INQUISITR.COM / Sports

Jeff Gordon Comes In Second, But Drive For Five Is Still Alive

By Erin Staley
Published on: 11:48 PST, Sep 14, 2014

Jeff Gordon’s dreams of becoming a five time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion may be about to come true. Heading into the race at Chicagoland Speedway this Sunday, Gordon was second in points, but the buzz about the much-coveted fifth title were already swirling around the 43-year-old race car driver.

Unfortunately, Gordon didn’t win the Chicagoland Speedway race. That honor went to points leader Brad Keselowski. However, Gordon did finish second, which kept him in second place in the standings. This let his championship dreams, dubbed “Drive for Five,” stay viable.

jeff gordon 2014

This year, NASCAR changed the rules of the Sprint Cup Series to favor drivers who’ve won races over those who finish well but never win. With three wins this season, Gordon’s place in the NASCAR playoff equivalent is all but certain. Gordon’s fellow Hendrick Motorsports drivers Jimmie Johnson (currently fourth in the Sprint Cup Standings) and Dale Earnhardt Jr. (currently third in the Sprint Cup Standings) have also near guaranteed spots in the Chase for the Cup. To lose his spot now, Gordon would have to fail to qualify for one of the next two races. Gordon doesn’t seem to think that’s likely.

“We haven’t had a team like this since 2001,” Gordon told FOX Sports “In ’07 we were close, ’04 we were close, but I don’t think we ever really had this type of momentum, this type of chemistry, since we won our last championship, and in all honesty that’s what it takes to win a championship. Who we’ve been up against, they’ve had that, and we’ve got that back this year, so I’m really excited about our chances.”

Jeff Gordon is keeping his words positive, but disappointment is nothing new for the four-time Sprint Cup Champion. After winning four Sprint Cup Championships in seven years, Gordon went 13 years without being as close as he is now. Though it’s worth noting that Jeff Gordon has never become champion under the current points system, or anything resembling it. Each of the four times Jeff Gordon became champion, it was during the straight points system era when all races were worth the same number of points no matter the duration. That raises the stakes for this year, which will culminate in a four-driver shootout for the championship.

For now, at least, the Drive for Five remains alive.

[Images Via Twitter and hendrickmotorsports.com]

Share this article: Jeff Gordon Comes In Second, But Drive For Five Is Still Alive
nascar Jeff Gordon
More from Inquisitr