NSCS: Jeff Gordon Fights Back to Ninth Following Speeding Penalty

Throughout the second half of the STP 500, Jeff Gordon put himself to possibly win the race. However, he wouldn’t get a chance to challenge for the win as a speeding penalty with 41 laps to go had him restarting at the tail end of the field. The four-time Sprint Cup Series Champion was able to fight back to score a top-10, finishing ninth.

“I’m so disappointed in myself,” Gordon commented post-race. “I know I was pushing the limit. I didn’t think I had done anything different than I had all day long when I was behind other guys, so, we’ve got to look at that. I’m very, very disappointed.”

During the first half of the race, Gordon admittedly struggled – running as long as 22nd at one point as he battled with tire wear. However, he was able to work his way back to the front with Alan Gustafson adjusting the loose condition on the No. 24 AXALTA Chevrolet.

“I thought Denny (Hamlin) had the best car, but I thought with our track position there at the end, we had a shot at it,” he added. “Oh my gosh, I’m so disappointed. I don’t even know what to say right now.  Of course, then the car is the absolute best it had been all day when I drove up from the back.”