Larry Mac: Jeff Gordon's title chances at Homestead may hinge on one key factor
So now we know there is one guy locked into the Championship Race at Homestead later this month, and his name is Jeff Gordon. Admittedly his stats this year haven't been impressive compared to the numbers he's put up in the past.
Sunday, as we all know, was his first win of the year. Sunday was also only his fifth top-five finish of the year, but I think a lot of people lose sight that in 33 races so far, he has put that famous No. 24 car in the top 10 on 18 occasions this season.
The question everyone is now asking is, "Can he win it all and ride off into the sunset of his NASCAR-Hall-of-Fame-career with a fifth championship under his belt?" I for one can't sit here and say he can't. If you look at what he did before the Chase and now what he's done in the Chase, it definitely looks like a different Jeff Gordon to me. It looks like they've hit on something that is pushing him forward.
Jeff runs well at Homestead. He is going into that joint with a ton of confidence. He is carrying the banner for Hendrick Motorsports so you know he will have every available asset they have to offer at his fingertips. The team will be going in there with a full head of steam, too. Also don't forget that last year Jeff had a dominant car at Homestead, and if memory serves me right, he led over half the race.
What I am anxious to see is who the other three competitors he will be facing are. Obviously that picture should become clearer after Sunday's race at Texas.
If the other three slots are filled with Kevin Harvick, Joey Logano and Kyle Busch, then I might take a step back on Jeff's chances based on how they have run all year vs. how Jeff has run. With that said, I am still sitting here not willing to say Jeff Gordon can't win it all.
