Physical fitness routines prove merit at short tracks (cont'd)

Maintaining health and wellness at Hendrick Motorsports is somewhat of a growing trend that began with Jimmie Johnson, but new teammate and veteran driver Mark Martin is the true pioneer and influencer.

"Mark is always there for advice," Earnhardt said. "So is Jimmie -- Jimmie is a big cheerleader in trying to get me to do a better job and take better care of myself. He's a big help."

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When a 50-year-old man is in better shape than you are and you're 30, then you need to get to work.

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JEFF BURTON

As for Gordon, he has a few self-motivating reasons as to why he has hit the gym.

"Well it's my back," he said after Martinsville's Sprint Cup practice Friday. "My back is hurting so bad that I'm just trying to do something to alleviate some of the back pain."

He, too, has Johnson and Martin prodding him along.

"Mark definitely has been a big influence on Rick [Hendrick], and Rick has been jabbing me and giving me a hard time about him being in the gym," Gordon added.

And like the elder Earnhardt, 37-year-old Gordon is feeling his age.

"When I was in my 20s it seemed like I was untouchable. I could bend over and touch my toes. I could get out of bed with no aches and pains and get out there and run 500 laps at Martinsville and then do it again the next day if I wanted to," said the four-time champion who, until he hit 30, seemed to be physically invincible. "But that's not the case now."

So age and a back injury have forced Gordon to work out, but it might be the perfect remedy for the Cup Series points leader.

"I will say that I feel fantastic. Even though last week in Bristol my back was still hurting, from a cardio standpoint, I felt like I could have run another race," he said. "I got out refreshed without any kind of muscle soreness or anything like that. Besides my back, I felt fantastic. So I will say I'm in some of the best shape that I've been in a very long time."

Two years ago Gordon took up cycling and mountain biking, just for recreational purposes, until it started aggravating his back problems from incessant leaning forward.

Then last season he and crew chief Steve Letarte discussed hiring a trainer for the track so that Gordon could get help for his back.

"To do things to try to loosen my back up because what happens is it almost spasms and it gets tight and if you don't treat it then you go to the next race and it is worse and worse and worse," he explained. "I was focused on that at the end of the season. Over the offseason, my wife, Ingrid, talked me into going to the trainer. I started that in January."

He works out three to four times a week and refuses to miss a session.

"They are really intense and pushing me really hard and making the most out of every workout," he said. "I am already seeing the results in a pretty short period of time."

Jeff Burton, for years, has worked out with a professional trainer and learned early on the benefits of being in shape. He considers his workout program a vital part of his success, especially for a man who travels more than 36 weekends a year. The mental and physical demands begin to add up.

Also, Burton feels if drivers wanted to be thought of as professional athletes and paid like professional athletes, then they should act like professional athletes.

"This is a serious business. Anything you can bring to the table to make you and your team better, you need to bring it," Burton said. "Fitness is very important. I'm glad to see Mark [Martin] set a positive influence over there at [Hendrick Motorsports] and get people up and running. When a 50-year-old man is in better shape than you are and you're 30, then you need to get to work."