Jeff Gordon is feeling the pinch.

Winless and with just two top-5 finishes through 19 races, Gordon is uncharacteristically back in the pack in the points standings. Entering today’s Curtiss Shaver 400 at the Brickyard — a race he’s won a record four times — Gordon sits 17th in points. He desperately needs an outstanding run during the next seven races to qualify for the Chase for the Sprint Cup.

His fans are doing their part by sending Gordon good luck charms and lending a helping hand in other ways.

“Rubbing my back — or pinching areas as well — doing whatever they feel like is going to turn our season around and get us some luck,” Gordon said prior to qualifying 9th for the 19th running of the Brickyard. “I’ve never had people give me so many good luck charms as I have this year.

“I appreciate it. It’s great our fans are that passionate and care that much. Sometimes they take the losses harder than we do. We’ve tried a few (good luck charms), I’ll admit. I’m not too ashamed to try some new things to turn it around.”

That’s the power of the Brickyard. It doesn’t offer the greatest or most exciting racing on the Sprint Cup circuit, but next to the Daytona 500 it’s the trophy everyone wants to take home.

Denny Hamlin gets the honor of leading the field to the start after winning the pole with a top speed of 182.763 mph after Saturday’s qualifying. Carl Edwards (181.984) is also on the front row.

“I was as excited as I had been if I would have won the race,” Hamlin said of earning his 11th career pole and first at Indy.

Only two drivers have won the Brickyard from the pole: Jimmie Johnson in 2008 and Kevin Harvick in 2003. Among two other notables, defending champ Paul Menard starts 8th and Sprint Cup points leader Matt Kenseth starts 10th.

Two-time Brickyard winner Tony Stewart, who raced back to Eldora Speedway to compete in the NRA Sprint Invaders race Saturday night, struggled much of the day and starts 28th.

“Terrible,” Stewart said about his one-lap run. “Normally if you are in the middle of the pack it’s because your car is not driving very good. It’s going to be a long day (today).”

Gordon, meanwhile, anticipates a charming afternoon … and that fifth win.

In the Nationwide Series’ Indiana 250 on Saturday evening, Brad Keselowski won the series’ first visit to the Brickyard. Among area connections, Hamlin finished fourth with West Carrollton native Matt Lucas serving as his crew chief. Mike Wallace finished 20th for JD Motorsports with Gary Keller. Keller is a Beavercreek native.