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 "It goes to show just how intense this is and how much this
format has changed your mindset," said Gordon, a 23-year NSCS
veteran with 757 starts to his credit. "I don't think I've ever been
more nervous through a race weekend than this past weekend. I'm kind
of glad we experienced that. I'm glad we survived it."
This weekend, the 43-year-old driver travels to a more welcoming
site -- Martinsville Speedway. Gordon, along with the other seven
remaining Chase contenders -- Joey Logano, Kevin Harvick, Matt
Kenseth, Ryan Newman, Brad Keselowski, Carl Edwards and Denny Hamlin
-- will be on equal ground as their points were reset to 4,000
following Talladega. A first-place finish in any of the next three
races would automatically advance a member of the Eliminator 8 to
the Championship Round race at Homestead.
Piloting the No. 24 AARP Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet, Gordon will
go for his ninth victory at the .526-mile oval in Sunday's Goody's
Headache Relief Shot 500 (1:30 p.m. ET on ESPN). He currently ranks
tied with Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jimmie Johnson for its wins
lead among active drivers.
"My goal this whole year when I knew we had fast race cars and a
shot at the championship was to get through this last (Contender)
Round and to make it through to this (Eliminator) Round," Gordon
said. "This to me is where we're going to shine. There's such a very
realistic chance for us to not only win a couple of these races
coming up, but seriously get ourselves to Homestead with a real shot
at winning this thing."
At Martinsville, Gordon will have to contend with fellow
championship-qualifying driver and track ace Hamlin. The No. 11
FedEx Toyota pilot boasts four wins at the Virginia track and claims
the third-best average running position (9.0) and driver rating
(109.6) there. He stated during Eliminator Media Day he would pick
either Martinsville or Homestead to run "one race, heads-up for the
championship."
"It's a huge opportunity for us," Hamlin said. "As average as our
team has been in general this year, when we go into a short track
where horsepower doesn't matter, aero doesn't matter - and it's
about the driver and mechanical setups - I feel like those are our
strong suits."
WALLACE GOES FOR FALL REPEAT AT MARTINSVILLE
Driver Darrell Wallace Jr. of Kyle Busch Motorsports led the final
50 laps of the Kroger 200 all the way to the finish at the .526-mile
oval to become the second African-American driver to win a NASCAR
national series race. His triumph occurred nearly 50 years after
Wendell Scott became the first African-American victor of a NASCAR
national series race at Jacksonville Speedway on Dec. 1, 1963.
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Martinsville is located about 30 miles east of Danville, Virginia --
the late Scott's hometown.
"This (win) means everything," a teary-eyed Wallace said after the
race. "This is an emotional win for me, especially to do it in
Wendell Scott's backyard. I love coming here to Martinsville. It's
always good to me. It finally paid off."
Wallace will attempt to win the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series'
fall race at Martinsville again on Saturday in the Kroger 200 (1:30
p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1). He finished second in the March event at
"The Paperclip" after winning the pole.
For the race weekend, Wallace has decided to honor Scott and his
induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Wallace will pay tribute to
Scott at Martinsville by temporarily changing his red, white and
black No. 54 Toyota Tundra to the No. 34 Toyota Tundra with a
throwback blue and white paint scheme, reminiscent of the No. 34 car
Scott drove. He will also sport a retro fire suit.
"I'm really excited to run the No. 34 Toyota Tundra this weekend at
Martinsville to honor Wendell Scott's Hall of Fame induction, as
well as honor the entire Scott family," Wallace said. "Martinsville
is a track I have run well on and will always be special to me since
I got my first win there last year."
Championship implications are on the line for Wallace, who moved up
to third in the standings after a ninth-place showing at Talladega.
He trails series leader Matt Crafton by 28 points with four races
left in the season.
The 21-year-old feels ready to further reduce his standings deficit
on Saturday.
"Anytime you mention Martinsville, I get excited," Wallace said.
"Jerry (Baxter, crew chief) and the guys have worked really hard to
give me the best Toyota Tundra, and I know if we unload with the
same speed we have the last few races, we will be just fine. It's
time to get us another win and another Grandfather clock."
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