Jeff Gordon couldn’t believe what he just saw.
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The fans erupted in cheers.
Victor of the previous three races, Team Penske’s Joey Logano, led 207 laps before being wrecked by rival Matt Kenseth with less than 50 to go. Kenseth himself protested that it was bodywork damage that had left him unable to turn which had led to him driving straight into Logano, but an entirely unconvinced and deeply unamused race control requested the pleasure of the company of Kenseth, his crew chief Jason Ratcliff and vehicle owner Joe Gibbs in the NASCAR hauler after the race to discuss the matter, along with Logano and his own team representatives.
“We’re going to Homestead!” he screamed. I much rather be out there racing for a win than to be in that spot.
Kenseth denied his act of retribution was intentional, claiming a tire failure was the culprit for him veering into Logano, whom coincidentally Kenseth’s had a beef with since Logano cost him a victory two weeks ago.
But despite the issues if the race, Gordon is genuinely happy for this victory. In the interim, he’s got a shot at winning his fifth championship, fourteen years after his last.
He noted that Sunday’s incident was a “coward move” coming from his opponent. He’s teammates with Kenseth, and both were eliminated from title contention last week.
If you applaud what Kenseth did, I’m not saying you are an idiot.
“I put myself in Matt’s shoes”, Gordon said. I understand that. Now he might have a few regrets later, but I understand why he made that choice in the moment. People are going to fall on both sides of this [Kenseth-Logano] controversy, and then Jeff’s success at Martinsville has also resonated with the fans.
“His race was over”, Logano said.
“What happened at Kansas was a completely different deal”, Logano said. That puts him 28 points out of fourth, the last position to advance to the Championship Round, making a win at Texas or Phoenix crucial.
Gordon noted that at one point he was close to not making The Chase.
But when the cars took the track after the stoppage he led a swathe of cars into the pits, handing the initiative to Denny Hamlin and AJ Allmendinger.
The golf cart zoomed off into the night, but Logano’s competitors were left behind still trying to digest what just happened.
But does it need to be fair?
“We’re going to Homestead”, beamed Gordon, whose Victory Lane celebrations were completed in near darkness after the start was delayed by rain.
The win was Gordon’s first of the season and ninth at Martinsville.
This is his final season of competitive racing. They continued to cheer when highlights of Kenseth dumping Logano were shown after the race.
“I love Brian France, but when he says that drivers are doing what they have to do, it seems like he’s promoting this type of racing so that’s tough to crown a true champion when things go like this”, Hamlin said. Here is a look at the four options that NASCAR has when it comes to dealing with Kenseth.
“They want to see what happens next”.
“[We were] there at the end was good enough for a top-five so I’m glad we finished there”. NASCAR executive vice president Steve O’Donnell met with the media post race. Race distance: 263 miles, 500 laps. “Drivers at their best”.
Other Chase drivers in final practice were: Joey Logano (seventh), Martin Truex Jr. Brad Keselowski is 34 points behind Gordon, while Kurt Busch is 36 back.
“It feels too easy”, Busch said. You can’t get yourself ran over. “It’s because of this racetrack right here that I feel that way”. I think the Chase format creates great racing on the track. But they don’t have to listen to me for squat. “It was actually a really coward move for a race auto driver to do that, essentially someone as mature and an experienced race vehicle driver that knows what this is all about”.
We were certainly disappointed with what took place tonight on the racetrack. “This is a strong team and he’ll have his”. Yes, Gordon, whose top-5s this year – five – are fewer than the number of Logano’s wins. “I’m embracing that and enjoying it”. Gordon’s win was an authentic moment.
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There are two races remaining for the rest of the final four to be set, and Logano has a lot of work to do to make it back to the championship for the second year.
