Back when NASCAR was on an upward swing in the national consciousness, the rivalry between Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Sr. was a focal point for fan attention.
What’s NASCAR Missing? More Rivalries, Says Jeff Gordon
Think fast: Name the big rivalry in NASCAR now.
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Can you think of one? There really aren’t any rivalries that stick out.
“I think there needs to be some more rivalries out there,” Gordon said Friday. ”...I think it’s important to have rivalries. I don’t think (the declining TV ratings are) about Jimmie Johnson, it’s just nobody has really rivaled him.
“The only one that has (is) Carl (Edwards in 2008) – I would have thought that that would have been pretty decent ratings that year, but Carl is probably just too nice.”
Gordon recalled other great rivalries of the past, but said if it’s nice guys against nice guys, “there’s a certain entertainment aspect” that is likely not present as there would be if more explosive personalities were involved.
“Right now if it was Kyle Busch versus Jimmie Johnson, I think it’d spark a lot more interest,” he said. “I think that (Kevin) Harvick kind of plays that role a little bit and he’s there. If that battle heats up, I think it could be interesting.
“I think right now anything that sparks a good battle with Jimmie – even if it’s me – I think will spark some things.”
The problem in Gordon’s mind has been that no one has been able to truly challenge Johnson. The fans are waiting for someone – anyone – to step up.
"Those guys have dominated so much that when we get to this position, I think a lot of people just go, ‘Oh man, he's going to do it again,'" Gordon said. "But I also think they're waiting to see if somebody else can beat him."
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