Gordon goes for a ride

NEW YORK (AP) -- Jeff Gordon got a bit of a scare during his visit to New York City for Friday's night's NASCAR Awards.

"We were visiting a firehouse with Engine No. 24," said Gordon, who drove his No. 24 Chevrolet to his fourth Winston Cup championship this year.

"Some of the firefighters were showing me around and they asked if I'd like to take a ride," he explained. "I said, 'Sure.' But just a minute after I got on the truck, a guy came up and said, 'We've got to go."'

The No. 24 charged out of the firehouse like Gordon taking the green flag.

"I thought we were just taking a joyride, then we were pulling out in front of traffic and I saw everybody else getting into their gear," he said.