Auto Racing

Gordon hoping he'll keep new momentum

While having fun is a big part of NASCAR's All-Star race, there's a serious side to the non-points event, too.

Heading into Saturday night's sprint race at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C., Jeff Gordon was seeking to keep up the momentum from two straight top-10 Sprint Cup finishes. He finished ninth at Richmond and third in Darlington to move to 10th in the season points heading into next weekend's Coca-Cola 600 on the same Lowe's 1.5-mile oval.

Gordon is also aware that in years he won the All-Star race (1995, 1997 and 2001), he went on to win three of his four Cup championships.

"We all look forward to it because of the excitement, the prestige, the bragging rights and the million dollars that goes to the winner," he said. "There are no points on the line, which means there is less pressure on the teams. But it seems there is more excitement surrounding the event.

"You just have fun and race hard. Most importantly, though, I think it's a great race for the fans. You hope it's a great race for them because that is really what this event is all about. It's sort of giving back to the fans for their support and everything they do for us."

Gordon, tied with the late Dale Earnhardt for the most wins in the 150-mile All-Star race, said his favorite win in the event came in 2001 when he crashed at the start and wound up winning in a backup car.

"There is such a buildup prior to the race that is was deflating to be involved in a crash in the first corner on the first lap because the track was wet," Gordon said. "Then we got word we could run the backup car, and to see all the Hendrick Motorsports teams working to get the car ready was incredible.

"Winning that event was a testament to HMS and the guys on the DuPont team."

More All-Star

Carl Edwards, a Cup star and the reigning Nationwide Series champion, has some ideas about a possible all-star event for NASCAR's top developmental series.

"It would be fun if once a month (the Nationwide Series) had a race that wasn't (for) points," Edwards said. "They could start with Talladega. It's fun to race when you don't have any points on the line, when it's really just a race.

"I think that's what so much fun about going and doing races like the Eldora (late model stock car) race or the all-star race or the Bud Shootout. Everybody knows that once that checkered flag falls it's over. There are no repercussions competitively after that."

Edwards said what makes an all-star race special is that drivers and teams can take a different strategic approach because no points are on the line.

Stat of the week

Despite running a limited schedule, having missed three of 11 events this season, Mark Martin is ranked 26th in the Sprint Cup standings, ahead of 11 drivers who have competed in more events.

In addition, Martin's four top-10 finishes are more than 19 drivers who have taken part in all the races in 2008. Martin's two top-fives are as many or more than 21 drivers who haven't missed a race.

The veteran, who was taking part in his 19th straight All-Star race this weekend, is sharing the No. 8 Dale Earnhardt Inc. Chevrolet this season with rookie Aric Almirola. Together, they have driven the entry to 15th in the current car owner standings.