Gordon sports goatee at The Winston

CONCORD, N.C. (AP) -- A few days of not shaving got Jeff Gordon a whole lot of attention.

The four-time Winston Cup champion showed up at Lowe's Motor Speedway on Friday sporting a dark black goatee, a radical change to the clean-cut image he's presented over most of his career.

The facial hair drew a flurry of attention -- cameras were constantly following him around -- and he was quizzed about it every time he stopped during his preparation for The Winston, NASCAR's all-star race.

``All I wanted to do was have a little fun,'' said Gordon, convinced by his crew to give up shaving. ``We were testing at Kansas last week and one of the guys on my team has a goatee, so they told me I should grow one, too.

``I finally told them `What the heck, let's have a little bit of fun.' I'm enjoying it and I know the folks in the media are enjoying it, so it's pretty cool.''

Gordon, who had mustache early in his career, isn't sure how long he'll keep the look.

He hasn't won in 19 races -- the longest drought of his career -- so if he breaks the streak in Saturday night's non-points event, he said it will stay. If he doesn't win, he plans to shave Monday morning.

The change in appearance is yet another sign of the new Gordon, who has been much looser this season even as he's going through a divorce. He's building new relationships with other drivers and is spending a lot of time with his team.

``It's all kind of funny sometimes how things work out,'' he said. ``There are things you can do and have fun and right now that's what I want to do.

``I'm enjoying the way things are going now even though I'm not winning as much as I'm used to. I've had a great relationship with this race team in the past and they wanted to help me have a little bit of fun, so I went along with it.''

For All The Gordon Haters :-P

The Big Race Starts Soon. WooHOOOOO...!!!!!

1 posted on 05/18/2002 5:53:30 PM PDT by NormsRevenge

I would really like to stick around but I have a race to watch.

2 posted on 05/18/2002 6:17:18 PM PDT by tubebender

When WC drivers catch up with a fashion trend you can bet it's just about over.

3 posted on 05/18/2002 6:25:46 PM PDT by clintonh8r

Would you like to guess how many FReepers did not see the President start the Winston Race tonite.

4 posted on 05/18/2002 7:05:04 PM PDT by tubebender

I'll bet hardly anyone sees it. It was not in the listings in my area. I found it accidently on FX.

5 posted on 05/18/2002 7:19:12 PM PDT by Cold Heat

I JUST got home from a graduation dinner... did I miss it?

6 posted on 05/18/2002 7:20:42 PM PDT by rintense

The final segment starts in 10 minutes. Ten cars sprint to the finish. Pays $850,000. to win. J Gorden didn't make the cut. It's on FX.

7 posted on 05/18/2002 7:50:38 PM PDT by tubebender

I am a NASCAR season ticket holder and avid fan and I had no clue, that President Bush would be at the race. The WH could have done a better job of getting this info out.

8 posted on 05/18/2002 8:00:38 PM PDT by Wild Irish Rogue

I didn't mean to mislead you. It was piped in and I don't know if he was live or taped. He did the "Gentlemen Start Your Engines" bit. He led in with a tribute to America. Try to catch a rerun if you can.

9 posted on 05/18/2002 8:47:05 PM PDT by tubebender

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