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Sunday, August 12
Gordon earns seventh road course win
ESPN.com news services
WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. -- Jeff Gordon became NASCAR's King of
the Road, setting a record for road course victories by winning
Sunday in a thrill-packed and attrition-filled race at Watkins Glen
International.
The three-time Winston Cup champion won for the seventh time on
a road course, breaking a tie with Rusty Wallace, Richard Petty and
Bobby Allison for the most in NASCAR history.
|  | | Jeff Gordon's victory also extended his lead in the points race to 194 over Ricky Rudd. |
Gordon's victory in the Global Crossing also extended his lead
in the points race to 194 over fourth-place finisher Ricky Rudd.
But it wasn't easy -- right to the end. Jeff Burton, with whom
Gordon waged a magnificent battle over the final laps, hit him
coming to the final turn.
"If he wanted to, he could have taken me out," Gordon said.
"I like racing with him because he's hard, aggressive and clean."
Burton thought Gordon had the better car and credited Gordon's
talent for helping him win the race.
"I gave him a good shot coming off the last corner but he
didn't even budge," Burton said.
Gordon had the lead for only one lap before passing Burton in
the first of 11 turns on the 78th of 90 laps. Burton got the lead
back on the next turn, but Gordon beat him through the chicane,
making a great save as the cars nearly touched and almost spun.
"He drove in there too deep, and I was surprised he didn't spin
out," Burton said.
There were two more cautions, but each time Gordon got a good
jump on the restart. Still, he had a close call that enabled Burton
to close in on the final lap.
Elliott Sadler had hit the wall, and his badly bent car was in
the way of the leaders as they neared the final turns.
"Elliott Sadler was all over the place, and I was just trying
to be cautious," Gordon said. "But Jeff wasn't because he wanted
to win the race."
It was a record-setting fourth victory for Gordon on the
2.45-mile course. He also has won three times on NASCAR's only
other serpentine layout, in Sonoma, Calif.
Gordon benefitted more from staying out of trouble than fast
racing. Wallace had mechanical problems and was out after 14 laps,
polesitter Dale Jarrett spun out on the 18th of 90 laps,
road-racing ace Ron Fellows stalled on lap 36 and a fire caused
hard-charging Robby Gordon to quit on lap 59.
That left only Gordon, Rudd and Burton as serious contenders.
But Rudd lost his chance when Boris Said, one of several
road-racing aces in the field, made a mad dash toward the front
after the race went green on the 84th lap. He passed three cars,
then banged Rudd out of the way to take third place.
"Boris just went in there and drove right over the top of us,"
Rudd said. "We're lucky he didn't wipe out the whole field.
"Everybody was slipping and sliding, and it looked like a
Saturday night short-track race."
It was the second straight victory for Gordon, who also put his
car in the winner's circle seven days earlier in the Brickyard 400
at Indianapolis. The 30-year-old Gordon has 57 victories, the most
among active drivers.
Gordon's Chevrolet started 13th in a field of 43 and officially
beat the Ford of Burton by 0.172 seconds. The victory was his fifth
this year, breaking his tie with Jarrett.
The winner led 14 laps. He averaged 89.801 mph in a race slowed
six times by 14 laps under caution.
Jeremy Mayfield was third followed by Todd Bodine. Gordon was
the only non-Ford driver in the top five.
There were 13 lead changes among 11 drivers.
Jarrett also went off the course later in the race when he was
hit by Mark Martin, and fell to third in the standings, 265 points
behind Gordon after a finish of 31st.
Wallace, a three-time winner here, wound up last. Fellows
finished 42nd and Robby Gordon 40th.
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