Gordon returns to site of most recent win.

So close, yet so far is the quick synopsis of Jeff Gordon’s (No.24 DuPont/National Guard Special Forces Chevrolet) 2010 season. Thwarted from a possible three victories already (through seven events), he nevertheless approaches Sunday’s Samsung Mobile 500 at Texas Motor Speedway with a new advantage: Karma.

Last April’s victory at Texas marked the last time Gordon has visited Victory Lane — a 35-race span. It also marked his first Texas Motor Speedway victory after 13 years of frustration, leaving Homestead-Miami Speedway as the lone track on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule where Gordon hasn’t won.
Returning to a conquered nemesis may help mitigate the sting of recent almosts.  “We’re up in the points and we’re knocking on the door for wins,” Gordon said. “You can’t ask for a whole lot more than that. And if you do that enough times, you’re going to get yourself to Victory Lane. So that’s what I’m excited about right now. And I think we have a lot to look forward to as the season goes on.”

Gordon, fifth in the series standings heading to Texas, has been a contender for most of the young season. Though he has no victories, strong, consistent performances have tabbed him as a title threat and placed him comfortably within Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup range. It’s the “almost-grasped” that alternately prods and encourages him — near wins at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Martinsville Speedway and last Saturday night at Phoenix International Raceway.  At Las Vegas, Gordon led a race-high 219 laps, only to see Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet) pass him for the win after a late pit stop. At Martinsville, lastlaps jostling with Matt Kenseth (No. 17 Crown Royal Black Ford) allowed Denny Hamlin (No. 11 FedEx Ground Toyota) to blast by Gordon for the win on a green-white-checker restart. At Phoenix, Ryan Newman (No. 39 U.S. Army Chevrolet) overtook Gordon on a green-white-checker restart.
“Those are frustrating,” Gordon said. “But I think we have a lot of positives that are happening right now. And I certainly feel like the fight is there in the whole team.”