Gordon in solid position to win fifth NASCAR title
CONCORD, N.C. -- There was a time not too long ago when Jeff Gordon wondered if he'd ever win another race.
His personal life was in shambles, and a long losing streak had the four-time series champion doubting himself for the first time in his storied NASCAR career. The wins were few and far between, and the consistent title contender had turned into a perpetual also-ran.
Now five years later, Gordon can't be stopped -- he's ticking off wins, marching toward another title and, no coincidence here, has never been happier.
With his sixth win of the season Saturday night at Lowe's Motor Speedway, Gordon opened a healthy 68-point lead in the Nextel Cup points standings. He then celebrated with friends and family, including his only sister, Kimberly Coykendall, who through bad timing had missed the first 80 victories of his Cup career.
As he approaches his first wedding anniversary with wife Ingrid and delights in the joys of fatherhood with infant daughter Ella, Gordon insists he'll be satisfied no matter where he winds up in the final season standings.
"I'm going to tell you right now, I don't care what happens with the championship. This is my year," Gordon said. "Even with the wins that we've had so far, the kind of year on and off the racetrack, for me personally, it's just been the most incredible year."
With five races remaining, it looks to be Gordon's title to lose, and team owner Rick Hendrick believes it's a direct correlation to his personal life.
"I think I see a real happy Jeff Gordon," Hendrick said. "I think that his life outside of racing is probably the best it's ever been, especially with his little girl."
This resurgence has helped Gordon continue his assault on the record books. He passed the late Dale Earnhardt for sixth on the career wins list this spring, and with 81 career victories, he's poised to shoot up the standings.
He needs just three wins to pass Cale Yarborough for fifth, and four victories will slide him past Bobby Allison and Darrell Waltrip. Gordon will never touch Richard Petty's mark of 200 victories, but there's no reason to doubt he can claim No. 2 and pass David Pearson's 105 wins.