Gordon’s new look a prime topic at LMS

CONCORD, N.C. -- The hottest topic in the Winston Cup garage area Friday afternoon had nothing to do with The Winston, nothing to do with setups, drivers switching rides or who was fastest in practice.

It was all about Jeff Gordon’s new look.

During a test session last week, one of Gordon’s teammates persuaded him to grow a goatee, an act that stirred up a buzz akin to an electric razor convention. Not since Dale Earnhardt showed up at the 1999 Brickyard 400 without his legendary mustache has a razor caused such a ruckus.

“I just wanted to have a lil’ fun,” said a chuckling Gordon. “It’s The Winston, a special event. I said what the heck, why not have a lil’ fun. I’m enjoying it, (the media) are certainly enjoying it.”

He had plenty of fun badgering team owner Rick Hendrick’s son about his old man’s unwillingness to allow his namesake to sport the fu-man-chu look.

“I was talking to Ricky, and he told me that if I showed up with it I was gonna be in trouble, that his dad wouldn’t let him grow anything like that,” Gordon said. “I told him it’s because he couldn’t grow anything like that.

“It’s just funny how sometimes things work out, how you look at different things that are gonna change things around and have some fun. And that’s what I wanna do right now. I’m enjoying the way things are going right now. Even if I’m not winning.”

Gordon’s winless streak currently stands at 19 races, so he would certainly enjoy a record-setting fourth victory in NASCAR’s all-star event this weekend. He won last year, and if he manages to make it two-straight don’t expect him to shave any time soon.

“If I win I’m not shaving, I’ll tell you that,” Gordon said. “I plan on shaving on Monday if I don’t win, but if I win I’m gonna keep it for a while.”