Loathed to Loved: Jeff Gordon's Reception Story in NASCAR 

When Jeff got ROBBED by the Chase in 2007, that was when fans started to show him some love. They knew in 2004, but ESPECIALLY in 2007 that Gordon was the rightful champion!

What still stings the most is what could've been if the Chase/Playoffs never existed. If the points system that was last used in 2003 was still going, Gordon would've been able to add his name to Petty and Earnhardt being a seven-time champion. (2004, 2007, and 2014) He's without question one of the greatest drivers there ever was. Tons of skill, and plenty of class.

Not gonna lie, I cried when he won Martinsville in 2015. It was probably one of the best moments of my young NASCAR fandom

Ever since the day I became a NASCAR fan, Jeff Gordon was always one of my all time favorites and I will always be a fan of his for the rest of my life #24EVER

Jeff never deserved any of the hatred he got from the fans. Yet he always handled it with the utmost grace.

Regardless of of whether you liked him or not, he always had the coolest schemes

Gordon was the prototype of the new wave of drivers...Young, sponsor-friendly, good looking, well spoken, etc...The opposite of the gruff good ol boys that the sport traditionally revered. I think older fans railed against him because of this, perhaps unfairly, despite his obvious talent.

He was hated in the 90s because he was young, always winning and wasn't a good ole boy from the south. They didn't like him but he was respected.

I remember when he won at dega in 2004 and all the Dale Jr Fans were throwing a tantrum

Jeff is my all time favorite driver. He is a special man on and off the track. Love his Jeff Gordon Children's Foundation. 24 all the way☺

I think his 3 2011 wins deserved to be mentioned, especially Phoenix and Atlanta. Beating the “bad guy” of the sport in Kyle Busch to break a 66 race winless streak, and then narrowly out dueling his teammate and 5 time reigning champion in Jimmie at Atlanta did a ton to get the fans on his side.

It's a shame Gordon didn't win more titles than he did. He's always been my favorite driver and watching him win his final race was my favorite moment as a NASCAR fan. Earnhardt fans couldn't handle it when Gordon would beat their driver but they eventually came around to give him his proper respect. #24EVER

I was at that amazing Martinsville race and I will never forget Kenseth vs Logano and then seeing Jeff win his last race

Jeff Gordon has been my favorite ever since 2001. He always will be, always has been.

Jeff Gordon is my favorite driver ever! Since he retired i have not been able to consistently cheer for anyone else. Now i just watch and hope for an entertaining race .

That October afternoon in 2015 was one of my happiest moments of the decade. Ran down two full flights of stairs in a burst of pure joy.

He's a 7-time champ and Jimmie Johnson's a 3-time champ. No one can change my mind xD

I think the increasing respect for Gordon goes hand in hand with him simply getting older and more accomplished. The original hatred for him stemmed from him being the young kid who broke in and beat the old timers. But fast forward fifteen years, and he's the old timer, and his rivals are the young kids breaking in and winning. It's not that he became more likable, it's that he became what Ricky Rudd, Dale Sr. and Mark Martin had been. He was the veteran, and Keselowski, Kyle Busch and Joey Logano were the young guns.

Jeff Gordon was always my favorite driver since I’ve been watching back in ‘96. I never regretted being a Gordon fan & while it is a shame he never got that 5th championship, he’s accomplished so much in NASCAR & made so many memories for us fans to enjoy for years to come.

My favorite driver of all time... love me some Jeff Gordon

An underrated aspect of Gordon’s career is his role as an owner/driving advisor. Jimmie, Chase, Larson, once JG takes you under his wing a championship is imminent

Some of my favorite childhood memories was watching Jeff vs Dale vs Mark Martin. Those 3 guys are now the benchmark for the sport. Wish i realized how special of a moment i was seeing as a kid...

I think in all seriousness the rise of Johnson and Busch as the new “kids” along with the feeling that Gordon was arguably robbed of 3 championships in 04, 07, and 14...that 07 year, when Gordon had a 400 point lead erased by Nascar is what caused me to turn off Nascar.

Jeff Gordon was my favorite driver along with mike Skinner in the 2000s

Jeff Gordon is NASCARs last true legend

i went from 2008-2011 without going to any races, my first race after that was one of the new hampshire 2011 races. when he took the lead the place went insane and i was so surprised lol

Absolutely love the dose of nostalgia with the nascar heat menu music lol

10:54 holy hell, that brake glow

Jeff Gordon would have had 6 championships and possibly 8 in total had NASCAR not done the changes for the COT or the race for the chase reset bs. Gordon will always be the greatest to me.

Hey would have been a 7 time champion had they not changed the points system I'm tried of hering they would have raced different just look who had the most points

Jeff Gordon in the 90s and early 2000s: all I do is win win win no matter what what what. I’ll see myself out.

Can't be praised enough. He won 93 times in an era where all of the top drivers had comparable equipment.

Besides raw talent Gordon had class.He alone brought in thosands of new fans from around the world.Gordon built a childrens hospital in Concord NC with a state of the art cancer floor responsible for saving hundreds of lives.He has also donated millions of dollars for cancer research and has paid out of pocket for patients who couldn't afford treatment.thanks Mr.Gordon for being a wonderful role model for my son and others. NJ

Jeff was elite... Richard Petty, Dale Sr, and Gordon are without a doubt the top 3 drivers in NASCAR history... It really depends on who you are a fan of that determines who you think is the best.

I don't see what all the confusion is about? He had to EARN the fans respect and he did. Him keeping humble and not acting like he deserved love from the fans helped a lot. Having that kind of patience is something you can't teach, unfortunately.

Bowyer egged on Gordon until Gordon finally took some of what Bowyer did out on Bowyer

So tough to cover everything on such an iconic driver. I've always been a Stewart fan and my rivalry was solidified after a race when Gordon and Stewart got into with their bumpers. After that I was never a fan. By the end of his driving career I respected him more. Just like JJ.

2015 Martinsville, Jeff Gordon had been my idol since a car of his appeared on my third birthday cake in 1998. The first season I can accurately recall is 2001, and I remember saying then, "You know, they say the pain of your favorite's last win, is that you never know that it is the last one. Well, I know." I said to my dad through tears of joy. He was the reason I loved Nascar, the chase would have ruined it for me at 8 years old if I couldn't still look forward to Jeff Gordon wining a race. Hell, since 2015 I have drifted over to being an F1 fan, because despite its flaws at least they crown the real champion. 2014 will forever stand as both my favorite and least favorite season at times. And.. when I do check up on NASCAR news... it does still hurt a bit to know that Brad Keselowski's talent still gets him wins despite his "Not my fault" attitude. But to end on a good note 24ever, thank you Jeff. All these years later, I haven't watched a full race since 2016, but I still remember what Nascar brought me in my childhood.

Jeff Gordon was just as if not maybe more important to the boom period of nascar than Dale Earnhardt was. Putting it in pro wrestling terms Stone Cold Steve Austin isn’t the same without Vince McMahon trying to make his life hell every Monday night. Hulk Hogan doesn’t sell 90,000+ tickets in the silverdome without working with Andre the Giant. In nascar Dale Earnhardt and more so his fans maybe don’t show the gigantic passion they have without the clean cut polar opposite Jeff Gordon racing him door to door

Nope to Phoenix 2012. Clint had it coming. Cost Jeff multiple wins a title shot that season. People only hate on Jeff for it bc of how hard Clint hit. However, November 1 2015 is still the best day of my life 👍

It sounds like the 1990s and the 2000s was a rough time for Jeff Gordon fans. I never really cared for Jeff but looking back now we need more people like him in the motorsport. Chase Elliott is now the one carrying the torch. Heck, I miss him too. I miss Dale Jr., Smoke, Jimmie, Matt, Ryan, and Jeff of course.

After Dale Sr, Gordon, Dale Jr ,and Tony Stewart , when they all stopped racing , the whole atmosphere of Nascar changed dramatically, never to be the same. period.

My interest in Jeff Gordon started in his first NASCAR cup race, the 1992 Hooters 500 at Atlanta. This was the last race of Richard Petty, and my thought that day was perhaps this was a changing of the guard, the success that Petty had being transferred to Gordon. With 93 wins, I'd say that the torch was passed

We're gonna have the same turn on feelings with Kyle Busch, I feel.

I feel like what gave Gordon respect from Earnhardt fans was after his Phoenix win in ‘07 that tied him with the Intimidator. I know as a Tony Stewart fan, I was a little bit mad that Gordon won the race because Tony was 2nd. However, when I realize that was his tying win, and he displayed the number 3 flag to honor Dale Sr. I started respecting Gordon when he raced.

I think the same type of thing is happening with Jimmie Johnson. 10 years ago everyone who wasn’t a Johnson fan absolutely hated him. Now over the past few years people seem to like him a lot more. Myself included.

There were soooo many times Gordon was poised to win a race and either a caution cane out, or he had mechanical problems. I remember at Sanoma he lost brakes while leading all day. Same thing at Watkins Glen. He ran 2nd to Johnson a couple times at Martinsville when he could have wrecked Johnson. He’s still my all time favorite driver.

NASCAR fans have typically been against young upstarts.....at first. Couple of guys named Earnhardt and Waltrip (and no, not Jr and Michael) went through the same thing Gordon did. Now, they're all 3 beloved legends.

2012 wasn't cowardly. Maybe you need a refresh on what led up to all that. Bowyer loves the play the victim but he wasn't, Bowyer ruined Gordon's race so Gordon ruined his. I don't get what's cowardly about that.

The 🐐....been a fan since his first race in Atlanta.

The late 90s was my favorite. My guy Dale Jarrett vs Jeff vs Mark Martin and Earnhardt. No chase, and still had end of season championship wins by single digit points.

It's been 5 years today since the final win of the great Jeff Gordon. I miss watching him race. I grew up a DuPont fan. And I've watched since 98 the year I was born so I've been told. I remember where I was on November 1,2015 I was saying at home watching intently as Matt took out Joey and I said to myself then Jeff there is your window take it and he did and never looked back.

I loved this video, I love look-back's on drivers careers. I'm definitely missing Gordon on the track. #24Ever

Gordon's move at Phoenix in 2012 wasn't a move of cowardice. Bowyer had slammed/wrecked him no less than 3 times during the course of the season and had it coming. The way I've seen it over the years, if Jeff intentionally wrecks you, there is a problem with the driver being wrecked and it was a long time coming.

A lot of the adults I was around back then didn't like Gordon, they were #3 men. They didn't really think much of Jeff back then and when he actually started winning and becoming great and besting that #3, then things really started going. Jeff's reception got better as he adopted the flame paint scheme and he got older.

Loved being in the stands for his final Brickyard 400 win

My first nascar race I watched was when he won at Las Vegas in 2001 and won. He was riding behind a brinks truck with money flying out of the back of it around the track after he won. I thought, that's pretty damn cool. Asked my dad who he was and I became a fan. Anyone winning money racing is pretty damn cool.

As a Earnhardt fan I hated Gordon until after Dale's wreck in 01 once I heard Gordon talk about him after I instantly gained a ton of respect for him and by the time he retired he was one of my favorite drivers.

ik he is retired in 2015, But he's not only a driver, he is a actor. IM A BIG FAN OF HIM. #24EVER

Gordon was easy to hate. He was so damn good. Being clean cut and marketable to wider audience, made it easy to hate him

I remember Jeff Gordon's first few years very well. The booing at the races were immense! He represented that pretty boy, corporate groomed and seemingly fake personality that NASCAR fans knew was coming into the sport but despised seeing the change. Over time people appreciated his perseverance and talent. They realized they were witnessing something generational and more importantly, that personality they swore was "fake", was now deemed genuine.

Lots of other drivers and fans disliked Earnhardt for attitude and habit of wrecking others. However he really respected Jeff.

I never pulled for Gordon. He was a driver I loved to hate but I respect him and nascar isn’t the same without him. Miss watching him on race day it was always fun to watch him race

Never had a problem with Gordon. But I was a Dale Jarrett fan in the 90s.

FAREWELL JEFF GORDON 1992-2015

I despised Jeff in my youth during the 90's. When he retired I truly and honestly sad. I had learned to respect him and his driving style. #24ever

It's crazy to think that 15 years from now that Joey Logano, or even Kyle Busch could recieve MEGA amounts of LOVE!!! My guess is it will happen. Because in NASCAR, history consistently repeats itself. 😏

Me and my daughter were on chicken bone row at the Rock, at the fall race. We were at the finish line and before the race they displayed the Rainbow Chevy right in front of us !!!

My first ever race was the Brickyard 400 in 1994. Thats when I knew Jeff Gordon was my driver.

I hated Jeff Gordon when i was young and getting into nascar (late 90s- early 00s) and its not because i liked Earnhardt (i didnt, Rusty was my driver back then)... however over the years i really began to respect Jeff for his greatness, even found myself actively rooting for him by the late 00s and into the 10s

I always liked Jeff when I was a kid my dad was a Dale Sr fan and I was the Jeff fan. It made races fun to watch and growing up I saw how professional he tried to keep his wins and beefs just came off as a nice guy. I know he may have caused quite a few crashes but I mean no offense to Dale he did make the Bump & Run a thing. You gotta give him his dues for all the wins he racked up. I was truly sad when he stopped racing.

Honestly, Phoenix 2012 is what made Jeff popular. Wonder boy was dead and Jeff Gordon wasn’t taking it on the chin anymore. That’s when he earned Earnhardt level popularity bc what’s more Earnhardt than effectively taking a championship away from someone bc of a little racing contact?

I watched him run his first and last race. Without a doubt he belongs in the circle of elite drivers with Petty, Earnhardt, Yarborough and Pearson. That is fact

I cried in the stands at Martinsville in 2015 not even gonna lie 😭

Yep Jeff Gordon was and still is one of my favorite nascar drivers

Don't forget, you had young drivers come through that took over the "bad guy" moniker for Jeff, namely Keselowski, Logano, and the Busch brothers. Although, they still are whiny, entitled little pricks in my book. Always a Jeff Gordon fan!

I was at his last race and yes, you where able to hear the crowd over the engines

I never had a problem with Gordon. I couldn't stand Jimmie Johnson though. Lol it was so painful to watch him win every week and win all those championships every year.

He's the greatest driver I've ever seen in any form of racing he's just Jeff he's the man

Gordon should have won the 2014 championship

The traction control king!!!! When evernham left so did jeffs talent....

I was at his last race, it was a sad moment. #24ever

damn this makes me miss Jeff being in the cup series

I was there for Jeff gordons last win, Ill never remember how loud the stands got and all the cheering

The Earnhardt fans embraced Jeff after he drove a victory lap flying a number 3 flag in his 78th victory.

Jeff Gordon was the reason I became a NASCAR fan. Living in West Virginia, I received a ton of shit from the old-school Earnhardt fans. But, when the Rusty fans started in on me, the Earnhardt fans came to my defense hahaha. #24ever

Started watching NASCAR BECAUSE of Gordon and stopped when he did.... He was different from the rest 👍🇺🇸

Ironman JG , the real 7-time champ and the GOAT !!

I only became a Gordon fan when I considered him the old veteran in this current era

The Rainbow scheme was the most beautiful !

Some of the announcers helped with the hate. Jr, Sr, Stewart, Biffle bumped someone over "we really couldn't see properly". Jeff bumps someone "now Gordon doesn't have to race that way"😳

0:02 that was 1 day before my birthday

I think Jeff Gordon was more appreciated during the second half of his NASCAR career

This seems to happen to a lot of long term veteran drivers. I'm sure many hated DW in his earlier years and loved him later, Kurt Busch was hated by a lot obviously not like his brother and Kurts now one of the more liked, Earnhardt of course a you said, and Jimmie now. I hated Johnson but it's mostly cause he kept winning and people just got sick of seeing it.

I feel so bad for mark Martin I mean Gordon's 98 99 seas is unreal

Great video! Love the outro music!

I know this is unrelated but I think dale junior could still be racing right now if not for concussions

When Gordon retired i stopped watching NASCAR on the regular. The disgusting Car of Tommorow almost made me hang it up, but i stuck around as long as Gordon did.

One either liked him or one Hated him. But the timing of him coming to NASCAR was perfect. I personally did not like him. but then I was a Dale Sr. fan. so you get the point. the only other thing I didn't care for him was that his first wife Brooke must have been the driving force in getting Jeff to always go on & on about "The Lord" in Victory Lane. Stock Car Racing Magazine even had a article of this matter. Came across as a Holy Roller. more so than any other athlete would.NASCAR followers of the time will recall that time Gordon's career. but all said He was one of NASCAR's Greastest drivers of all time weather one liked him or not. NASCAR would die today to go back to those days. NASCAR is Dying Big Time.

Jeff story: zero to hero