Catchfence

HAMPTON, Ga. (August 30, 2011) – Sorry, Brad. Sorry, Paul and Marcos andKyle. Jeff Gordon is eyeing the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup, and that may mean denying one of those four their share of a $3 million Sprint payout.

Sunday night’s AdvoCare 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway is the final race of theSprint Summer Showdown, and only Brad Keselowski, Paul Menard, Marcos Ambroseand Kyle Busch are eligible to win the million dollar prize for themselves and theircharity of choice. A win by one of the four would also earn a fan up to $1 million.

“That would be pretty cool, but we’re going to do everything in our power to makesure it doesn’t happen,” said Gordon, driver of the No. 24 Drive To End HungerChevrolet. “It’s a great program by Sprint and I’m sure there will be additionalexcitement during the race – especially at the end if one or more of those drivers arebattling for the win.

“But since we’re not racing for that bonus this weekend, our focus is on thebigger Sprint prize – the championship. Another victory would go a long way when thepoints are reset after Richmond.”

Following race No. 26 at Richmond, points will be reset for the 12 “Chase forNASCAR Sprint Cup” drivers with the top 10 earning three bonus points for each winaccrued through that event. Gordon, who is currently tied for fifth in the NASCAR SprintCup point standings with two wins in 2011 (Phoenix and Pocono), can secure one ofthose Chase spots by finishing 40th or better in this Sunday’s event at Atlanta.

“I’m having so much fun right now,” said Gordon, who led a race-high 206 laps atBristol last weekend before finishing third. “We’ve been real competitive recently and Ilook forward to going to the track every weekend.

“I think this No. 24 team can do some damage during the Chase and make a run at this championship.”

But first is the lone stop at the 1.54-mile track this year. In 37 starts at the Georgia facility where he made his Cup Series debut in 1992, Gordon has four wins, two poles, 14 top-fives and 23 top-10’s.

“This has been a great track for me, all the way back to my first race here,” said Gordon. “It’s real tough to get a ‘hold’ of the track, but the thing I love is you can run up high against the wall or down low on the line.

“You can search for the line that works best for you.”

And if he finds that line, Gordon may edge closer to a big payday from Sprint – while denying four drivers one this weekend.