Gordon's ailing back and other notes

A quick hit from Richmond, here goes:

# Jeff Gordon's ailing back.

Jeff Gordon sounds awful this week (he says it is allergies) but it's not like his back. Gordon said he had a more detailed MRI on his back this week.

"I've got some information, I'm just not ready to relase yet. We found some things and have a better diagnosis of it. When I know how we're going to treat it, then I'll let you guys know. I don't believe it's anything serious. It's something that is causing the pain. There's a little bit of arthritis, which is not totally unnature, but there's also some other things that come from what they can understand from trauma from a crash or maybe just years of beating it up. Heck, I don't know. I might have picked up my luggage and tore something up in there. We have a better diagnosis of it nad I've got some experts that are giving me all the best scenarios and when I know more I'll let you guys know.''

# Denny Hamlin on his season so far: "Things aren't that bad. yeah, we dont' have the trophies sitting on the shelves, but if you look at the overall standings, what really matters, we're in a position to win a championship. I would (take)  a championship over one race any day.'' Asked about even over a Richmond win, Hamlin hesistated before saying yes.

# Talladega winner Brad Keselowski on his future (he' in exclusive talks with Hendrick Motorsports): "I'd like to be in Cup fulltime next year. I sat out this year because I didn't think the timing was right. I didn't think I was ready for a full schedule, and I wanted to do this right, as far as the Cup level goes. I wanted to come into it as someone would could run competitively and kind of even shocked myself on how competitive I could run. I look back at where I was a year ago, I had the opportunity with Penske to do that deal (drive the 12 car, replacing Newman) and I turned it down because I felt like on any given weekend I was somewhere between 15th to 30th-place Cup driver. I feel like I've made some progression toward the end of the year last year and toward the start of this year to where maybe I'm a 10-20th-place Cup driver. I know to make that next step I need to run fulltime.''

As for options, Keselowski said there are many. Hendrick provides equipment to Stewart-Haas Racing and owns a share of JR Motorsports. Either might be options to put Keselowski to run Cup if Mark Martin returns to the 5 next year at Hendrick. Stay tuned.

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