Gordon ready for Eliminator Round

TALLADEGA, Ala. -- And then there were eight.

Jeff Gordon made it through a wild race at Talladega Superspeedway Sunday to advance to the Eliminator Round of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.

"Those last couple of laps were the most nerve-wracking laps of my life," the driver of the No. 24 Axalta Chevrolet SS said. "I’m just glad we made it."

Unfortunately, the same can't be said for Kasey Kahne, Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr., as all three drivers were eliminated from the Contender Round of the Chase.

“It’s very difficult,” Gordon said of seeing his three Hendrick Motorsports teammates eliminated. “Great teams, great drivers and friends of mine. I hate to see them not in there, but we’re going to try to make Hendrick proud and go out there and get ourselves to Homestead.”

In order to do that, Gordon will have to be among the top four drivers after the next three races at Martinsville Speedway, Texas Motor Speedway and Phoenix International Raceway.

Gordon -- who will enter the Eliminator Round tied with seven other competitors at 4,000 points in the standings -- has at least one win at all three tracks, most notably a career-best eight at Martinsville. That is tied with teammate Johnson for the most among active drivers at the track.

"I can’t wait for Martinsville. I can’t wait for Texas. I can’t wait for Phoenix. All are great tracks for us," Gordon said. "This team has done some amazing work this year. These next three are where we are really going to shine and show it.”