Loose in Turn 3 (4/25/08)
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Welcome once again to yet another exciting edition of “Loose in Turn 3.” Again, three of your favorite NASCAR bloggers / analysts debate some of the sport’s hottest topics. Incase you’re a first time reader, the participants in this column are myself, Charlie Turner (Bench Racing with Steve and Charlie), and Bruce Simmons (Bruce’s Bits & Pieces). Please be sure to check out those other sites to read the rest of our debates and feel free to take a look around while you’re there as well. Enjoy!
Will Jeff Gordon Ever Win a Fifth Cup Championship?
TZ: I honestly don’t think he will. He’s still good enough to win the race on any given Sunday and he’s still good enough to compete for the title every year, but there’s just so many other capable drivers in the series now that it’s much easier for him to get lost in the shuffle by the end of the season. Gordon’s biggest downfall, though, is that the Chase system works against his style. Gordon’s m.o. has always been that he’s “Mr. Consistency.” Last year was his best chance for a 5th title, and he would have had it under teh old system, but we all saw how that turned out.
Charlie: Jeff Gordon is a great pick any week, any track, to win. He is the best driver in NASCAR and drives for the best team. He will win number five. He might just win number eight.
Bruce: Jeff has the equipment, he has the team, he has the girl! He still has it if only he could just dodge the bad luck that keeps happening to him this year. He’s capable of a fifth title and probably even more.
The rest of the discussion:
- Is There a Danica on the NASCAR Horizon? (Bench Racing)
- Will AJ Allmendinger make the cut over the next year? (Bruce’s Bits and Pieces)
Tags: , Hendrick Motorsports, jeff gordon, NASCAR, Sprint Cup SeriesRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Loose in Turn 3, NASCAR
4 opinions for Loose in Turn 3 (4/25/08)
RevJim
Apr 25, 2008 at 5:20 pm
I don’t see any reason Jeff can’t win a fifth championship. If you discount the bad luck he has had in a couple of races, he performs just as good as ever.
Tim Zaegel
Apr 25, 2008 at 6:05 pm
Jim, I know Gordon’s still performing well. Like I said, though, the Chase format - to me - just works so much against him because his strategy has always been to remain consistent all season long. On the flip side, it really benefits guys like Jimmie Johnson who goes on absolute tears, or a Tony Stewart who’s a second half driver.
RevJim
Apr 26, 2008 at 2:18 am
Yeah, but he has admitted that was his downfall last year, and has said he will change that strategy, since it hasn’t worked for him lately. I think he is perfectly capable of doing that.
Tim Zaegel
Apr 26, 2008 at 8:16 pm
Like I said, he’s still going to win races, and he will still COMPETE for championships … he just won’t win one. =)
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