anyway.The four-time Sprint Cup champion will be at the track Aug.

ALAMEDA, Calif. -- After 13 straight seasons without a winning record, playoff berth or even much hope most years, the Oakland Raiders head into training camp this year with an unfamiliar burden: expectations.Two strong draft classes that brought in core players such as quarterback Derek Carr, pass rusher Khalil Mack and receiver Amari Cooper followed by a productive free agent shopping spree have put the Raiders into position to contend for the first time in years.Its a great thing that people are talking about us in that light because when I first got here, they werent, Carr said.So its a credit to where weve come from and thats about it. Its a credit to what weve done. Last year on the field was improvement, it was better than my rookie year, obviously. As a team, we were better. Thats the same kind of thing we want this year. We need to be better than 7-9.The Raiders more than doubled their win total last season in the first year under coach Jack Del Rio, improving from 3-13 to 7-9.Now they will try to ignore all the praise and make that even harder next step from mediocrity to legitimate contender.Its easy to get caught in that trap, Mack said. Thats not what were about. Were about the grind. Were about working hard, committing ourselves to excellence and going out and winning. Thats what its really all about.To help make that move, general manager Reggie McKenzie made some key additions this offseason, adding one of the top available offensive linemen on the market in power-blocking guard Kelechi Osemele, top-flight cornerback Sean Smith, pass rusher Bruce Irvin and playmaking safety Reggie Nelson.But the Raiders fortunes will rest on the performances of Carr, Mack and Cooper.Carr took a big step forward in year two, throwing for 32 touchdowns and 3,987 yards. The addition of Cooper played a big part in that as Oakland had a 1,000-yard receiver for the first time in a decade.Mack led the way on the defensive side with 15 sacks to become a first-team All Pro at both linebacker and defensive end.Here are some things to watch for the Raiders this season:STOUT LINE: McKenzie has made it a priority to build his team from the trenches and the move to sign Osemele fits into that strategy. The addition of another top inside blocker to go with last years big acquisition at center in Rodney Hudson and the third-year starter Gabe Jackson should boost the running game. Donald Penn is back as a capable blindside protector and Austin Howard will compete with Menelik Watson for the right tackle spot on what looks like one of the top lines in the league.Its a big physical group, Del Rio said. They kind of lead the way, create some running room, create a nice pocket for Derek. ... It all starts with our guys up front.PASS RUSH DUO: Mack emerged as a star last season with 15 sacks to along with the stout run defense he showed the previous year as a rookie. Now he should have some help on the other side with the signing of Irvin, who had 22 sacks in four seasons with Seattle. The Raiders plan to use Irvin even more as a pass rusher than the Seahawks did.BACKUP BACK: Latavius Murray ran for 1,066 yards in his first season as a starter. But he slumped late in games, averaging 2.2 yards per carry in the fourth quarter, and late in the season, with his average carry dropping from 4.8 yards in the first half to 3.3 in the final eight games. No other running back had more than 25 carries or 110 yards. That led to the addition of fifth-round pick DeAndre Washington, who is being counted on to give Murray needed support.STEPPED UP SECONDARY: Waiver-wire pickup David Amerson gave the Raiders a big boost at cornerback in the second half of last season after struggling in Washington. He will have some needed help on the other side with the addition of Smith and what had been a position of weakness for years now might be a strength. Oakland hopes former first-round pick DJ Hayden can fill the slot cornerback role.LOOKING FOR LEADERS: With the retirements of Charles Woodson and Justin Tuck, the Raiders have a void in leadership that they hope will be filled by a combination of the playoff-tested veterans added in free agency and the young core led by Carr and Mack.---Online:AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL BRISTOL, Tenn. -- Jeff Gordon, who came out of retirement to substitute for Dale Earnhardt Jr.?while Earnhardt recovers from a concussion, wont race next week at Michigan International Speedway.Earnhardt could return next week if cleared by doctors, but if he is out, Gordon said Friday a previous commitment for next Friday and Saturday would keep him from making a fifth consecutive start in the Hendrick Motorsports No. 88 car.I am not able to be in the car at Michigan, Gordon said after qualifying Friday at Bristol Motor Speedway. I had some other obligations. ... Its just a prior commitment I had already made.I didnt know I was going to be doing all this.Alex Bowman, who substituted for Earnhardt last month at New Hampshire, is set to replace Earnhardt if he isnt cleared for Michigan, where NASCAR will use a potential 2017 rules package that reduces downforce from the regular 2016 package.Gordon said he could race Labor Day weekend at Darlington if asked. Gordon has finishes of 13th, 27th and 14th in his three starts since being out of the car after the 2015 season finale. He had spent the first half of 2016 transitioning to a new phase of his life as a member of the Fox Sports broadcast team.I was enjoying my summer a lot, Gordon said. To go from my experience [vacationing] in France and how relaxing that was to the intensity level at Indy, it was a big wake-up call for me.Every week that Im in the car, I get more comfortable and I get inn a place where I feel I can contribute more and ramp my intensity level up along with the competition.dddddddddddd. You cant just be out of it for six months and jump in and expect that to come naturally -- not for me anyway.The four-time Sprint Cup champion will be at the track Aug. 28 at Michigan for sponsor Axalta but said it would be unfair to have someone practice and qualify the car and then him race it if Earnhardt cant compete.It doesnt make sense, Gordon said. Im pretty sure Alex Bowman would be in the car. It wouldnt be fair to him. It wouldnt be fair to this team.I am not sure Im even the best choice for that package at that race.Gordon had his best qualifying effort of his four replacement races Friday, as he will start 11th on Saturday in the Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race.With five career wins at the track, capping his career with his 801st start at Bristol wouldnt be a bad send-off for Gordon. He hasnt won at the track since 2002, so if he could have a drop-the-mic moment with a win, it would be the perfect scenario.Its one of my favorite tracks, if not my favorite, Gordon said. Its a spectacular place to race, especially at night. Right now, Im just happy to make it [the final qualifying round] and try to find ways to improve on what weve done so far.I dont want to get too far ahead of ourselves. ' ' '