NASCAR Rocks

TALLADEGA, Ala. (AP) – with the win at Talladega Superspeedway Gordon is now the all time leader on restrictor-plate tracks. In true Hollywood style, Gordon passed his team mate in the very last lap to claim the victory.

This victory takes him past the legendary late Dale Earnhardt and confirmed his status of a legend in the making, however, Dale Earnhardt wasn’t comfortable on receiving the title of NASCAR’s best plate racer.

“I’m blown away by that, to me (Earnhardt) was the man on restrictor plates,” Gordon said. “I watched him do things and I knew they were cheating or something in his carburetor, and then I maybe pulled a couple of those moves throughout the years and I was like `Ahh, now I know what he was doing.’

“I was fortunate that my very first plate race, I was racing Dale in the Daytona 500. Even though I didn’t have a chance to win it, I was there in the battle watching. The education started very early for me.”

This was his fifth race victory of the season and the win also brought him back into the lead of the points standings so far. He is now leading Johnson by nine and there are just six races to go before the Chase for the Championship.

“It was the hardest race I’ve ever had to be in. I’ve never had that type of mind-set before,” Gordon said. “It was tough because I don’t like just going out there and riding in the back. I want to be out there battling for the lead and leading laps.”

Filed under: Points Chase