Jeff Gordon's back is still aching from Phoenix

  

  
Jeff Gordon and daughter Ella Sofia (Photo: Getty Images for NASCAR)

  

  
   By Mike Mulhern
   mikemulhern.net

   TALLADEGA, Ala.
   Jeff Gordon was complaining again about his back last weekend at Phoenix, and he says it's not much better yet.
   "There are certainly tracks that are definitely harder on my back, and Phoenix is one of them," Gordon said.
    "Richmond, coming up, will be another one.
    "Martinsville, Bristol and road courses.
    "The pain has not subsided any -- the way that the muscle reacts, and spasms is not getting any better.
     "But I'm getting stronger…and I don't expect it to happen overnight and go away. It's going to take time.
     "Last week my back wasn't what was preventing us from being more competitive; it was a combination of things -- I was sick, and I didn't feel I gave good feedback to the team throughout the whole weekend.
    "We qualified good, and we picked the number two pit stall… and it didn't seem to work out as good for us as it had.
    "We had some trouble…all the way around it seemed like we under-performed -- and it's a good wake-up call for us.
    "This is a totally different type of race this weekend, but I expect us to be strong and have fun this weekend, and we're looking forward to going to Richmond next weekend and getting our short-track program where it can be."