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Auto Racing notes: Jeff Gordon covets elusive 5th title as Chase begins

Gordon
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JOLIET, Ill. – Jeff Gordon hopped off a plane, his typical polished self, ready for a full day of appearances to promote NASCAR’s championship race. Then he glanced down at his black polo and saw for the first time the thick, white streaks of deodorant that had soiled his shirt.

“What a rookie move!” he crowed before he bee-lined for the closest bathroom.

Gordon had been rushed that morning. His wife, Ingrid, had been in New York City at Fashion Rocks, and the NASCAR superstar was home alone with his two small children. It made for a frenzied morning of getting Ella and Leo up and out the door to school, while also getting himself ready for a whirlwind media tour through Toronto.

The end result was a shirt stained with deodorant streaks on a driver known for an aplomb that made him the first NASCAR star to dazzle the suits on Madison Ave.

The height of his success was almost 20 years ago, when a young Gordon collected 40 wins in four seasons and won championships in 1995, 1997 and 1998. By the time he added his fourth championship, in 2001, Gordon could do no wrong.

But life has changed so much in the 13 years since. Gordon went through a public divorce, eventually remarried and started a family.

And on the track, well, the wins were no longer so easy.

Now, at 43 years old, his passion for racing and winning has been revived. Gordon wants nothing more than to win his fifth series title — the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship begins today at Chicagoland Speedway — and he has the full support of his family in chasing his goal.

Nationwide Series

Kevin Harvick earned his fourth Nationwide Series win of the season with a victory for JR Motorsports at Chicagoland Speedway. Harvick took the lead on a two-tire pit stop 39 laps from the finish when Kyle Busch took four tires. Harvick led for 43 laps in all. Kyle Larson finished second and Busch settled for third after leading 141 of the 200 laps.

Truck Series

Kyle Busch bounced back from a disappointing finish in the Nationwide Series to get the win in the Trucks Series race in a doubleheader at Chicagoland Speedway. Busch came from the rear of the field twice to win in his own Kyle Busch Motorsports Toyota. It was Busch’s sixth win this season and 41st of his career. Busch finished 1.130 seconds ahead of Matt Crafton, who snatched the series lead from ThorSport teammate Johnny Sauter.