Over a 14-race stretch at Dover International Speedway from 1995-2001, Jeff Gordon won four times, finished in the top 10 10 times and led 1,952 laps.
But in the last 11 events, Gordon has no wins, only six top-10s and has led 162 laps.
His fortunes were slightly better last year, when he won the pole and finished third for the fall race after coming home 12th after leading 81 laps in June.
"We've had some strong runs here in the past, but we haven't experienced that in quite a while," said Gordon, who has three wins this season, heading into this weekend's Autism 400 at the 1-mile track. "I'd like to lead a lot of laps again, but the most important thing is to be there at the end with a chance to win.
"And in both wins at Phoenix and Darlington, we didn't lead a lot of laps - but we led the one that counted."
Gordon came on strong in the final laps of both those events, winning in the car of tomorrow. The four-time NASCAR Cup champ hasn't finished lower than fourth in any of the first five races with NASCAR's new model, and Dover is another COT race.
Gordon's Hendrick Motorsports teammates have won the other three car of tomorrow races, too. But despite Hendrick's success, Gordon's crew chief Steve Letarte said the No. 24 team faces a lot of unknowns at Dover.
"From a crew chief's standpoint, I would have preferred to test," Letarte said of a scheduled test at the track that was canceled. "But the crew has been working a lot of hours with two different cars, and it gave them some much needed time at home.
"Hendrick Motorsports is very well prepared, and between the four crew chiefs, I think we can make good decisions and enter this weekend competitive."
Gordon is also looking to bounce back from his worst finish - by far - of the 2007 season. He crashed on the 61st lap in the Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway and finished 41st. His previous worst finish of the year had been a 12th at Atlanta.
But in the last 11 events, Gordon has no wins, only six top-10s and has led 162 laps.
His fortunes were slightly better last year, when he won the pole and finished third for the fall race after coming home 12th after leading 81 laps in June.
"We've had some strong runs here in the past, but we haven't experienced that in quite a while," said Gordon, who has three wins this season, heading into this weekend's Autism 400 at the 1-mile track. "I'd like to lead a lot of laps again, but the most important thing is to be there at the end with a chance to win.
"And in both wins at Phoenix and Darlington, we didn't lead a lot of laps - but we led the one that counted."
Gordon came on strong in the final laps of both those events, winning in the car of tomorrow. The four-time NASCAR Cup champ hasn't finished lower than fourth in any of the first five races with NASCAR's new model, and Dover is another COT race.
Gordon's Hendrick Motorsports teammates have won the other three car of tomorrow races, too. But despite Hendrick's success, Gordon's crew chief Steve Letarte said the No. 24 team faces a lot of unknowns at Dover.
"From a crew chief's standpoint, I would have preferred to test," Letarte said of a scheduled test at the track that was canceled. "But the crew has been working a lot of hours with two different cars, and it gave them some much needed time at home.
"Hendrick Motorsports is very well prepared, and between the four crew chiefs, I think we can make good decisions and enter this weekend competitive."
Gordon is also looking to bounce back from his worst finish - by far - of the 2007 season. He crashed on the 61st lap in the Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway and finished 41st. His previous worst finish of the year had been a 12th at Atlanta.
