[LSC9901]

MARTINSVILLE, Va. -- Points leader Jeff Gordon won another pole on Friday, the 63rd of his career. He hopes to end this season with a fifth championship, which would leave him two shy of Dale Earnhardt and Richard Petty on NASCAR's all-time list.


The question is, how much longer will he race?


The four-time champion has a lifetime contract with Hendrick Motorsports, but his sponsorship deal with DuPont ends in 2010. Between that and recently becoming a first-time father, he admits there will come a time over the next two years when he has to address his future.

ESPN - Gordon mulling future; on another pole at present - Nascar

[Lefty Noob]

Interesting. He's 36 now and a father... would he hang it up before the age of 40? That would be very Barry Sanders-esque of him.

[Bob Tanner]

I think that this is a matter the powers at NA$CAR are watching closely, and I believe they will give a lot of input to Jeffie concerning his future.

His popularity has been surpassed by the King of the [green/white??] Army but he still sells a lot of tee-shirts and ball caps, and brings NARCAR a lot of money in a number of ways.

He'll be ... 38 or 39 (I can't remember his exact age) in 2010. With the now-constant influx of kiddie-drivers like Logano, Shrub, Brad Coleman, et. al., NASCAR is starting to resemble gymnasts, where a competitor is washed up about the time they hit puberty, Jeff will be considered one of NASCAR "grey beards." Maybe it will be time for him to give his seat to one of "the kids?"

My original thought was that Jeff would pull a Mark Martin and run a part time schedule. But, after some thought I don't see it. This would rain heavily on NA$CAR parade and set a trend that could prove to be NA$CAR's worst nightmare.

I see him going to a year-to-year contract deal when this current contract expires. If Jeff begins to see his performance starting to drop, I think he'll pull the plug, do a quick (and final) "Buh-bye" tour, then go into TV and/ or broadcasting. He's a creditable personality, does well before the camera (we'll forget his performance on SNL a few years ago), can make definitive sentences and not speak in a series of protracted sentences connected by a series of "and uh's," and has developed a working knowledge of adjectives other than "awesome!."

Like him or hate him, I think most every race fan will admit that Jeff Gordon's leaving the sport will leave a hole.

[lyn3]

I Love to hate jeff.I Truly can't see him retiring ,i think he loves racing to much.I'm not a Gordon fan but it would be a sham not to see him on sundays.WHO WOULD I HAVE TO ***** ABOUT IF HE WAS GONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



LONG LIVE JEFF

[Nevadastars]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

Interesting. He's 36 now and a father... would he hang it up before the age of 40? That would be very Barry Sanders-esque of him.

Big difference being Gordo has not had knee surguries, or psyco linebackers hammering him year after year on a losing team.

[DOF_power]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

I think that this is a matter the powers at NA$CAR are watching closely, and I believe they will give a lot of input to Jeffie concerning his future.

His popularity has been surpassed by the King of the [green/white??] Army but he still sells a lot of tee-shirts and ball caps, and brings NARCAR a lot of money in a number of ways.

He'll be ... 38 or 39 (I can't remember his exact age) in 2010. With the now-constant influx of kiddie-drivers like Logano, Shrub, Brad Coleman, et. al., NASCAR is starting to resemble gymnasts, where a competitor is washed up about the time they hit puberty, Jeff will be considered one of NASCAR "grey beards." Maybe it will be time for him to give his seat to one of "the kids?"

My original thought was that Jeff would pull a Mark Martin and run a part time schedule. But, after some thought I don't see it. This would rain heavily on NA$CAR parade and set a trend that could prove to be NA$CAR's worst nightmare.

I see him going to a year-to-year contract deal when this current contract expires. If Jeff begins to see his performance starting to drop, I think he'll pull the plug, do a quick (and final) "Buh-bye" tour, then go into TV and/ or broadcasting. He's a creditable personality, does well before the camera (we'll forget his performance on SNL a few years ago), can make definitive sentences and not speak in a series of protracted sentences connected by a series of "and uh's," and has developed a working knowledge of adjectives other than "awesome!."

Like him or hate him, I think most every race fan will admit that Jeff Gordon's leaving the sport will leave a hole.

While I agree, I think there's always a someone or couple of someones to fill such a hole relatively fast, as in other sports.

[PenelopePitStop]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

Like him or hate him, I think most every race fan will admit that Jeff Gordon's leaving the sport will leave a hole.

I agree. I'm not ready for Gordon to leave the sport just yet. Don't cheer for him, but his leaving would leave a hole in the sport.

I think as long as he continues to be competitive and is going for a 7th Championship, it'll be many years before we see Jeffie go. Age and children has nothing to do with it. He's a racer.

Now ... if Johnson or the "other" Gordon went away, wouldn't make a difference to me at all! In fact, I'd prefer it!

[JG24]

I think becoming a father has givin jeff a new outlook on life. I think he is more drivin now to succeed than he ever has. I think he still has successful years ahead of him in his racing career.

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by PenelopePitStop

I agree. I'm not ready for Gordon to leave the sport just yet. Don't cheer for him, but his leaving would leave a hole in the sport.

I think as long as he continues to be competitive and is going for a 7th Championship, it'll be many years before we see Jeffie go. Age and children has nothing to do with it. He's a racer.

Now ... if Johnson or the "other" Gordon went away, wouldn't make a difference to me at all! In fact, I'd prefer it!

Ironically Penny, Jeff recently talked about retirement or at least going part time. He noted that it will probably happen in maybe 5-6 years. Time will tell.

[PenelopePitStop]

Originally Posted by LSC9901

Ironically Penny, Jeff recently talked about retirement or at least going part time. He noted that it will probably happen in maybe 5-6 years. Time will tell.

Yes. I saw a snippet. 5-6 years gives him plenty of time to tie for a 7th Championship. I just hope he doesn't get an 8th. I don't mind him joining Petty and Earnhardt, but I don't want to see him surpass them.

Maybe he'll prove to be the Jerry Seinfeld of NASCAR. Leave while he's still at the top.

It's sad to see Jarrett, Elliott these days. Even Martin. Rusty wasn't at the top, but he was firm with his retirement. I don't like this "part-time" thing. I love Martin, but he should have stayed retired. I don't understand racing if you're not going to commit to try to bringing home the Cup ... especially Martin ... sad he never won a Championship.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by PenelopePitStop

Y I don't like this "part-time" thing. I love Martin, but he should have stayed retired. I don't understand racing if you're not going to commit to try to bringing home the Cup ... especially Martin ... sad he never won a Championship.

I swear I'm not being argumentative, Penny, but could you please explain why you don't like "part-time?"

Part time racing has been a staple of NASCAR for years. Many successful drivers ran "part-time," and not at the end of their careers either.

David Pearson, arguably the greatest NASCAR driver of all time was one.
as was Junior Johnson, Cale Yarbrough, Dan Gurney, Mario Andretti and A.J. Foyt, to name a few.

Pearson and Junior Johnson had a philosophy about racing NASCAR which I like. I, personally think it's a trait that is sorely needed in the sport today; it's solve a lot of the problems we see now. Neither of these two gentlemen ran for the championship. As Junior put it in an interview he did with Bob Jenkins, before Bob left ESPN, "I always just raced to win the race. I always figured the championship'd just take care of itself."

I think that's one thing that is wrong today, too much emphasis is placed on winning the Cup. That has brought us the wonders of "big picture racing," and has done harm to the competition. Quality drivers racing to win the race, not the glorious and all-wonderful Cup might be a possible cure. I kind of like the idea of jeffie runniong 15-20 races a season and racing just to win. Golly, we might see some of the Jeff we saw on ESPN's old Saturday Night Thunder show when he was running sprint cars, not the Jeff all consumed with championships?

[LSC9901]

The point of your post Bob that I most agree with is the one about running to win the race and not the championship. The media has turned this sport into viewer entertainment versus racing and having spectators. This whole championship thing, in all sports, is way out of control.

Probably more so than most sports, NASCAR teams can run for points versus running for the win. Every year as they edge closer to the chase they talk about driver "X", who needs only to finish 32nd to assure a spot in the chase. At some point soon we'll be hearing what Jeff or Jimmy needs to do at a minimum to win the championship.

Were it not for all the media exposure we might still have races where everyone went for the win.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by LSC9901

The point of your post Bob that I most agree with is the one about running to win the race and not the championship. The media has turned this sport into viewer entertainment versus racing and having spectators. This whole championship thing, in all sports, is way out of control.

Probably more so than most sports, NASCAR teams can run for points versus running for the win. Every year as they edge closer to the chase they talk about driver "X", who needs only to finish 32nd to assure a spot in the chase. At some point soon we'll be hearing what Jeff or Jimmy needs to do at a minimum to win the championship.

Were it not for all the media exposure we might still have races where everyone went for the win.

I sincerely hope that no one, especially Penny, took my post as a badgering question. I just was looking for another opinion on the subject and, from her response, it looked as though she might have one. My tag line is germane.

IRT your response... Yep. I have always maintained, and will continue to do so until proven wrong that, if NASCAR is to die, the primary cause of its death will be its own success.

[PenelopePitStop]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

I swear I'm not being argumentative, Penny, but could you please explain why you don't like "part-time?"

Part time racing has been a staple of NASCAR for years. Many successful drivers ran "part-time," and not at the end of their careers either.

I think that's one thing that is wrong today, too much emphasis is placed on winning the Cup. That has brought us the wonders of "big picture racing," and has done harm to the competition. Quality drivers racing to win the race, not the glorious and all-wonderful Cup might be a possible cure. I kind of like the idea of jeffie runniong 15-20 races a season and racing just to win. Golly, we might see some of the Jeff we saw on ESPN's old Saturday Night Thunder show when he was running sprint cars, not the Jeff all consumed with championships?

I see your point(s). Racing is racing for the win, not just the Cup. I respect that, and perhaps I should rethink my position.

Let's take Martin. Was leading in the points this year, then kept to his word and went part-time. I guess I'm being selfish wishing that he'd kept on full-time and went for the Cup. As you know, he'll be doing the part-time thing again for DEI in 2008. No chance for the Cup, but I sure hope to see him win a few in that ol' #8.

Perhaps you're right, as usual. Emphasis on the Cup shouldn't supersede the passion to win races. Given The Chase, among other recent "brilliant" NASCAR changes, the Cup doesn't mean what it used to. At least the anticipation as to who will win the Cup isn't what it used to be.

I think of the Cup drivers running in the Busch Series every now and then. I think the Cup drivers, and this is just my opinion, should be allowed to run in the Busch Series just for fun or for practice for the Cup race, but I don't think they should inhibit the Busch drivers from earning points for their series. It's complicated. I know ...

I don't think you're being argumentative at all. You have this uncanny ability to disagree with someone, or counter an opinion with tact and without being confrontational or combative. That's pretty rare.

[Quality88]

Even if he does leave.... we still have to put up with Johnson, the younger version of Gordon.... oh well.... live races on.