Racing with Rich: Jeff Gordon continues to solidify his legacy
Jeff Gordon just completed a very successful season, a campaign that during any other year would have resulted in a Nextel Cup championship.
He won six races and set a modern day NASCAR record with 30 Top 10 finishes. Unfortunately for Jeff Gordon, however, Jimmie Johnson finished the year on an incredible hot streak to deny him a fifth title.
Without doubt Jeff Gordon is one of the most divisive personalities the sport has ever seen. When his name is called in pre-race introductions a noisy reaction is almost a certainty.
He is cheered by many. Love him or hate him the Rainbow Warrior has to be considered among the greatest drivers of all time, but any discussion of his place among NASCAR's all time greats is sure to stir passionate reactions.
In an era in which competition is at historic levels with more teams and drivers capable of winning than ever before, Jeff Gordon has shown the ability to put up Richard Petty and David Pearson type numbers year after year.
NASCAR's two most prolific winners amassed prodigious victory totals in and era when there were far fewer top level teams and many more races on the schedule.
This past season Jeff Gordon, now with 81 wins, passed Dale Earnhardt's total of 76 to gain sole possession of 6th place on the all time wins list.
He is within easy striking distance of Cale Yarborough, Bobby Allison and Darrell Waltrip, needing only four victories to pass the three legends and move into 3rd place behind only Petty and Pearson.
His four championships place him behind Petty and Earnhardt, who each scored seven titles. However, it is worth noting that at no time in their careers did the "King" or the "Intimidator" have to compete under the Chase for the Championship format. If not for the playoff format Jeff Gordon would have six championships, having achieved the highest overall point totals in both 2004 and 2007.
As a driver Jeff Gordon seems to show no weaknesses, as compared to many of his modern day rivals.
He wins on short tracks, cookie cutter medium tracks, super speedways and road courses. As a matter of fact he has won on every track in which the series competes except two, Phoenix and Texas.
Changing crew chiefs has not deterred him. When Ray Evernham left Hendrick Motorsports to form his own team many thought Jeff Gordon's career would slip. However, he has won races and a championship since losing Evernham. Evernham, on the other hand, has had only brief moments of glory since losing Jeff Gordon.
Jeff Gordon, 36, continues to cement his place in history as one of the greatest drivers of all time by piling up more and more impressive career statistics.
What may be scary to his detractors is to consider what he could still accomplish. Earnhardt won 56 races after turning 36 years of age and Petty won 46 after hitting that age.
Many dislike Jeff Gordon because they see him as the embodiment of what is wrong with NASCAR. He is well spoken, clean cut and too corporate for the tastes of many old school racing fans. But, like him or not, his place in NASCAR history as one of the sport's best cannot be denied.
On a personal note I would like to point out that I am not a Jeff Gordon fan.
However, it is impossible to discount what he has accomplished. To deny him a place among the 3 or 4 greatest drivers of all time would be difficult.
And, if he even comes close to putting up the type of numbers Earnhardt and Petty did from this point to the end of his career I would have to concede that he will stand alone at the top.
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