Jeff Gordon: Why Daytona 500 Is the First Step Back to NASCAR Title Race

At one point Jeff Gordon looked like he could rival Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt as one of the best drivers that NASCAR has ever seen. Gordon won all four of his championships in a seven-year span from 1995-2001.

Since 2001, though, Gordon has been shut out as a Sprint Cup Champion, and his once dominant reign of the Cup Series has since been mediocre.

You can blame it on a number of factors, but the main one is the increase of talent. Drivers are much better than in the past and have caused diversity in the sport. No longer do you see guys like Gordon winning 12 races a season. Now, six wins in a year is abnormally high.

In the past, most of the fields had 5-10 drivers that had a legit shot at winning, but in the past decade that number has grown to 25-30 on any given Sunday. The competition is fierce and tight, and if you throw in the new double file restarts over the past few seasons, and it’s a crapshoot for wins.

Last season was one of rejuvenation for Gordon. He had three wins, and for most of the season was the most dominant car on the track. He hit a rough patch, though, in the Chase as he came in as the favorite to win the championship, but bad luck dropped him in the points standings and out of contention.

This season, I think Gordon is as hungry as ever with him knowing he’s not a kid any longer. Gordon knows his time in the Sprint Cup Series is nearing an end, and he must capitalize on these opportunities to while he can. He was happy with how competitive the No. 24 team was last season, because he wants another shot to be a champion.

I think Gordon’s focus is scary good right now, and he wants to get the season off to a great start with a win in the Daytona 500.

When a four-time champ that’s tasted dominance is hungrier than ever before others drivers should watch out. Gordon had one of the best cars in the January test sessions. He also had one of the best cars in the Bud Shootout on Saturday, but got caught up in a wreck while running second at the end.

I think if Gordon stays out of trouble on Sunday, he will be the favorite to be in Gatorade Victory Lane after it’s all said and done, and on his way to what could be his fifth championship. The guy isn’t in the top five in career wins for nothing.