Sortore: Making more memories at Watkins Glen - Olean Times Herald
WATKINS GLEN — Jeff Gordon first raced at Watkins Glen International in 1991 when he was driving Busch cars for Bill Davis Racing. The first place we went after our arrival at the Glen was the garage area. Expecting a long line of mediatypes we were surprised to find Jeff standing alone next to his Ford Thunderbird with no other reporters in sight. He was, at that time, still running sprint cars full-time and racing stock cars whenever he could. That was his first trip to the Glen and my first interview there. He would go on to win three in a row at The Glen (1996-98). Jeff would finish first again in 2001. He was second to Tony Stewart’s five wins with four as he started Sunday’s Cheez-It 355. Despite that success, his 14-year winless drought since... Still, his confidence had to be buoyed by his fastest overall final practice time and his fifth-place starting position on the starting grid. He would have to pass and stay ahead of drivers like pole-sitter and defending race champion A. J. Almendinger, second-place starter Martin Truex, all-time Glen Cup race winner Tony Stewart in the third slot and points leader Kevin Harvick in the... After last year’s tragic incident at nearby Canandaigua and his struggles on the track this season, Tony Stewart’s impressive third-place qualifying effort. Source: www.oleantimesherald.com
