NASCAR Subway Fresh Fit 500: Jeff Gordon's Win Makes Him a Championship Threat

On Sunday February, 28, Jeff Gordon halted a 66-race winless streak with a victory at Phoenix International Speedway during the Subway Fresh Fit 500.

After his victory, Gordon showed that he hadn’t won in a while when no smoke came from his tires after trying to burnout—and he stalled the car.

"It feels so amazing,” said Gordon. “I can't tell you how amazing this feels. It's been a long time, I know, and I'm going to savor this one so much."

Gordon didn’t qualify well, starting the race in 20^th place.

After being pinched into the wall by Carl Edwards early in the race, Gordon weaved his way through a huge 13-car wreck on lap 67.

Gordon led a race-high 138 laps and after a slow pit-stop late in the race, he passed Kyle Busch with eight laps to go before going onto the victory.

With this victory, Gordon ties NASCAR legend Cale Yarborough for fifth on the career wins list with 83.

"We just beat Kyle Busch!" Gordon said into his radio system after the race.

While it seemed like it was a lucky day, Gordon is one of the best drivers in NASCAR history.

Even though his career success has been masked recently by his lack of winning, Gordon is still a four-time NASCAR Champion.

Gordon won for the first time in his second start with new crew chief, Alan Gustafson.

Gustafson won at Phoenix International Speedway for the third time. His previous wins we’re with Kyle Busch and Mark Martin and he moved to Gordon’s team after spending last season with Mark Martin’s team.

With the success at Phoenix, Gordon is looking to build on the victory and take his racing to a championship level again.

A surprising fact is that Gordon hasn’t won a championship since Jimmie Johnson has come into NASCAR.

Whether it was an effort or mindset problem, Gordon has refocused himself on racing cars and winning a championship.

The victory on Sunday puts Gordon fifth in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series standings and just 15 points out of first.

Gordon has found a new hunger for racing and the way he drives his car has been evidence of that.

During the Phoenix race, Gordon showed not only the dominance of his race team but his resurgence as a legitimate NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championship contender.