BRISTOL, Tenn. – For a split second in Saturday night’s IRWIN Tools Night Race at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway, it appeared that Jeff Gordon in his final “Thunder Valley” start could contend for his first win of the 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season.
Instead, Gordon, suffered two green-flag pit stops for loose wheels, erasing him from contention and fighting to salvage a good night gone bad.
It seemed that history continues to repeat itself for the four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion this season. Despite winning four races last season, the Hendrick Motorsports remains winless in his final season behind the wheel of the iconic No. 24 Chevrolet, but sits 13th in the championship standings with two races remaining in the regular season.
Looking for his 93rd career Sprint Cup win, Gordon in a flashback to his rainbow-themed color No. 24 Chevrolet diligently worked his way forward from his 24th place starting position. Inside the final 125 laps of the 500-lap race, it seemed that the 43-year-old veteran looked like his days of youth at the 0.533-mile oval, but as soon as things were looking up, it went away quicker than a 16-second lap at Bristol.
It goes without saying that Gordon’s final season behind the wheel has been anything but full of frustration. Sure, he’s been showered with gifts and recognitions, but Gordon and crew chief Alan Gustafson signs of life throughout the season have fumbled. More importantly, though, the team has struggled to find its mojo that left them a viable threat a week in and week out just 12 months ago.
With two races left in the regular season, it’s unlikely two non-winners will bump him from the Chase for the Sprint Cup, and regardless of whether or not the loose wheels were a mistake on pit road or an opportunity to gain an advantage with NASCAR not mandating the number of lug nuts tight per wheel, Gordon’s frustration seems to be at a breaking point.
That’s never been clearer than tonight when Gordon left “The Last Great Colosseum” without comment.
There’s still hope among the loyal Gordon click, that like a flip of a switch, a spark will reignite and Gordon and his team to make a season-ending comeback like never seen before.
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01.
