Marlin

	Gordon

Sure, Sterling Marlin has won twice this year and Jeff Gordon is in the midst of the longest winless streak of his life. But both are returning to Michigan Speedway -- where they split victories in the the track's two races last year -- looking to charge their respective championship runs.

Unlike last year, when Marlin finished third in the points after his win at Michigan and Gordon finished first, this year Marlin is in first and Gordon is third.

Marlin won twice this year to position himself atop the Winston Cup standings. Gordon, on the other hand, has done it in a manner very uncharacteristic of him: With consistency, not wins.

And though he wants to celebrate a milestone in that consistency -- his 200th top 10 -- he would rather it come along with his first victory of the season.

"It will take another run like last year to pick up any points on Sterling here," Gordon said. "I think the key will be getting up front and into clean air. If that happens, I think we should be able to separate ourselves from most of the field. I'd like for that 200th top-10 to be my 59th victory."

If he plans to do this, though, he'll have to stave off Marlin -- who returns to the site of an emotional victory last year. Marlin's victory was criticized because it came in a rain-shortened race at Michigan. But that did not matter to him or Dodge.

After returning to the series last year after almost a 20-year hiatus, Marlin's win was Dodge's first since the comeback.

"It meant a lot to everybody involved with our team to win that first race for Dodge," Marlin said. "We'd come close before, and I was determined not to let another one slip through our fingers. It's always big to win at Michigan, and we'd like to go up there this weekend and get another one."

And Marlin believes he's on track to do just that.

"We got back in gear last week at Pocono, and it felt great to get back in the top-five," he said. "Now we want to get back in the winner's circle and keep our lead in the standings. It was great to get that first win for Dodge, and I can think of a million reasons why we want to win the first championship."

But Gordon has different plans. He views the races approaching the July 6 Pepsi 400 at Daytona International Speedway as the perfect time to accumulate some points.

"We definitely have a chance to close the gap a little before our last off weekend before Daytona," Gordon said.

Gordon also believes he is due a victory. In fact, he believes one should've already come.

"It's just that we haven't had some of the good fortune and good luck that we've needed to get to Victory Lane," he said. "They're hard to come by these days but we'll get one before it's over."

Gordon laughs when people bring up his winless streak. Honestly, more than half of the Winston Cup field can only wish that their winless streak was as short.

"Look at Mark Martin and his win in Charlotte," Gordon said. "He went some 76 races without a win and to me, he's one of the best racers in this garage. It can happen to anybody anytime. You never know when your next win's going to come. And then, you never know if that'll be your last win. I think that I have too much respect for the competition and how competitive this series is to take that for granted. I think that helps me get through it."

Rupen Fofaria is a beat writer for the Raleigh News & Observer.