To say the least, four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon was disappointed with his 23rd-place qualifying effort on Friday afternoon at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
Then came the first Cup practice on Saturday morning, when the weekend really turned sour for the driver of the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet.
Halfway through the session in preparation for Sunday’s race (1:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN), Gordon backed out of his garage stall, waved on by one of his crewmen. Unfortunately, he backed right into the path of the oncoming No. 15 Toyota of Clint Bowyer, who caved in the right rear quarter panel of Gordon’s car.
Bowyer had the right of way in a garage area congested with onlookers and pit carts, and the damage to the nose of his Camry was primarily cosmetic. The same couldn’t be said of the right rear of Gordon’s car, and his crew went to work immediately to repair the quarter panel.
Gordon got his Chevy back on the track in time for the start of Saturday’s final practice. Gordon was 22nd fastest in Happy Hour with a lap at 131.017 mph.
“We’re gaining on it,” Gordon said. “I don’t want to say it can’t get worse, but I know it can, so I’m not going to say that. But, hopefully, this will all pay off for us tomorrow (in Sunday’s 5-Hour Energy 301).”
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