Revived Gordon reclaims old form

LONG POND, Pa. — Jeff Gordon is pushing 40 years of age, far removed from the cocky kid who shot to superstardom and helped put NASCAR on the mainstream map.

At any age, Gordon still knows how to win.

Gordon moved into a tie for third on NASCAR’s Sprint Cup career victories list, winning for the 84th time when he took the checkered flag Sundayat Pocono Raceway. His 84 victories tie him with Bobby Allison and Darrell Waltrip for most in Cup history, and he tied Bill Elliott with five victories on the 2 1/2-mile triangle track.

“There’s no doubt, I’m blown away with what I’ve accomplished,” Gordon said.

Gordon won in February at Phoenix International Raceway and has multiple victories in a season for the first time since 2007. Gordon’s victory at Phoenix ended a stretch of 66 races without a victory. This 11-race winless stretch was just a blip compared to that.

Gordon used to not drive more than a month without a victory. He reached 10 or more victories in three consecutive seasons (1996-1998) and seemed a lock to hit 100 victories by 35 and put himself behind only Richard Petty on the all-time list.

Petty leads with 200 victories and David Pearson is second with 105.

Gordon is known in the sport as “Four-Time” becauseof the Cup titles he won in 1995, 1997, 1998, and 2001. Victories have been more difficult to get for Gordon as his career stretches into its 20th season. He posted winless seasons in 2008 and 2010 and, even in the years he qualified for the Chase, was never a true threat to bring home the title.

“We were living at the peak of the mountain there for anumber of years,” Gordon said. “It was awesome. When you’re there, you know you’re going to get knocked off eventually. You can’t always stay on top.”

Gordon has benefitted from being paired with Hendrick Motorsports crew chief Alan Gustafson. Team owner Rick Hendrick’s offseason decision to shake up his organization has proved an overall success for the organization - he also placed Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the top-six at Pocono. Gordon and Gustafson have the No. 24 Chevrolet in fantastic shape for a spot in the Chase for the championship.

Johnson, once Gordon’s protege and late-night running buddy, surpassed Gordon andhas won the last five championships.

The race on the mountaintop belonged to Gordon.

Gordon entered the race having led a record 918 laps at Pocono Raceway. He added 39 to the total Sunday.

“When you see what he’s done in his career, not just this decade, not just in the 2000’s, but all the way back to the’90s, he’s a true legend in this sport,” Kurt Busch said.

Busch, the polesitter, was second and Kyle Busch third. Mark Martin (Batesville) finished 18th.

Kyle’s Busch fun was shortlived. NASCAR announced his No. 18 Toytota failed postrace inspection because the leftfront end was too low. His car will be taken to NASCAR’s research and development center.

Johnson and Kevin Harvick rounded out the top five. Earnhardt continued his rebirth with a sixth-place finish. It capped a great day for Hendrick Motorsports - first, fourth and sixth.

Gordon first won at Pocono in 1996. He won again in 1997 and 1998, then a rainshortened race in 2007.

He was helped Sunday once some of the early contenders fell off. Denny Hamlin, who led early and has four victories here, ran into tire woes and dropped back to 19th. Carl Edwards lost his grip on the points lead - his 40-point lead was sliced to six - when a bad engine knocked him out early. He finished 37th.