It’s not often in the world of sports where we see a great finish their career on top. For 23 years, Jeff Gordon has made his presence known in NASCAR and left an everlasting impact for years to come. From a guy who was fast in the Busch Grand National Series (known as the Xfinity Series) for two years to become one of the greatest drivers in history, Gordon will take the green flag for the 797th and final time Sunday at the Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Florida.
It’s no ordinary final race because Gordon, along with Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick, and Martin Truex, Jr. will compete for the title. In the case of Gordon, he has an opportunity to end his illustrious career on top and win his fifth title, joining the likes of John Elway, American Pharaoh, and Ray Bourque to ride into the sunset with a victory.
Despite being a frustrating season, Gordon earned a Championship Four bid by winning at Martinsville Nov. 1 and has been steadily consistent since this season's Chase began.
With the Chase in mind, Gordon initially thought the playoff concept was a joke when it debuted in 2004. Several fans would agree and also noted had it not been for the Chase, Gordon would have won three more championships (2004, 2007, and 2014). Surprisingly to some, Gordon hasn’t dwelled on “what if the Chase didn’t existed." Gordon said the competition would have been different had the old “Winston Cup” points system existed today.
"Everybody races differently under each point system and does what it takes," Gordon said. "So I don't know if we can all sit here and speculate and talk about things and wonder what could have been if the old point system would have stayed the same."
With or without the Chase, Gordon’s success is insurmountable. He’s a four-time champion, a three-time Daytona 500 winner, and the most successful driver at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, winning five times. Gordon also won 93 times and set the fastest qualifying time more than anyone else in the Modern Era (1971-Present) with 81 poles.
Since his debut at Atlanta in 1992, he has never missed a single race and already broke Ricky Rudd’s record of most consecutive starts Sept. 27 at Loudon, New Hampshire. Gordon’s steak will end after Homestead at 797, with his teammate Jimmie Johnson and Ryan Newman carrying the torch in next year’s Daytona 500 at 504. The list of Gordon’s accomplishments can go on for hours and certainly a first ballot hall of famer in five years.
Gordon’s success is also unique because of his age. Gordon, 44, is a rare entity of drivers who has had success in their 40s. In an era where most drivers struggle to even be successful once they hit the 40 club, Gordon is the first driver in their 40s who has won but also stayed competitive since Mark Martin or to a further extent, seven-time champion Dale Earnhardt.
Today, drivers in their 40s include Jimmie Johnson, 40, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., 41, and Matt Kenseth, 43, who are still competitive. The defending Cup champion Kevin Harvick joins the club Dec. 8. So it’s hard to imagine how the next few years will be the end of the Winston Cup (1971-2003) breed.
With Tony Stewart, 44, retiring next season and up-and-coming drivers Erik Jones, 19, Ryan Blaney, 21, Kyle Larson, 23, and Gordon's replacement, Chase Elliott, 19, expected to be the face of the new generation, we’re transitioning to yet another youth movement in NASCAR.
It's hard to imagine saying Johnson, Harvick, and Newman are the older guys. Over a decade ago, those guys were the young guns, competing with the likes of Rusty Wallace, Bill Elliott, and Dale Jarrett for race victories.
But no matter who wins the title Sunday, Gordon’s retirement will leave a huge hole in NASCAR and end an era like Richard Petty’s 1185th and final start at Atlanta, where Gordon made his debut was. Although we won’t see a driver make their Cup debut in Gordon’s final race, it’s a race people should keep an eye on. Not only it’s the final race for Gordon, but a new champion will be crown and he could be the one hoisting the title after 267 intense laps in Florida.
