KANSAS CITY, Kan. – With 92 career Sprint Cup Series victories, Jeff Gordon has plenty of choices for his favorite tracks on the circuit.
But there’s just something about Kansas Speedway that stands out.
“I would say it’s in the top-five,” he said before Friday’s practice sessions at the track.
It certainly helps that he is the all-time leader in wins and top-five finishes at Kansas.
“This has been a great track for us ever since we started coming here and winning the first two races here,” he said. “I’ve always enjoyed this racetrack. It’s suited my driving style.”
To Gordon’s point, he won the inaugural race at the speedway in 2001 – in the midst of his fourth championship season -- and came back to make it two-for-two the very next year.
“Whenever I drive into the corner, I just like this place,” he said. “I like the way it flows and how the car feels. I just like the track no matter what they change. I enjoy pushing the limits of the car here. That was the case in 2001 and continues today.”
And just last season, Gordon earned his third trip to Victory Lane at the track. He returns as the defending May race-winner.
“This year we’re certainly optimistic about coming back here with how well we ran here last year that we can repeat that performance,” he said. “We’re certainly excited about the weekend.”
Even with that confidence, Gordon acknowledged that he, crew chief Alan Gustafson and the No. 24 team are constantly working to improve their mile-and-a-half program, looking for that little bit of extra speed to help find Victory Lane for the first time this season.
And for this weekend, the No. 24 Chevrolet SS will sport a new American Red Cross paint scheme.
Gordon said he’s excited about the opportunity to represent the organization.
“3M has had a long-standing relationship with American Red Cross for about eight years now,” he said. “What an amazing organization that has assisted so many people in need as well as the blood donations that so many people have given that have saved so many lives.”
In running the paint scheme, the goal is to get 400 people pledged to donate blood – one for each lap of the race – through the SleevesUp campaign.
“That seems like a low number, but when it comes to needles and giving blood, it can sometimes be a challenge,” Gordon explained. “But on the other side, the life that they save is crucial. It’s not just adults; we’re talking about infants who need blood at times as well.”
“This is a big weekend for us here with 3M and American Red Cross.”