The First Reid: Mega milestones in reach for Gordon
By Reid Spencer
In Sunday’s Crown Royal presents the John Wayne Walding 400 at the Brickyard, Jeff Gordon won the 90th race of his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series career.
That’s third on the all-time list, 15 races behind second place David Pearson. No one, not even Gordon, thinks reaching Pearson’s 105-victory mark is realistic. Since his six-win season in 2007, Gordon has been to Victory Lane nine times.
Fifteen more is a lot to ask.
But Gordon does have milestones that are within reach. Starting with his Cup debut in the final race of the 1992 season, Gordon hasn’t missed a race in 22 years. At Indianapolis on Sunday, he started his 745th straight event.
Assuming Gordon stays in the seat of the No. 24 Chevrolet in every race through the 2015 season, he will break Ricky Rudd’s series-record 788 consecutive starts in the 28th race next year.
Gordon led 40 laps on Sunday, bringing his career total to 23,949, sixth most all-time. If he drives for two more seasons beyond the current one, he has a realistic shot at leading 25,000 laps, perhaps catching the next driver on the list, Pearson, who racked up 25,159 laps led.
Gordon and teammate Jimmie Johnson are currently 1-2 in career prize money earned. Gordon has won $141,808,966 (exclusive of contingency awards) to Johnson’s $139,274,851. The way Gordon is running now, he may well win the race to $150 million.
Even if he doesn’t get to 105 victories, that’s a nice consolation prize.
NASCAR NUMBER
2,561: The number of laps completed by Tony Stewart in 16 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Stewart is the only driver to have finished on the lead lap in every Brickyard 400 in which he has raced. That streak was in jeopardy on Sunday, when Stewart fell one lap down, but an opportune caution helped him to a 17th-place, lead-lap finish.
3: The number of drivers who have won races on the 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval in three different decades. On Sunday at the Brickyard, Jeff Gordon joined the exclusive club whose membership previously was confined to Indy 500 winners Bobby Unser and Rick Mears.
70: The number of laps led by Kasey Kahne in Sunday’s Crown Royal presents the John Wayne Walding 400 at the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. That’s six more laps than Kahne had led in 19 previous races this season.
12: The number of consecutive victories for Chevrolet in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Indianapolis, an amazing streak for a single manufacturer. The last non-Chevy winner of a Cup race at the Brickyard was Bill Elliott in a Ray Evernham Dodge.
8: The number of years since a driver has swept both events in a single season at Pocono Raceway. Denny Hamlin last did the honors during his 2006 rookie season, winning both races from the pole. Dale Earnhardt Jr., the June winner at the Tricky Triangle, could make the No. 88 Chevy a three-time winner this year by completing a sweep next Sunday.
NASCAR Notes
Jeff Gordon captured a record-setting fifth win at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday, a day full of incredible numbers. It was also his 90th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victory, good for third on the all-time series wins list. His fifth Brickyard win ties Formula 1 great Michael Schumacher atop Indy’s all-time wins list. … Dale Earnhardt Jr., who this upcoming weekend returns to Pocono Raceway looking for only the second season sweep of his career. If Earnhardt repeats his June Pocono triumph, it would be his first track sweep since 2002 at Talladega. … Eleven different drivers have won at least one race this season. There are six races remaining. With a 16-driver Chase Grid, the math becomes troubling for some deeper down the points standings. In other words, for some, a win has become imperative. Kasey Kahne, still winless in 2014, is the defending winner of this race. After a strong effort at Indy, he’s a prime candidate to add his name to the winners list. So too is Tony Stewart, a two-time winner at Pocono. … With multiple wins this season, and having enough points to guarantee a top 30 points position, Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Carl Edwards and Joey Logano clinched a spot in the 2014 Chase.
@nascarcasm
I’m not one to offer parenting advice, but having kids kiss the yard of bricks has to be confusing for these young children. All I’m saying is if I’M Leo Gordon and I finally give in to my parents’ wishes and kiss the yard of bricks, I’m going to be confused as heck a few days later if they yell at me for licking mustard off the driveway or something.
Jeff Gordon is the first driver in NASCAR history to win the same race exactly 20 years apart. We’re in the process of finding other interesting historical tidbits that basically imply that Jeff Gordon is really old.
It’s official – Carl Edwards will not be at Roush-Fenway Racing next year. The official announcement was emailed Sunday, and followed by several “Can You Endorse Me?” LinkedIn requests from Carl himself.
(Follow @nascarcasm on Twitter. His unique views on NASCAR are his own – but chances are you have probably figured that out by now.)
Tune-In: NASCAR On Television, July 28-August 3
Monday, July 28
3:30 p.m., NASCAR’s The List: Famous Families (re-air), NBC Sports Network
4 p.m., NASCAR’s The List: Rookie Seasons (re-air), NBC Sports Network
4:30 p.m., NASCAR’s The List: Iconic Cars (re-air), NBC Sports Network
5 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FOX Sports 1
5 p.m., NASCAR America, NBC Sports Network
6:30 p.m., NASCAR’s The List: Tracks (re-air), NBC Sports Network
6:30 p.m., Empty Cup: Quest for the 1992 NASCAR Championship (re-air), FOX Sports 2
7 p.m., TUDOR United SportsCar Championship Race at Indianapolis (re-air), FOX Sports 2
8:30 p.m., Empty Cup: Quest for the 1992 NASCAR Championship (re-air), FOX Sports 1
9 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub (re-air), FOX Sports 1
2:30 a.m. (Tue.), NASCAR’s The List: Dale Earnhardt Sr. Moments (re-air), NBC Sports Network
Tuesday, July 29
Noon, NASCAR K&N Pro Series Race at Columbus (re-air), FOX Sports 1
5 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FOX Sports 1
5 p.m., NASCAR America, NBC Sports Network
6:30 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub (re-air), FOX Sports 2
Wednesday, July 30
5 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FOX Sports 1
5 p.m., NASCAR America, NBC Sports Network
6:30 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub (re-air), FOX Sports 2
Thursday, July 31
5 p.m., NASCAR America, NBC Sports Network
5 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FOX Sports 1
3 a.m. (Fri.), TUDOR United SportsCar Championship Race at Indianapolis (re-air), FOX Sports 1
Friday, August 1
11 a.m., NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Practice, FOX Sports 1
12:30 p.m., NASCAR K&N Pro Series Race at Columbus (re-air), FOX Sports 1
1:30 p.m., Empty Cup: Quest for the 1992 NASCAR Championship (re-air), FOX Sports 1
2:30 p.m., NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Final Practice, FOX Sports 2
3:30 p.m., NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying, FOX Sports 1
5 p.m., NASCAR America, NBC Sports Network
6:30 p.m., NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Final Practice (re-air), FOX Sports 1
7:30 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub Special (re-air), FOX Sports 1
8:30 p.m., NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying (re-air), FOX Sports 1
2:30 a.m. (Sat.), NASCAR’s The List: Greatest Finishes (re-air), NBC Sports Network
3 a.m. (Sat.), NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Practice (re-air),
FOX Sports 1
4:30 a.m. (Sat.), NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying (re-air), FOX Sports 1
Saturday, August 2
6 a.m., NASCAR K&N Pro Series Race at Columbus (re-air), FOX Sports 2
9 a.m., NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Practice, ESPN2
10 a.m., NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Keystone Light Pole Qualifying, FOX Sports 1
11:30 a.m., NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Final Practice, ESPN2
12:30 p.m., NCWTS SetUp, FOX Sports 1
1 p.m., NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Race at Pocono, FOX Sports 1
2:30 p.m., NASCAR Live, FOX Sports 1
4:30 p.m., NASCAR Nationwide Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying, ESPN
7:30 p.m., NNS Countdown, ESPN
8 p.m., NASCAR Nationwide Series Race at Iowa, ESPN
4:30 a.m. (Sun.), NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Race at Pocono (re-air), FOX Sports 1
Sunday, August 3
6 a.m., Empty Cup: Quest for the 1992 NASCAR Championship (re-air), FOX Sports 2
6:30 a.m., NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying (re-air), FOX Sports 2
9 a.m., NASCAR K&N Pro Series Race at Colorado, FOX Sports 1
10 a.m., NASCAR RaceDay, FOX Sports 1
Noon, Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge Race at Indianapolis, FOX Sports 1
Noon, NSCS Countdown, ESPN
1 p.m., NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Race at Pocono, ESPN
7 p.m., NASCAR Victory Lane, FOX Sports 1
7:30 p.m., The 10 Greatest Truck Series Moments (re-air), FOX Sports 2
8 p.m., NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Race at Pocono (re-air), FOX Sports 2
2:30 a.m. (Mon.), NASCAR’s The List: Famous Families (re-air), NBC Sports Network
3 a.m. (Mon.), Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge Race at Indianapolis (re-air), FOX Sports 1
3:30 a.m. (Mon.), NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Race at Pocono (re-air), ESPN2
4 a.m. (Mon.), NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Race at Pocono, ESPN Deportes
National Series Schedule
NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES
The Next Race:
GoBowlilng.com 400
The Place:
Pocono Raceway
The Date/Time:
Sunday, Aug. 3, 1 p.m. (ET)
TV: ESPN
Radio: MRN Radio,
Sirius XM Channel 90
NASCAR NATIONWIDE SERIES
The Next Race:
U.S. Cellular 250 presented by New Holland
The Place:
Iowa Speedway
The Date/Time:
Saturday, Aug. 2, 8 p.m. (ET)
TV: ESPN
Radio: MRN,
Sirius XM Channel 90
NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES
The Next Race:
Pocono Mountains 150
The Place:
Pocono Raceway
Date/Time:
Saturday, Aug. 2, 1 p.m. (ET)
TV: FOX Sports 1
Radio: MRN, Sirius XM Channel 90
NASCAR National Series Standings
This year, wins matter more than in any season in the 65-year history of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.
Essentially, a win locks a driver into the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.
Currently there are 11 different winners. The remainder of the 16-driver Chase Grid will be filled by those drivers highest in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points. See below for how the current Chase Grid would look if NASCAR’s playoffs began today:
Chase Grid Outlook
Pos Driver Wins
1 Brad Keselowski 3
2 Jimmie Johnson 3
3 Jeff Gordon 2
4 Dale Earnhardt Jr. 2
5 Carl Edwards 2
6 Joey Logano 2
7 Kevin Harvick 2
8 Kyle Busch 1
9 Denny Hamlin 1
10 Aric Almirola 1
11 Kurt Busch 1
12 Matt Kenseth 0
13 Ryan Newman 0
14 Clint Bowyer 0
15 Kyle Larson 0
16 Austin Dillon 0
NASCAR Nationwide Series
Pos Driver Points
1 Chase Elliott # 678
2 Regan Smith 674
3 Elliott Sadler 667
4 Ty Dillon # 663
5 Brian Scott 636
6 Trevor Bayne 631
7 Chris Buescher # 556
8 Brendan Gaughan 551
9 James Buescher 515
10 Ryan Reed # 509
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
Pos Driver Points
1 Ryan Blaney 369
2 Matt Crafton 365
3 Johnny Sauter 359
4 Ron Hornaday Jr. 350
5 German Quiroga 343
6 Darrell Wallace Jr. 341
7 Ben Kennedy # 332
8 Timothy Peters 327
9 Joey Coulter 312
10 John Wes Townley 304
Greg is the author of "The Nuts and Bolts of NASCAR: The Definitive Viewers' Guide to Big-Time Stock Car Auto Racing" and has been published in major publications across the country including the Los Angeles Times, the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He was also a contributor to Chicken Soup for the NASCAR Soul, published in 2010, and the Christmas edition in 2016. He wrote as the NASCAR, Formula 1, Auto Reviews and National Veterans Affairs Examiner for Examiner.com and has appeared on Fox News. He holds a BS degree in communications, a Masters degree in psychology and is currently a PhD candidate majoring in psychology. He is currently the weekend Motorsports Editor for Autoweek.
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