Martinsville triumph positions Jeff Gordon to win championship in final season

Raw, unbridled emotion is something Jeff Gordon has never been shy about expressing, such as when he cried in victory lane in 1994 just after having won his first NASCAR premier division race.

Lately, though, the emotion Gordon has expressed most frequently is equal parts frustration and disappointment.

In his final season before retirement, he wanted to leave on a high note. If not by winning a fifth series title -- and first since 2001 -- then a replication of 2014 where he won four times and advanced to the semifinal round of the Chase for the Sprint Cup playoff.

Except Gordon’s 2015 largely failed to mirror last season due largely to uncompetitive cars and on the rare occasions when the No. 24 Chevrolet demonstrated speed, self-induced mistakes that negated potential winning efforts at Daytona in February and the spring Martinsville and Talladega races.

And although he again earned a spot in the Chase, conventional wisdom pointed towards an unceremonious playoff exit. With a few breaks maybe Gordon could stave off elimination early, but any notion of seriously contending for the title seemed far-fetched.

But Gordon harbored other ideas and adamantly stating if he could just make the third of four rounds, he would be well positioned to put forth a championship run. A reasonable belief because Round 3 began at Martinsville Speedway, a track where Gordon is always sublime no matter the quality of his equipment -- or lack thereof. Because by winning for a ninth time on the venerable short track, he would automatically transfer to the decisive final round.

And wouldn’t you know Gordon did just that Sunday, taking advantage of a calamitous situation where Matt Kenseth, 10 laps down after being involved in an early incident, appeared to intentionally wreck race-lead Joey Logano, severely damaging both cars.

Now positioned to seize control, Gordon capitalized. He passed AJ Allmendinger with 22 laps remaining and it was a lead Gordon wouldn’t relinquish.

What ensued was a celebration unlike any of Gordon’s career. After stopping at the start/finish and removing himself from the No. 24 car, he began jumping ecstatically up and down. Almost immediately surrounded by his crew, Gordon then leaped into their awaiting arms.

In victory lane, the overwhelming emotion continued. An astonished Gordon, joined by his family, unleashed a near-primal scream and numerous fist pumps as he realized that the once seemingly impossible dream of winning a championship in his final season had became a distinct possibility. His spot in the winner-take-all season finale at Homestead was now secured.

“This is the sweetest, most amazing feeling,” Gordon said. “I am so proud of this team. You want to talk about holding back emotions — right now man, wow, we’re going to Homestead. I can’t believe it.”

While Gordon may have struggled coming to terms with what had unfolded, his throng of supporters had no issue realizing the magnitude of the moment. As their driver stood in the makeshift victory lane positioned along the frontstretch grandstand, a “Homestead! Homestead! Homestead!” chant broke out in anticipation of the Nov. 22 finale.

“I wish everybody could experience what that was like from my standpoint,” Gordon said. “It was unbelievable. I don’t know what it feels like to be a rock star, but that’s as close as it can get I think. That’s a rock star moment right there.”

Even if ultimately Gordon doesn’t get the fifth title he’s long sought, it doesn’t diminish what occurred Sunday. Just to qualify and overcome a trying season is an accomplishment unto itself.

“I knew that if we could just get in this position, we could do something special,” Gordon said. “And man, this has turned into a fairy-tale year. I cannot believe it.

“Of all years, I mean, of all years, I cannot believe this. I’m so excited it’s happening in this year.”