We're approaching Nascar Sprint Cup's longest race, 600 miles this Sunday at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte. Ryan Newman's on the pole. Enumclaw's Kasey Kahne is the defending race champion; his number 9 car qualified 6th. But this got me to thinking about the guys who are starting 3rd and 5th for Sunday night's race, Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson. Johnson's cut his hair and grown a beard. Gordon's now one of the "old men" on the circuit, battling a bad back. These guys, though, are a lot alike.
Jeff Gordon has started 556 races in his career winning 82. Johnson has won half as many, 41 in 266 starts. Johnson's win percentage is actually a bit better than Gordon's, 15.4 percent to 14.7. Gordon won his first race at the age of 22, Johnson was 25. Both drivers have won 5 times at Charlotte; 3 times in the 600 and twice in the October race.
Will Jimmie Johnson catch Jeff Gordon in career victories? Gordon finds winning difficult these days while Johnson is the 3 time defending series champion, he's in his prime.
One thing is for sure, don't count either driver out for the 600 mile race. And they'll probably be very close to each other by the end of the race.

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