Power issues plague polesitter at the Glen

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. – Polesitter Jeff Gordon completed just 50 laps in the Cheez-It at the Glen before power issues plagued the No. 24 Chevy.

Gordon led 29 laps before his car stopped on the track.

“Engine died,” Gordon said. “Nothing is lit up. I’ve done everything.”

The team switched batteries and ignition boxes but could not refire the car before the race returned to green on Lap 54.

Gordon entered the race with a 17-point lead over his Hendrick Motorsports teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr. He joins follow Chase to the Sprint Cup contenders Brad Keselowski and Kyle Busch, who both had issues throughout the race.

Keselowski endured brake issues earlier in the race and came into the garage during the caution for the No. 24 to repair the problem.

“We had something in the brakes that broke," Keselowski said. "The team is trying to fix it. At Watkins Glen you can’t run without brakes. We nursed it around as best we could and had the yellow flag period to work on it and we came in to start working on it but it took longer than we had hoped and we were sitting in the garage here when that horrible accident happened.

"We will have to hang out here until the red flag is rescinded so we can finish up repairs on the Miller Lite Ford Fusion and get back out there.” 

Kyle Busch ran off the course on Lap 23, carried his fuel can out of the pits and then experienced a flat tire four laps later. Busch returned to the race on Lap 46 20 laps off the pace.