Jeff Gordon leaves lasting impact on NASCAR

In retrospect it was a passing of the torch that almost seemed staged. Richard Petty, NASCAR’s “King” and seven-time champion, was retiring after the 1992 season and his final start would coincide with what was Jeff Gordon’s first career race.

Twenty-three years later Gordon is now the superstar driver calling it quits, announcing Thursday he is stepping back from a full-time schedule. Although he refuses to use the word directly, Gordon is effectively retiring. While he may run the occasional Sprint Cup or Xfinity Series race here or there, the reality is his days as a competitor in NASCAR are over.

That Gordon is retiring at the age of 43 isn’t surprising, as the combination of a bad back and a young family at home made the once unthinkable more alluring. Even a 2014 season where a rejuvenated Gordon won four times and put forth a serious championship push wasn’t enough to convince him otherwise.

So the driver once known as “Wonder Boy” will embark on one final campaign to win an elusive fifth championship and fulfill the “Drive for Five” mantra he’s incorporated since 2001, the last year he won a title.

Don’t think for a second, however, that those 13 years since Gordon’s last championship make him some has-been who should already be retired. As 2014 demonstrated he’s still as good as ever. Yeah, the wins don’t come quite as easily and he’s now part of the establishment instead of the young upstart, but Gordon is still competitive and certainly just as relevant.

And that legacy goes beyond just checkered flags. As NASCAR blasted to once unimaginable heights with record crowds, television ratings and the like, Gordon was the face of that explosion. Just as comfortable in the boardroom as on the racetrack his popularity soared, and with it he brought stock car racing into the American consciousness.

Companies that previously would have never thought of being associated with a primarily southeastern sport took notice. NASCAR expanded its presence throughout the country with new multi-million dollar tracks blossoming in Dallas, Southern California, Chicago and Kansas City.

Why? Because Gordon made NASCAR mainstream to the point even non-race fans recognized him. Twenty-three years ago it would have been preposterous to think a driver would guest host Saturday Night Live or be namedropped in a Nelly song.

“I think that the greatest thing I saw was in those mid- to late-90s was the growth of the sport ... and moving all over the country,” Gordon said. “And during that same time the fans and their avidness for the sport was growing further and further. The core was still the southeast, but you started seeing it be so recognizable beyond that and throughout the U.S.

“It was fun to be a part of that and an incredible growth. Just going to the racetrack and every weekend the grandstands were filled. They were putting new grandstands in, and they’d fill those. They’d put more grandstands in and they’d fill those. It was very, very cool.”

And Gordon didn’t just alter NASCAR’s perception globally, he also forever changed the mindset of those within the industry, particularly in the garage. Before him rookies had to prove deserving of a top-flight ride by latching on with a small team. And if someone proved worthy, they would then join a high-dollar organization.

Not Gordon, who upon signing with Hendrick Motorsports immediately flashed his ability. In the first race of his rookie season Gordon won a Daytona 500 qualifying race, something unheard of at the time. Three days later he followed that by becoming the first rookie to lead the opening lap of the Daytona 500. The talent was obvious for all to see.

With wins and championships becoming commonplace another new era was ushered in. A former sprint car driver from Indiana, Gordon was unlike the vast majority of guys who weekly made up the Cup field.

A desperate search to find the “next Jeff Gordon” was soon underway, forcing car owners to expand their horizons outside the south by looking to the dirt tracks spread across the country. As a result opportunities would eventually be afforded to Tony Stewart, Ryan Newman, Kasey Kahne, Kyle Larson and a host of others all because of the path Gordon forged.

“I don’t think I would have ever had my opportunity without Jeff paving the way,” Stewart tweeted.

Said Gordon: “I don’t know if I’ve ever really looked at myself in that way. I just go out there every week and try to perform at the highest level I can and be the best driver as I can for my team. I’ve never really approached it as I’m a leader in the garage area or for the sport. I’m very appreciative and thankful of sometimes others looking at it that way or the things that I’ve done that have helped contribute to the sport’s growth.”

That he would downplay his contributions is not surprising, considering the class Gordon has continually exhibited. But though he is hesitant to admit it, that growth was in large part due to him.

No one is bigger than the sport, and yet Gordon came close. He is a legend, a trailblazer and a champion. And beginning next year he will also be retired.