LONG POND -- Inside a packed media center at Pocono Raceway Heisman trophy winners George Rogers and Tim Brown joined Heisman trustee Jim Corcoran to honor NASCAR champion Jeff Gordon for being this year's Heisman humanitarian award winner.
Throughout his stellar NASCAR career Gordon's work off the track took many turns with the opening of the Jeff Gordon Foundation and the Jeff Gordon Hospital in North Carolina. Using his public image Gordon is on a mission to cure cancer.
"This is truly an honor! A lot of you probably have the same question Heisman-NASCAR. Where is the tie, but when you look at the humanitarian award and who the recipients have been it comes from all walks of life and sports. So to be a part of this list is something that i never expected," said Jeff Gordon.
Back inside the garage area every sprint cup team vigorously preparing for the 2nd part of Pocono-The Pennsylvania 400, and the item on everybody's front bumper chasing down points leader Dale Earnhardt Jr.
"It says a lot if your leading the points and the fashion in which he's done it completing all the laps is really impressive. So you need to win races to be well-rounded to back it up and he's won one and we're at a track that he dominated the last time we were here so he has every reason to be excited," said Jimmie Johnson.
Since Joey Logano's win here at Pocono in June six different drivers have won the last 6 races here in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. This weekend at Pocono could be the seventh.
"It's always pretty competitive. I think every year it seem the rules get tighter and the cars get closer to being the same speed and the closer we all are to the same speed the harder it is to pass and the more opportunities it gives teams to win," said Matt Kenseth.
"That just shows how competitive the sports is getting and lack of caution flags different winners and all those things and that makes up why it's so competitive. And i think you will see the same thing in the chase," said Greg Biffle.
A shorter race brings smaller margins for error. Logano found the loop likeable in June. Two months later every other team is determined to stop the sweep.
The Pennsylvania 400 (160 laps) is set to start at 1pm on Sunday August 5th, 2012.