Jeff Gordon stays hot with victory at Atlanta

A little less than a year ago in Las Vegas, Jeff Gordon was answering questions about approaching a 10-year drought as a NASCAR champion.

These days, he is peppered with questions about how he has re-emerged as a force on the Sprint Cup circuit.

Gordon never went away, of course. But like most everybody else, he has been relegated to a competitive spectator in the Jimmie Johnson championship extravaganza, stretching five years.

But his buddy Johnson is definitely feeling the squeeze.

Gordon, now 40 and “rejuvenated,” is the hottest driver in NASCAR not named Keselowski .

Gordon held off a furious charge from Johnson to win the rain-delayed AdvoCare 500 Tuesday afternoon, marking Gordon’s third win of the season and his 85th career victory, behind only Richard Petty (200 victories) and David Pearson (105).

“Right now the rejuvenation is going to the race track and driving cars as loose as I’m driving,” Gordon said. “The last couple of weeks we’ve sent a great message to all our competitors about how strong this team is, how good our race cars are.”

The last 10 laps at Atlanta Motor Speedway were definitely loose and wild, as Johnson made continuous charges at Gordon only to fall back because Johnson had greater issues slipping and sliding.

“I just didn’t have enough to get by him,” Johnson said. “I just didn’t have enough rear grip to get there and stay there.”

The jousting between the Hendrick Motorsports teammates allowed fans a few moments of excitement, much of which was lost in the steady drizzle of boredom and anticipation in a race that was originally scheduled for Sunday night.

NASCAR officials decided to wait until Tuesday morning to start, as remnants from Tropical Storm Lee pushed through the Atlanta area. It was only the second time since 1978 that NASCAR raced on a Tuesday.

Although there were two cautions for rain and heavy mist, the drivers were able to complete the last 71 laps under green.

As everyone heads to Richmond, Va., the Hendrick team is giving the rest of the contenders something to think about.

Johnson has surged back into the points lead, and Gordon has been the most dominant guy on the track over the last two months.

They will be a formidable pair, which could grow into a threesome if Dale Earnhardt Jr. hangs on and qualifies for the Chase for the Championship.

“We’re just having a terrible year,” Johnson said, sarcastically. “Our viewpoint is just the reality inside our race team, and very little outside discussion or talk…. The reality inside the 48 shop at Hendrick Motorsports is that we know we have a very good chance at winning a championship.”

Johnson and Gordon are among nine drivers who have clinched a berth in the Chase — including Brad Keselowski, who has clinched at least a wild card — heading into the regular season-finale at Richmond.

One driver no longer in contention is Clint Bowyer, who tangled with Juan Pablo Montoya early in the race and finished 36th.

“You can’t race against a jackass,” Bowyer said of Montoya. “He dive-bombs the restarts and bullies his way up.… Unfortunately, I was a victim this week. We’re racing for a spot in the Chase, and he’s fighting for nothing. I’m tired of it.”

gdiaz@tribune.com