09/01/2008 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - To say Jeff Gordon will end the year without a victory is downright bold right now, but with 11 races remaining in the season, it's becoming more likely the four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion could end the year in the winless column for the first time since his rookie season in 1993. His last victory came 31 races ago, in October 2007 at Charlotte.
After winning at Kansas during his 2001 championship season, Gordon went 31 races without a victory until he snapped it in August 2002 at Bristol. It was then his longest such skid since recording his first career win in 1994.
With 25 races now completed in the 2008 season, Gordon has scored just 11 top-10 finishes, with his best performance a second-place run in March at Martinsville, VA. Gordon recorded six victories and finished second to teammate Jimmie Johnson in the championship point standings last year, as Johnson won his second-straight title with a series-leading 10 wins. Gordon is stuck in sixth place on the all-time win list with 81.
If Gordon does not score a victory in 2008, he would end a 14-year streak of winning at least one race in a season. Richard Petty holds the record for winning in 18 consecutive seasons.
Ten years ago, Gordon was clearly the dominant driver in NASCAR's premier series, as he tied Petty's modern-era record for most victories in a season with 13. But times have changed, with 23-year-old Kyle Busch now at the head of the class with eight victories for the year. Carl Edwards is right up there with six wins, and after a dominating performance in Sunday night's Pepsi 500 at California, Johnson proved to be a serious contender for the title.
While Johnson and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. from Hendrick Motorsports have secured their spots in this year's "Chase for the Sprint Cup," Gordon continued to struggle in his bid for the championship as he fell to 10th in the standings after a 15th-place finish at California. He started second but dealt with an ill-handling car throughout the race. Gordon is now 102 points ahead of 13th- place David Ragan heading into Richmond, the final event before the "Chase" begins September 14th at New Hampshire.
"It's not as comfortable as I'd like it to be," Gordon said. "I was hoping to have a little bit better run, but we got everything out of it that we could, and we're pretty much a 15th-place car. I think we are going to be better at Richmond."
If Gordon finishes 24th or better at Richmond, he will qualify for the "Chase," regardless of any other driver's performance. But Gordon will be much happier if he wins at the 3/4-mile short track, where he scored a victory in March 1996 and September 2000.
"We want to perform well and want to win races and be competitive," Gordon said. "I've said before that it doesn't do any good to be in the 'Chase' if you're not competitive enough to win races and battle for the championship. It's about not giving up, fighting and going to the last lap of every race. Obviously we want to be in the 'Chase'."
In a season filled with ups and downs, Gordon might have a late-season surge, especially if he makes the "Chase." It's a turnaround he can accomplish, with the upcoming tracks on the schedule. Gordon has seven victories at Martinsville, six at Talladega, five at Charlotte and four each at Atlanta and Dover.
Whether or not Gordon makes the "Chase" remains to be seen. Either way, his season ending without a victory would be a surprise, but certainly not out of the question.
<< Nadal survives Querrey to reach Open quarters
Flushing Meadows, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - World No. 1 Rafael Nadal was tested
by American Sam Querrey in his fourth-round match Monday at the 2008 U.S.
Open.
The top-seeded Nadal snuck past a game Querrey in 6-2, 5-7, 7-6 (7-2), 6-3
fashio
<< Monchengladbach signs American Bradley
Monchengladbach, Germany (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Monchengladbach completed the
signing of American Michael Bradley from Heerenveen on Monday after Bradley
passed a medical.
The 21-year-old Bradley joins the Bundesliga newcomers from
<< Giants activate P Sanchez for start
Denver, CO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The San Francisco Giants have activated pitcher
Jonathan Sanchez from the 15-day disabled list and the left-hander will start
Monday's contest with the Colorado Rockies.
Sanchez was scratched from his last
<< Inter snatches Quaresma from FC Porto
Milan, Italy (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Inter Milan boss Jose Mourinho added another
winger to his side on Monday as the team signed Ricardo Quaresma on a five-
year contract.
The Portuguese side will reportedly receive over $27 million for Qu
De La Rosa helps Rockies shut out Giants >>
Denver, CO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jorge De La Rosa threw seven scoreless innings
and added an RBI single in leading the Colorado Rockies to a 4-0 victory over
the San Francisco Giants in the opener of a three-game series.
De La Rosa (8-7) wal
Yanks outslug Tigers >>
Detroit, MI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Alex Rodriguez stroked three hits, drove in
four runs and scored twice, as the New York Yankees opened a big lead and held
on for a 13-9 victory over the Detroit Tigers in the makeup of a May rainout
at Come
Singh wins second straight playoff event >>
Norton, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Vijay Singh fired an eight-under 63 Monday to
runaway with his second straight win at the Deutsche Bank Championship.
Singh, who won the first FedEx Cup playoff event last week, has a commanding
lead in the
Sheets exits early as Brewers fall late to Mets >>
Milwaukee, WI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Carlos Delgado hit a go-ahead two-run homer
in the eighth and the New York Mets went on to best Milwaukee 4-2 in the
opener of a three-game set from Miller Park.
Jose Reyes, Daniel Murphy and Carlo
MySportsbook.com refunds all bets on Oakland, Green Bay and Tampa Bay from NFL week one.
(September 14) – Week one of NFL action saw three teams go scoreless for the first time since 1977. Another four were unable to get a touchdown and almost half of the underdogs covered the spread. Those three teams saved bettors at MySportsbook.com from losing out completely, thanks to the company’s unique NFL Shutout Rule -- which ensures that if the team you backed goes scoreless, your wager is refunded.
Sportsbook refunded tens of thousands of dollars to customers who bet on Oakland, Green Bay and Tampa Bay, the three teams that stunk up the field so badly that their fans and backers never had a chance to get up from their couches and cheer. In the spirit of the low scoring start to the season, odds makers at the world’s largest online sportsbook and casino have set odds on how many total shutouts there will be this season.
MySportsbook.com has posted updated sports betting lines for week two of the season. Ben Roethlisberger’s health status is still questionable, so Willie Parker will try to lead Pittsburgh again as they travel to Jacksonville as a one point favorite. After beating up on his little brother last week, Peyton Manning will look to lead the Colts to victory against Houston. Indianapolis is a whopping 13.5 favorite in the match-up.
Seattle, last year’s highest scoring team, showed the power of their defense with their gritty 9-6 win in Motown over the ravenous Lions. They take their act back home to the comforts of Qwest Field where they will face the resurgent Arizona Cardinals. The Seahawks are favored by a touchdown.
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your Sportsbook accepts Visa needs.
Sports Betting News: NFL Team History | Football Betting | Baseball Betting | Basketball Betting | Hockey Betting | Golf Betting | Tennis Betting | Auto Racing Betting | Horse Racing Betting | Soccer Betting