Gordon’s back pain could become a pain for NASCAR

By Mike Smith (contact)

Thursday, June 11, 2009 | 8:12 p.m.

In addition to a continuing slump by Dale Earnhardt Jr., what could also contribute to the slide in TV ratings for NASCAR? The early retirement of Jeff Gordon.

Gordon, who is currently sixth on the all-time win list, has commented that his chronic back problems could lead to the shortening of his career. The four-time champ’s departure would leave a large pair of empty shoes that would be difficult to fill.

Second only to Dale Jr. in popularity, Gordon’s immense talent, 82 career wins and telegenic personality have attracted new fans from outside of the Southeast as well as seasoned followers of the sport. Gordon has always represented NASCAR in a fashion that went a long way toward debunking the ugly stereotypes that are often applied to stock-car drivers. He has even accomplished, to a certain extent, what Richard Petty was able to accomplish--having a name that is known by people who don’t follow stock car racing.

Although Gordon has received a tsunami of boos from fans in the grandstands during his career, his income from licensing and endorsements, which was $16 million in 2008, is second only to Dale Earnhardt Jr.

I suppose it’s easy to say that there will always be new talent coming into the sport that can replenish the fan base. But I know fans who haven’t followed the sport with the same intensity since Dale Earnhardt died.

Jimmie Johnson, who is also extremely polished, may be the new Jeff Gordon, but for some reason his popularity hasn’t yet reached the level of the driver behind the wheel of the No. 24 car. Maybe he’s a little too polished. So it’s still unknown if Johnson can reach Gordon’s level of popularity and influence.

Personally, I had hoped to witness a run for the record of seven championships by Gordon. But Gordon is 37 and the contract with DuPont ends in 2010. He has said that he may race two or three more seasons after that, but even if his back problems don’t preclude him from racing until 2013, tying the championship record would be a difficult task to complete.

It’s not as if Gordon needs to keep racing for the money and his new role as a father must be making him consider how much longer he wants to continue to participate in the long, grinding Sprint Cup seasons.

There will always be other drivers who reach the top level of stardom in this sport, but Gordon’s unique talents on and off of the track, that helped to propel the sport into the mainstream, will be difficult to replicate.

Below is a StockcarToon from 1998 about how little respect Gordon was getting from the fans at that time.

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