183.100
That was Jeff Gordon's speed in qualifying yesterday, good enough to start him 41st tomorrow night. (He would have started 42nd, but NASCAR took issue with Kurt Busch's shocks and tossed out his qualifying time.)
Put Gordon's time in context: Assuming that's the best he can do (he didn't just give up, in other words), he's eight mph slower than pole sitter Scott Riggs.
If those speeds hold up and the race starts on time at 7:20, Riggs will lap him at about 7:30, and Gordon will be 10 laps down by 9 p.m.
Could be a looooong night for the 24 crew.
Comments (5)
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Or...maybe the 24 team just had a bad qualifying run? Doesn't matter much were one starts, only where one finishes...
Posted on October 14, 2006 12:00 AM
Oh, I know. I tease because I love.
Gordon's happy hour speed was 182.784, good enough for 13th. The leaders were running in the 183s, so speeds obviously dropped off from qualifying.
I can't imagine Gordon is happy, though. He expects to be fast (or at least competitive) off the truck every single week. This week, he wasn't even close. I wonder how being so off affects race preparations?
Posted on October 14, 2006 10:53 AM
Looks like the preparations made to the 24 car did not matter much in the end, huh? Team Gordon was running hard and had a good car, until...boom! The next question is can this team claw their way back. 5 more races are left and with Martinsville coming up and what should be lots of beatin and baging, who knows where anyone can end up...so long and the engines don't go "POP" or some rookie makes yet another bonehead move (Vickers included because he drove like a rookie two weeks ago).
Posted on October 16, 2006 1:46 AM
The Drive for Five has been postponed until 2007.
Only a miracle at this point will get JeffG the championship.
Posted on October 16, 2006 7:56 AM
A lot of engines gave out Saturday night. The weather was plenty cold. Were the engine builders taking more chances than usual? Was there too much tape on the cars noses because of the cool temps? Anyone have a clue?
Posted on October 16, 2006 10:06 AM