At this point it's clear the 24 team doesn't quite have what it takes to win Jeff his 5th championship.
Does anyone even think he really has a chance? Now, I love the guy - he's a fantastic talent and will go down as one of the best....EVER. But, having said that, I like to say it like I see it and Jeff Gordon and the 24 team have no chance of winning the championship this year - ZERO. His good finishes seem to almost always come by way of savvy strategy and veteran patience. He rarely contends for victories and when it comes down to it, I can think of 5 cars right now that I'd rather put my money on to win the championship.
But that's only part of it...
Jeff Gordon's vicious wreck on Sunday has aggravated his back further and you have to start wondering when Jeff will decide that he just can't deal with the pain for an entire season. NASCAR's off-season is painfully short and will hardly offer any rest and relaxation for Jeff.
So the back thing...it ain't gonna get any better.
On top of that, Jeff has a beautiful little girl that he absolutely adores. You can see it in the way he holds her. Racing week in, week out can be tough on a family. As his little girl gets older, he might just want to spend a little more time with her.
Between the back, his baby girl and the fact that he isn't really contending for championships anymore....does he think about retirement a little earlier than we all thought he might?
Could Keselowski be waiting? Might we see him in the No. 24 car?
