Jeff Gordon Press Conference Transcript

JEFF GORDON, NO. 24 DUPONT CHEVROLET met with media and discussed the spoiler, the possibility of qualifying being rained out, the challenges at Phoenix, up and coming competition at Martinsville, and more. Full Transcript:

NASCAR Teleconference Transcript – Jeff Gordon

An interview with:
JEFF GORDON

JOSH HAMILTON: We are now joined in the Talladega Superspeedway infield media center by Jeff Gordon, driver of the No. 24 Dupont Chevrolet.
HERB BRANHAM: Good afternoon, everyone. We have a little bit of a special teleconference today in advance of the Food City 500 at Bristol on Sunday. Pleased to be joined by Jeff Gordon.

Gordon says narrower Bristol will create tighter racing

When Bristol Motor Speedway announced they addition of SAFER barriers on the exit of turn two, their goal was to create tighter side-by-side racing—something that had been lost somewhat when the track was repaved.

On the weekend heading into the Food City 500, the first race at Bristol since the extra barriers were added, Jeff Gordon said that he thinks the track will exceed in their goal.

“It’s like anything else, we’ll eventually get used to it,” Gordon said. “But we already use every inch of the track, so it’ll be interesting to see how much damage the drivers do to the right side of their cars in the first hour of practice on Friday.

“It’s going to be very important to get your car working well for the race, though, because with a narrower track it’s going to be harder to pass.

“If you want to see sparks fly, I think this might be the thing that does that.”

Gordon has five poles, 14 top-fives and 20 top-10’s in 34 starts

Jeff Gordon says addition of SAFER barrier at Bristol will make a difference

Earlier this week, Bristol Motor Speedway announced they would be adding more of the new Steel and Foam Energy Reduction, or SAFER, walls. However, their primary reason for the addition of the SAFER walls is to decrease racing room thus providing more intense racing.

Jeff Gordon, driver of the No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet, said the drivers will notice the difference when they go there next week.

“Oh yes. We use every inch of that race track. It is definitely going to be unique. I am anxious to get there and see how many right sides we take off the first hour of practice. It is like anything else, eventually you get used to it. Then it is going to come down to the side-by-side racing and how that is going to affect that aspect of it. I think the most important thing is that you are really going to have to get your car working well. Because, you narrow the track up that means it might be a little harder to pass. I like the safety aspect of it. It is definitely a good thing. I’m all for. I wish there was a way to move walls so we could keep the width of the track the way it was. But, that’s not the case so we are real happy they put the safety barriers up there on the straightaways.”