Break out the brooms….we’ve got another sweeper! #24-Jeff Gordon completed the Martinsville Speedway sweep in today’s Subway 500 in dominant style. He led 311 of the 500 laps and made it a Hendrick Motorsports 1-2 by finishing a little over one second ahead of teammate Jimmie Johnson. Gordon’s 5th win at Martinsville was his 63rd career triumph (he’s 7th on the all-time win list) and second of the season. We’ve had the winner come from the pole five times this season….but only three drivers have accomplished that feat. Today was Gordon’s second occasion, joining Ryan Newman’s two efforts and Kevin Harvick did it once. This was win #116 for Hendrick Motorsports. A bit of a tempest in a teapot with that pit flag situation today. Might want to move that flagman a little up the backstretch….and remind the teams that the pits could open at any moment. There are still a few of us who remember what it was like when you could pit whenever you wanted. Nothing like being half a lap behind and getting lucky on the yellow and ducking into the pits waaaay before the leader. That’s when it used to take NASCAR 10-15 laps to figure out who was where….. #88-Dale Jarrett (11th) had his best finish since he was 7th at Bristol in August. #30-Steve Park (12th) had his best finish since he was 5th at Michigan in August. #23-Kenny Wallace (16th) had his best finish since he was 15th at Bristol in August. #74-Tony Raines (23rd) had his best finish since he was 20th at Bristol in August. #02-Hermie Sadler (30th) had his best finish since he was 23rd at Richmond in September of 2002. (Only 12 races) STREAKIN….Ryan Newman has 7 Top-10’s in a row. Jeff Gordon has 5 Top-5’s in a row. Tony Stewart has 5 Top-5’s in a row. Kevin Harvick has 5 Top-10’s in a row. This Week’s Elevator….UP: Operator of the Week was Steve Park (+29), followed by Dale Jarrett (+28), Terry Labonte (+25), and Jimmie Johnson (+24). DOWN: The Big Dropper was Sterling Marlin (-34), followed by Jimmy Spencer (-32), Kurt Busch (-26), Rusty Wallace (-22), and Bobby Labonte (-21). This was Park’s 3rd Op of the season, and Sterling’s 4th BD….both equal to the top of their division. Kevin Harvick only took 24 markers off Matt Kenseth’s lead today….it’s still a healty 240 points with four races to go. Our mathematically eliminated line is creeping further to the top….we lost five more drivers today. If you’re 9th or further back, it’s time for the Cubs mantra. Bill Elliott (12th to 10th) and Johnny Benson (25th to 27th) were the only multi-position movers this week. But if you like action, check out spots 19th to 22nd and 25th to 27th in the standings. Four positions separated by only six points and three more spots separated by that same margin. Think that’ll change a couple more times?( Stock Car Fans Winston Cup Newsletter )(10-19-2003)
