It is pretty plain to see that 2008 was not the season Jeff Gordon had hoped for. Coming off a fairly dominating 2007 season, Gordon looked to be one of the biggest threats heading into this year. However, early into the new season Gordon and his No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports team were left scratching their heads.

Gordon's year got off to a rocky start at Daytona when the three time Daytona 500 champion was forced to retire with a suspension issue. Starting the year off with a DNF was an unfortunate preview to what the 2008 season had is store for this veteran driver.

One of the best behind the wheel of the COT in 2007, Gordon and crew chief Steve Letarte struggled all year long to find the right set-up to make Gordon comfortable and competitive week-in and week-out. While he came close a number of times, Gordon was never able to seal the deal and ended the season winless - the first time since his rookie season in 1993.

Despite going winless, Gordon still put up impressive numbers this year. Thirteen top-fives, nineteen top-tens and four pole awards is nothing to fret about. The biggest difference between Gordon's statistics this year and last is the number of wins compared to the number of DNFs. In 2007, Gordon recorded six victories and only one DNF. However, this year, Gordon failed to visit victory lane and recorded a disappointing six DNFs.

Although going winless and struggling for much of the season, Gordon was able to find the positives.

"Other than the focus that has been put on the winless season so far, to me this is definitely not at all one of our worst seasons," Gordon explained in Homestead. "I look at 2000, and 2005 when we missed the Chase. Those were much worse years and we won races in those seasons. But to me, to know going into last week we were fifth in points, that shows what a race team and race organization and what a turnaround we've had this season and to me, that's certainly not a terrible year. You make the Chase, you're not having a really bad year."

Another reason Gordon is able to look at this season as a plus has a little something to do with Jimmie Johnson earning his third championship. While Johnson is Gordon's Hendrick Motorsports teammate, he is also listed as the owner of the No. 48 team. That being said, this year also marks the third season in a row Gordon has taken home the Owner Championship thanks to Johnson.

While this season was not exactly what Gordon and his crew had hoped for, they handled themselves like champions. Unlike others in the garage who threw up their arms and gave up when things went south, Gordon and his team continued to work towards getting better each and every week.

Every legendary driver has gone through winless steaks in their career. Dale Earnhardt had it, Richard Petty had it and now Jeff Gordon is going through it. Forty-one races since his last win, Gordon will visit victory lane again before his career is out. Always keeping his head on his shoulders and his feet planted on the ground, Gordon is transitioning into a new stage in his illustrious career. There are sure to be stumbling blocks and adjustments that need to be made, but one of the best in the business this four-time Cup Series champion is sure to be a threat come next season.