NASCAR - The Best Drivers Ever

The greatest NASCAR drivers of all time are pretty obvious if you look at the records book, so let me just give the courteous nod to the greats who have held many records for many years, like the great Richard Petty. I'm not going to name them all, but I will mention Dale Earnhardt. Now, Dale made his mark, but I don't like him. He's not my kind of racer, but he was the right kind for his day, when things were more rough and tumble, when the sport was still in the process of making a real name for itself.

I prefer the thinking driver, one who learns and presents himself with a bit more polish, and that would be the great Jeff Gordon. I realize that a lot of Dale fans seem to hate him, but the reality is that he and Dale were friends and business associates. Not only that, but Dale was a bit of a mentor for Jeff, and when Dale talked, Jeff listened. I don't believe folks have given Jeff Gordon enough credit for those listening skills, and now they boo him because he's doing what Dale taught him. It's ironic.
What is going to be Jeff's undoing, though, is the Chase. Were it not for the four-year-old program, he'd have two more titles under his belt. People need to think about that. Now, he's not whining about it. In fact, he likes the Chase, but it does have to provide at least an asterisks in the record books. He is a six-time champion, were it not for this new program. One must wonder if Petty and Dale would be so highly ranked if they had a Chase to deal with.

Not only that, but the COT, the Car of Tomorrow that is now the Car of Today has also been a factor. The old time greats didn't have to deal with that, any more than they did the Chase. It's an impact that at least needs to be acknowledged.

That said, there's no denying that Jeff Gordon has his place in the record books and among the all time greats. He does have four official championships under his belt, and he's the acknowledged leader by the other drivers, whether or not he wants to be. Dale Earnhardt Jr. said recently that the older drivers respect him, but he doesn't really think the younger ones do, and the reason for that is that he doesn't have anything to really say that he's (Jr.) a good driver - the stats just aren't there. Well, they are there for Jeff Gordon, and he still has a few years of driving ahead of him, too, before he retires from racing.

Greatness is more than stats in my book, too. Greatness is being a presence and representing your sport with class and graciousness. This is something Jeff Gordon excels at. He's good for the sport, and he brought NASCAR out of the southls and into the mainstream due to his early success and popularity. He takes his role seriously. In these troubled financial times, he's often flying on commercial planes instead of hiring a private plane. He feels it's important to send a message.

Jeff Gordon is one of the all-time greatest NASCAR drivers and always will be. From the record books to being a class act, he's earned his success. As an active driver, he's a bit underrated, something Jeff Burton expressed not to long ago. In an interview, Burton said he didn't really believe that Jeff was being given his due.

Time will prove my words. Jeff Gordon is an all-time great, both as a driver and as a human being.