Aiming High In 2009: Jeff Gordon Seeks Wins and Elusive Fifth Title

Although he's not the most popular driver on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series circuit and gets his fair share of jeers at any track not called Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Jeff Gordon heads into 2009 with as much anticipation for a season like a young gun hungry for a breakout season. 

Wait, I'm talking about that Jeff Gordon? The one who's won 81 career points paying races and triumphed with four NASCAR Cup titles, who's hungry for more success? 

It is inconceivable to place such a statement, for arguably one of NASCAR's most successful all-time drivers desiring for more wins and titles, with numbers that even the pride of Vallejo, California still tries to appreciate 17 seasons later.

But when you are Jeff Gordon, and you endure a win-less 2008 campaign and struggle to lead the most laps in at least a third of the season, a seventh place standing in the final season count is as disappointing as a sub-par meal at a prestigious restaurant.

Like the start of the 2006 season, when Gordon came off a four-win season that only resulted in an 11th place finish in the 2005 points standings, media pundits, critics, and fans attribute that J-Go's simply in a rut, placing some of his priorities and attention once used on the racetrack on his social life. Amongst the rumbling of rumors:

That almost androidish-driver shouldn't be devoting time to his family or friends, for any focus devoted off the track translates into struggles on those asphalt arenas!

Gordon's simply washed up and only got his wins and titles cause of Ray Evernham!

Soaked tires!

Traction control!

Even fellow Cup competitor/ESPN commentator Rusty Wallace chimed in on Gordon's "lack" of success, citing that the driver's time spent vacationing with then fiancee Ingrid Vandebosch injured the champ's efforts to succeed on the track.

Some say that Gordon simply cannot adapt to changes made to the race car and chassis that seemingly have been a routine part of NASCAR since the Californian entered the sport in late 1992. Coil binding, car body changes, different tire compounds? Oh the man cannot adapt.

Adapt this.

How does one explain how after his growing pains in 1993 and 1994 in the boxy Lumina model, that Gordon, who had to drive a new Chevrolet Monte Carlo body style in 1995, went on a seven win season that saw him collect his first NASCAR title?

In 1996 10 wins, second in points. 1997? Another round of 10 wins, but this time a second championship.

Then there was 1998, where a plethora of rules changes occurred in the form of the now laughable eight and eight rule (eight inches of air dam clearance and eight inches of spoiler clearance) and a Monte Carlo body that somewhat struggled against the strong Ford Taurus. Some driver who won the 1995 and 1997 driver's championship would come home with 13 more victories and another title.

Oh yea, that was Gordon. Sure, he fell back down to Earth with seven trips to Victory Lane and a sixth place standing in 1999, and yes, he lost his faithful and loyal friend/crew chief Ray Evernham to the emerging Dodge contingency that made its debut in 2001.

2000 was probably Gordon's first real challenge as a driver as far as the scrutinizing of the media and his fellow comrades were concerned. How would he respond without Evernham and with new head-wrench and Petty Enterprises loyalist Robbie Loomis?

Ninth place doesn't seem attention grabbing, nor does three wins...if you are as successful as Gordon. But like a phoenix, he saw rejuvenation in 2001, with double the win tally from 2000, and his most recent championship.

While the title count has been zero from 2002 to 2008, fans have witnessed 23 more wins added to Gordon's career count total, several poles, and with the exception of 2005's hiccup season, a seat in the top-10 points standings.

We may never see another 10 or 13 race win season from the driver that Dale Earnhardt and the like called "The Wonderboy." Loomis ultimately proved to be a solid crew chief but had his heart and mind still with the Petty family, thus his return back to the Randleman, North Carolina fold and now his upper management role with Richard Petty Motorsports.

Steve Letarte's decisions seem to either pay off or leave his driver and his fans scratching their heads with shrouded disappointment, but only because of the luck of the racing conditions. Questionable calls or not, the burden of success for a driver truly lies not only with their pit crew, but the crew chief as well.

Who really can control when rain will head into a track and fall into your favor or when a caution flag period comes out when you're trapped in the pits, laps down from the leader?

If there's one certainty in 2009, count on Jeff Gordon and his No. 24 DuPont Automotive Finishes team to return to glory with multiple wins, countless speeches thanking his sponsors, wife and family, a Chase seed and his pride and joy in daughter Ella Sofia taking in the sights of her father's success on the tracks he has learned to call his second home since the days of Kulwicki and Allison-old.

Make no mistake, race fans. Gordon will be back, with a few last minute victories just ready to hit the highlight reels and You Tube communities faster than you can say Vallejo, California.