THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, September 4, 1995 TAG: 9509040088
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BOB ZELLER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: DARLINGTON, S.C. LENGTH: Medium: 81 lines
Jeff Gordon added a spin-and-win victory Sunday to his repertoire of NASCAR success, but it was his move with only 13 laps to go that won the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway.
Gordon was leading. The yellow flag flew. Crew chief Ray Evernham ordered him to the pits on lap 354 of the 367-lap race.
But when Gordon noticed no one was following him, he summarily canceled the pit stop, went back behind the pace car, remained in first place and held on from there for his sixth victory of the year.
``Right at the last, what really won the race was him watching his mirrors,'' Evernham said. ``He watched his mirrors, (the others) didn't come to the pits, he stayed out, he won the race.''
But it was not just that move. It was the cumulative effect of all their little strategies, their teamwork and good fortune.
``That's Darlington!'' Gordon shouted into his radio after he crossed the finish line, as if putting another notch in his racing gun. ``We did it, boys. You guys are one hell of a team. We make the best damn combination there is.''
Dale Earnhardt, who dominated the race, finished second. Rusty Wallace, Ward Burton and Michael Waltrip rounded out the top five.
The 500 was a wreck-strewn affair - although not as quite as bad as the TranSouth 400 here in April. At least 25 drivers were involved in one or more of the nine crashes or spins Sunday that brought out the yellow flag. There were 12 caution periods, with three for debris or blown engines.
This should have been Earnhardt's race. He had the fastest car, leading 208 of the first 275 laps. But when he came to the pits on lap 276 with several other leading cars, Earnhardt gave up a lead he would never get again.
Gordon and several other leaders stayed out during that caution, gaining crucial track position.
As Earnhardt explained to Chevy's Ray Cooper: ``As long as we were out front, I could take care of it. When we got to racing hard, trying to catch up there, I was just too loose to use the car.''
Gordon's win clinched the manufacturer's championship for Chevrolet. More importantly, it gave him another piece to the 1995 Winston Cup championship puzzle.
Once again, Gordon and his team showed the poise and experience under pressure that wins championships. Gordon emphasized teamwork on the radio after the win because teamwork was crucial - right up to Gordon's decision to countermand his crew chief's decision to pit.
``I'm still stunned,'' Evernham said in the press box during the winner's interview. ``It was just the greatest example of teamwork I've ever been involved in.''
Explained Gordon: ``We really didn't have the best car there at the beginning. But we just continued to work on it and work on it. Those guys threw everything at that car. They were doing everything you could do to a car under caution.
``But no matter how tight we made it, the car got really loose.''
That's what led to Gordon's problem with the second turn wall on lap 136. Actually, he started losing control in turn one.
``Luckily, it slid for a ways and got up to the wall,'' Gordon said. ``I knew I was going to spin, and I stood on the gas. That kept it away from the wall.''
Behind him, Ricky Rudd, Jeff Burton and Jeremy Mayfield either spun or crashed while avoiding Gordon.
Gordon told his team on the radio: ``Yeah, we dodged a pretty big bullet.''
The incident was actually a blessing in disguise. It sent Gordon back in the pack and allowed his team to make further changes to the car during subsequent pit stops, without having to worry about the pressure of leading or challenging for the lead.
Gordon has a 217-point lead over Sterling Marlin in the chase for the Cup, and even more experience in handling - and excelling in - the pressure of a championship stretch run.
``We're obviously trying to be more cautious,'' Evernham said. ``But we're certainly not going to stroke it. We were digging hard today, and we did some wild things when we got behind.'' by CNB