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. 

2015 Driver Spotlight Preview: Jeff Gordon

Jeff Gordon 2015 Season Preview

By Richard Tix

2014 Season Review

Jeff Gordon's Last Full Time Season- Article on his career and a look back through photo's

Just last week Jeff Gordon announced he would not be running a full-time schedule at the Cup level after the 2015 season. In my 2014 season review I mentioned how he went from a bad 2013 season to a strong 2014 year and quieted many peoples retirement talks.

I also said, "It is refreshing to see Gordon back at a high level after a struggle in 2013. Its nice to have the sports biggest stars at there very best, Whether you love them or hate them, its good for the sport." Just as we got one of NASCAR's biggest stars back at his highest level after a rough 2013 season, he announces it will be his last run at a title this season.

Love him or hate him, Gordon has helped this sport along the way become what it is. He came in and was a family man from the start. He did't shy away from the way he wanted to live with his family and in the end family is the biggest reason he is stepping away from the sport. I think that is one of the biggest reason's you have to respect Jeff, not only as a driver but as a man.

Along the way he had some scuffles with other drivers, but in the end it still seemed like everyone respected him because he was always himself, Jeff Gordon. In my opinion respect is not something you always have to have for a fellow drivers skill on the track, yet Gordon seemed to always get it from fellow drivers.

Still, past the four Championships, 92 wins, and 77 poles the thing that will stick out the most is how devoted he was to his family even while in a sport that makes you give up so much of your free time.

Yet, lets not forget that Jeff Gordon still has one last full time season to go. I know the news hit a lot of fans hard, especially Gordon fans, but he still has a 36 race season ahead of him. I would remind you to soak every moment in because at any point it could be Gordons' final win, top 5, or pole of his career. Every moment will be bittersweet when thinking about a career like Gordons. He has accomplished so much on and off the track that its hard to ignore.

So, in 2015 take a moment to watch one of the greats race his final full time season. Enjoy NASCAR racing because this is a sport he helped progress to the main stream so we can enjoy it every Sunday. 

Gordon Rant:

• 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.

Bold Predictions/2015 Season Expectations:

• 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.

List of Previous Driver Spotlights

Jeff Gordon's Last Full-Time Season

Jeff Gordon Tribute

By Richard Tix

News broke today that Jeff Gordon announced he would be retiring after the 2015 season. To many NASCAR fans it is down right heart breaking even thought we all knew it was coming. I found the news when I got on Twitter for the first time today and it hit me pretty hard.

That's saying something, because I don't call myself a Gordon fan. I respect the heck out of him as a driver and as an individual and I think that is something you can never take from a man. The West Coast kid helped bring NASCAR to a new level while also being one of the best drivers on the track year to year.

Not only did Gordon win four Championships (just through 2014) and tons of races, but he helped bring NASCAR to a whole new level in the 90's. Gordon was around for NASCAR's big expansion and helping grow its popularity during the height of NASCAR.

When I go back and think about the NASCAR I grew up on I think of Gordon, Dale Earnhardt, Rusty Wallace, etc. The Earnhardt v Gordon rivalry was great to witness growing up because it was two drivers with different styles going out there and competing and showing both ways could work in the sport.

Gordon telling the #24 team the news

This season might not be the last time we see him though, "I thought long and hard about my future this past year and during the offseason, and I’ve decided 2015 will be the last time I compete for a championship. I won’t use the ‘R-word’ because I plan to stay extremely busy in the years ahead, and there’s always the possibility I’ll compete in selected events, although I currently have no plans to do that." -Yahoo Sports

So 2015 will provide a great farewell tour, but we may still get to see him in a few races here and there going forward. Even when he steps away from the wheel he will still stay heavily involved in NASCAR and racing. "I don’t foresee a day when I’ll ever step away from racing. I’m a fan of all forms of motor sports, but particularly NASCAR. We have a tremendous product, and I’m passionate about the business and its future success. As an equity owner in Hendrick Motorsports, I’m a partner with Rick (Hendrick) and will remain heavily involved with the company for many years to come. It means so much to have the chance to continue working with the owner who took a chance on me and the incredible team that’s stood behind me every step of the way." -Yahoo Sports

Gordon will leave behind an amazing NASCAR Cup career that included (at the time of the article, through the 2014 season) 4 titles in 1995, 1997, 1998. and 2001. He may have even more titles if it was not for consent point changes in the NASCAR rules. He also had 92 career wins through 2014 in 761 career races. In that same time he put up 320 top 5's and 454 top 10's. Add onto those numbers 77 Pole Awards, an average finish of 12.4, and 24,664 laps led and you have yourself a future NASCAR Hall of Famer. 

Not only has Gordon made a huge impact on us fans, but also on his boss Rick Hendrick, "There’s simply no way to quantify Jeff’s impact,” Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick said. “He’s one of the biggest sports stars of a generation, and his contributions to the success and growth of NASCAR are unsurpassed. There’s been no better ambassador for stock car racing and no greater representation of what a champion should be. I will never be able to properly express the respect and admiration I have for Jeff and how meaningful our relationship is to me. I’m so grateful for everything he’s done for our company and my family, and I look forward to many more years together as friends and business partners." 

Their is no doubt that Jeff Gordon will be missed on the track after the 2015 season, but that wont stop us from taking in every moment we can before he stops strapping into that #24 that he made so popular. 2015 will be a season to remember so as a fan I would recommend taking in every moment that you can. 

NASCAR Behind the Wall wants to congratulate Jeff Gordon on a successful career thus far and wish him luck in 2015. Now, lets take a look back through photo's:

Congrats Jeff Gordon on an amazing career, and here is to a great 2015!