Balance key to success for Team DuPont at Dover

DOVER, Del. (May 26, 2009) - The right balance is needed at Dover International Speedway, and Jeff Gordon seems to have found it at the one-mile oval. The trick for the four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion is finding it again in this Sunday’s Autism Speaks 400. Gordon has 32 starts at the Delaware track – 16 in the early summer event and 16 in the September event. In the summer event, he has two wins, two pole positions, seven top-five finishes and 10 top-10s. Gordon’s statistics in the fall events? The same: two wins, two poles, seven top-five finishes and 10-top-10s. “Getting the car balanced right to maximize grip is pretty tricky here,” said Gordon, driver of the No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet. “It’s a one-mile track that is high-banked, fast and action-packed. And you’re in the corners a lot here. That makes it unique, which also makes it a lot of fun to race.” While the racing groove of the track has not changed, there have been alterations to pit road since the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series last visited here. “I’m looking forward to seeing the changes that were made to pit road on Friday,” Gordon said. “If I understand correctly, they have lengthened pit road and also widened it. It was always a tight pit road, so pit stall selection was crucial. “It’ll be interesting to see how much more room there is for the teams now.” But, before stepping on track property, Gordon will make a side trip for extra motivation. “With DuPont headquartered in nearby Wilmington, it motivates our entire team to do well this weekend,” Gordon said. “We’ll visit with them for much of the day Thursday, and it’s always great to see the enthusiasm and the amount of pride they have in the race team. That enthusiasm is contagious, and the support really gets us pumped up for the race weekend.” Another group that will receive support this weekend is the law enforcement community. The TV panel on the No. 24 Chevrolet will feature www.PoliceMuseum.org at Dover, and visitors to the site are encouraged to donate to the National Law Enforcement Museum that will be built in Washington, D.C. “Dover International Speedway offered special race-day ticket packages for law enforcement officers and their families with a portion of the proceeds donated to the museum,” Gordon said. “And DuPont has done a lot to raise awareness and money for this project. A very worthwhile project that I’m glad to be a part of.”