Gordon snaps winless streak with victory at Texas

After 47 races without a NASCAR Sprint Cup victory, the longest winless span in the four-time champion's career, Gordon finally found Victory Lane at one of the two active tracks where he had never won.

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"This is probably the best place we possibly could have won, because it's eluded us for so long," Gordon said. "To break the streak not only here at Texas, but over the last 40-whatever races, it's pretty cool. ... I'm telling you, at Texas, I'm just lost."

Until Sunday, when he held off Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jimmie Johnson in the Samsung 500 on the 1½-mile, high-banked track.

Not only was it Gordon's first victory in the Lone Star State, it was the first time he had won anywhere in the No. 24 Chevrolet since October 2007 at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte.

"I thought he was past his prime," third-place finisher Greg Biffle said with a smile. "I'm just kidding. No, there was never a doubt in my mind whether Jeff Gordon would win races again. The guy's a phenomenal driver."

Still, it took Gordon 17 tries to finally win at Texas, site of the only two last-place finishes in his 552 career starts. And one of those was last spring.

"This is a huge relief, but also very exciting," Gordon said. "If we can win at Texas, I feel like we can win anywhere."

Stewart finished fourth, ahead of Matt Kenseth and Mark Martin, who marked the 28th anniversary of his first Cup race. Juan Pablo Montoya, Kurt Busch, Jeff Burton and Edwards rounded out the top 10. Polesitter David Reutimann finished 11th in the No. 00 Toyota owned by Michael Waltrip.

Gordon hadn't forgotten how to celebrate, though he picked up a new trick watching other drivers do so over the past 18 months. After the obligatory frontstretch burnout, he stopped at the start-finish line for the checkered flag to take on the victory lap.

"It was the coolest. It was like winning for the very first time," Gordon said. "Things have changed since I won a race ... That's the first time I've ever carried a checkered flag in NASCAR. I used to do that in quarter-midgets when I was 8."

During interviews in Victory Lane, Gordon had to sneak a peek at the logos on his car to remind himself of everybody he needed to thank. It had been a long time.

Car owner Rick Hendrick wasn't there, so Gordon tried to talk to him by cell phone. Also missing were his wife and daughter.

"I'm just thrilled. I can't wait to get home to Ingrid and Ella," Gordon said. "I know (Ella) was saying 'Go poppy go' all day long."


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Terra Autos / AP