Did Jeff Gordon single handedly take Nascar national ?

Question

If it were not for Jeff Gordon Nascar would still be confined to the Billy Bobs of the world .

Answer 1

Pardon me but havent you forgotten one other person, namely Dale Earnhardt Sr.?????

Answer 2

Almost all old timers and noted race people will tell you that J Gordon moved nascar out of the dark ages. He came on the circuit when nascar was at a stand still and going nowhere. After he arrived, people were amazed to see this young driver get in there and go toe to toe with the likes of Earnhart, Wallace and the other big boys. Even Dale said, this is a good thing for our sport. He was liked by just about everyone but Rudd and Wallace. He has proven he was ready with 75 wins and 4 champs.

Answer 3

Jeff Gordon did lot for Nascar. More then most. But you can't forget what Dale earnheardt and Richard Petty did for it too. If you want to talk about today and early to mid ninties? Yes, Jeff Gordon was it. But if you go further back, it was Dale Earnheardt and Richard Petty. And I'm a Jeff Gordon Fan.

Answer 4

This is not a put down to Jeff Gordon.He did bring new fans into NASCAR,some have really taken to the sport others have made it seem no one else should win.
But he is not the first to do such.
When Davey Allison came into the sport he was the fans driver,but we lost him before he bloomed into the champion he could have been.
Others that could have went far were Rob Moroso,Tim Richmond,Adam Petty,Grant Adcox, but we lost these drivers too soon to their passion or life style.
I've followed NASCAR since 1960 and I will follow as long as I can but I'll remember that Gordon is but 1 buildingblock in this sport.And if he had not come into NASCAR there would still be a NASCAR.

Answer 5

Jeff who?

Just kidding!

I have heard the question asked many times, "Why do most NASCAR fans dislike Gordon so much?

I can't speak for all but can only relate the reasons why I dislike him.

His mother and step-father apparently had the money to indulge his every whim.

He wanted to start racing as kid, a mere child. He has been at the wheel of some form of race car since. A monkey could get good with that type of background.

Dale Earnhardt on the other hand came from a far more modest background. He had to work at a textile mill in Kannapolis and as a tire "runner" at Punchy's Tires in Concord, as well as beg, borrow and yes, even steal to get money to go racing. His Dad wasn't going to give him anything, he was going to have to earn it.

Gordon got his first NASCAR ride at 19. Earnhardt was 29.

I've heard Gordon whine about his car's handling as he drifts toward the back. I heard Earnhardt complain about his ill-handling car as he was passing drivers.

I've heard Gordon at Talladega whine, "Why won't anyone help me?" I've watched Earnhardt pass at Talladega with little or no help.

When Gordon is 50, he will still be a spoiled brat while Earnhardt shall forever be "The Man".

If NASCAR wasn't known and/or disrepected around the country before Gordon, how did Gordon know about it and why would he have wanted to race in NASCAR and give up a chance at winning the Indy 500 or an F1 championship?

He could have possibly been an international star but he chose to be a "Billy Bob".

One could be led to believe that he prefers racing over technology. Competition over performance. For that, he has this long time NASCAR fan's repect, but it ends there.

I would have to say that Gordon did not single-handedly take NASCAR national and I view him as a late-comer to the bandwagon. He merely piggy-backed on NASCAR's success and he has made the most of it. Like with all drivers before him, NASCAR will continue when he's gone.

Now if Montoya succeeds, he can rightfully be credited with furthering NASCAR globally although NASCAR was already being televised in 150 countries probably due to the interest spurred by Mario Andretti during his very limited involvement years ago.

Will a former F1 event winner make it in NASCAR? I believe he will, the boy can drive.

Its about time we truly had a point of reference in regards to which form of racing puts a premium on driver's ability.

I believe Montoya has said, "Its not easy as some people believe" and "If Shcumacher had to run full speed in a pack of cars into Turn 1 at Homestead, he would crap his pants."

Gotta love a guy who stands up for the "Billy Bobs".

Answer 6

Nascar went national a long time before Gordon came into the picture, something about ABC broadcasting the Daytona 500 and the fight. It still was and still is more popular in the south, but it was national before Gordon. Back then though you had another series in this country which was popular, open wheel racing was still popular and was still looked at as the top level in American auto racing for those moving up from dirt tracks and the like.

Answer 7

Nascars popularity did not boom until Gordon came on scene. I know all you Earnhardt fans think he popularized the sport, but he did it mainly regionally. I don't know if it was Jeff or the coverage of the sport on ESPN and ABC that really made it big. I think it is funny that though Jeff is way past his days as the king of the sport that most people still hate him. I guess the grudge and jealousy people hold in this event are never ending.

Answer 8

I don't think so. I was watching NASCAR long before Mr. Gordon was even driving a car, and I am certainly no "Billy Bob" as you so nicely put it. NASCAR started going national when companies realized it was an excellent platform to advertise their wares. It just so happens all of this was happening around, not at, but around the time Gordon started to win races. So, in answer to your question, no, Gordon did not single handedly take NASCAR national, the sponsors and advertisers did. He just happened to be around at the same time.

Answer 9

While NASCAR jumped from cult-following status to national prominence at about the same time Jeff Gordon started driving car #24, to credit him for this single handedly making this happen is to seriously overestimate his impact on it. The Intimidator (#3) had a lot more to do with it, actually.

Answer 10

NASCAR was taken national long before Jeffy Gordon by folks like Bruton Smith, the Hendricks and the Childress's.

Not to mention Old #3 Mr. Pearson and the Waltrips, brother Kayle and the King Richard. And lets not forget the good old folks on FOX and NBC!

Answer 11

NO I think it was the likes of Richard "The King" Petty and Dale Earnhardt Sr. I knew of those two drivers when i was younger and even before Jeff Gordon came on the scene.