DARLINGTON, S.C (May 6,
2008) - Darlington Raceway,
site of this Saturday
night’s Dodge Challenger
500, was re-paved following
last year’s NASCAR Sprint
Cup Series race won by Jeff
Gordon. While the bumps may
be gone and the speeds are
considerably faster, the
four-time NASCAR Cup Series
champion says there is no
need to worry.
“The Darlington we all
love is still here.” Gordon
recently participated in a
Goodyear tire test at the
1.366-mile egg-shaped oval,
and he was impressed with
the work done to the track.
“I’m really excited about
the race this weekend,” said
Gordon. “The track is smooth
and super fast, but it’s the
same Darlington. They did a
fantastic job.
“The track is unreal, and
I had a blast during the
test. The bumps aren’t there
and you’re going much
faster, but you run the same
line you always have and the
track has the same
characteristics.”
And Gordon knows the
quick line around the South
Carolina track. In 27 starts
at Darlington, he has seven
wins including five Southern
500 victories, three poles,
15 top- fives (56 percent)
and 18 top-10's (67
percent).
“I’ve always enjoyed
racing here and I’ve had
some memorable moments,”
said Gordon.
“Like winning my first
Southern 500 or battling
Jeff Burton on the last lap
with a million-dollar bonus
on the line for our team.
“Last year was pretty
memorable too.”
In 2007, rain postponed
the race until Mother’s Day.
Gordon’s mother and sister
were in attendance, as well
as his wife, Ingrid
Vandebosch. “Ingrid was
pregnant at the time, and
that was her last race of
traveling before giving
birth to Ella,” said Gordon.
“My Mom and my sister
were there, and my sister –
in all these years – had
never been to Victory Lane
for one of my wins. “With
about 100 laps to go, the
water temperature on the
DuPont Chevrolet skyrocketed
and I thought we were done.
My crew chief, Steve Letarte,
made a great call to stay on
the track while others
pitted late in the race and
that allowed me to run in
clean air.
“We were fortunate to
pull into Victory Lane with
steam pouring out of the
overflow vent. I didn’t
think we’d make it to end of
the race, and I guess
neither did my stepfather,
John Bickford. “John, my
Mom, sister and nephew were
already halfway home.”
