DATE: Monday, September 29, 1997            TAG: 9709290158

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C4   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY BOB ZELLER, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: MARTINSVILLE                      LENGTH:   76 lines

IS GORDON ONE OF BEST EVER? MAYBEWITH HIS WIN AT NEW HAMPSHIRE, HE BECAME 9TH DRIVER TO RECORD 10 OR MORE WINS IN A SEASON.

The most exclusive club in the NASCAR Winston Cup series - even more than the championship itself - is the small company of drivers with 10 or more victories in a season.

Two weeks ago, Jeff Gordon became the ninth member of the select fraternity in the modern era with his 10th victory at New Hampshire..

The others represent a short list of the greatest stock car racing drivers of the last 25 years: Richard Petty, David Pearson, Bobby Allison, Cale Yarborough, Darrell Waltrip, Bill Elliott, Dale Earnhardt and Rusty Wallace.

Gordon's feat is of special note because he is the only driver of a General Motors car - Chevy and Pontiac - to win this year. It has been Gordon vs. the Fords. Gordon has his 10 victories; the Fords have won 16. Gordon is grooved in a winning zone and has been since his victory in the inaugural Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1994.

It's impossible to describe exactly what it takes to get into the winning zone, beyond having an extremely talented driver, a good crew, a good car, good luck and timing. But the characteristics of being in the zone are readily identifiable.

``There's a big-time feel to it,'' said Wallace, who entered the double-digit club in 1993 with 10 victories. ``When you're in a zone and everything is going right, everything is smoother. You don't have the problems. There is no bickering among the team. Everybody knows their job, and there's no complaints.

``The car is always consistent, and it's always prepared right, and everything on the race track seems to fall right all the time because the preparation is always right. And when you're NOT in that zone, all kinda damn problems happen, you know?''

Gordon agrees.

``It just seems like everything clicks and everything goes your way,'' he said Saturday between practice sessions for the Hanes 500. ``The guys are happy and communicating. You're happy and communicating well with your crew chief. The sponsors are happy.

``Once you get out of it, all of a sudden nothing goes right. Everybody is pointing fingers at each other, and you say, `Man, where did all the magic go?' ''

``It's a confidence thing,'' said Darrell Waltrip, who won 12 races in 1981 and again in 1982. ``But it goes further than the driver. The driver is part of the package, but it's the crew working on the car. Then there's that expectation you get into. You expect to do well.''

Waltrip said team harmony is helpful but not essential.

``We had a lot of dissension at DiGard,'' he said. ``There was just always unrest. But we always came together on Sunday.''

What is it that has propelled Gordon into the winning zone? Is it talent? Is it crew chief Ray Evernham? His team? The resources of Hendrick Motorsports? Is it NASCAR?

Evernham can't put a finger on the recipe, but trying to stay in that zone tops his long-term agenda.

``That's something I'm really struggling with right now,'' Evernham said Saturday. ``How do you keep that going with as much pressure as we've created for ourselves? What I'm trying to do is make sure everybody gets what they want out of it.

``Some people want money. Some people want a little fame. Some people want more responsibility. You gotta try and create a lot of depth and have a little bit more rotation. And then maybe turn some of the guys . . . into teachers and bring along some younger students.

``I don't know. But it's really something I'm struggling with. I'm scared about 1998.''

Said Gordon, ``Maybe if we haven't won in four or five races, if I just see the edge getting knocked off the guys, what I try to do is the little things - spending more time at the shop, coming to practice early. You can tell when everybody is smiling and joking, and you can see when they are worn down and tired. Even if you're in a battle for the championship, even if you're running good, that edge can get knocked off.'' ILLUSTRATION: Jeff Gordon is the only driver of a General Motors car

to win this year.

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