Rules Of Engagement
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (January 20)- - After clinching the 2001 Winston Cup title at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Jeff Gordon went to New Hampshire International Speedway with one goal in mind-- win the last race of the year. After Robby Gordon nudged him out of the way to take the lead in the closing stages, the four-time Winston Cup champion went over the line and hit Robby Gordon under caution. NASCAR black flagged him for the incident. "I gained more fans from what I did at New Hampshire than I think in winning the championship," Gordon said. "I had more people telling me, 'Man, that was just great to see you do that.' I thought it was awful. I lost control. That's not necessarily what you're going to see all year long, but if somebody rubs me the wrong way, you're going to see some more of it." After incidents with Tony Stewart and Rusty Wallace last year, Gordon feels the on-track action is getting more physical. "As it gets more competitive and harder to pass, it pushes us to be more physical on the race track with one another," Gordon said. "My first approach is to do it the right way.. my second approach is to do whatever it takes. Most guys race me pretty clean because they know I race them clean. But, if a guy bumps and bangs on me, they know they're going to get it back."

Keeping Up Appearances
WINSTON SALEM, N.C. (January 20)- - Jeff Gordon appeared on "For Race Fans Only" on the QVC shopping channel on Friday, January 18. The DuPont 200th Anniversary paint scheme celebrating the milestone birthday for Gordon's corporate sponsor was featured as well as various diecast collectibles from Gordon's career. The DuPont 200th Anniversary car will be raced during Daytona Speedweeks as well as the the MBNA 400 at Dover Downs in June. Since Dover is located an hour south of DuPont's world headquarters in Wilmington, the Dover race typically attracts a large number of DuPont employees and customers.
On Saturday, January 19, Gordon attended the 13th Annual T. Wayne Robertson Winston Cup Preview at the Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Titus Award Winner
POMONA, CA. (January 14)- - Jeff Gordon has become only the third driver in history to win the Jerry Titus Memorial Trophy for a third time. He joins Mario Andretti and John Force as the only drivers named three times as the top driver of the year by the American Auto Racing Writers & Broadcasters Association (AARWBA) since the Auto Racing All-America Team was started in 1970. Gordon was presented the Jerry Titus Memorial Trophy at the annual Auto Racing All-America awards banquet on Saturday. The award goes to the driver who polls the highest number of votes on the All-America Team selected by the AARWBA membership. The overall voting was close, with just four votes covering the results for the top three drivers. The voting was not this close since 1976, when the top three were spread by only seven votes. Gordon also was the Titus winner in 1995 and 1998. The Jerry Titus Memorial Trophy honors the late motor sports journalist and racing driver, Jerry Titus, who was killed at Road America in 1970. Perhaps the single most unusual trophy in sports, the Titus Trophy consists of the driver's own helmet and portable typewriter mounted in a huge walnut base. Plaques are added to the award each year to recognize the winners.

Classic Car Showcase For Charity
SUNRISE, FLA. (January 12)- - Jeff Gordon might not have known who Dr. Eddie Dauer was before this weekend, but they likely had a lot to talk about on Saturday. The Coral Springs, Florida resident has been a classic car collector for more than 30 years. Dr. Dauer, the director of radiology at Florida Medical Center, cultivated his hobby in an impressive warehouse in South Florida. Most of his cars are from the 50's with the oldest car in his collection dating back to 1929-- a cherry-red V-12 Cadillac sedan. On Saturday, January 12, Dauer hosted a charity event amid his private collection to benefit the Boys and Girls Clubs of Broward County. Jeff Gordon greeted guests, and the Coasters, a popular band from the ‘50s, performed. Before the party kicked off at 6 pm, more than 20 vintage-car owners gathered to roll down Las Olas Boulevard, then head to the museum. (Sun-Sentinel)

(Unrelated to racing, but of interest to 'Canes fans!)
In addition to his love of classic cars, Dr. Dauer is a major supporter of the University of Miami. He is a member of the University of Miami Athletic Advisory Committee. The basketball floor that the UM team plays on at Miami Arena was donated by Dr. Dauer and Sam Burstyn. The floor is adorned in the Hurricanes' colors of orange, green and white. The Dauer family was also a major contributor to the Ryder Center, the Hurricanes' new home for basketball set to open in 2002. In 1998, UM received a $2 million gift for the facility from Dr. Dauer and his wife Joanne, Gail and Roger Dauer, and their late mother, Reva Dauer. The main road leading to the Ryder Center will be named Dauer Drive. Dr. Dauer became the first undergraduate at the University of Miami to study biomedical engineering. He also graduated from UM's medical school. Professionally, Dr. Dauer was on the Florida State Board of Medicine for 11 years and served two terms as its chairman.

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