Double Trouble: Gordon Wins Second Straight

FONTANA, Calif. (May 2, 2004) – After starting 16th, Jeff Gordon took his No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet to Victory Lane on Sunday at California Speedway, bringing home Hendrick Motorsports’ 120th Cup Series win. It was the four-time champion’s second NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series triumph in as many weeks following his first-place effort at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway on April 25. Jimmie Johnson, Gordon’s Hendrick Motorsports teammate, was runner-up after starting 19th in the No. 48 Lowe’s Chevy. The performance marked his sixth top-five finish in just 10 races this season. Johnson remains second in the NEXTEL Cup standings, although the gap has closed to within 25 points of leader Dale Earnhardt Jr. Gordon is third, just 27 markers back. Terry Labonte rallied from the 29th starting spot to place a third Hendrick Motorsports entry in the top 10, finishing seventh in the No. 5 Kellogg’s Monte Carlo for his first top-10 showing of 2004. A two-time Cup Series champion, Labonte moved up three positions to 21st in points. Rookie Brian Vickers finished 29th after starting from the sixth position in the No. 25 GMAC Financial Services Chevrolet. The 20-year-old is now 27th in the standings. The NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series will enjoy an off-weekend before heading to Richmond (Va.) International Raceway for the May 15 Chevy American Revolution 400. FX and MRN Radio will broadcast the event live beginning at 7 p.m. ET.