Gordon is already in Sprint Cup Chase mode

REHOBOTH BEACH, Del. - Unlike several Sprint Cup drivers who are desperate for a win to guarantee themselves a place in the Chase, Jeff Gordon is simply racing for a high seeding in the Chase. Gordon and Hendrick Motorsports teammates Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr. have three wins each this season.

"We feel like our Chase has somewhat begun," Gordon said yesterday before an appearance at the Rehoboth Beach bandstand for a Q & A with fans to promote the Sept. 28 Cup race at Dover International Speedway. "We want to keep the momentum going, so when we start the Chase, our confidence is high and our race cars are dialed in. Our team believes in me. If they give me the right tools, I believe we can be successful [in the Chase]."

Gordon, 43, has collected four Cup championships, but none since 2001.

"I don't have a Sprint Cup trophy; They're all Winston Cup trophies," he said, referring to the prior name of the top NASCAR circuit. "That's my No. 1 motivation now. I believe we have the best team; right now, I feel we're the team to beat."

Gordon won his 91st career Cup race Sunday at Michigan. He is the series' active leader in wins. Asked whether he thinks about reaching the 100-win plateau, a place occupied only by Richard Petty (200) and David Pearson (105), he replied: "Let's talk about No. 92. With the year we're having, we can win more races. I'll be disappointed if we don't."

Gordon is the current points leader, only three ahead of Earnhardt. Drivers will be seeded in the 10-race Chase in order of their points standings. Gordon has been the fastest qualifier in the No. 24 Chevrolet the last two races, setting track records at Watkins Glen and Michigan.

With such a lengthy gap since his last championship, I asked Gordon wether he'll be able to retire a happy man if he obtains a fifth title this year or soon after.

"There's no such thing as retirement," he cautioned. "I could [stop] today and be content. I've achieved more than I ever anticipated." He said adding another championship means more to him than adding to his win total.

Gordon's previous two victories, at Indianapolis and Michigan, were clinched with successful restarts. Previously, restarts were not exactly his strength.

"Our cars are good, my confidence is high, [we've had] good position," he explained. "Keep in mind, double-file restarts for us are fairly new. I've always felt I was pretty good at restarts, but those were single-file restarts."

Gordon's visit to Delaware began in Milton at the Dogfish Head Brewery. He has a line of wines (www.jeffgordonwines.com), but seemed interested in hearing about beer production from Dogfish's Sam Calagione. Even though Gordon has done race promotions for more than 20 years he seemed genuinely interested in learning the brewing process. And, yes, even early in the day, he consumed some Dogfish samples.

"A good race car driver knows how to pace himself," Gordon said smiling.

Ryan Newman was upset with Jimmie Johnson late the race at Michigan, presumably because they were racing hard for position. Newman, ninth in points, wants his first win of the year in the three races before the Chase to guarantee his place in the playoff. Newman finished 11th; Johnson was ninth.

Three races remain until the Chase begins Sept. 14 at Chicagoland Speedway. With three wins, Johnson will be one of the higher seeds in the Chase.

Johnson, a six-time Sprint Cup champion, described what Newman said to him as "a whole bunch of BS." Later, after accepting the ALS ice-bucket challenge, Johnson included Newman in his challenge.

"He might need to cool off," Johnson said, smiling

Newman declined interview requests after the race.

During the limo bus ride past cornfields from Milton to Rehoboth yesterday, Jeff Gordon said: "I have no beefs with Ryan. Some people are good at making their cars wider than they really are [read, Newman]. He puts a lot of heart and effort into his racing. He doesn't give an inch. When Mark Martin was racing, if you stalked him and caught him, he'd just say 'Go on by.' "

Tony Stewart will not race for the third consecutive week at Bristol Saturday night. He is still grieving over the accident during a sprint-car race at Canandaigua Motorsport Park in New York when his car struck and killed Kevin Ward Jr.

Jeff Burton will be in Stewart's No. 14 Chevy at Bristol. At Michigan, Burton finished 37th filling in for Stewart. Burton has one victory at Bristol, in 2008.

Irwin Tools Night Race

Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol, Tenn.

When: Saturday, 7:30 p.m.

TV/Radio: 6ABC/WNPV (1440-AM)

Course: .533-mile oval

Distance: 500 laps/266.5 miles

Forecast: scattered thunderstorms, low 80s

Last year's winner: Matt Kenseth

Last year's pole: Denny Hamlin, 128.969 mph Track qualifying record: Hamlin, 129.991 mph (March 2014)

Track facts: Kenseth led the most laps (149), including the final 126, to win last year's race. Kasey Kahne was second. They raced side by side for about 20 of the closing laps. Kenseth is a three-time winner at Bristol ... Carl Edwards won this year's spring race at Bristol, leading the last 78 laps. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. was runner-up. Edwards paced 119 laps in last year's race won by Kenseth, but engine trouble relegated him to 39th place ... Kurt and Kyle Busch and Jeff Gordon lead active drivers with five wins each at Bristol. Gordon's last W at the track was in 2002. Kyle can use a good race; he's finished 42nd, 40th and 39th in his previous three races.

Wins: Jimmie Johnson, Brad Keselowski, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jeff Gordon, 3 each; Kevin Harvick, Joey Logano, Carl Edwards, 2 each; Kyle Busch, Kurt Busch, Denny Hamlin, Aric Almirola, A.J. Allmendinger, 1 each.

POINTS

1. Jeff Gordon 816

2. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 813

3. Brad Keselowski 733

4. Joey Logano 714

5. Matt Kenseth 709

6. Kevin Harvick 687

7. Jimmie Johnson 686

8. Carl Edwards 679

9. Ryan Newman 679

10. Clint Bowyer 672

11. Greg Biffle 660

12. Kasey Kahne 651

13. Austin Dillon 638

14. Kyle Larson 636

15. Kyle Busch 620

16. Marcos Ambrose 616

Up next: Atlanta 500, Aug. 31,

Atlanta Motor Speedway, Hampton, Ga., 7:30 p.m.; TV: ESPN; last year's winner: Kyle Busch.