Jeff Gordon reflects on final race at a special track – Sonoma Raceway

Jeff Gordon has been saying his farewells all season.

But this weekend’s visit to Sonoma Raceway has just a little more special meaning.

It was in nearby Vallejo, Calif., where Gordon spent much of his formative years and began to explore and succeed in the racing career that would eventually define him.

And one of the many accolades Gordon has accumulated in his record-setting NASCAR career has been is his prowess on the Sprint Cup Series’ two road courses, at Sonoma Raceway and in Watkins Glen, N.Y.

Entering Sunday’s Toyota/Save Mart 350, Gordon stands as NASCAR’s all-time leader in road-course wins (nine), including five at Sonoma. He’ll start fifth.

“This has been a very special place for me and always will be,” Gordon said. “To know that this is the final time that I will be driving here and just the build-up – going to Rio Linda to that quarter midget track last week, that was the first place I ever raced at.

“That just built a lot of emotion into what is occurring this weekend. It also adds pressure that I want to do really well this weekend.”

Although Gordon is one of NASCAR’s most prolific road-course racers, he has not visited Victory Lane at either track since 2006.

That’s not to say he hasn’t been a contender, though. He has finished second at Sonoma in three of the past four races. In all, Gordon has finished third or better in 13 of his 22 starts at Sonoma.

“I love coming out here,” he said. “Not just because it’s home. It is just so many things. The weather, the wine country, family and I love this race track.

“I’m thrilled that I’ve had the opportunity to win here five times. I’m thrilled to be here this weekend for the final time behind the wheel. It has already been a very special, memorable one.”

And it can be again.

There remains one ominous missing piece to Gordon’s final full-time season in the Cup series – a win to lock himself into this season’s championship Chase.

It has been an up-and-down year when it comes to on-track performance for Gordon’s No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports team.

Gordon began the year winning the pole for the Daytona 500, but he finished 18th or worse in the first three races.

He quickly got back on track with six consecutive top-10 finishes but has been unable to find himself in contention late in a race to capitalize with a win.

Gordon is 10th in the standings with two top-five and eight top-10 finishes and has finished 14th or worse in three of the past four races.

A 10th road-course win would be an excellent final memory to leave his hometown fans, but Gordon knows he no longer remains king of the road – the rest of the field has quickly adapted to turning both left and right.

“I can remember showing up here early on and very few drivers were excited about coming here,” he said. “They all were like, ‘Oh my gosh, a road course.’ Because they just knew the chances of sliding off the track and making mistakes. I really just loved that challenge.　

“Over the years I have seen that progress with other drivers and teams. I think the cars are far more equal today than they used to be.”

Fellow California native AJ Allmendinger – also among the sport’s best road-course racers – said Gordon was his “racing hero” while he was growing up.

“I’ve been able to say I’ve raced against Jeff Gordon; I never thought it would happen when I had all those posters in my room,” he said. “It’s cool to see everything that he’s done, and I hope he has a strong weekend at a home race.

“I hope he finishes second, honestly. That would be awesome.”

This story was originally published June 27, 2015 at 4:25 PM with the headline "Jeff Gordon reflects on final race at a special track – Sonoma Raceway."