Overview: To many not familiar with the sport of Nascar, Jeff Gordon's iconic status is often confusing to some. To understand why Jeff Gordon was so popular with his fans during his long career, one must look at Nascar before Jeff Gordon began racing. He began his career with Hendrick Motorsports in 1993. At the time Nascar had long been dominated by older men from the the Southern United States. He shifted the balance of power in Nascar by being a young man from California. He became the youngest person to win a Daytona 500 Qualifying race and finished 5th in his first Daytona 500. Many criticized his ability to win because of his tendency to push his cars too hard and crash. Darrell Waltrip once remarked "he'll hit everything but the Pace Car".

 

 

 

 

 

Jeff Gordon was also notable for his personality which differed greatly from other Nascar drivers. Jeff Gordon had his share of fights but not as many as other big Nascar racers of the early 2000's. Gordon would often congratulate his rivals on their wins even though he lost. Jeff Gordon's passion for racing transcended even the confines of Nascar. He had an early interest in competing in Indycar but was unable to raise money to race. He is also a fan of Formula One having attended races in the Nascar off season.

 

 

 

 

 

Jeff Gordon announced 2015 would be his last season and came very close to winning a championship before his last season ended. Most drivers in Nascar today are younger men from a much more diverse background and this has increased the popularity of Nascar and opened the door for future generations to compete.