Jeff Gordon became driver enemy number one at Sonoma

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06/21/2010 - Sonoma, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jeff Gordon is a four-time NASCAR Cup champion and a five-time race winner at Infineon Raceway, but at the conclusion of Sunday's race at the Northern California road course, Gordon was a marked man in the garage.

Several drivers, particularly Martin Truex Jr., were furious with Gordon's aggressive driving throughout the 110-lap race. Following the second restart on lap 61, Truex was running among the top-10, but Gordon slammed into the back of him and turned him around.

Truex fell back to the middle of the field, but shortly after, the Michael Waltrip Racing driver was caught in a five-car pileup, which ended his day prematurely.

"We got put in by Jeff Gordon, and getting spun out there on that restart is what got us in the back there," an angry Truex said. "I guess Jeff figured he couldn't catch us on the race track, so he was going to spin us out on the restart."

Truex felt there was no excuse for Gordon's actions.

"Now I know he's going to say Juan [Pablo Montoya] was trying to pass me, and I was trying to block him," Truex said. "I don't care. Just because he's trying to pass you, it's all right for you to spin me out? No. Let him pass you then. I would have let Juan pass me. If it was either get passed or spin out Jeff Gordon, I would have lifted and get passed. That's the difference between me and him. That's why I'm here, that's why he's out there and that's why I'm [ticked] off."

Truex wound up finishing 42nd, which put a serious dent in his bid to qualify for this year's championship Chase. He fell three spots in the standings to 19th, and trails current 12th-place driver Carl Edwards by 157 points, as 10 races remain before the cutoff for the Chase. Truex held the 12th spot in points one month ago.

After finishing fifth, Gordon, whose hometown is in nearby Vallejo, CA, admitted his carelessness on the track and understood that Truex should be irate with him.

"I certainly owe Martin Truex and apology," Gordon said. "He was just racing as clean as he could, and I was racing with [Montoya], and I just got in there and took him straight out. I feel awful about that."

But has Gordon's apology resolved the issue, or does Truex plan on future payback?

"It's all right; we'll get him," Truex said.

And Gordon knows it maybe happen soon.

"Whatever is coming back to me, I understand," he said.

Truex was not the only driver who had a run-in with Gordon at Sonoma. Gordon also tangled with Kurt Busch, Greg Biffle and road-racing expert Mattias Ekstrom before spoiling Elliott Sadler's strong run late in the race.

Gordon turned Sadler around while he was running inside the top-10 with 11 laps remaining. Sadler approached Gordon and had a few words with him at the conclusion of the race.

"We got taken out by Gordon, and it's just frustrating," said Sadler, who finished 17th. "This is one of the best tracks for us and one of the good chances we had this year for a top 10. It's a shame. He took out Martin Truex for no reason."

Gordon has been the center of other on-track skirmishes this season, particularly with his Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jimmie Johnson, who won at Sonoma for the first time. Johnson and Gordon were disappointed in each other after they made contact while battling for Tony Stewart for the lead late in the April 19 race at Texas. One week later, disappointment turned into anger between the teammates when they banged into each other again in the closing laps at Talladega.

In March, Gordon and Matt Kenseth renewed their ongoing rivalry when Gordon shoved Kenseth up the track and into the wall with less than two laps remaining at Martinsville. Kenseth was leading before the incident, but wound up finishing 18th, while Gordon came in third.

It's not even halfway through the season, and Gordon has adapted well to NASCAR's "boys, have at it" theme this year.

For a driver looking to snap a winless streak that stretches back to April 2009, perhaps Gordon should cool it a bit before someone gives him a taste of his own medicine.

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Football Betting: Defensive Rookie of the Year Awards

Oddsmakers have released the odds for the 2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award and Seattle Seahawks linebacker Aaron Curry has been made the opening favorite.

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Seattle took Curry with the fourth overall pick in April's NFL draft and plan on inserting him into its starting lineup right away. The Hawks traded linebacker Julian Peterson in the offseason, so Curry is expected to have a significant role in Seattle's defense next year and that's one of the primary reasons he is the favorite to win the NFL ROY Award.

Oddsmakers from online sportsbook MySportsbook.com have made Curry a 5/1 favorite to win this year's NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award. Given that he was the best defensive prospect in this year's draft and how he'll have plenty of opportunities to make plays in '09, Curry offers a ton of value at 5/1.

Another thing working for Curry is the position he plays. A linebacker has won the defensive ROY award six straight times and eight of the last nine years. Jerod Mayo, Patrick Willis, DeMeco Ryans, Shawne Merriman, Jonathan Vilma, Terrell Suggs, Kendrell Bell and Brian Urlacher were the most recent linebackers to take home the award.

Following Curry at 5/1 are Tyson Jackson (Chiefs) at 7/1, James Laurinaitas (Rams) at 8/1, Brian Orakpo (Redskins) at 10/1, Rey Maualuga (Bengals) at 10/1 and Jerry Peria (Falcons) at 10/1.

All the players mentioned above are expected to start for their respective teams, but Jackson and Peria are going to have a tough time being recognized on a national level given they're both defensive linemen. D-linemen rarely put up the numbers that it takes to win an individual award like the ROY.

A couple of players with some value are Clay Matthews (Packers) at 12/1 and Larry English (Chargers) at 15/1. Matthews is expected to start at outside linebacker in Green Bay's new 3-4 defense and could rack up a ton of tackles. English, who was an impressive player at Northern Illinois, is expected to be a situational pass rusher for the Chargers and could rack up a ton of sacks.

For complete odds on the 2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award, see below. And for complete odds for the 2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award, click the link provided.

2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award

Robert Ayers (DEN) 12/1

Ron Brace (NE) 25/1

Everette Brown (CAR) 16/1

Darius Butler (NE) 40/1

Patrick Chung (NE) 30/1

Aaron Curry (SEA) 5/1

Brian Cushing (HOU) 12/1

Vontae Davis (MIA) 30/1

Louis Delmas (DET) 30/1

Larry English (SD) 15/1

Evander Hood (PIT) 25/1

Tyson Jackson (KC) 7/1

Malcolm Jenkins (NO) 25/1

Paul Kruger (BAL) 50/1

James Laurinaitas (STL) 8/1

Sen'Derrick Marks (TEN) 20/1

Clay Matthews (GB) 12/1

Aaron Maybin (BUF) 15/1

Rey Maualuga (CIN) 10/1

Roy Miller (TB) 20/1

Michael Mitchell (OAK) 45/1

Fili Moala (IND) 30/1

Brian Orakpo (WAS) 10/1

Jerry Peria (ATL) 10/1

B J Raji (GB) 7/1

Clint Sintim (NYG) 35/1

Alphonso Smith (DEN) 40/1

David Verkune (CLE) 20/1

Jason Williams (DAL) 30/1

Field (Any Other Player) 6/1

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To visit this internet sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your football betting needs.