Summer 2009 Fanfare


JG Network members are everywhere! Read as a few of them share their latest track tales!



In 2002 I was fortunate enough to be present at the Bristol Motor Speedway night race when he broke the drought of no wins that season. In fact, I caught the moment when Jeff caught Rusty Wallace and gave him a 'little help' out of the way with just a few laps left. In all my years of covering NASCAR to that point I never shared victory lane with the No. 24 bunch. Naturally Jeff was elated to break the streak and it was his first win at Bristol with the lights on.

Fast forward to 2009 when Jeff won in Texas this season, breaking the longest drought of his career. In 2008 Jeff finished dead last in the race due to handling problems, something that has been quite rare in his NASCAR Sprint Cup career. Clearly ecstatic with the win Jeff mentioned, "I know this is a big day for my true core fans, the Jeff Gordon fans out there are celebrating right now... They're already having a pretty good year. That's so encouraging and awesome to have somebody (fans) that believes in you. What makes this sport so great is that we have that kind of personal group and then those types of avid fans. But as long as you have fans out there that are supporting you like we do, it's a great sport."

With the above comments I wondered if drivers truly knew about their fans and people that live and breathe what they do week in and week out. Most people in the grandstands every weekend show allegiance to a driver, team or car manufacturer (or all of the above in some cases). But do the drivers themselves know and appreciate their loyalty?

I decided at Pocono that I would ask Jeff some questions about his fans and how much it's changed since he first came up through the ranks. "It's changed for sure," he responded during his weekly press conference in the media center. But he noted when the chips are down, "There's nothing better than having a group of people that support you through the ups and the downs. I guess that when you have a bad year you wonder where the support lies and you know the core fans, the avid ones, I mean it's obvious which ones those are."

Jeff has been meeting and enjoying his fans for years and he continues to do so. "I do events with my fans throughout the year and through our website," he said acknowledging his interaction with his fan base.

Jeff then acknowledged something many long time fans can remember, when he was winning more frequently. "You know that the support is there," he said. "But you also know that there are people that are taking a lot of abuse for being Jeff Gordon fans at times, especially if we're not getting the results. Cause, in the past they could take all the abuse in the world that they want because they know that they can come back every five races and say, 'Ha-ha, we got you, we got a win.' When you go for a while without a win it's going to test their avidness and support, So, it was great to get that win at Texas for many, many reasons, but I wanted to thank them just because I get a lot of feedback from the ones that are saying, 'Hey, don't worry we're still behind you.' Of course also the ones that say you should do this and this and this. And Steve (Letarte, crew chief) should do this and this. That just tells you how interested they are in what we're doing and how it does truly mean as much to them when we get a win as it does to us on the team and its hard to find that support in any other sport -- I can tell you that."

So, Jeff Gordon fans keep rooting for your driver. He knows you're pulling for him week in and week out. Jeff acknowledged being a sports fan and how people are different when it comes to being a fan. Some go to the crazy extremes and others are quieter about it. Either way, Jeff is aware and you should probably just keep doing what you're doing!

Ed Coombs
Nascar Writer and Photographer
Gater Racing Photo News
www.gaternews.com
and
Assistant Publisher and Sr. Editor
Speedway Media
www.speedwaymedia.com



Dandie Dog Heffley is a three-year-old beagle who loves NASCAR Sundays, chew bones and long naps. I have been a faithful Jeff Gordon fan since I started following NASCAR about 10 years ago. One Sunday while watching the race with Dandie in my lap, I thought it would be funny to put my hat on her. My wife had to grab the camera!

Daren Heffley