PS3 » retain hitting coach Kevin Seitzer

DOVER, Del. - Four-time NASCAR champion Jeff Gordon said Friday he will have to retire if he continues to suffer the same, excruciating back pain that he did before last weekends Coca-Cola 600. The 42-year-old Gordon is in no hurry to slow down. But he said he hopes he has found some solutions to the back woes that nearly forced him out of NASCARs longest race. Gordon cut short his practice runs last week because of back spasms and there was some concern whether or not he would be able to race. Regan Smith was on standby and Gordon needed treatment after the practice session. But he wound up in his familiar seat behind the wheel of the No. 24 and finished seventh, his ninth top-10 finish in 12 races this season. Gordon knows consistent, shooting pain like he suffered at Charlotte Motor Speedway could drive him toward an early retirement. "I can tell you, if that happens many more times, I wont have a choice," Gordon said Friday at Dover Motor Speedway. Gordon had soreness Monday and Tuesday, though that didnt deviate too much from how he would feel after driving 600 grueling miles. He said his back is not at 100 per cent, and probably never will be behind the wheel. At Daytona this year, Gordon insisted he was serious about considering retirement should he win a fifth championship. He looks every bit a title contender — he has a win and holds the points lead — and gutting out Charlotte proved to his Hendrick Motorsports team "its going to take a lot to get us down." Gordon suffered serious issues years ago in his back, specifically his lower spine, and needed anti-inflammatory medication and workouts with a trainer to return to full strength. He drove in pain during a winless 2008 season and briefly contemplated retirement. For all his back woes, Gordon said he never felt the stabbing pain there like he did last weekend. Gordon said hell make adjustments to his race weekend routine to keep his back loose to withstand hours crunched in a stock car. He needs to stay active and not sit during lengthy breaks in practice and qualifying. Gordon sat more than three hours last week between practice and qualifying, a gap that left he believed led his creaky back to a breakdown. "Once that happened, there was nothing that was going to fix it until I had those injections on Saturday," he said. Gordon has no standby driver at Dover. He felt fine on Friday. But once inside the No. 24, all bets are off. "Its just something I continue to learn and push through," he said. "Its no big deal." Jean-Gabriel Pageau Jersey .Y. - Major League Soccer is prepared to start its season this weekend even if there isnt a labour deal with its referees and other on-field officials. Ottawa Senators Jerseys . -- Wes Welker is unlikely to suit up for Denvers game Thursday against San Diego after leaving Sundays win over Tennessee with his second concussion in four games. http://www.senatorssale.com/authentic-brady-tkachuk-senators-jersey/ . 31-Feb. 2. While organizers havent decided if itll be red or green clay, they feel their choice of surface will give the Americans an advantage over Britain, which is expected to be led by defending Wimbledon champion Andy Murray. Mikkel Boedker Jersey .J. - The New Jersey Devils know the odds are against them as they chase a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Chris Tierney Jersey . The club was unable to retain hitting coach Kevin Seitzer, who is bound for Atlanta. Seitzer replaces Greg Walker, who was assisted by Scott Fletcher this season as the Braves finished 79-83.Canadians Eugenie Bouchard and Milos Raonic are both scheduled to play their fourth-round matches on Sunday morning and both matches can be seen live on TSN2. The 18th-seeded Bouchard will play in the first match on centre court and will be tested by No. 8 Angelique Kerber of Germany at 5am et/2am pt. Raonic, ranked No. 8 on the mens side, will face veteran Spaniard Marcel Granollers in the fourth match on the Leglen stadium court. The native of Thornhill, Ontario should see action aat approximately 11am et/8am pt.dddddddddddd Bouchard advanced to the fourth round after beating Johanna Larsson of Sweden 7-5, 6-4 on Friday. The Montreal native is looking for another strong result in Paris after making the semifinals at the Australian Open in January. Raonic outlasted Frenchman and No. 29 seed Gilles Simon in five sets in the third round, also on Friday. Raonic became the first Canadian male player ever to reach the fourth round at the French Open. ' ' '