Behind the Wall: Jeff Gordon

Showing posts with label Jeff Gordon. Show all posts

Friday, December 4, 2015

2015 Driver Spotlight Review: Jeff Gordon

Jeff Gordon 2015 Review

By Richard Tix

2015 Preview

Season Grade: A-

Season Preview: "One last statement because I hear people say they will leave the sport when Gordon does. You are free to do so, no one is holding you ransom. But, of all people Gordon would probably be upset because you are leaving something he helped build and loves with an amazing passion. His ability and his personality helped shape the sport we have today. Enjoy racing and what it is. If you don't enjoy it, that's fine. I know a ton of local tracks that could also use the support and put on great shows every weekend. But fans that can't take change but still complain about NASCAR's short fall's are not helping the progress in the sport Gordon helped build in the Modern Era. Most of NASCAR's changes have been because of complaints and upset fans. NASCAR is a business, they will never sit still and of all the drivers out there I think Gordon understood that the most and it may have effected him the most (think Chase Era). The old days of racing were great, but at some point you have to realize it isn't going back. NASCAR still has a great product on the track and have been trying to make it better. Sometimes it backfires, but sometimes they hit on something that really works. So, as a NASCAR fan myself I would say stick around, enjoy the racing, and maybe you will pick up a new favorite driver along the way." -Looking back at this now, I hope fans are sticking around. Again, Gordon helped build NASCAR in the modern day, he would be disappointing to see them leave. Even if I tried, I couldn't have said it better again in this review so I will leave it where I had it to start 2015.

"Every Gordon fan is going to hope and pray the drive for five ends up happening. I mean what would be a better way for Gordon to ride off into the sunset? After his strong 2014 season and the announcement he wont run full time ever again, I think he will make a strong push again this year. In the end I think he will come out about like last season. 3-4 wins, 12-13 top 5's, and 20-22 top 10's. What Gordon needs to focus on, the new Chase system and getting the most out of the final 4 races of the season. I honestly think he may come up short, but even as a non fan of Gordon I would love to see him win one last Championship."

Season Review: Gordon struggles most of the regular season to be a front runner week to week. He still hung around most of those 26 races and finished the season with 21 top 10's to show for it. That consistency and a key win down the stretch got him to Homestead-Miami with one last shot at glory before retiring from full time Cup racing.

Sadly, I was right about him coming up short but much of NASCAR nation was hoping he could pull it out. What a story line Championship #5 could have been. While looking back, take a look at "Jeff Gordon's Last Full Time Season." Its a great way to reflect and remember an amazing NASCAR Career.

He was a special driver that took the sport to the next level, a national level not many could have thought of when the sport started as a grassroots gang in the south. In many ways Gordon is as responsible as any for the popularity of the sport even if those same fans that became NASCAR fans because of the exposure he created disliked him. So, as NASCAR Behind the Wall takes one last Jeff Gordon Season Review, we also remember all the times he found victory lane (93 wins), finished in the top 5 (325), finished top 10 (475), or won the pole (81 times).

He had a roller coaster career and didn't hold anything back, so there is no better way then to think of Jeff Gordon going out on the top of his game like he did while fighting for a title with three other worthy Championship contenders.

Thanks for the amazing career Jeff Gordon. I may have been born just before your era, but you have been a part of almost every live event I have ever witnessed and remember. #24ever.

Thursday, July 30, 2015

2015 NASCAR Buy or Sell: Jeff Gordon

Buy or Sell Gordon's 2015 Chase Chances

By Richard Tix

Week 21 (20 races in)

I think one of my favorite things about the Sprint Cup Chase, and the new Chase format for that matter, is the closing races leading up to the first Chase race. With wins locking you in (unless we somehow end up with more than 16 drivers winning in a single season) it makes those last spot's on points even more exciting. The drama ramps up every single race that passes as you're never truly locked into the Chase without a win.

That brings us to Jeff Gordon.

Gordon seems like one of the safer drivers to get in on points, but in an new era where a win is the only way to be safe the question remains, will he get in? Right now 11 drivers have a win which leaves open 6 spots on points (Kyle Busch is the 11th and outside the top 30 at the moment).

You can check out the Chase Standings here.

Gordon is the second highest win-less driver without a win (Jamie McMurray is the first), so does that mean he shouldn't worry? Can he coast in? Lets take a look at why you should Buy into his Chase chance and also why you should Sell them and you can decide.

Reason's to Buy In

I said it last week for Kasey Kahne and his chance's, Jeff Gordon drives for Hendrick Motorsports which is always the #1 reason he should make the Chase. HMS is one of the, if not, the top team in NASCAR right now and has been for a few years. If you bet on a driver, bet on the one with a great owner behind him.
In 22 season's where he ran full time (1993-2014) he has only had 3 season's where he didn't visit victory lane at least once (one of those was his rookie season. Last season after retirement talk started, Jeff Gordon reeled off 4 total wins and was a true title contender down the stretch. He also already has 3 poles and starting towards the front becomes important in winning and also shows some of the speed is there.
He is currently 67 points up on 17th in the Chase Standings (Aric Almirola). That sure is a safe number, but it will shrink if anyone else wins. Even then, he is the second driver right now to get in on points and in 2014 two drivers went win-less yet made the Chase (Kenseth and Biffle). That number would have been higher if Aric Almirola didn't win a rain washed Daytona and AJ didn's steal a win at WG. So, each race that passes without a new winner the better Gordon's chances look.
Fate. I just can't see Gordon going out in his last full time season and not making the Chase. His career has been just to good to not Buy into the thought he will make it. Even if you are just Buying in to have faith, that is enough of a reason for me.

Reason's to Sell

No one is safe without a win. Just as simple as is the fact he runs for HMS, it is also just as simple to say no one is safe. Until you have a win you worry week after week about how well you're running and it puts added pressure on you and your team. A few mistakes by driver, CC, or pit crew could set you back. Heck, just a bad luck incident like at Indy and a 42nd finish gets you a Buy or Sell article on NASCAR Behind the Wall!
At this moment (20 races in) Gordon has his worst average finish since 2005 at 15.6. In 22 full time seasons 15.6 ranks 4th worst for Gordon (2005: 17.9, 1993: 17.7, and 1994: 15.8). Two of those are his rookie and second season's at the Cup level. So, even though he has three poles he hasn't been taking advantage of them. Actually, his best finish in 2015 after a pole is 18th at Vegas (Daytona- 33rd and Dega- 31st).
Gordon has only led 164 total laps this season of the 5,497 he has run. He has led a lap in only 7 of the 20 races and only 3 of those races were more than 3 laps total. In order to win a race you have to have to be out front. In 2015 it just hasn't seemed like Gordon has had a top 5 car very often. In the last 9 races he has had a driver rating of 100+ just one time (Kentucky).
Lastly, his average running position week to week has not been overly impressive. He has only averaged a top 10 running position in 9 of the 10 races and only one of those was a top 5 (Daytona 500). The 500 was also the only time his average running position was better than 8th. In his last 10 his average running position is 13.8. Add that with where he is finishing and it is concerning. Again, every guy that wins will put more pressure on the points standings guys (or Wild Card guys as I like to call them). When Kyle gets to the top 30 that is one more spot gone Gordon can get. That fact may make Watkins Glen a huge target for Gordon to circle on his calendar.