Jeff Gordon Wins At Lowe's Motor Speedway

Jeff Gordon scores career win #81 at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Jeff Gordon is the greatest driver . . . ever!

Jeff Gordon overcame a nearly-empty fuel tank and a hard-charging pack of cars with three laps to go to win the Bank of America 500 at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte, NC. And I almost woke up the family when I screamed, "YEAH! YEAH! YEAH!" when Gordon crossed the finish line. Here's the rundown:

CONCORD, North Carolina (Ticker) - Jeff Gordon returned to the scene of his first career NASCAR Cup victory to solidify his hold on the 2007 "Chase for the Championship" by winning Saturday night's Bank of America 500.

The victory gave Gordon a 68-point lead over Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jimmie Johnson at the halfway point of the the Chase. Johnson finished 14th after spinning out on lap 231.

With fuel-pickup problems a concern on Gordon's Chevrolet, he got a clean restart and was able to pull away from Clint Bowyer's Chevrolet, scoring his 81st career Cup victory by 0.579-seconds. It was his second straight win and the sixth this season.

"I can't tell you how many times we tried to give that win away," Gordon said. "Jimmie Johnson had us all covered, and when he had his problems I saw that as an opportunity for us. I was saying 'No caution' and then the thing ran out of gas on the banking. I wasn't smart enough to know to run on the apron until the last time. (H/T - Yahoo! Sports)

It's been a rough week. Daywork was a bear, the pregnant missus is exhausted, and Erik has been very sick for two days straight. Yet somehow, this win makes it all better.