Sunoco Pit Move: Bristol

Timing is everything, especially in NASCAR. On Saturday night at Bristol, deciding when to pit rather than what changes to make in the pits played a key factor in the fortunes of four teams.

Even though the best crews can change four tires and add fuel in less than 15 seconds, it's impossible to stop under the green flag and remain on the lead lap at Bristol. That's because pit-road speed is an agonizingly slow 30 mph, while cars at speed are turning laps under 16 seconds.

That hasn't always been the case at Bristol, where multiple cautions have been the rule, rather than the exception. However, with the new concrete surface, allowing for more side-by-side racing, yellow flags were at a premium, particularly late in the race.

Only four cars hadn't made their stops when leader Jeff Gordon came in for service on Lap 366, leaving Robby Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Reed Sorenson -- plus Carl Edwards, who had already stopped -- on a lap by themselves.

While Gordon's crew was busy at work, David Ragan's spin brought out the caution. Stuck helplessly in the pits, Gordon's No. 24 Chevrolet went down a lap. The other three cars were then able to make stops under yellow and rejoin 13 other cars then scored on the lead lap, while Gordon was mired in 18th place.

To that point, Gordon had been one of the fastest cars on the evening, and even though he had only led two laps to that point, he was considered a legitimate contender for the victory. Instead, he was hoping for a quick yellow.

"We took off there good at the beginning, drove up there to the front and I was really happy," Gordon said. "The car started to change with the track changing.

"I asked for some adjustments and I kind of wish I hadn't done that because, I think if we would have left it alone, we would have been a lot better off. We made some pretty big swings trying to be better."

It didn't take long for Gordon to get his lap back, as Ragan spun again on Lap 396. When Ragan brought out the caution with his third spin of the night on Lap 421, Gordon and Johnson stopped, hoping that fresh tires might allow their cars to work back through traffic.

Unfortunately, neither could avoid a multi-car crash 30 laps later involving Ricky Rudd, Matt Kenseth and David Gilliland. Johnson's car suffered heavy damage and lost a lap while undergoing repairs, while Gordon's rear bumper cover was left dangling in the aftermath.

From that point, Gordon's primary goal was to finish on the lead lap. He wound up 19th, one position ahead of Robby Gordon, who had previously spun following contact with Kevin Harvick, and two positions ahead of Johnson.

Having already clinched a spot in the Chase for the Nextel Cup, Saturday's circumstances did little long-term damage to Gordon's championship hopes. Still, considering the past three weeks, Gordon would have every right to wonder why his fortunes have changed so drastically.

"You know, I am not a big believer in luck," Gordon said. "I think you have to make your luck. You have to be well prepared and make the right calls and decisions."