#31-Robby Gordon led the last 30 laps today at Watkins Glen International and captured his second win of the season (and 3rd of his career) in the Sirius at The Glen. He becomes the 3rd Sweeper since we added Infineon Raceway to the schedule in 1989, and they’re both named Gordon. Jeff did it twice, in 1998 and 1999 (more on him later). Robby’s win moves him into a tie for 80th on the all-time win list, and is the 74th win for RCR Enterprises (or 76th if you count the two that Ricky Rudd got for Childress Racing in 1983). It was certainly a wild event….a pit fire, splashers in the mud, sun bathers on the beach, a few visits to the kitty litter, and trouble for Jeff Gordon in the first turn of the first lap and last turn of the last lap. He lacked about 100 feet from finishing (Mr. Lead Lap will like that). Gonna be interesting to see what happens on the safety front the next couple weeks. The drivers are starting to get their fill of it, and with Mike Helton saying “this works for NASCAR” you can bet they’re gonna come back with “how about something that works for NASCAR’s drivers”? Ryan Newman was rather vocal after his wreck on Friday (to take that long to get to a driver during practice has gotta take some ‘splainin), and Jeff Gordon touched on it after his last lap crash today. Now we’ll see if NASCAR responds. #39-Scott Pruett (2nd) had his career-best finish today. His previous best was 6th here last year. His Top-5 gives us 28 drivers to score that mark this season….last year’s number was 31. His Top-10 gives us 40 drivers at that level this season….last year’s number was 42. #22-Ward Burton (6th) had his best finish since he was 5th at Martinsville last October. #0-John Andretti (19th) had his best finish since he was 8th at Fontana in April (only 8 races). #39-Scott Pruett led today for the first time since he led here once for three laps in August of 2001. He’s the 42nd driver to lead a lap this season…. we had 46 of those last year. STREAKIN….Robby Gordon has 4 Top-10’s in the last 5 races. Ryan Newman has 4 Top-10’s in the last 5 races. This Week’s Elevator…UP: Operator of the Week is Scott Pruett (+26), followed by Jeremy Mayfield (+24), Dale Jarrett (+23), and Michael Waltrip (+21). The Big Dropper was a tie between Jeff Gordon (-32) and Rusty Wallace (-32), followed by Greg Biffle (-29), Boris Said (-29), and Ron Fellows (-20). Matt Kenseth lost 28 points off his lead today….it’s now 258 over Dale Earnhardt Jr. No drivers were mathematically eliminated today; that line remains unchanged at 46th and below. Kevin Harvick (7th to 5th), Tony Stewart (13th to 11th), and Ward Burton (22nd to 20th) made the only multiple position gains in the Top 45. Rusty Wallace (10th to 12th) and Dave Blaney (24th to 26th) did the same in the opposite direction.( StockCarFans.Com Wcup Newsletter )(8-10-2003)
