I apologize for everyone who predicted a Jeff Gordon Texas victrory. Not only was th jinx not broken, it grew wings and an extra set of razor sharp teeth.

Gordon finished DEAD LAST for only the second time in his career (both at Texas). How does that happen? How does the greatest driver on the track finish dead last?

After suffering through a painful beginning to the race, the car was loose and pit stop adjustments did little to fix the problem, Gordon's car finally threw up the white flag and quit on lap 110 (exact one-third of the way into the 334-lap race), spinning itself out and slamming into the wall.

Gordon looked like a rookie or worse out there Sunday. It is obviously not his fault - a four-time Cup Champion with 81 wins - so whose fault is it? Steve Letarte (you don't know how hard it is for me not to call him Steve LeTard), the builders at the shop? Maybe it is Gordon's fault for not staying on his crew prior to Texas' race.

Complacency has killed the 24 team, and apparently most of the Hendrick Motorsports family. The feel of "the best team in racing" has seeped into the psyche of the team, leading to a winless start after the first seven races.

After finally breaking the top 12 - Chase eligible - Gordon dropped five spots, currently 14th and 91 points behind the 12th spot.

It is clearly unacceptable for a professional team of Gordon's reputation to fail so miserably in setting up its race car. For that, someone needs to pay the price. I understand racing is a family sport where the whole crew is like one big family, but sometimes you even have to fire a family member if they are hurting your business. And that is exactly what is happening here. Gordon was embarrased by someone's incompetence, and someone needs to be the sacrificial lamb. This sacrifice could be just what the #24 team to turn the season around.

I don't care if it is the catch-can holder or the guy who glues the lugnuts on the tires or the shop manager - someone needs to go at least for a symbolic gesture.

I find it hard to believe other great racers in history would be so pasive after such an embarrassing performance.

C'mon, David Ragan is gaining ground and threatening to pass Jeff Gordon in the season standings, and the unsponsored car of David Gilliland looked more like a championship team than the #24 crew.

Guess it just goes to show that it takes a lot more than just a top driver for a top team with TONS of money to win races and championships. You need people who actually know what they're doing, and the #24 crew is currently questionable in that department. This team looked so bad, it may occupy all five NOT slots in Southern Cindi's HOT or NOT list.

As they say "There's always next week."

- Mr Pressbox