"bwp240" (bwp240)
01/22/2015 at 13:36 • Filed to: Jeff Gordon, NASCAR
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"bwp240" (bwp240)
01/22/2015 at 13:36 • Filed to: Jeff Gordon, NASCAR | 5
| 10 |
It's happening, 7-time champion (4 time champion and !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! i.e. No Chase B.S.) Jeff Gordon is leaving full-time NASCAR competition (he doesn't want to use the word retire, so I will refrain even though it basically is).
This is a day that Jeff Gordon fans like me knew would come. I really wanted today's headline to read...
Jeff Gordon Pulls Early April Fools Joke on Fans and Says This is His Final Season
-or-
2015 Will Be Jeff Gordon's Final Championship Run as NASCAR Changes the Rules Forbidding Drivers to Win Championships
-or-
!!! UNKNOWN HEADER TYPE (MULTI-LINE BREAK?) !!!
But alas that is not the case. It was getting closer and closer with every season, every race, every piece of B.S. that would rob Jeff of his next deserved championship. However, I am still surprised. I didn't expect this year to be it. 2020, 2025, 2030, maybe. Hell, I expected Jeff Gordon's career ending headline to read...
Jeff Gordon Dies From Heart Attack Before Attempting His 2053rd Race at the Age of 106.
I grew up around Jeff Gordon's NASCAR career. I also "grew up" around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. I cannot tell you how I became a Jeff Gordon fan, but I remember watching many Indy 500's and vaguely remember the 1994 Brickyard. I do remember the 1998 race, and I attribute these as the reasons I became a NASCAR fan. I was lucky enough to be at the Brickyard for the 2005 win as a fan and the 2014 win a track worker.
Like many other Jeff Gordon fans, this is heartbreaking... Jeff Gordon leaving NASCAR is like losing a long time family pet. You count on them being there every time, and the day that they are not, you are lost and don't know what to do with yourself. Every week for the past 20+ years, I could count on watching Jeff Gordon race around the track every Sunday while watching my commercials (<- occasionally a NASCAR race would pop on).
For the fans of other sports (i.e. Football Basketball, etc.), this is not the same as when Brett Favre retired, or Michael Jordan, or Joe Montana, or Wayne Gretsky. No, this is like if you are a Steelers fan and the Pittsburgh Steelers announced they were disbanding at the end of the next season. You are lost, confused, not really sure what direction you will turn the following year.
2015 will be the end of an era in NASCAR. NASCAR changed when Richard Petty retired, when Dale Earnhardt died, and when Jeff Gordon retires, NASCAR will change again. The cars may not change, the rules may not change (but let's be honest they will), but the persona of NASCAR will. Jeff Gordon is one of the last staples of 1990's early 2000's NASCAR that drew everyone to the sport. Looking at the field now, the only drivers from that era that are still competitive include Tony Stewart, Matt Kenseth, and Dale Jr.
What will NASCAR become? I can't say, with Jeff Gordon gone, there will be a big hole in the sport. I, myself, can't think of a driver that I would immediate switch my allegiance to once Jeff Gordon leaves. It just doesn't work like that. Will I continue to watch NASCAR, probably, but something will be missing... It just won't feel the same.
I am not okay with Jeff Gordon leaving, I will never be. I can't imagine NASCAR without Jeff Gordon on track, but it doesn't look like I need to imagine it, because it is bound to happen, a little sooner than we all thought...
For Sweden
> bwp240
01/22/2015 at 13:37 |
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4 time champion and 3 time NASCAR AP-Poll winner i.e. No Chase B.S.
What is this, Notre Dame football?
Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis
> bwp240
01/22/2015 at 13:51 |
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All I have to say about this.
:(
I need a new driver now...
SubiSanchez
> bwp240
01/22/2015 at 14:00 |
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His retirement is devastating news for me. I've been following him since about 1997(I was 7 years old) and he's always been the guy I rooted for throughout the years. Other drivers have come and gone but Gordon was always right up there(with the same team!). Finally in 2014 I had the chance to attend a Winston/NEXTEL/Sprint Cup event in person at the fall race in Texas which was almost won by Gordon(curse you untimely caution with 4 laps to go and following contact with Brad K on the restart and resulting cut tire). I hope he has another awesome run in 2015 before he hands over the reigns to(most likely) Chase Elliot.
03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST
> bwp240
01/22/2015 at 14:04 |
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I couldn't have put it better myself, I grew up being a huge fan of him and it's really sad to see him go. I just can't believe this his happening. When my dad emailed me (Who is also a huge fan) I was kind of speechless. Like you said, NASCAR will never feel the same. I think I'm going to do whatever it takes to make it out to a race this year. Which would also be my first one.
He said he's going to be really busy in his future, so I hope that means he plans to race for other organizations. That would be really cool at least.
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bwp240
> For Sweden
01/22/2015 at 18:44 |
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No just recognizing what the sanctioning body won't.
Oh wait... lol
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bwp240
> Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis
01/22/2015 at 18:45 |
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Pretty much me this morning
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bwp240
> 03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST
01/22/2015 at 18:52 |
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I hope I can work the Brickyard again this year. I think I should try to get out to Homestead this year because of this. Hopefully the stars will align to let me do that but we'll see what happens.
Having not heard the press conference today I would have said that I wouldn't be surprised seeing him run the Daytona 500 and the Brickyard 400 for at least the next 5 years or so. If he had any plans to run part time it would probably be a 4th car at Stewart-Haas (essentially Hendrick equipment) while Chase Elloitt takes over the 24. But alas, that doesn't seem likely.
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bwp240
> SubiSanchez
01/22/2015 at 18:57 |
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After thinking about it, I am okay with Chase Elliott taking over. I honestly can't think of anyone else more qualified (of course seeing his run last year I knew it spelled impending doom for Gordon or Kahne). Of the new drivers I have seen both him and Larson have been incredibly impressive. I can see them being the Gordon versus Dale Sr. that we got to experience in our youth.
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03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST
> bwp240
01/22/2015 at 19:05 |
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The Brickyard and Homestead would be so awesome to see. Good luck getting to those.
Didn't Gordon say he currently didn't have any future plans to race in NASCAR? I'm pretty sure he said it's possible he will though.
norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback
> bwp240
01/23/2015 at 14:25 |
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I saw him get pole at WG last year. Was a great run. Enjoyed seeing JJ and him run against each other.