Hoper was about to scrap plans to attend NASCAR racing in Texas because of record flooding at home in Fargo, N.D.
Then Texas Motor Speedway president Eddie Gossage found out about Hoper, who had made North Dakota the 50th state to buy a ticket to his track. Never one to miss a good public relations opportunity, Gossage called Hoper.
Five days later, the Jimmie Johnson fan was in front of the media Saturday, suite upgrade and autographed Johnson photo in hand. Of course, there was the Lowe’s gift card as well. Lowe’s is Johnson’s primary sponsor, and Hoper’s home has a flooded basement in need of repairs.
Gossage simply suggested that perhaps Hoper, who has a friend in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, could use a few days away after the stress of preparing for the flood and bracing for the damage…Â Details
A win Sunday at Texas Motor Speedway just might be the biggest of Jeff Gordon’s career.
Is that a stretch for someone with 81 career victories and four Sprint Cup championships?
Perhaps, until you consider that it would end a 47-race winless streak, the longest of his career, and leave just one active track where Gordon hasn’t driven to Victory Lane.
It would also be a win at a track that seems to grow in stature annually.
“I want to win here bad,†said Gordon, who … Details