This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Long Pond, Pa. • Jeff Gordon weaved his way through a mob of fans outside the media center, all screaming for an autograph from a driver they thought would never again wear a firesuit.

He stepped over the tripod legs of three TV cameras lined against a side wall, patted a reporter on the back and took a seat on the dais where he was peppered with questions about how long his comeback tour might last.

"I'll be here as long as they need me," Gordon said. "I say that very loosely."

Gordon 2.0 will last as long as Dale Earnhardt Jr. remains sidelined with concussion-like symptoms. Earnhardt will miss his third straight race Sunday and Gordon will drive the No. 88 Chevrolet for the second straight weekend. There is no timetable on Earnhardt's return.

What should have been a leisurely first summer of retirement for a driver once sponsored by AARP has instead turned into a hectic world tour for Gordon. He was vacationing in France when team owner Rick Hendrick asked him to come out of retirement. He returned to racing at the Brickyard in Indianapolis. Then it was off to a sponsorship commitment in Mexico. This weekend, he looks to extend his track record for wins with his seventh.

His busiest task?

"Doing some laundry," Gordon said, smiling.

Gordon can handle the busy load, though he's unsure how many more weeks he will be needed as NASCAR's most popular substitute. Earnhardt warned Monday that his return to NASCAR could take longer than planned. No decision has been made by Hendrick Motorsports about next week's race at Watkins Glen.

Gordon and Earnhardt chat via FaceTime and Junior has offered some advice on the 88. Gordon has assured his one-time teammate that his recovery should be his only priority.

"Just get well at the pace that is the right pace to do it," Gordon said. "Nobody is putting any pressure or time frame on that."

Gordon battled through his own health woes over his career, suffering in stretches from back pain.

"I could fight through it longer if I had to. I prefer not to," he said.

Gordon should be cashing in on the perks of retirement. He was feted with dozens of retirement presents from tracks in 2015, and he's too appreciative of the gestures to re-gift them to other friends. Most souvenirs are in storage.

"We haven't done any blackjack and haven't drank any whisky or wine or any of those things," he said.

He paused and laughed, "Well, I mean I have; I drank plenty but it's just not from the collection I was given as a gift."

Gordon paused before he returned to the garage for a brief chat with track President Brandon Igdalsky and opened the door where the crowd of pesky autograph seekers had grown. They waved No. 24 diecasts and No. 24 hats and No. 24 photos in his face.

The fans should save their old memorabilia — he remained adamant that no authorized merchandise of Gordon in the 88 would be produced.

"I have too much respect for what Dale's going through," Gordon said. —

Today's lineup

Sprint Cup Pennsylvania 400

At Pocono Raceway, Long Pond, Pa.

Lap length: 2.5 miles

(Car number in parentheses)

1. (78) Martin Truex Jr, Toyota, 179.244 mph.

2. (19) Carl Edwards, Toyota, 178.873.

3. (27) Paul Menard, Chevrolet, 178.671.

4. (11) Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 178.540.

5. (31) Ryan Newman, Chevrolet, 178.433.

6. (14) Tony Stewart, Chevrolet, 178.394.

7. (2) Brad Keselowski, Ford, 178.359.

8. (24) Chase Elliott, Chevrolet, 177.571.

9. (20) Matt Kenseth, Toyota, 177.413.

10. (22) Joey Logano, Ford, 177.151.

11. (42) Kyle Larson, Chevrolet, 177.082.

12. (3) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, 176.835.

13. (47) AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet, 177.322.

14. (17) Ricky Stenhouse Jr, Ford, 177.281.

15. (41) Kurt Busch, Chevrolet, 177.183.

16. (18) Kyle Busch, Toyota, 177.054.

17. (4) Kevin Harvick, Chevrolet, 176.988.

18. (21) Ryan Blaney, Ford, 176.880.

19. (1) Jamie McMurray, Chevrolet, 176.574.

20. (13) Casey Mears, Chevrolet, 176.478.

21. (48) Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet, 176.091.

22. (34) Chris Buescher, Ford, 176.084.

23. (5) Kasey Kahne, Chevrolet, 175.901.

24. (88) Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet, 175.706.

25. (16) Greg Biffle, Ford, 175.603.

26. (10) Danica Patrick, Chevrolet, 175.404.

27. (43) Aric Almirola, Ford, 174.985.

28. (15) Clint Bowyer, Chevrolet, 174.257.

29. (95) Michael McDowell, Chevrolet, 174.236.

30. (7) Regan Smith, Chevrolet, 173.826.

31. (6) Trevor Bayne, Ford, 173.534.

32. (38) Landon Cassill, Ford, 173.491.

33. (23) David Ragan, Toyota, 173.077.

34. (83) Matt DiBenedetto, Toyota, 172.874.

35. (44) Brian Scott, Ford, 172.209.

36. (98) Cole Whitt, Chevrolet, 171.716.

37. (32) Jeb Burton, Ford, 171.429.

38. (30) Josh Wise, Chevrolet, 170.451.

39. (46) Michael Annett, Chevrolet, 169.750.

40. (55) Reed Sorenson, Chevrolet, 158.615.