jeff gordon to retire after 2015

[Frizlefrak]

Look at it this way.....how many drivers are still winning races 20 + years into their career? And this year, he was competitive at nearly every track....something like 7 second place finishes on top of his 4 wins. Rusty Wallace was essentially a field filler has last 3 years....

[The Cripp]

Don't be hatin'... but I never liked the guy anyway.

[78SA]

Dale Sr. had a lot of influence on him.

[RED-85-Z51]

The thing when Jeff started racing back in like 93...was, he was a little snot nosed kid, racing in a sport occupied by the old stand bys, the legends of the sport, and the young bucks that showed alot of talent...then you had Jeff. He looked different, he talked different, he showed emotion...he was not your typical NASCAR driver in the early 90s..

Look at the names from Gordons Rookie year..


Jimmy Horton
Darrell Waltrip
Terry Labonte
Ricky Rudd
Jeff Gordon (R)
Ken Schrader
Dale Jarrett
Dick Trickle
Harry Gant
Dave Marcis
Ernie Irvan
Jeff Purvis
Joe Nemechek
Jimmy Hensley
Dale Earnhardt
Bobby Labonte (R)
Jimmy Spencer
Geoff Bodine
Lake Speed
Phil Parsons
Derrike Cope
Bobby Hillin Jr.
Bill Elliott
Hut Stricklin
Brett Bodine
Jimmy Means
P.J. Jones (R)
Bobby Hamilton
Rick Mast
Ted Musgrave
Mark Martin
Wally Dallenbach, Jr
Sterling Marlin
Greg Sacks
Morgan Shepherd
Michael Waltrip
Rusty Wallace
Rick Wilson
Kenny Wallace (R)
Kyle Petty
Neil Bonnett
Steve Kinser
Stan Fox

Al Unser, Jr
Davey Allison
Robby Gordon
Lake Speed
Ernie Irvan
Alan Kulwicki
Jimmy Hensley
Tommy Kendall
Geoff Bodine

This was a time when the legends had gotten into ownership...and teams. The raw talent and skill at the time was staggering, most of these drivers at the time were in their prime...Dale wont his 6th title that year.

Gordon fell into nearly immediate success, and while he wasnt cocky like Kyle Busch was...fans I think felt like he stole the thunder of the guys they had all come to see. Not many know it, but Dale Sr and Jeff GOrdon were good friends off the track, they had multiple joint business ventures, they held majority shares in Action Performance, that cornered the market on diecast collectibles and NASCAR memorabilia, and they jointly owned CHASE racewear with Rusty Wallace and Bobby LAbonte. One funny thing was..when 24 won the innagural Brickyard 400 his rookie year...the next year Earnhardt Sr won it, and made the statement he was the FIRST MAN TO WIN THAT RACE...hahaha.

[BADRACR1]

IMO, most NASCAR fans resented Gordon. I know us older ones did. Gordon was likely the first driver to "not pay his dues". At a very young age (21 years) he was dropped into the seat of one of the premier NASCAR rides. Dale Sr. didn't get a Cup ride til he was 28 years old, and finished second in his last year racing (at 48). In twenty years he won seven championships. What could he have possibly accomplished if he started sooner? There is no arguing that both are phenomenal drivers. I've watched both do things in a car one would think impossible. Styles are very different.
I never likes Sr until the last couple of years of his career. Seeing how proud he was of his son made me read up on him. He did a lot of charity work on condition it was kept quiet. Didn't want anything to tarnish the Intimidator image he worked hard at crafting. Drivers now get tons of publicity for things they do.
Dale requested anonymity. He wasn't clean cut, polished, or pampered. He was brash. He was tough. He was intimidating. He didn't apologize for much. But he could drive a damn racecar. And he wasn't a Wonderboy.

[RED-85-Z51]

Ive got a MAgazine, NASCAR 2000 preview or something, there was a full page in it, of Dale in the driver seat, with the intimidator stare going on..and it said "If you get between me and the checkered flag, you'll wish you hadn't

That statement epitomized his racing style, he may not outright wreck you, but...he would ride your damn bumper around the track, and when you slipped, and you would slip..he would punt your ass...

[Frizlefrak]

Early in Gordon's career, he was riding around the track pre-race waving at fans with Dale Sr., and some of the fans were booing at Sr. Jeff asked Dale why they were booing, and he grinned and replied "As long as they're making noise, I'm happy. Don't worry about when they boo you.....worry about when they ignore you".

[island14]

Originally Posted by RED-85-Z51

One funny thing was..when 24 won the innagural Brickyard 400 his rookie year...the next year Earnhardt Sr won it, and made the statement he was the FIRST MAN TO WIN THAT RACE...hahaha.

Did he actually say that?

That's FUNNY!



I think when Jeff first showed up they kinda looked at him like a Danika..

But it wasn't long and Jeff started winning races and got himself a really hot looking chic.

I knew he could drive from watching him run USAC Sprints before he ever got to NASCAR..

It did surprise me how fast he adapted to the heavier cars though.

[RED-85-Z51]

Originally Posted by island14

Did he actually say that?

That's FUNNY!



I think when Jeff first showed up they kinda looked at him like a Danika..

But it wasn't long and Jeff started winning races and got himself a really hot looking chic.

I knew he could drive from watching him run USAC Sprints before he ever got to NASCAR..

It did surprise me how fast he adapted to the heavier cars though.

Yep, he said it. He also gave Gordon the nicknames..KID, and Wonderboy.

I recall one time when Jeff won, dale brought him milk in victory lane instead of beer, or something ot that effect.

Dale, much like his son...was a good soul, he was one of those drivers that could get into the car..and get inside your head, and ruin you without ever putting a bumper on ya. He could get out 5 minutes later, shake your hand, and go see his family and fans. If you wrecked him, all he had to do was remind you who you just wrecked. He didnt have to pay you back, he just had to suggest he would...and when he got behind you, you moved, and if you didnt respect that, he would move you.

One of my most vivid memories was watching the Bristol Night race when Dale Punted Terry Labonte on the last lap, and Tony Stewart hit Terry head on. Dale stated "I didnt mean to wreck him, I just wanted to rattle his cage a little bit". Terry won the Winston Cup that year, as I recall Dale finished 2nd. At the Banquet, Dale walked up and took his check, and during his speech he said "Terry invited me to go hunting on his property...but I really dont think I want to go out alone into the woods with him and a loaded gun"....and everyone in the room knew exactly what he was referring to...

[island14]

I remember that race well... I was watching it on TV that day.

It's one you can never forget.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2R3iXnNaF8

[RedLS1GTO]

Originally Posted by RED-85-Z51

I recall one time when Jeff won, dale brought him milk in victory lane instead of beer, or something ot that effect.

It was the championship banquet at the end of the year. Dale toasted him with milk because he "wasn't old enough to drink".

I spent a lot of time at race tracks in the late 90s, early 2000s thanks to some connections with a company who sponsored HMS and at the time, DEI. There was no doubt that 24 and 3 got along very well. They would regularly be in the garage at 1 of the 2 cars chatting it up.

I was at both the inaugural '94 and the 95 Brickyard races (and about 20 since). Those are 2 I certainly won't forget.

Once, in about 1999 or so, we went to visit the HMS shop during the 600 race weekend. My dad (in a wheelchair) and I were looking around the front areas and the "museum" of HMS cars. Out of nowhere, Jeff walked up, shook our hands, introduced himself... like he was some random guy off the street... and proceeded to show us around the shop for at least an hour.

About 5 years later, at another race in Charlotte, my dad was cruising around the pits, looking at the cars and just being a fan in general. He was having a hard time with the crowd around the 24 garage (with the wheelchair). Jeff walked out, moved the barrier, parted the crowd, and let him come sit right beside the car as they did all of the pre-race stuff. Again, shook his hand and recognized that dad was the guy he had walked around the shop years earlier.

Long story short, in my experience, Jeff is about as good a guy as you will ever find.

[island14]

That was really neat of him to do that for your Dad!

I have always respected his driving ability, but would not consider myself a fan in any way, nor did I ever hope for him to win anything... actually saw him whine a few times on TV so never thought much more about him one way or the other.

Your story above just earned him a lot of respect from me..

[Frizlefrak]

The people who've met him always claim he is one of the nicest, most down-to-earth guys you'll ever meet.

I remember the milk incident at the awards banquet. Gordon says it's one of his best memories of Dale, and that they were good friends (off the track, of course).

The "Gordon is gay" thing.....Jeff addresses that in his biography. When he was first dating Brooke Sealy, she was Ms Winston, and they kept their dating secret as it was a violation of the rules. The other drivers (including Dale Sr) all knew, but kept it very quiet. When her contract was up, they were able to "come out" as a couple. Dale was razzing him and made the comment "hey, he's got a girlfriend.....we were starting to wonder if you like girls or not". Everyone including Jeff got a big laugh out of it, but someone in the media heard it, took it out of context, and the rumor spread like wildfire. The rednecks also resented the fact that their driver was getting their ass handed to them by "Wonderboy" every weekend, and fanned the flames (no pun intended)

Anyone who still thinks he's gay is probably a pillow biter looking for a date and is deluded by their own wishful thinking.

[RED-85-Z51]

The rainbow paintjob didnt help anything. Although from a history standpoint, id love to see the 24 run the old dupont rainbow or flame paintjobs again.

[RED-85-Z51]

It didnt help that Jeff got very emotional and often cried on camera, that was not your..typical, victory lane reaction.

[RED-85-Z51]

There were those that said Dale should have retired, that he was winding down, didnt have his edge anymore..

I still remember the Day he won the No Bull Winston Million, his 76th and final win, in 2000. That race...was awesome, he came outta nowhere.

2000 Talladega Win - YouTube

[Frizlefrak]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1w7Fh7VNto

[BADRACR1]

I was watching that race as well. Have it on VHS. From 17th to first in less that four laps. Whether you liked him or not the sob could drive. Bear in mind he was 49 years old at that time.
RIP, E. I still miss you every week. Just not the same.

[Datawiz]

Originally Posted by syf350

watch

Well called!

Jeff Gordon announces 2015 as final full-time season | MotorSportsTalk

Jeff Gordon will run final full-time season in 2015

[syf350]

Originally Posted by datawiz

Well called!

Jeff Gordon announces 2015 as final full-time season | MotorSportsTalk

Jeff Gordon will run final full-time season in 2015