Stories for '09: Could Jeff Gordon Be Washed Up?

Posted Jan 21, 2009 3:30PM By Holly Cain (RSS feed)

Here's what everyone will be talking about as the NASCAR haulers roll into Daytona International Speedway next month for the start of one the most unpredictable seasons in recent memory.

Only a few years ago I was writing about Jeff Gordon eclipsing the seven Cup championships earned by Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt. All the statistics indicated he was on pace to become NASCAR's greatest champ. I was totally convinced we would witness a historic eighth.

So maybe I was wrong.

It's not so much that Gordon's pace has slowed as much as others' have picked up theirs.

Spend even a few minutes speaking with Gordon and you'll hear the ultra-competitive tone and see the same desire in his eyes that you did 10 years ago.

It's ludicrous to suggest his career is a downturn just because he hasn't won a championship in eight years or that because he's a father now, he somehow doesn't race as hard or want it as much. He was championship runner-up in 2007 and finished third in 2004 – a mere 17 points behind champ Kurt Busch.

But we have to be realistic, and Jimmie Johnson, Kyle Busch, Tony Stewart, Carl Edwards and Dale Earnhardt Jr. are very, very real.

Gordon is still my pick as the most talented driver in Cup racing. But even that great talent probably won't be enough to double his current championship haul in the most competitive era NASCAR has ever had.

The 37-year-old Gordon will, however, win at least one more Cup before he retires.

Remember, Dale Earnhardt won three championships (1991, '93 and '94) after turning 40. Richard Petty won his last title at the age of 42. And I'd even take a 50-year old Jeff Gordon against 90 percent of the current field any day.

And as for Gordon's "other" teammate, forget that it's blasphemous in the blogosphere to suggest that Dale Earnhardt Jr. isn't a championship-caliber driver. I believe he is -- but he needs to take advantage of ideal circumstance.

You don't have to beat your chest, kick your car and make cocky predictions into a television camera to prove how badly you want a championship trophy. That's not Earnhardt's style and often people unfairly mistake his demeanor for apathy or lack of effort.

The opposite is true. Earnhardt pro-actively positioned himself to make a serious run for the title when he got a job with Hendrick Motorsports last year even though it would have been far easier for him to ride out his career on his dad's team and just blame that organization for any short-comings.

He took the tougher route, suiting up alongside two of the sport's greatest champions in Gordon and Johnson. There's no excuses about equipment or resources or a capable crew.

In light of the impressive numbers Kyle Busch (eight wins) and eventual champ Jimmie Johnson had last year, it's easy to forget that Earnhardt spent his first season with Hendrick ranked in the top-three in the standings for 15 of the first 26 races – and that's with only 10 top-five finishes and a single victory.

He's got everything going for him. Now it's time for him to get going.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

1-21-2009 @ 4:04PM

JASON said...

Personally i thing that Gordon isnt washed up that maybe he just got used ta floating into the spot of bein a Mediocre Superstar driver .oma still hold it down fa gordon and root for the man i just thing he needs that comfidence buster and needs for somebody ta give him a reality check on whats happened to him as a driver .He needs somebody ta tell him that he done kinda fell off and aint on the wheaties boxes and comercials with in endorsements then maybe ma boy will wake up god knows he has the talent ta be the greatest so when you got it you gotta live up to it or forever go down as the guy who was great that should and could have been the greatest

1-21-2009 @ 4:07PM

jasonliggins531 said...

lol sorry folks for all the missspellings with my message above kinda just sped through without proofing it but you guys arent stupid so you get the just of what on sayin .aight yall om out

1-21-2009 @ 4:45PM

diamondG said...

Stories for '09: Could NASCAR Be Washed Up?

*fixed

1-21-2009 @ 4:48PM

J CHRISTOPHER said...

I did not know they still raced, people still watch this crap?

1-21-2009 @ 4:57PM

maveness said...

OMIGOSH! Do people still watch baseball? Do people still watch hockey?

That commentary has been tried and failed, buddy. With every sport (except maybe football, although I wouldn't be surprised). It's not original. In fact, it's kind of pathetic. If your eyesight or reading comprehension sucks so much that you can't see what sports are listed in the headers on the website, than maybe you ought to see someone about getting some help.

1-21-2009 @ 5:16PM

OHMYGOSH do dumb asses still feel= as though they need to leave STUPID COMMENTS NASCAR sucks now i know I was RFTC for Butch Mock in 93 and 94(you know so much, do you know who that is, what team was it dumb a#z)I was making a statement, not asking you for a response, hey professor, do you know the diffrence? bet you watch WWe and think cartoons are real too, by the way I AINT UR BUDDY!! i bet ur real popular on the cell block!!

1-22-2009 @ 10:47AM

Do you realize you just burned yourself with the "OHMYGOSH do dumb asses still feel= as though they need to leave STUPID COMMENTS"? Good job, genius!

1-21-2009 @ 7:56PM

JEFF GORDON said...

....."We Shall See My Friends Whether JG Can Still Do It! A Big Surprise Is Coming Your Way Nascar Fans...." ;-)

1-21-2009 @ 8:14PM

CJ said...

I like the title as i do think Jeff Gordon's career is on the backburner and i dont see it rising back to where he was. Is he one of the best to ever hit the track, id agree as four championships makes him the third best behind Earnhardt and Petty, but i think there is someone on the track that is better and will surpass him, and that was the guy he mentored, Jimmie Johnson. Jimmie is going into his eighth season and has NEVER finished lower than fifth in owner points and has almost fourty wins and three championships in a row, and in the chase format at that. Ill say that i dont see Jimmie passing Earnhardt or Petty, but i do see him passing Jeff Gordon. I think Johnson will get five championships and probably have between 90 and 100 wins. Im a Dale Jr fan and i do agree with the writer's comments that Dale Jr has the talent to win a championship, i just dont think he's got the crew chief to do so, and i dont think he'll get one until Tony Eury Jr is off the pit box.

1-25-2009 @ 3:00PM

ben said...

Gordon finished third in the inaugural Chase, 16 points short of champion Kurt Busch after averaging a 10th-place finish during the final 10 races. Under the old system, presuming the same 60-point advantage Gordon held over teammate Jimmie Johnson leaving Richmond, Va., and presuming the same finishing positions in each of the final 10 races, he would have won the '04 championship by 47 points.

And 2007 was even worse. Gordon's advantage leaving Richmond that season would have been more than 300 points over Tony Stewart, yet Johnson won the Chase. Under the old system, Gordon would have run away with the title by a lopsided 353 points.

1-22-2009 @ 8:58AM

Hey, Ben, that's shoulda/woulda/coulda and that just doesnt happen so it's a mute point. ESPN did a column that showed who would of won the championships from 1979 thru 2003 under the current chase format and it's suprising who would've won some of those championships. Some of the ones that stand out to me is the 1992 which Alan Kuwucki, but under the chase, Kyle Petty would've won it. The 2001 championship was Jeff Gordon, but under the chase, Sterlin Marlin would've won it. And the 2003 championship that Matt Kenseth won, Jimmie Johnson would've won it and had he, he'd be a four time champion, but all that doesnt matter cause the reality is Gordon has four, and he isnt going to be giving those others back under the old format.

1-22-2009 @ 9:08AM

Bob said...

I'd have to say I agree with the writer's assessment that Gordon hasn't fallen off so much as the rest of the field has gotten that much tougher in recent years. Those "young guns" are a reality, just as Gordon was a hot "young gun" himself in the late 90's. He is still a top contender, as '07 clearly pointed out, and will be for many years to come. He still has a number of wins in his future, and maybe even another championship, but there is no doubt that he must be in top form to beat the stiff competition of today.

1-22-2009 @ 9:32AM

Darin said...

Patience, Temperament, and experience is what Jeff has over the 'Young Guns.' As for J.J., his crew chief, Chad Knaus was his biggest asset! Let's not forget that Chad and a few others were among Jeff's team until Jeff brought J.J. to the 'big show' and handed Chad, a few others and his race cars over to J.J. to help him get under way to be a serious contender right off the bat for crying out loud. You take Chad away from J.J. and you won't see another championship out of him for a few years! Regardless, in the 'here and now', JG has another championship in him and numerous wins to come. Don't ever, ever underestimate Jeff...

1-24-2009 @ 8:33PM

welcome sharon said...

I love Jeff Gordon he is an awesome driver.Washed up I dont think so.Jeff your the man.

1-26-2009 @ 3:22PM

Butch said...

Jeff's got too much wedge in his wallet to take racing serious anymore.

2-02-2009 @ 9:31AM

sandy said...

To me Jeff Gordon will always be one of the top racers in NASCAR. He may have had some rough times but he will be back on top of his races.

2-09-2009 @ 10:43PM

ozzie said...

he could have been the first to reach th3 8th championship on point system nascar had for years! if remember the 1st year they change the point system , Jeff himself said " you all the know the belongs to me " .