Kentucky only track on 'to-win' list for Jeff Gordon, Hendrick Motorsports

SPARTA, Ky. - Jeff Gordon’s win last season at Homestead-Miami Speedway knocked off a couple of firsts.

One, it was team owner Rick Hendrick’s first win at that South Florida track. Two, Gordon finally was able to check off Homestead on his list.

Only one track now remains on both to-do lists – Kentucky Speedway. He’s 22-for-23 on the current slate of racetracks.

Gordon will get the chance to complete the unprecedented career track sweep on Saturday night in the Quaker State 400 (7:30 p.m. ET on TNT/PRN). The 2013 season marks the third year in which Kentucky has hosted a Sprint Cup event.

“I’d love to win at every track,” Gordon said. “That would be a special accomplishment.”

Gordon finished 10th in Kentucky’s inaugural race and was fifth a year ago. Hendrick Motorsports drivers Kasey Kahne (second), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (fourth) and Jimmie Johnson (sixth) also contended.

But 2013 is a different year – and there’s a different car, the Gen-6.

"Prior to last year's race, I might have considered this to be one of my worst tracks," said Gordon, who ranks 13th in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series standings following his runner-up finish at Sonoma, Calif., last weekend. The second-place finish moved Gordon into sole possession of third on the all-time list.

"But we had a good car and a good run (at Kentucky) last year - one that we want to improve upon,” Gordon added. “Of course, we have the Generation-6 car here for the first time. We're learning every single week with the new Chevrolet SS, and we're learning every single trip to Kentucky.

"Hopefully, we can put it all together so we can check this one off the list."