Since Jeff Gordon's debut to NASCAR in 1992 he has been a center of controversy. Either you loved the man or despised him, there was no gray area.
Gordon's career stats consist of 81 victories which is sixth all time behind Richard Petty, David Pearson, Bobby Allison, Darrell Waltrip, and Cale Yarborough.
He has four Sprint Cup Championships which is third behind Petty and the late Dale Earnhardt.
He has the highest win percentage of any active driver(15.14%), and is win less in 2008.
Gordon hasn't recorded a championship since 2001. Since the race for the championship started in 2004 Gordon has led the points going into the ten race playoff only to be beaten by Kurt Busch(2004) and Jimmie Johnson(2007).
If the old system was still in place Gordon would have two more championships under his belt and would be one more championship away from tying Petty, and Earnhardt.
In 2007 Gordon had one of the greats years of any driver in NASCAR's rich history. In 36 races he recorded six wins, 21 top fives, and 30 top 10s.
That means he finished out of the top ten only six times in 2007(he finished 11th and 12th in two races).
Getting to the facts, Gordon isn't the same young man he was ten years ago. He is 37 years old and had his first child last year.
Gordon has hinted retirement and he only signed a two year deal with Dupont which expires in 2010. He was quoted saying, "I started my career with Dupont, and I want to end my career with Dupont."
When Gordon burst onto the NASCAR scene he became instant rivals with Earnhardt(that is why so many people despise him.).
When Earnhardt died in 2001 Gordon's main competition was gone and he didn't feel the push that drove him to success.
It is good to see that he won't stick around like many other drivers way past their golden years(Dale Jarrett, Ricky Rudd, Darrell Waltrip, and Bill Elliot just to name a few), but it will be hard to imagine NASCAR without it's golden boy.
4 comments Last one added 9 months ago — Leave a Comment
Mary Jo Buchanan 10 months ago
Nate - good read. I agree with you that Gordon just doesn't have the drive that he once had and that he probably won't stick around as a driver too much longer. I hope that he can go out in style....
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SCOTT GIBB SR. 10 months ago
I HAVE BEEN A JEFF GORDON FAN FOR A LONG TIME AND I HOPE HE DOESNT RETIRE BUT IT MIGHT HAPPEN IF IT DOES I STILL HAVE JIMMIE AND JR. AND MARK
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Nino Colla 9 months ago
I'm late on this one but
I'll be sad to see Jeff go.. He's been my favorite driver since I became a fan so he's all I've ever known. But there was an article on this awhile ago and it seems as if Jeff is probably leaning toward leaving sooner rather than later. I think he does want to win another title, but the sky is the limit for him past his NASCAR career. I don't think, besides Petty, there's really been anyone like that. He'd be smart to get out while he's young and make an even bigger name for himself. He's hosted Regis and Kelly before so you know people will want him for things.
That said.. Jimmie Johnson is destined to leave the team, so I have no interest in making him my favorite driver if Jeff were to retire. So I have no clue what I'll do.
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Nate Powers 9 months ago
im kinda liking the new Joey Logano kid
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