Maybe this is the year Jeff Gordon gets even.

As the Chase for the Sprint Cup Championship begins today in New Hampshire, the four-time Cup champion is, basically, an afterthought. He begins the Chase winless in 2008 and with very little momentum. If there is any buzz surrounding Gordon, it’s more about his new line of wine than it is about his racing.

Yet, this is the first time Gordon gets to experience what life is like on the other side of the Chase — and so far he likes it. Twice he’s entered the Chase after holding huge point leads after 26 races, and both times he’s been outrun for the title. This time he’s the beneficiary of NASCAR’s do-over, going from 657 points behind leader Kyle Busch to just 80 behind.

Though it doesn’t take the sting out of the two titles he likely lost because of the new playoff format, Gordon is viewing this Chase as a new opportunity.

“I’ve had big leads before wiped away when the Chase started, and we’re on the flipside now,” Gordon said. “We were 681 points out of the lead before Richmond, and now it’s down to 80. While it has not been a stellar year for us so far, that could change in the final 10 races.”

Gordon winces every time someone mentions the two lost titles, but he doesn’t complain. He only hopes, when his career is done, that any talk of what he’s achieved compared to seven-time champions Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt includes what he’s done during the Chase years.

“I don’t see how you can compare any champions once the Chase started,” Gordon said. “It’s just not possible.”

Gordon isn’t bashing the Chase. He’s just pointing out how different this format is to the old one, which rewarded season-long consistency.

“While I ‘could have, should have’ won more championships if we were still using the seasonlong format, I think this one is better for our sport,” Gordon said. “But I do think it’s tougher to win. Instead of the two or three or four guys racing for the championship at this point in the season, we now have 12 guys that could win it, and anything can happen.”

Even an upset win by Jeff Gordon.

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