Jeff Gordon on the Pole, Up in Points, Yet Still Pensive About the Future

It was race weekend at Dover Downs, a treat we had been looking forward to all of the race year.  With pit/garage passes in hand, thanks to our dear friend at Hendrick Motorsports, we were literally off to the races, from the Camping World East series race, to the Nationwide race, to Sunday's big daddy of them all, the Cup race, featuring the 12 Chase contenders.

Speaking of "big daddies," I was most looking forward to seeing my favorite driver Jeff Gordon pull off a good race and gain some traction in the championship battle.  Imagine my excitement when after qualifying was said and done, my favorite driver was sitting smack dab on the pole in P1 position.

Off I went to Gatorade Victory Lane.   My goal was to be one of the first to see my favorite driver exuberantly hold up that Coors Light Pole Winner Banner, celebrating his amazing triumph.

Expecting an excited, celebratory Jeff Gordon in his famous rainbow warrior fire suit, we were met instead by a subdued, almost pensive, Jeff Gordon in his gray Dupont T shirt and his navy blue 24 cap.  The colors of his attire seemed to almost mirror his mood, dark and brooding.

Sure, he was happy with the car.  Of course, he was pleased with being on the pole.  But according to the driver of the 24 car, this was a team that was struggling.  This was a team that needed to get a better handle on the car, the tire package, the handling, and the adjustments needed to actually win a race and not just the pole.

The most telling comment from four time champion Jeff Gordon, however, was that the 24 team just needed to "finish out this season and then regroup."  These were sobering words from the driver of the team that had just captured the pole position for the second race in the Chase.

Yet, regrouping is indeed being called for, not just by the driver, but also by the many fans of this Hendrick team.  In fact, fans are more and more vocally suggesting that this team needs more than to just regroup; they need an entire reshuffling and reorganization, including a crew chief change.

Is that what Jeff Gordon was alluding to when he made his frank pole winning comments?  Does “regrouping” mean changes in race team personnel?  Or will Gordon stand by his crew chief and team in spite of it all?  The next eight races will be most interesting for Jeff Gordon and his 24 team.  Watch and listen carefully...there could be big changes coming.