Gordon chasing 'Dream' finish this weekend

BROOKLYN, Mich. (June 8, 2010) – Could Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event at Michigan International Speedway provide Jeff Gordon with a ‘Dream’ ending? Wednesday is the prelude to that dream – more specifically the “Prelude to the Dream” at Tony Stewart’s Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio. Gordon will be teamed up with fellow NASCAR drivers Clint Bowyer (team captain), Ryan Newman, A. J. Allmendinger, Justin Allgaier and Kenny Wallace along with NHRA drag racing ace Ron Capps. The seven will be representing Riley Hospital for Children in the charity event. “Tony puts on a great event every year, and I’m honored to race for Riley – a children’s hospital in Indianapolis that is the sole beneficiary of the annual Jeff Gordon Foundation bowling tournament,” Gordon said. “I have a lot of great memories racing at Eldora, and it’s always fun getting back to racing on dirt. “But while it’s a fun event, we’re all competitors and we’re all trying to win.” When the checkered flag waves in Eldora, attention will quickly turn to Sunday’s 400-mile event in the Irish Hills of Michigan. In 34 Cup starts at the two-mile track, Gordon has collected two victories, five pole positions and 22 top-10s. The four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion has also posted top-five finishes in 50 percent of his starts, tying him with Bill Elliott and teammate Mark Martin for most top-fives among active drivers. No other drivers participating Sunday have reached double figures in that category. “I’ve always enjoyed racing here,” said Gordon, who posted runner-up finishes in both Michigan events last year. “If you’re going to be successful in this sport, I think you have to enjoy racing at each track on the schedule. “But when asked which is my favorite track, I’d have to say it’s this one. You can race high, low and everywhere in between in the corners. And you can work the different lines based on how your car is handling.” Gordon, who will drive a specially painted No. 24 DuPont/National Guard Chevrolet in Michigan, is seventh in the point standings following a last-lap crash and 32nd place finish last weekend at Pocono Raceway. “I’m glad that event is over,” Gordon said. “Nothing we did seemed to work and we ended up with a wrecked race car.”