Hall Of Fame Nominees...But Where Is Jeff Gordon?

NASCAR has waited over 60 long years to finally join the rest of the sporting world to begin enshrining the drivers who have achieved greatness, while racing around some of Americas most historical racing venues.

Not only has each driver made NASCAR their occupation, but also a way of life for their family, friends, and the fans as well.

When we begin to think about the significance that NASCAR’s newest addition to the family will mean, all you have to do is take a good long deep look into the third word (fame), and that alone speaks just what an honor it is to even be mentioned next to it.

The word “fame” in this instance is used as a noun to describe widespread reputation, or a favorable character which can easily be used to describe a number of our drivers, or other members that are involved with the sport.

NASCAR has been very privileged throughout the years, to have its share of respectable members involved in the sport no matter what capacity they may have served at.

Whether we think about a crew chief, driver, owner, or even a person that has given much to the sport, it’s not hard to point out the achievements that each individual has graciously given to a sport, that has graciously given back just as much as it has taken.

Now looking at the list of the 25 drivers that have been nominated, it’s no wonder that it has taken NASCAR this long to finally build a “Hall Of Fame” of their own.

The hall will be a special place where NASCAR can showcase not only the history of the sport, but also the accomplishments of those that have been, or are still involved in the sport.

The significance that goes along with having each participants name enshrined in this state of the art building will most definitely go unmatched, to any award or trophy that has ever been given out during their glory years.

When you think about the great drivers such as the Earnhardt’s, the Petty’s, the Allison’s, Junior Johnson, David Pearson, and the founder of the sport Bill France Sr.

How can any fan not get excited knowing that the modern era of the sport has finally reached its pinnacle, once the doors open for the entire world to see?

The Hall of Fame will be NASCAR’s own private temple to those members that have earned their way in because of the impact they had on the sport, both on and off the track, and not solely because they were popular with the fans.

The 21 person committee has put all their personal differences aside to make sure that each nominee was chosen because they have excelled, and made an impact in the sport with not only their numbers but their contributions as well.

Now while looking up and down the list of nominee’s is this really the cream of the crop, since one of the main criteria for nomination and induction is accomplishments and contributions to the sport?

It’s very easy to see that the list of nominee’s is full of some of the sports most popular drivers, as well as the ones who have met the criteria that NASCAR has put forth.

But it doesn’t say anything about a driver or a member having to be retired to get nominated, especially when Richard Childress and Rick Hendrick are very active in the sport today.

So how complete was the voting, when you look at the list of nominees and Jeff Gordon is missing?

Whether you love him or hate him, Jeff Gordon is one of the best drivers that have graced our tracks since the late Dale Earnhardt Sr, made his full time NASCAR debut back in 1979.

With Earnhardt gone, Gordon is now the winningest active driver with 82 race wins, and there are only 5 drivers that have more wins then him who are on the list of nominee’s. Gordon is also sitting on 4 Winston Cup Championships, with only 2 drivers that have more championships who have been nominated.

When the fans begin talking about the most important race of the season, the Daytona 500 is by far the most significant race, and Gordon can boast of his 3 Daytona wins with only 2 nominees’s having more then him.

Gordon’s list of important race wins doesn’t stop there, because with his 4 Brickyard 400 wins not 1 driver who was nominated can ever catch him.

Gordon was also the series rookie of the year back in 1993, as well as the Busch series rookie of the year in 1991. Gordon who is still an active driver has already made NASCAR’s top 50 drivers list, in only his 17th season while racing in the cup series.

Gordon has accumulated all of his accomplishments racing against some of the sports most controversial, as well as some of the best drivers that NASCAR had to offer during that time period.

Gordon has overcome all the adversity that the fans could throw at him, while also being tabbed as the black sheep of the sport back when he first came into the series.

And even today he is still a driver who is greatly respected not only by his fellow competitors, but by the media and the fans as well.

Contributions to the sport, as well as accomplishments on and off the track are what have made Gordon who he is today.

Now because NASCAR’s ruling states that a former drivers must have competed 10 years in NASCAR, and be retired from racing for a minimum of three years.

But yet the reason that Hendrick and Childress are eligible is because the criterion for non-drivers is they must have worked at least 10 years in the industry.

Now wouldn’t it only be fair if they allow the non-drivers to be voted in at ten years and yet they can still be active, to also allow the drivers the same criteria and do away with the three year waiting period, since they are the heart and soul of the sport?

Because if there was ever a driver who belongs on that list, it’s not that hard to see that Jeffery Michael Gordon is that driver.

Im Out.