| Compiled by Mark Spoor, NASCAR.COM
February 23, 2005
04:39 PM EST (21:39 GMT)
Events: Auto Club 500, Stater Bros. 300, American Racing Wheels 200 Local papers contributing: New York Daily News, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, Los Angeles Times The deal: Richard Huff of the New York Daily News says even though Jeff Gordon has accomplished just about everything you can accomplish in a race car, he feels like he's just now starting to get respect from drivers -- and fans. "I felt like for the longest time, I was this kid that was somewhat resented, and hadn't earned my stripes," Gordon said. "I'm definitely in a comfortable place in my life, a comfortable place in my career, and it feels good." Why we care: Gordon heads to California Speedway this weekend as the defending race winner. He now has 70 Cup wins, which makes him just the third driver to reach that plateau in the modern era. The deal: Louis Brewster of the Inland Daily Bulletin says among the rumors -- unfounded and unconfirmed -- at the Nextel Media Tour in Charlotte, N.C., a few weeks back was that one of California Speedway's two NASCAR dates could be in trouble. Why we care: There have been published reports in various newspapers that the Speedway is encountering problems selling tickets for the Auto Club 500. Some have gone as far to speculate that president Bill Miller might just paper the house in order to look good after the season-opener at Daytona. It is possible that the track may be having trouble selling tickets. After all, this will be the third Cup weekend in nine months for Fontana. The deal: Shav Glick of the Los Angeles Times says that while many drivers are trying to freshen themselves up after a trying two weeks at Daytona, Terry Labonte is fresh as a daisy as the Auto Club 500 looms on the horizon. Why we care: Labonte, 48, is running just 10 Cup races this season while keeping an eye on his son, Justin, who is running a full Busch Series program, including Saturday's race in Fontana. "When I decided to cut back, I decided I would drive at my favorite tracks, and California is one of them," he told the paper. "I finished second in the first one there [in 1997], and when you do well at a track you usually want to come back again. I've had some other good runs there." In nine races at Fontana, stock car racing's "Iceman" has four top-10 finishes, starting with his runner-up to Jeff Gordon, his Hendrick Motorsports teammate, in the inaugural. The deal: Tim Haddock of the Inland Daily Bulletin says 10 years after making his debut, Ron Hornaday is returning to his roots, so to speak. He will be driving the No. 6 Chevrolet Silverado for Kevin Harvick, Inc., and has the resources and equipment to make another run at a NASCAR championship. Why we care: Hornaday used his first run in the Truck Series to launch a lucrative career in NASCAR. He moved up the NASCAR ladder, racing for Dale Earnhardt, Richard Childress and A.J. Foyt along the way. He spent nearly a full season racing the Cup Series, albeit a trying one with Foyt as his boss. | 
