New England
300 -
New Hampshire
Intl. Speedway
One year ago:
Two days after
Kenny Irwin lost his life at NHIS, the drivers had
to go back to work. Jeff Gordon finished fifth in
the rain-shortened race.
Link
-Race
After starting
on the pole, Jeff Gordon led 126 of the first 127
laps, but could not convert it into his fourth win
of the season. A hang-up by the left rear tire
changer led to a slow pit stop that allowed Ricky
Rudd and Dale Jarrett to pass him on pit road.
It was
Jarrett-Rudd-Gordon for the next 80 or so laps.
Gordon's car had become tight due to the buildup of
rubber on the track, and he just couldn't get up
and challenge for the lead.
Then, with a
single-file restart after a caution for Jerry
Nadeau's accident, Gordon was able to follow
Jarrett, who had fallen to second behind teammate
Rudd. Jarrett got under Rudd for the lead and
Gordon followed to second.
Jeff Gordon and
Dale Jarrett are still tied for the points lead
because of the five more bonus points Gordon got
for leading the most laps. However, Jarrett
officially has the points lead because he has one
more win than Gordon does.
Next week, the
Winston Cup series heads to Pocono, a track where
the top-three in points finished in the top three
earlier in the season.
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