Jeff Gordon Looking To Prove Experts Wrong in 2009

Since the checker flag waved at Homestead, I have read many "experts" claim that this years class of winless drivers 2008 was a major disappointment.

These are the same "experts" who claimed that Kyle Busch could not be stopped, or that Matt Kenseth would fail to make the chase after a poor start, or that Jimmie Johnson's struggles early in the year removed him as a chase factor. We know how these stories ended.

For that I disagree. I am fan of Jeff Gordon and at times this year, I was ready for 2009. Fresh start, new outlook, leaving 2008 and it's struggles behind.

But one day I was reading an article about how focused and how while even though 2008 was not what Gordon and his fans expected it was still a success.

And that I have to agree. Now you must think I am crazy, no wins; wasn't a factor for the chase or for most of the year but I am still okay with a winless season?

But yes I am. When you look at how far Gordon and his team have come from the Daytona, then yes, 2008 was a success.

From Daytona International Speedway, where he had engine problems late in the race, when he was running well within the top 10 at the time. Or the weepers at California that took Gordon's very dominate car in that event and delayed until Monday the team came home with a disappointing top five  finish( yes,I said disappointing top five).

Then there was Las Vegas and a late race wreck that Gordon said was the hardest hit he has ever taken, and probably not one of his smartest moves on a restart.

These are just snap shots of what 2008 has been. He has been either a very good car and has bad luck, whether it be mechanical, or late cautions. Or a bad car and it takes pit strategy to bring that DuPont Chevy home with a decent finish.

As his fan it's tough to watch. I won't lie I had moments when I was ready to call it day and wait till next year. But this team worked hard, and tested and tested.

We saw glimpses of this team at his best. Like at the Brickyard, which has to be NASCAR worst race ever, this team qualified well and practiced well and had it not been for goodyear's tire issues this team could have won their first race there.

Then there is Martinsville where Gordon was involved in a  early accident, patiently battled his way through the field and by halfway this team was leading the race.

They weren't Kyle Busch or Jimmie Johnson dominate this year. But they battled hard and by the end of the year even though it was a little to late this team had shown promise of what is to come.

Texas a track where in April, Gordon finished last. One of his worst finishes in his career. November, he came home with a solid top five finish. Phoenix he had a strong car and was moving to the front but a mechanical issue ruined what could have been.

We all want to say Gordon has lost his edge, he's become soft since he started a family, or that he's too old. But none of these factor into racing, if you saw his face after Texas in April and how angry and upset he was. This man has not lost his edge.

If you saw his face after a strong run at Kansas where battled the car and battled the flu and saw how hungry he was.

We expect so much from this driver, we expect him to always be the best and anything less is not good enough.

This team wants more, this driver wants more and his passion and his hunger only fueled me more as fan. It made me not look at 2008 as a major disappointment, but as a chance for this team to prove just how bad they want it. They did just that.

When talk of Gordon retirement  came up throughout this year, I said, I can't imagine not seeing Gordon on the track, or in victory lane, and while this year we  didn't get to see Gordon in victory lane.

I have all the confidence that this team is going to prove all the "experts" wrong in 2009, just because that's what Jeff Gordon has been doing his whole career.