Jeff Gordon Notches Career Win #80

I had to post about this before I went to bed:

TALLADEGA, Ala. (AP) -- It's not in Jeff Gordon's nature to go slow, and asking the four-time series champion to ride aimlessly around in the back of the pack is unheard of.

But with all the unknowns surrounding Sunday's race at Talladega Superspeedway, it seemed to be the safest strategy. Still, he resisted, and even told car owner Rick Hendrick he wouldn't do it.

He apparently had a change of heart, agreeing to turn parade laps for much of the race before surging past Jimmie Johnson on the final lap and holding off his teammate to become the career victory leader at restrictor-plate tracks. (H/T - Yahoo! Sports)

Jeff Gordon - seen here with his daughter, Ella - is a god! He is currently the all-time wins leader at restrictor-plate tracks (Daytona & Talladega), and is only three victories away from tying Cale Yarborough for fifth all-time, and four victories away from tying Darrell Waltrip at fourth.

What's even more troubling is how he won this race. This is the gist of a text message that RT sent me at the hockey game:

"Gordon won. With help from Stewart. It's gonna snow!"

Tony Freakin' Stewart helped the #24 into the lead late in the race, and is almost solely responsible for the win. Maybe Stewart's not a complete tool after all. That title would go to Rusty Wallace, who - as I type this - stated that Gordon "only led a quarter of a lap" and "hung his teammate (Jimmie Johnson) out to dry."

My responses?

1. Gordon did only lead a quarter of a lap. Luckily for him, it was the final lap. Jerkass!

2. Every racer (and race fan) knows that it's every man for himself on the last lap. And Rusty Wallace never gave a damn about his teammates, anyway. Just ask Jeremy Mayfield and Ryan Newman.