DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Story by Race Chaser Online Managing Editor Jacob Seelman — Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images North America photo —
Jeff Gordon’s final Sprint Cup start at the Daytona International Speedway might not have ended exactly how he had hoped, but considering the four-time champion’s prior restrictor plate track results in 2015, it could easily be considered a successful night.
Gordon was up front with his three Hendrick Motorsports teammates for the majority of Monday morning’s Coke Zero 400 at Daytona, running as high as third at different stages of the 160-lap event, before getting shuffled to the middle lane late in the going and ending up with a sixth-place result.
The effort was Gordon’s best on a plate track all season after a final lap crash in the Daytona 500 and a 31st-place finish at Talladega in May.
“Our AXALTA Chevrolet was excellent,” Gordon said after the race. “A couple moves here and there maybe shuffled us out, but it’s so hard to predict these races and what line to be in. One time they came up the middle and I thought that was the place to be before Trevor Bayne got to the outside of me … but that’s all it takes is just that split second decision and one move to go your way or not go your way.”
Gordon never officially led a lap on the night, but was still in the thick of the battle for most of the race with teammates Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jimmie Johnson, who eventually finished one-two, respectively.
“All the Hendrick cars were good enough to win, but Dale is just so, so good — you get him up front and he’s just good at picking the lanes and controlling the race,” Gordon said of Earnhardt. “He’s got a fast race car, which helps too, but he does an excellent job. He just did everything right tonight and came away with a great victory for him and for Hendrick Motorsports.”
While Gordon was happy for his result, which moved him to tenth in the championship standings, his concern — as with many drivers following the event — was on safety after Austin Dillon’s massive crash into the tri-oval catch fence.
“[That was] chaos. It’s crazy,” Gordon said, describing his view of the final-lap incident. “I’m so glad Austin Dillon is okay. That’s a violent, violent wreck … . You always know it’s going to be crazy [at Daytona]. Right from the start, I thought it was a wild race. There was a lot of action and a lot of crazy stuff going on.”
Gordon’s description of the action in the closing laps was similar to one that Carl Edwards gave several years back after a race at the Kansas Speedway.
“It’s literally like a video game out there these days, except it’s real life. It’s crazy,” the winner of three Daytona 500s and three Coke Zero 400s re-emphasized. “I love Daytona, this place has been amazing for me and I can’t believe it’s my final race here, but after going through that experience I’m glad I only have one more restrictor plate race left.”
Gordon will return to the race track on Saturday night, July 11 for the Quaker State 400 at Kentucky Speedway. The race track is the only active Sprint Cup Series facility that Gordon has not won a series points race at.
About the Writer
Jacob Seelman is the Managing Editor of Race Chaser Online and creator of the Motorsports Madness radio show, airing at 7 p.m. Eastern every Monday on the Performance Motorsports Network. Seelman grew up in the sport, watching his grandparents co-own the RaDiUs Motorsports NASCAR Cup Series team in the 1990s. He is currently studying Broadcast Journalism at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S.C., and is also serving as the full-time tour announcer for both the United Sprint Car Series and the Must See Racing Sprint Car Series.
Email Jacob at: speed77radio@gmail.com
Follow on Twitter: @Speed77Radio or @JacobSeelman77
