Was found to be in violation of Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing*) – altercation with another competitor on the race track during the race – and has been

• fined $100,000,
• docked 25 championship driver points and
  
• put on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31.

*But were his actions detrimental?  It sparked a news rage that has NASCAR on every channel!

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Rick Hendrick,

Owner of the No. 24 car, has also been

• penalized with the loss of 25 championship owner points.

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Alan Gustafson,

Crew chief of the No. 24 car, also was found to be in violation of Section 9-4A (at all events, crew chief assumes responsibility of his driver, car owner and team members) and

• has been placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31.

*As an added penalty, NASCAR should force him to crew chief for one of the Cope twins in their next race... no matter where it is!

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Brian Pattie,

crew chief of the No. 15 car, violated Sections 12-1 and 9-4A and has been

• fined $25,000 and
• placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31.

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Brad Keselowski,

Driver of the No. 2 car, has

• been fined $25,000 and
  
• placed on probation until Dec. 31

for violating Sections 12-1 and 20-6.7A (cars and drivers will not be permitted to carry onboard computers, automated electronic recording devices, electronically actuated devices, power distribution modules, power conditioners, micro-processors, recording devices, electronic digital memory chips, traction control devices, digital readout gauges and the like, even if inoperable or incomplete) – driver had a cell phone in his possession on board the race car.

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All of these violations occurred during the Nov. 11 event at PIR.

(Ya think!!!)

Additionally,

Statement From Robin Pemberton, NASCAR Vice President of Competition:

 

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Nov. 12, 2012) – “Following a thorough analysis of the actions that took place during Sunday’s race at Phoenix International Raceway, we have issued penalties based upon our review. The decisions announced today cover NASCAR’s full assessment of penalties for the incidents that occurred.

 

“There’s no doubt that a unique set of circumstances combined with a championship battle on the line resulted in raw emotions coming into play. We consider the penalties appropriate and those involved understand our decision and we expect them to abide by them.”

   

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Jeff Gordon's Gripe With Dale Earnhardt Jr.: Jr.s Move Was Not A New One

Yesterday at the Michigan race, Jeff Gordon was not having the best of days I guess.  At one point in the race during a restart, Dale Earnhardt Jr. dashed under Jeff going into turn 1 and by the exit of turn 2, Dale Jr. had gotten past Jeff and slid up in front of him.

Jeff's radio chatter then became the focus of the fanfare and media because he said something of the effect to his spotter that Dale Jr. should thank him for not wrecking him after a move like that.

The media caught wind of this one and went with it. They went with it yesterday and they're still doing it today.

I didn't.  Well, not the deed or chatter.  Here, I'm looking at the media response and the interest, I think they're trying to generate.

I'd say a large percentage of NASCAR fans either watch Dale Jr. are fans of Dale Jr or are aware of him in the sport of NASCAR because of who he is.  So this is not a new name, but when he does something, folks are interested.  Media folks are interested because it helps circulation or web hits.

For me, the frustrating part is when the media goes ape-sh** over something, as if it's new.

Sure, Jeff Gordon being upset over Dale Jr.'s slide job on him is new.  But if you've kept a keen eye on Jr. throughout all the races and all the seasons, you know this is nothing new.  In fact when capable, fans have seen Dale Jr. split rows of cars to pass, or dive low and slide up in front of them.  In fact, when Dale has a good car and finds himself needing to pass competitors, it can be pretty exciting.

Jr.'s crew chief, Steve Letarte, said in a radio interview on SiriusXM this morning (The Morning Drive) that he did everything he could to get Dale to the front of the pack at Michigan and that he expected Dale to do his part and get as many spots as possible, whenever possible.

What we was one of those spots.

Letarte also said he's spoken with Gordon, and when Dale and Jeff chat, they'll be fine.  Particularly with going into the newly resurfaced Bristol, this Saturday night.

That's my two cents on Dale Jr. giving Jeff Gordon the slide job at Michigan.  It was nothing new.  It was the victim that was new!

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NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Official Race Results From Pocono

via press release

NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES OFFICIAL RACE REPORT No. 21
39TH ANNUAL PENNSYLVANIA "400"
POCONO RACEWAY

Long Pond, PA - August 5, 2012
2.5-Mile Triangular Paved
160 Laps - 400 Miles Purse: $5,018,078

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Fin	Str	Car				Series	Bonus	Driver			Leader
Pos	Pos	No	Driver	Team	Laps	Points	Points	Rating	Winnings	Status	Times	Laps
1	27	24	Jeff Gordon	Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet	98	47	4	110.8	$233,011	Running	1	8
2	4	5	Kasey Kahne	Farmers Insurance Chevrolet	98	43	1	122.7	162,810	Running	1	1
3	15	56	Martin Truex Jr	NAPA Auto Parts Toyota	98	41	0	101.0	170,474	Running
4	31	2	Brad Keselowski	Miller Lite Dodge	98	41	1	98.3	148,205	Running	1	8
5	28	14	Tony Stewart	Office Depot Back to School Chevrolet	98	39	0	88.6	155,185	Running
6	9	39	Ryan Newman	HAAS Automation / Quicken Loans Chevrolet	98	38	0	102.7	136,418	Running
7	17	99	Carl Edwards	Fastenal Ford	98	37	0	101.9	132,226	Running
8	19	15	Clint Bowyer	5-hour Energy Toyota	98	36	0	88.2	112,849	Running
9	11	78	Regan Smith	Furniture Row / Farm American Chevrolet	98	35	0	82.1	110,043	Running
10	5	9	Marcos Ambrose	Stanley Ford	98	34	0	85.8	111,718	Running
11	3	27	Paul Menard	Menards / Serta Chevrolet	98	33	0	85.3	94,760	Running
12	18	55	Mark Martin	Aaron's Dream Machine Toyota	98	32	0	88.8	79,385	Running
13	14	20	Joey Logano	The Home Depot Toyota	98	31	0	72.9	86,135	Running
14	10	48	Jimmie Johnson	Lowe's Chevrolet	98	32	2	122.5	125,246	Running	3	44
15	12	16	Greg Biffle	3M Ford	98	29	0	104.5	85,435	Running
16	21	29	Kevin Harvick	Budweiser Chevrolet	98	28	0	72.9	120,796	Running
17	16	1	Jamie McMurray	Bass Pro Shops / Allstate Chevrolet	98	28	1	76.2	106,043	Running	1	3
18	13	43	Aric Almirola	Automotive Lift Institute Ford	98	26	0	66.0	111,646	Running
19	25	22	Sam Hornish Jr	Shell Pennzoil Dodge	98	0	0	67.9	115,785	Running
20	1	42	Juan Pablo Montoya	Target Chevrolet	98	25	1	77.0	118,926	Running	1	7
21	26	38	David Gilliland	ModSpace Motorsports Ford	98	23	0	60.5	89,668	Running
22	23	31	Jeff Burton	Enersys / Odyssey Battery Chevrolet	98	22	0	63.7	112,210	Running
23	7	17	Matt Kenseth	Zest Ford	98	22	1	110.4	118,421	Running	2	4
24	24	10	David Reutimann	TMone.com Chevrolet	97	20	0	56.7	72,785	Running
25	37	93	Travis Kvapil	Burger King / Dr Pepper Toyota	97	19	0	52.1	95,418	Running
26	22	83	Landon Cassill	Burger King / Dr Pepper Toyota	97	18	0	53.0	98,830	Running
27	39	47	Bobby Labonte	Scott Products Toyota	96	17	0	50.0	91,868	Running
28	32	34	David Ragan	Taco Bell Ford	96	16	0	52.9	81,332	Running
29	2	11	Denny Hamlin	FedEx Ground Toyota	90	16	1	82.4	113,901	Accident	1	3
30	6	51	Kurt Busch	Phoenix Construction Services Chevrolet	84	15	1	74.8	80,760	Accident	1	3
31	41	32	Jason White	Zaxby's Ford	81	0	0	36.8	76,610	Transmission
32	8	88	Dale Earnhardt Jr	Diet Mtn. Dew / AMP Energy / Nat'l Guard Chev	80	13	1	103.0	76,435	Running	2	17
33	20	18	Kyle Busch	M&M's Toyota	74	11	0	55.9	115,443	Accident
34	36	30	David Stremme	Inception Motorsports Toyota	43	10	0	37.0	67,760	Transmission
35	29	13	Casey Mears	GEICO Ford	40	9	0	40.4	67,610	Brakes
36	38	87	Joe Nemechek	AM/FM Energy Wood & Pellet Stoves Toyota	37	0	0	34.7	67,385	Brakes
37	34	26	Josh Wise #	MDS Transport Ford	34	7	0	39.8	67,205	Brakes
38	42	36	Tony Raines	@Tmone / CRM Hiring Veterans Chevrolet	31	6	0	29.4	67,053	Fuel Pump
39	30	19	Mike Bliss	Plinker Tactical Toyota	29	0	0	29.5	64,225	Overheating
40	35	37	J.J. Yeley	Max Q Motorsports Chevrolet	27	4	0	32.1	64,075	Brakes
41	43	98	Mike Skinner	TRAQM.com Ford	26	3	0	34.2	63,925	Rear Gear
42	40	91	Reed Sorenson	Plinker Tactical Toyota	10	0	0	28.3	63,765	Brakes
43	33	23	Scott Riggs	North Texas Pipe Chevrolet	9	1	0	28.4	64,148	Brakes

# Sunoco Rookie of the Year Contender.
Bonus Points: includes winner, lap leader & most laps led points
(i) = Ineligible for driver points in this series

Failed to qualify: (1) #33 Stephen Leicht
Race Comments: Before an estimated attendance of 85,000, Jeff Gordon won the Pennsylvania 400, his 86th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victory. Prior to the green flag, the following car dropped to the rear of the field for the reason indicated: #36 (engine change).
TIME OF RACE: 1 hours, 45 minutes, 34 seconds    AVERAGE SPEED: 139.249 mph    MARGIN OF VICTORY: Under Caution
COORS LIGHT POLE AWARD: Juan Pablo Montoya (176.043 mph. 51.124 secs.)
3M LAP LEADER: Jimmie Johnson (44 Laps)
AMERICAN ETHANOL GREEN FLAG RESTART AWARD: Juan Pablo Montoya
DIRECTV CREW CHIEF OF THE RACE: Paul Menard (crew chief Richard Labbe)
FREESCALE "WIDE OPEN": Martin Truex Jr
MAHLE CLEVITE ENGINE BUILDER OF THE RACE: Hendrick Engines (#24)
MOBIL 1 OIL DRIVER OF THE RACE: Martin Truex Jr
MOOG STEERING AND SUSPENSION PROBLEM SOLVER OF THE RACE: Martin Truex Jr (crew chief Chad Johnston, -2.264 seconds)
NASCAR SPRINT CUP LEADER BONUS: No winner: rolls over to $150,000 at next event++
USG IMPROVING THE FINISH: Jeff Gordon (26 places)
++Rollover money awarded at year's end, amount not included in race winnings.
Caution Flags: 3 cautions for 14 laps. [Beneficiary in Brackets] 20-22 (Car #18 Accident Turn 1 [None]); 87-90 (Car #51 Accident Turn 2 [42]); 92-98 (Car #11, 16, 17, 31, 48 Accident Turn 1 [38]).
Lap Leaders: 13 lead changes among 10 drivers. Montoya 1-7, Hamlin 8-10, Earnhardt Jr 11-20, McMurray 21-23, Keselowski 24-31, Earnhardt Jr 32-38, Johnson 39-46, Kenseth 47, Kahne 48, Ku. Busch 49-51, Johnson 52-75, Kenseth 76-78, Johnson 79-90, J. Gordon 91-98.

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NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES TOP 12
Driver	Points	Wins
1 - Dale Earnhardt Jr	744	(1)
2 - Matt Kenseth	739	(1)
3 - Greg Biffle	738	(1)
4 - Jimmie Johnson	736	(3)
5 - Martin Truex Jr	694	(0)
6 - Tony Stewart	691	(3)
7 - Brad Keselowski	690	(3)
8 - Denny Hamlin	683	(2)
9 - Kevin Harvick	681	(0)
10 - Clint Bowyer	679	(1)
11 - Kasey Kahne	622	(2)
12 - Carl Edwards	619	(0)

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MANUFACTURERS' CHAMPIONSHIP
Manufacturer	Points	Wins
Chevrolet	153	11
Toyota	122	5
Ford	100	2
Dodge	87	3

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NEXT EVENT: August 12, 2012 - 27th Annual Finger Lakes 355 at The Glen, Watkins Glen International, Watkins Glen, NY (220.5 Miles) (90 Laps)
NOTE: The above figures are based upon team winnings and include racing purse and cash contingency awards by participating manufacturers. (8/6/2012)

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