FORT WORTH, Texas - There have times Jeff Gordon has come to Texas Motor Speedway and not been greeted by the warmest of receptions.
Back in 1999 Gordon finished last in the Primestar 500 and his early crash was met by cheers by the majority of the fans at the track.
But that was 15 years ago when Gordon was winning just about every race there was. A lot has happened since then, with Gordon winning just one more title and the feelings about the four-time Sprint Cup champion having changed.
Now as he prepares for Sunday's AAA Texas 500 there are more people pulling for the driver of the No. 24 Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet than ever. That feeling hasn't been lost on Gordon, who is one of eight drivers still alive in the Eliminator round of the Sprint Cup Chase.
"I think a lot of people would look at it as 'Oh he is 43 and he hasn't won a championship since 2001,'" said Gordon, who will start Sunday's race from the No. 2 spot. "It is all about how you feel about what you are bringing to the track every weekend; and I feel really good about that. I think people have recognized how competitive our team has been this year. I think those things make us one of the favorites."
Gordon has had one of the best cars all season. He's won four times and has successfully negotiated his way through the first two rounds of the new Chase format. He'll start Sunday's race leading the Chase following a second-place finish last weekend at Martinsville.
With two races remaining before the championship field is cut to four before Homestead, Gordon is right where he wants to be.
He doesn't need a win at TMS Sunday but that's what he's aiming for.
"To me, our focus is about going out there and winning the race," said Gordon, who won the April race at TMS in 2009. "We're not really thinking about anything else other than doing that. Last week was a good performance. Obviously we would be very comfortable right now if we'd gotten that win. But we didn't. And so now, it's all about coming here and executing and doing what we've been doing all year long which is approaching each race working on the details and trying to get the job done."
While it's been 13 years since Gordon has won a title his fellow Chasers recognize he's still a threat.
"They've show the speed to definitely make it all the way to Homestead and have a shot to win that race," Denny Hamlin said. "He's got the most experience, for sure. I think, way back in the day, it used to be fans either loved him or hated him. Now, I think most people like Jeff because he's the veteran and he's the name that they recognize. But, overall, I think that anyone's got a fair shot at this, but they've obviously show the speed week and week out to separate themselves as one of those true favorites after last weekend."
Having the eyes of fans and competitors on him doesn't faze Gordon. He also isn't concerned that his fellow Hendrick Motorsports teammates Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr. were eliminated from the Chase already.
Gordon has been under pressure to win since he won his first championship in 1995. His desire to win hasn't changed either in those 20 years.
"I'm extremely hungry," he said. "What I'm hungry the most about is just knowing that I've got a great car and a great team that's capable of winning this championship. And being in the position we're in, and knowing that Alan (Gustafson, crew chief) had never a championship. He came close with Mark Martin. And how hard he works and how good this team is. Not winning a championship since 2001 and never under this format. All those things are just motivation. But the primary motivation is just know that we're good enough to do it and having that confidence to go out there and execute."
