His post race interview quote from WG in ‘07 still gets me. “I know points don’t matter.” Exactly. With the chase/playoffs, points don’t matter for most of the season. With the old system you had to be smart and keep the big picture in mind all season long. Not just hang around until the playoffs.
Something about jeff hes always humble and praises his competition when tho he is a legend he's always saying "so and so is so good here, and to be able to compete for a win is amazing, or I didn't think I could do it " what a class act
Homestead 2015, Texas 2014 and the Chase from 2007 still hurt me, if only Jeff won the title in 2015, 😭😭😭😫😫😫, he's my all time favorite driver, grew up watching him race and winning races
Sabbath bassdude once Jeff retires I quit watching the races. NASCAR has totally changed. No vets left anymore. They are all retired almost. Jimmie is one of the long time drivers left...and he’s done after this year....
1. 2014 Texas (Fall) 2. 2007 Watkins Glen 3. 2011 Talladega (last lap pass) 4. 2014 Texas (last lap pass) 5. Any race that he could've won in 2010 (specifically Martinsville) Those made me angry
Jakob Wedel man what could have been that year.. in my mind, Gordon is the greatest nascar driver of all time. He probably should have been second all time in wins.
2002 Daytona 500....that one sticks out for me. If I had a top 5 heartbreaking losses for Jeff, it would be in this order. 5. 2007 Watkins Glen 4. 2014 Martinsville 3. 2012 Martinsville 2. 2014 Texas 1. 2002 Daytona (500) The 2014 Chase Race at Texas was pretty big for championship implications, but even Jeff said thats not what cost them, it was Martinsville that cost em. Finished 2nd at Martinsville and 2nd at Phoenix, while Texas was miserable to be a Jeff Gordon fan. That 2002 Daytona 500, that stuck with me the last 15 years
There’s no debate. Your list is absolutely right, but 14 Texas should be 1. It’s not only a heartbreaking loss in the race, but it literally is the sole reason why he didn’t win the championship. And there is no one who can present any factual evidence otherwise. Finished 2nd in the other races that round, led the most laps at homestead and was ultimately told to pit at the end to let the championship contenders go at it. What a shame. I’ll never forgive Brad for that one. But if you’ve noticed, that moment changed brad forever, he has certainly humbled as a driver following that season. He suffered the consequences of choosing to race the way he did. NASCARs greatest gave their displeasure. I also think the martinsville spring race in 04? Maybe a different year, he had a battle with Jimmie for 10-20 laps, and ended up a nose behind at the line. One more lap he would’ve won for sure. People get annoyed and claim Gordon fans “whine” or “complain” about races, when in actuality, if you do the research, Gordon suffered the most from the rule changes and late race cautions. Would’ve won 3 more championships (04, 07, 14) without the playoff format. Also No driver has had more wins taken away from him on cautions with less than 5 to go in the modern era than him, many of them bullshit or phantom cautions. Like #1 on your list, what is ruetemann thinking?? How does that happen? What a shame. It’s something like 11-13 wins taken away from that. I believe Carl Edwards is second on that list, which isn’t all that surprising. Nice video.
You limited it to 5, I'm gonna give you some more that deserve mentioning: 2006 Talladega spring: Jeff had THE dominant car that day, going for the Talladega Trifecta, 3 straight spring wins. Lost it when Vickers abandoned him 2007 Martinsville spring: Gave Johnson a setup to help his teammate, which Johnson then used to beat Jeff 2007 Texas spring: at that point, still searching for his first Texas win. Jeff led 173 laps, had the lead with under 30 to go, and pancaked the turn 4 wall. Finished 4th BOTH 2007 Richmond races: Started 1st and 2nd respectively, led 305 of 800 laps between the two races. Lost to, you guessed it, Jimmie fucking Johnson 2010 Texas spring: Like Las Vegas earlier that year, Jeff had a dominant car. Got caught up in a wreck 2011 Bristol Night Race: Again, a dominant car for Jeff. Led 206 of 500 laps. Lost the lead to Keselowski who sped off pit road (not called due to timing lines). 2014 Martinsville fall: you can chalk up Jeff missing the Championship 4 not just to Brad cutting his tire at Texas, but losing to Dale Jr the week before
wizzjo1nt5 nascar screwed Jeff with the Chase in 2004. They didn’t want him winning 7 titles which he easily would have done in 2004 2007 again in 2011 and easily 2015 he could have retired a 8 time champion.....
@@shawnchristianson324 Jeff jused to RULE the road courses. I don't respect any of these new guys like I respected him on those tracks. I remember I went to the glen one year and he got into this WICKED crash that tore his car up...I thought it was over for him...🙏🏿
I'd say he could've easily matched or passed Pearson for 105 wins to claim 2nd in all-time wins. Another one I despised was 98 Richmond, where Rusty intentionally wrecked him as Jeff passed him on the outside for the lead with a few laps remaining. That would've been win #14 in 98. I wanted to knock the sh$t outta Rusty that day. Another one: Darlington '04 chase race-- he was leading and the something went wrong on the last pit stop. That win would've allowed him to out-point Kurt and Jimmie at homestead.
Love or hate either of them, despite whoever you think deserves 7 titles, Johnson and Gordon are in a league of their own. Two amazing drivers on the same team that have shared tons of memorable battles over the years, especially the two of them dominating martinsville in the 2000's.
Jeff so should have won the '14 championship. Texas hurt, even as a JJ fan. I was glad JJ won, Jimmie and Jeff were pretty even, but stupid Crashelowski. What an idiot. If Jeff had finished second to JJ i would have been happy, because Jeff lost making the final round by 1 point, which was because of Newman putting larson in the wall off 4 at Pheonix, even after the Texas spin. 2014 was Jeffs year. But of course, JJ won a championship, so we had to change the format, and it screwed both JJ and Jeff in 2014. Jeff so would have gotten his 5th championship, and had JJ not had that crash at Kansas, or get hung out to dry at Dega where he and Junior led the most laps, JJ could have made it to Homestead as well.
The fact that Jeff managed to win 93 races while having some of the worst luck I've ever seen in sports just adds to why Jeff will forever be my favorite driver in all of motorsports. Also, 2010 can go die in a fire for all I care.
I can do you one better. I cried when Gordon lost to Kevin Harvick at Sprong Atlanta in '01. I even remember sayings "I hate Kevin Harvick." Yes, his first win, spring Atlanta 2001. I was 6 and a half.
I have comments regarding each one: #5: That one was really heart-breaking. Even sicker is listening to the fans cheering that he had a blown engine. Ugh. #4: I keep saying over and over that Jeff should've taken 4 tires, but unless Johnson had for sure beaten Jeff off of pit road, I think he got put in an uncomfortable box. Can't blame the #24 for trying something new, though. Just sucks that it didn't work. There were a LOT of races Jeff could've and/or should've won in 2010. #3: You know, I keep believing that if Jeff had taken the inside lane on the restart, he probably would've won. (Or at least, he would've had a better restart.) But another part of me believes what he was trying to do was what worked at Indy and Michigan that year, and that was trying to swoop down to side-draft the other car on the front row to pull by them. However, that was totally uncalled for by BK to just slam into Jeff's car. And if there's one thing we learned from the 2012 season, it's that Jeff does NOT like getting his left rear tire cut by another driver. Jr. did it too him at Bristol, and Jeff was pissed at him. Bowyer did it to him at Phoenix, and we know what happened after that. BK does it, and gets punched in the mouth afterwards. #2: I could keep blaming Kenseth for the loss, but you know, all that needed to happen was for the caution to not be thrown for just a split second later. Crap. That just sucked. #1: This is why I have no respect for David Reutimann as a racecar driver. He had a chance to get to pit road, and never took it. He just stopped on the track to mess up the finish. I actually forgive Bowyer for the incident for two big reasons: 1) He got shoved by Newman on the restart and might've gotten into the back of Jeff wrecking him, anyways. 2) I don't think he was trying to wreck Jeff, honestly. I think he was honestly trying to make it a 3-wide battle, and the hole closed. Reutimann, on the other hand, well, this might just be the reason why nobody's even looked his way as far as hiring him as a driver. He doesn't have a ride, he isn't getting any offers, and he probably will never be in a Cup car again. No sympathy, either. David Reutimann costed Jeff his rightful place at getting Rick Hendrick his 200th career Cup Series win as an owner.
I always questioned that 2 tire call. it was dumb. He was so fast even if he came out 3 or 4 he could have easily got the lead. MK easily cost Jeff an extra 5 wins himself, same goes to Bowyer, and BK cost him a couple two. In the 2010s, late 2000s I have never seen a drive with so many opportunities to win have it stolen from him by a late caution or a bad CC call. Today's NASCAR they can't buy a yellow flag, but 10 years ago it seemed to happen anytime JG was in the lead.
As Jeff Gordon is my 3rd favorite driver (2nd for most of my life), I did share some of these moments. 5: I wasn't a NASCAR fan back then, but it did seem like a heartbreaking final lap 4: Since Johnson is my favorite driver, I honestly didn't care. 3: Since Johnson was out of the Chase early, I wanted Gordon to win SO badly. Then, I screamed, "WHY!"" as Keselowski tried to fit his car in the small hole. 2: I didn't watch the race live, but while watching the replay, I was wondering why NASCAR couldn't have waited one more second to throw the caution. 1: As a Johnson fan, I also felt the pain of this moment. GRRRRR!!! REUTIMANN!!! He really had nothing to lose by going into pit road and was 50+ laps down.
Does anyone remember the Martinsville race where they were racing gordon was leading and a pecice of concrete came out of the track and tock the motor or something out of the car and Gordon went out there with someone from nascar to examine the hole and Gordon wasn't aloud to bring the back up out because of last time he brought out the back up and won
Jeff Gordon Edits I know it must take a lot of hard work and maybe sometimes it might not seem worth it because of lack of support or presumed lack of support but regardless you have people out there like myself who really appreciate it? I mean do you have all of the old races taped? Your archives are insane. btw I was screaming in my dorm room in college with that 14 Texas race.
Even worse was the inconsistent manner in which they threw cautions that day. They let Juan Montoya grind around the track with a missing wheel for two laps until he got to pit road. No caution. Kyle Busch mildly spins when Jeff is 100 feet from the caution flag...instant caution.
Jeff Gordon Edits yeah it made me so angry because we all know Jeff is hit or miss on restarts. This one takes the cake for me because I have always been a half glass full kind of guy when it came officiating races, but this when I finally said yep All NASCAR cares about is having a restart with 2 laps to go so everybody in the second row can run over the leaders.
shit like that is what turned me off from nascar. i got so god damn sick of nascar finding ways to ruin races with late lap caution flags. gimmicks killed the sport.
@@NathanRyanAllen NASCAR is a bunch of hypocrites. They preach safety but throw the caution at the end of races just so we can all watch a bunch crashes on the restarts.
2001 NH a week after he was crowned champion (make up race after it was postponed due to 9/11. Led the entire race and was punted by Robbie Gordon with 15 to go. I'll never forget that.
Yeah, that was a really crappy outcome for sure; it just didn't sting as much for me as the others because he had already been crowned champion for 2001.
In all of the races I've watched, I was never more angry then that Texas race. But I felt a little better when the entire team beat the hell out of Kes afterward.
I never comment on CZcams videos but as a Gordon fan I feel it's my duty to do this. Idk why or how I made myself click on this video but since I did I'll go ahead and comment. 2014 Texas was the worst for me. I truly think Jeff would've won the Championship had he made the final 4. The move Kes made was just so bad and it killed me to see Jeff fall back and spin. I was so happy he fought him after that race. I've watched that replay a few times and I noticed something that I still can't believe I haven't seen a comment about or heard any analysts talk about. Earlier that year in Atlanta, Kasey Kahne made an extremely similar move on the last restart to ultimately win the race. It was the move Keselowski tried to make, but he made it too late. That's why his movie was so stupid. At that point entering the corner, there was no way it was going to work without slamming Jeff. Bc Jeff wasn't blocking Keselowski, I hate when people say he was. All Jeff was doing was moving into his line getting into the corner. He was about to make the same move he had made on Jimmie the previous restart. He didn't think Keselowski was gonna make a bonsai move like that out of nowhere. While I don't think Brad was intentionally trying to screw Jeff over, I do think it was an absolutely terrible decision that he should've at least taken responsibility for and had the conversation with Jeff about it. Anyway I know this was long but thanks for reading if you did. I've always wondered why no one ever compared the move Kahne made at Atlanta to the move Keselowski made at Texas. Just watch the video and you'll see. Kasey makes his move still in the dogleg, which gave Hamlin enough time to react and not come down on Kahne. Also Hamlin wasn't entering the corner so Kasey wasn't moving up while Denny was moving down. Keselowski makes his move when they're already into turn 1. It was way too late and was doomed from the start. This video sucks to watch as a Gordon fan but it's a good video nonetheless. Definitely need 5 feel good wins or something hahaha. Great job tho keep up the good work 👍🏻
I watched this once. Clicked it again to give another look.. I just can't. The ones that absolutely got away, or were taken away. You win some you lose some, but man these sting.
2014 Texas will always take the cake! A year before he retires, coulda locked into Homestead (prob won the championship his Homestead car was the class of the field) and all of that gone in less than 20 seconds!
I remember that 2010 Martinsville race vividly. That just sucked the emotion right outta me. Jeff was moments from taking the white flag and just had to bring the car back around for the checkers, but no... Ugghhhh.
The absolute worse season I had to live through as a fan. We all knew 2008 wasn’t our year cause we were just not showing up, but 2010 had so many opportunities to win... If the races were literally like 1 or 2 laps shorter we’d have like 7 wins that year.
I love gordon. He is in so many ways on par with earnhardt as the greatest driver ever. Johnson has nothing on him. Those cups johnson won are nothing but a gimmick. We know who the real 7 time is.
Instead of retiring with 93 after 2015, 3rd all time, he easily could've been 2nd. Imagine if he took 4 @ Vegas and won, the last caution didn't come out @ Texas, then Kyle Busch's spin happened a couple seconds later for Jeff to take the white flag or Kenseth didn't dive bomb him and Gordon wins, Gordon doesn't get beat to the bottom of turn 1 @ Martinsville 2012 and he wins, he didn't miss that shift @ Pocono, he didn't overdrive turn 1 @ the Glen, he'd have headed to 2015 with 98 wins, and they'd be talking about 100, possibly 105 for 2nd place...I also think about races I somewhat remember that aren't on this list. I remember 2014 Watkins Glen he started 1st, led the first 29 laps and then had a battery(?) issue and had to head to the garage. Watkins Glen '09 he was involved in 2 wrecks, 1 big one so who knows with that one. He finished a strong 2nd @ Sonoma in 2011, 2013, 2014. I remember he and Mark Martin (tandem drafting) were charging through the field @ Daytona the Coke Zero 400 in 2011 so he had a shot at that one until Kasey Kahne collided into him. I also barely recall a race (Chicago I think) where he had the car to beat but David Reutimann won
Oh yea! How could I forget the 2nd place @ Indianapolis in 2011 which was Paul Menard's only win. For the last bunch of laps the commentators kept saying there was no way he could make it on fuel...had he been half a lap short, Gordon would've got him
EnormaGasmic Gordon had like 40 something 2nd place finishes. Concert those to wins and he retires comfortably in 2nd all time in wins with nearly 140 wins.....
Jeff Gordon Edits man. I’ve been to: Richmond spring 2014 when Gordon had the long run car and Joey got into him and messed his drive up, martinsville spring 2015 when he dominated and got caught speeding on PR with like 50 to go, martinsville spring 2012 when he caught Jimmie who was dominating, late caution, Clint comes in and gets into Jeff, Newman wins. Yeah I’ve been to all those and Texas 2014 on TV hurts the worst.
A couple of honorable mentions, 2007 Goodys Cool Orange 500, Jimmie beats Jeff, 2006 DirecTV 500 Jeff Gordon spins tires on restart and can't catch Tony Stewart. A lot of the losses made me angry and upset at the time, but that is what happens in big league auto racing, there will always be more heartbreak than triumph, after all there is one winner and a lot of losers. You can't win 'em all, even thought at one point it sure looked like Jeff could.
I’m sorry but the 2014 Texas race was definitely the most heartbreaking. That was the race that ruined his last chance at a real shot for his 5th championship. 2015 he got in but he wasn’t nearly as fast as he was in 2014
If watching these as they happened didn't make you want to puke, then you weren't a truly *hardcore* Gordon fan. That being said, I can barely stomach watching these now. haha
EDIT: To answer the question I had in my original comment below, no the 2014 Auto Club 400 finish is not in this video but it should be here as well. Fuck Clint Bowyer for costing Gordon the win by spinning in purpose and fuck NASCAR for calling a caution and fuck Brian France for creating the Chase. Oh what could've been. Gordon the unluckiest/most robbed driver ever by far. Is the race from a few years ago at Auto Club Speedway on here? When there was that dumbass that spun it in the infield with like 2 laps to go? I was there. Jimmie dominated the entire time and looked like no one could touch him then I think he had a tire go down and Gordon took the lead. I was so excited because he won the very first two races I ever went to back in Atlanta Nov 1998 and and March 1999. I was 12 and 13 years old for those races. As the years went by, I ended up going to over 15 other races including 2015 Homestead where he had a chance to win the championship in his final season and also the next year at Bristol when he ran in the 88 car. I never would've predicted that after winning the very first two races I went to, that I would attended races the next 17 years and never see him win another one. Oh but he came so close in more than one occasion.
Texas 2014 cost us the championship Gordon went to homestead lead most laps 2012 martinsville still reminds me Gordon get past team mate Johnson and is running away 3 laps left and a start and park stop on the track there and last couple heartbreaks I saw Clint Bowyer was the cattions
2014 at Texas still stings the worst. Best car from that night only for it to be taken away under damning circumstances. 2014 should've have been a championship year, considering how strong a car he had at Homestead but instead opted for the title contenders to battle for the last 1/4 of that race.
Besides the race at New Hampshire (don't know what year) that Gordon finished 2nd when rain came out and gave Logano his first win (don't remember the scenario but if it hadn't started raining Gordon most likely would've won) but, and again I don't remember what year or track, but Gordon was leading and was a hundred feet away from taking the white flag and a mystery caution came out costing him yet another win. I remember being so upset because if had hit the start/finish line and the caution would've come out he would've won. Can't remember what place he got after the mystery caution. IMO Gordon should be ahead of Pearson (105) for 2nd most wins in NASCAR had he won these races and not been overtaken with bad luck!
So many races that I can think of that got away: Martinsville in the spring of 2012, Texas 2014, Auto Club 2014, Watkins Glen 2007, But that Texas one still hurt's the most. Maybe Clint hated Jeff. IDK. Ha Ha. But his website published an article titled "The one that got away" and it was on the 2007 season. jeffgordon.com/one-got-away-jeff-gordon-wishes-get-2007-playoff-run-back/
I truly believe on the last Season he drove and year Brad cut his tire. I believe for sure would have won the championship especially that Texas year. He easily been a 5 time. Kyle was to strong on the last year but I think he could've done it if he had a car like Kyle that race.
JG should EASILY be in 2nd place (105) with the most wins. How many times was he in the lead in the last few laps, and have bad luck, other bad drivers, or just a cheap shot from another driver cause him to lose the race?? I know of at least 15-20 races!!
2014 Texas hurts so much. The sting will never go away
2015 Honestead :( I was there and cried with my son lmao
😥
I'm a brad k fan and cringed hard lol
I’m still depressed about it, it’s so painful!
Man the way harvick pushed brad to Jeff was classic
I was at the 2014 Texas race, by far the worst pain I have ever felt as a Jeff Gordon fan.I will never get over it.
His post race interview quote from WG in ‘07 still gets me. “I know points don’t matter.”
Exactly. With the chase/playoffs, points don’t matter for most of the season. With the old system you had to be smart and keep the big picture in mind all season long. Not just hang around until the playoffs.
Something about jeff hes always humble and praises his competition when tho he is a legend he's always saying "so and so is so good here, and to be able to compete for a win is amazing, or I didn't think I could do it " what a class act
Homestead 2015, Texas 2014 and the Chase from 2007 still hurt me, if only Jeff won the title in 2015, 😭😭😭😫😫😫, he's my all time favorite driver, grew up watching him race and winning races
Sabbath bassdude once Jeff retires I quit watching the races. NASCAR has totally changed. No vets left anymore. They are all retired almost. Jimmie is one of the long time drivers left...and he’s done after this year....
Sabbath bassdude 2015 as a whole was disappointing.
Texas still hurts the most
I'm so happy I wasn't physically there to experience that hurt; I went to the Spring and Fall races in 2013 but this one would have ruined me.
Tmas805 spring race too, second last lap loss. He had like an 9-2 record but I've lost track.
For several reasons.
doesnt help the fact that it was for mr h's 200th
joel gillette at least Jimmie Johnson won that race (I was there)
That Texas 2014 race still eats me up inside. He should have won the championship that year.
Seems like nobody suffered more from caution flags coming out with 2 or 3 laps to go than Gordon during the early 2010s.
He passed that luck on to Chase Elliott
Gordon in the 2010s was just the worst luck a race driver can have
1. 2014 Texas (Fall)
2. 2007 Watkins Glen
3. 2011 Talladega (last lap pass)
4. 2014 Texas (last lap pass)
5. Any race that he could've won in 2010 (specifically Martinsville)
Those made me angry
AutoRockinRacing94 How 2014 Texas was his fault
2010 he just had terrible restarts lmao. He's still the goat anyway
Ant Clint no dipshit Brad decided to force a car in a hole that wasn’t a car width wide
2011 Talladega didnt really hurt, with tandem drafting, everyone knew he would lose
Brad destroyed what would have been a magical season. Hate his guts.
Gordon may have retired in victory lane in homestead
John Stuart didn’t Gordon win homestead that year ? Which would have made him the champion ?
@@carnationvideos4258 He completely dominated that race and then he pitted after the last caution so that the champion could be the winner of the race
Jakob Wedel man what could have been that year.. in my mind, Gordon is the greatest nascar driver of all time. He probably should have been second all time in wins.
im a gordon fan and i blame D’Hont
Watching this video gets me just as steaming now as I did then.
damn I don't know why I watched some of this. You gotta make a 5 most heartwarming wins to make up for this bro.
To make up for this gut wrenching compilation I think I need to do his Top-10 Greatest Wins; seems everybody has already done his Top-5 Greatest
2002 Daytona 500....that one sticks out for me. If I had a top 5 heartbreaking losses for Jeff, it would be in this order.
5. 2007 Watkins Glen
4. 2014 Martinsville
3. 2012 Martinsville
2. 2014 Texas
1. 2002 Daytona (500)
The 2014 Chase Race at Texas was pretty big for championship implications, but even Jeff said thats not what cost them, it was Martinsville that cost em. Finished 2nd at Martinsville and 2nd at Phoenix, while Texas was miserable to be a Jeff Gordon fan. That 2002 Daytona 500, that stuck with me the last 15 years
I will always love how harvick pushed him into Jeff that is so damn funny!!!
The dude screaming "KICK HIS ASS!" gets me everytime
'14 Texas. Not even close.
That was the most painful loss to you?
Absolutely it is to me, at least
Tret64 I remember it like it was yesterday and I was there screw you 2 go back to xfinity
There’s no debate. Your list is absolutely right, but 14 Texas should be 1. It’s not only a heartbreaking loss in the race, but it literally is the sole reason why he didn’t win the championship. And there is no one who can present any factual evidence otherwise. Finished 2nd in the other races that round, led the most laps at homestead and was ultimately told to pit at the end to let the championship contenders go at it. What a shame. I’ll never forgive Brad for that one. But if you’ve noticed, that moment changed brad forever, he has certainly humbled as a driver following that season. He suffered the consequences of choosing to race the way he did. NASCARs greatest gave their displeasure. I also think the martinsville spring race in 04? Maybe a different year, he had a battle with Jimmie for 10-20 laps, and ended up a nose behind at the line. One more lap he would’ve won for sure. People get annoyed and claim Gordon fans “whine” or “complain” about races, when in actuality, if you do the research, Gordon suffered the most from the rule changes and late race cautions. Would’ve won 3 more championships (04, 07, 14) without the playoff format. Also No driver has had more wins taken away from him on cautions with less than 5 to go in the modern era than him, many of them bullshit or phantom cautions. Like #1 on your list, what is ruetemann thinking?? How does that happen? What a shame. It’s something like 11-13 wins taken away from that. I believe Carl Edwards is second on that list, which isn’t all that surprising. Nice video.
You limited it to 5, I'm gonna give you some more that deserve mentioning:
2006 Talladega spring: Jeff had THE dominant car that day, going for the Talladega Trifecta, 3 straight spring wins. Lost it when Vickers abandoned him
2007 Martinsville spring: Gave Johnson a setup to help his teammate, which Johnson then used to beat Jeff
2007 Texas spring: at that point, still searching for his first Texas win. Jeff led 173 laps, had the lead with under 30 to go, and pancaked the turn 4 wall. Finished 4th
BOTH 2007 Richmond races: Started 1st and 2nd respectively, led 305 of 800 laps between the two races. Lost to, you guessed it, Jimmie fucking Johnson
2010 Texas spring: Like Las Vegas earlier that year, Jeff had a dominant car. Got caught up in a wreck
2011 Bristol Night Race: Again, a dominant car for Jeff. Led 206 of 500 laps. Lost the lead to Keselowski who sped off pit road (not called due to timing lines).
2014 Martinsville fall: you can chalk up Jeff missing the Championship 4 not just to Brad cutting his tire at Texas, but losing to Dale Jr the week before
You could literally make a top 200 or 300 of this, He had the worst luck of any driver in NASCAR history after 2001.
wizzjo1nt5 no kidding it was always something
@@vincentodomscatl24 mainly clint Bowyer after 2010 lol
wizzjo1nt5 nascar screwed Jeff with the Chase in 2004. They didn’t want him winning 7 titles which he easily would have done in 2004 2007 again in 2011 and easily 2015 he could have retired a 8 time champion.....
As mentioned, Texas in 2014 was by far the most heartbreaking. I'm surprised the 2002 Daytona 500 isn't on here as well.
jimmy johnson and jeff gordon are my all time favorite nascar drivers
That spin at The Glenn sticks in my head 4 some reason .Jeff was the King Of The Road and I was at that race !!
Same here. Just absolutely heartbroken watching that
@@shawnchristianson324 Jeff jused to RULE the road courses. I don't respect any of these new guys like I respected him on those tracks. I remember I went to the glen one year and he got into this WICKED crash that tore his car up...I thought it was over for him...🙏🏿
You're about to hit me in the feels...Thanks!!!!
I'd say he could've easily matched or passed Pearson for 105 wins to claim 2nd in all-time wins. Another one I despised was 98 Richmond, where Rusty intentionally wrecked him as Jeff passed him on the outside for the lead with a few laps remaining. That would've been win #14 in 98. I wanted to knock the sh$t outta Rusty that day. Another one: Darlington '04 chase race-- he was leading and the something went wrong on the last pit stop. That win would've allowed him to out-point Kurt and Jimmie at homestead.
John dude Rusty Wallace would beat the shit out you
Match he would have smashed that record
Gordon still would of lost by 1 point :(
Love or hate either of them, despite whoever you think deserves 7 titles, Johnson and Gordon are in a league of their own. Two amazing drivers on the same team that have shared tons of memorable battles over the years, especially the two of them dominating martinsville in the 2000's.
Jeff so should have won the '14 championship. Texas hurt, even as a JJ fan. I was glad JJ won, Jimmie and Jeff were pretty even, but stupid Crashelowski. What an idiot. If Jeff had finished second to JJ i would have been happy, because Jeff lost making the final round by 1 point, which was because of Newman putting larson in the wall off 4 at Pheonix, even after the Texas spin. 2014 was Jeffs year. But of course, JJ won a championship, so we had to change the format, and it screwed both JJ and Jeff in 2014. Jeff so would have gotten his 5th championship, and had JJ not had that crash at Kansas, or get hung out to dry at Dega where he and Junior led the most laps, JJ could have made it to Homestead as well.
He wouldn't have won the 14 championship. So there is no should've. Harvick won the final race.
Gordon ending up winning Miami the following week right? Which would have made him the champ?
@@trecooledge1326 The only reason why he won that race was because Nascar made Jeff pit. Jeff absolutely destroyed everyone at Homestead
So many Gordon losses due to idiots that never had a shot at winning, over-driving their cars. Infuriating.
Awesome compilation. Loved it. I've watched this many times and it gets better every time.
Great work!
The fact that Jeff managed to win 93 races while having some of the worst luck I've ever seen in sports just adds to why Jeff will forever be my favorite driver in all of motorsports.
Also, 2010 can go die in a fire for all I care.
I always thought he was the luckiest driver
@@815scorpius7 maybe in the 90s, but from 2008 and onwards- he could not catch a break.
Spring Richmond 98 ....... I don't like to admit but I cried I was 12 lol
I can do you one better. I cried when Gordon lost to Kevin Harvick at Sprong Atlanta in '01. I even remember sayings "I hate Kevin Harvick." Yes, his first win, spring Atlanta 2001. I was 6 and a half.
The Watkins glen spin with 2 laps to go killed me inside watching that live
I have comments regarding each one:
#5: That one was really heart-breaking. Even sicker is listening to the fans cheering that he had a blown engine. Ugh.
#4: I keep saying over and over that Jeff should've taken 4 tires, but unless Johnson had for sure beaten Jeff off of pit road, I think he got put in an uncomfortable box. Can't blame the #24 for trying something new, though. Just sucks that it didn't work. There were a LOT of races Jeff could've and/or should've won in 2010.
#3: You know, I keep believing that if Jeff had taken the inside lane on the restart, he probably would've won. (Or at least, he would've had a better restart.) But another part of me believes what he was trying to do was what worked at Indy and Michigan that year, and that was trying to swoop down to side-draft the other car on the front row to pull by them. However, that was totally uncalled for by BK to just slam into Jeff's car. And if there's one thing we learned from the 2012 season, it's that Jeff does NOT like getting his left rear tire cut by another driver. Jr. did it too him at Bristol, and Jeff was pissed at him. Bowyer did it to him at Phoenix, and we know what happened after that. BK does it, and gets punched in the mouth afterwards.
#2: I could keep blaming Kenseth for the loss, but you know, all that needed to happen was for the caution to not be thrown for just a split second later. Crap. That just sucked.
#1: This is why I have no respect for David Reutimann as a racecar driver. He had a chance to get to pit road, and never took it. He just stopped on the track to mess up the finish. I actually forgive Bowyer for the incident for two big reasons:
1) He got shoved by Newman on the restart and might've gotten into the back of Jeff wrecking him, anyways.
2) I don't think he was trying to wreck Jeff, honestly. I think he was honestly trying to make it a 3-wide battle, and the hole closed.
Reutimann, on the other hand, well, this might just be the reason why nobody's even looked his way as far as hiring him as a driver. He doesn't have a ride, he isn't getting any offers, and he probably will never be in a Cup car again. No sympathy, either. David Reutimann costed Jeff his rightful place at getting Rick Hendrick his 200th career Cup Series win as an owner.
nascarfanatic2425 David should’ve been fined for that cheap decision oh I was furious watching this race
I always questioned that 2 tire call. it was dumb. He was so fast even if he came out 3 or 4 he could have easily got the lead. MK easily cost Jeff an extra 5 wins himself, same goes to Bowyer, and BK cost him a couple two. In the 2010s, late 2000s I have never seen a drive with so many opportunities to win have it stolen from him by a late caution or a bad CC call. Today's NASCAR they can't buy a yellow flag, but 10 years ago it seemed to happen anytime JG was in the lead.
As Jeff Gordon is my 3rd favorite driver (2nd for most of my life), I did share some of these moments.
5: I wasn't a NASCAR fan back then, but it did seem like a heartbreaking final lap
4: Since Johnson is my favorite driver, I honestly didn't care.
3: Since Johnson was out of the Chase early, I wanted Gordon to win SO badly. Then, I screamed, "WHY!"" as Keselowski tried to fit his car in the small hole.
2: I didn't watch the race live, but while watching the replay, I was wondering why NASCAR couldn't have waited one more second to throw the caution.
1: As a Johnson fan, I also felt the pain of this moment. GRRRRR!!! REUTIMANN!!! He really had nothing to lose by going into pit road and was 50+ laps down.
Does anyone remember the Martinsville race where they were racing gordon was leading and a pecice of concrete came out of the track and tock the motor or something out of the car and Gordon went out there with someone from nascar to examine the hole and Gordon wasn't aloud to bring the back up out because of last time he brought out the back up and won
What year?
@@shawnchristianson324 belive it was 07
2010 Vegas was brutal as a Gordon fan
But I’m surprised that 1998 Dover wasn’t in this video considering he led 375/400 laps but finished 3rd
Yeah he had to pit for gas late and other 2 guys didn't have to.
love this channel!
Thanks so much, means a lot. It's come a long way since I first started : )
Jeff Gordon Edits I know it must take a lot of hard work and maybe sometimes it might not seem worth it because of lack of support or presumed lack of support but regardless you have people out there like myself who really appreciate it? I mean do you have all of the old races taped? Your archives are insane. btw I was screaming in my dorm room in college with that 14 Texas race.
Only two milestones I'm lacking are his 97 and 98 Awards Banquets, everything else I own.
2010 Martinsville was absolutely ridiculous. Throwing the caution when the leader is literally a 1/2 of a second from taking the white flag.
Even worse was the inconsistent manner in which they threw cautions that day. They let Juan Montoya grind around the track with a missing wheel for two laps until he got to pit road. No caution. Kyle Busch mildly spins when Jeff is 100 feet from the caution flag...instant caution.
Jeff Gordon Edits yeah it made me so angry because we all know Jeff is hit or miss on restarts. This one takes the cake for me because I have always been a half glass full kind of guy when it came officiating races, but this when I finally said yep All NASCAR cares about is having a restart with 2 laps to go so everybody in the second row can run over the leaders.
Jeff Gordon Edits for certain drivers they wait until they pass the overtime line #NASCARISRIGGED
shit like that is what turned me off from nascar. i got so god damn sick of nascar finding ways to ruin races with late lap caution flags. gimmicks killed the sport.
@@NathanRyanAllen NASCAR is a bunch of hypocrites. They preach safety but throw the caution at the end of races just so we can all watch a bunch crashes on the restarts.
2001 NH a week after he was crowned champion (make up race after it was postponed due to 9/11. Led the entire race and was punted by Robbie Gordon with 15 to go. I'll never forget that.
Yeah, that was a really crappy outcome for sure; it just didn't sting as much for me as the others because he had already been crowned champion for 2001.
The three races that come to mind are the 2014 Texas race, The 2010 Las Vegas race, and the 2012 Martinsville race. Absolutely gut wrenching
2004 southern 500
In all of the races I've watched, I was never more angry then that Texas race. But I felt a little better when the entire team beat the hell out of Kes afterward.
I never comment on CZcams videos but as a Gordon fan I feel it's my duty to do this. Idk why or how I made myself click on this video but since I did I'll go ahead and comment. 2014 Texas was the worst for me. I truly think Jeff would've won the Championship had he made the final 4. The move Kes made was just so bad and it killed me to see Jeff fall back and spin. I was so happy he fought him after that race. I've watched that replay a few times and I noticed something that I still can't believe I haven't seen a comment about or heard any analysts talk about. Earlier that year in Atlanta, Kasey Kahne made an extremely similar move on the last restart to ultimately win the race. It was the move Keselowski tried to make, but he made it too late. That's why his movie was so stupid. At that point entering the corner, there was no way it was going to work without slamming Jeff. Bc Jeff wasn't blocking Keselowski, I hate when people say he was. All Jeff was doing was moving into his line getting into the corner. He was about to make the same move he had made on Jimmie the previous restart. He didn't think Keselowski was gonna make a bonsai move like that out of nowhere. While I don't think Brad was intentionally trying to screw Jeff over, I do think it was an absolutely terrible decision that he should've at least taken responsibility for and had the conversation with Jeff about it. Anyway I know this was long but thanks for reading if you did. I've always wondered why no one ever compared the move Kahne made at Atlanta to the move Keselowski made at Texas. Just watch the video and you'll see. Kasey makes his move still in the dogleg, which gave Hamlin enough time to react and not come down on Kahne. Also Hamlin wasn't entering the corner so Kasey wasn't moving up while Denny was moving down. Keselowski makes his move when they're already into turn 1. It was way too late and was doomed from the start. This video sucks to watch as a Gordon fan but it's a good video nonetheless. Definitely need 5 feel good wins or something hahaha. Great job tho keep up the good work 👍🏻
I watched this once. Clicked it again to give another look.. I just can't. The ones that absolutely got away, or were taken away. You win some you lose some, but man these sting.
I got my heart broken 💔 man I feel bad for Gordon. I'm great to be a fan of Jeff Gordon
I'm surprised I didn't see the 1998 or 1999 Bud Shootout where Rusty drove around Jeff on the final restart because Jeff thought the race was over.
2014 Texas will always take the cake! A year before he retires, coulda locked into Homestead (prob won the championship his Homestead car was the class of the field) and all of that gone in less than 20 seconds!
I remember that 2010 Martinsville race vividly. That just sucked the emotion right outta me. Jeff was moments from taking the white flag and just had to bring the car back around for the checkers, but no... Ugghhhh.
The first one was ok because mark Martin won, & he's my favourite driver after Jeff.
Same here
albert7139 Yeah, and I can let that one go because #1, it was a non-points race, and #2, he won just about everything else that year.
allways the champ
They ripped Jeff's heart from his body in Texas
Can’t believe they took two tires. That hurt. Also those cars were FLYING at Las Vegas 😍
Texas still hurts. Shoulda been at least a 5 time champ in 2014.
That 2 tire call at Vegas might be the dumbest call I've ever seen.
The absolute worse season I had to live through as a fan. We all knew 2008 wasn’t our year cause we were just not showing up, but 2010 had so many opportunities to win... If the races were literally like 1 or 2 laps shorter we’d have like 7 wins that year.
I love gordon. He is in so many ways on par with earnhardt as the greatest driver ever. Johnson has nothing on him. Those cups johnson won are nothing but a gimmick. We know who the real 7 time is.
the 2014 fall Texas race hurts the most to me
Jeff most likely would have won the Championship in 14 if it wasn't for that Texas wreck
The 2012 Martinsville Race felt like a razor blade in my throat! The 2014 Texas Race felt like a knife stabbing in the stomach!
Gordon got screwed over a lot by others wrecking him, restarts, Cautions and the damn Chase! He's really a 6 time winner!!
7
how many times has Clint Bowyer cost Jeff a damn win . God I can't stand that fucking guy
Instead of retiring with 93 after 2015, 3rd all time, he easily could've been 2nd. Imagine if he took 4 @ Vegas and won, the last caution didn't come out @ Texas, then Kyle Busch's spin happened a couple seconds later for Jeff to take the white flag or Kenseth didn't dive bomb him and Gordon wins, Gordon doesn't get beat to the bottom of turn 1 @ Martinsville 2012 and he wins, he didn't miss that shift @ Pocono, he didn't overdrive turn 1 @ the Glen, he'd have headed to 2015 with 98 wins, and they'd be talking about 100, possibly 105 for 2nd place...I also think about races I somewhat remember that aren't on this list. I remember 2014 Watkins Glen he started 1st, led the first 29 laps and then had a battery(?) issue and had to head to the garage. Watkins Glen '09 he was involved in 2 wrecks, 1 big one so who knows with that one. He finished a strong 2nd @ Sonoma in 2011, 2013, 2014. I remember he and Mark Martin (tandem drafting) were charging through the field @ Daytona the Coke Zero 400 in 2011 so he had a shot at that one until Kasey Kahne collided into him. I also barely recall a race (Chicago I think) where he had the car to beat but David Reutimann won
Oh yea! How could I forget the 2nd place @ Indianapolis in 2011 which was Paul Menard's only win. For the last bunch of laps the commentators kept saying there was no way he could make it on fuel...had he been half a lap short, Gordon would've got him
EnormaGasmic Gordon had like 40 something 2nd place finishes. Concert those to wins and he retires comfortably in 2nd all time in wins with nearly 140 wins.....
I haven’t watched since he retired
There are many that I can think of myself like Auto Club spring 2013 (1 lap away), and bristol night race in 2015, 2012 was a rough year.
I think you mean 2014; you're talking the race where Bowyer spun with less than 3 to go while Jeff was leading right?
Yes, that's the one.
#24 is my Favorite Jeff Gordon.
man, these are painful to watch, for some reason, I blame boywer and Johnson for these
Steventhe2nd Johnson? Uhhhh not really
yes johnson, he stole the championship that gordon was close to winning in '07
more likely bowyer and reutimann
Steventhe2nd drive it like you stole it, 48 for life
I’ve noticed a couple races at the very end when Gordon was out front bowyer caused a caution I’ve seen it twice. Coincidence? I think not.
Shittttt Jeff's biggest headache was hiring Jimmy Johnson
😂😂YUP
the Texas one hurts the most
My face when Texas popped up 😖
Same, it was even worse having to relive it frame by frame in editing
Jeff Gordon Edits man. I’ve been to: Richmond spring 2014 when Gordon had the long run car and Joey got into him and messed his drive up, martinsville spring 2015 when he dominated and got caught speeding on PR with like 50 to go, martinsville spring 2012 when he caught Jimmie who was dominating, late caution, Clint comes in and gets into Jeff, Newman wins. Yeah I’ve been to all those and Texas 2014 on TV hurts the worst.
I remember Gordon missing the gear at Pocono
This is a great "Try not to laugh challenge" video ;-)
A couple of honorable mentions, 2007 Goodys Cool Orange 500, Jimmie beats Jeff, 2006 DirecTV 500 Jeff Gordon spins tires on restart and can't catch Tony Stewart. A lot of the losses made me angry and upset at the time, but that is what happens in big league auto racing, there will always be more heartbreak than triumph, after all there is one winner and a lot of losers. You can't win 'em all, even thought at one point it sure looked like Jeff could.
I’m sorry but the 2014 Texas race was definitely the most heartbreaking. That was the race that ruined his last chance at a real shot for his 5th championship. 2015 he got in but he wasn’t nearly as fast as he was in 2014
Auto club 2014 still hurts. It seems to me that Clint bowyer would always be the caution that screwed Jeff over.
If watching these as they happened didn't make you want to puke, then you weren't a truly *hardcore* Gordon fan.
That being said, I can barely stomach watching these now. haha
Everytime I see 2014 Texas I get PTSD
2010 texas hurts me. one of the best cars ever. up there with 05 Talladega on strength
Yea the 2014 race. jeez. another championship Jeff should've had.
EDIT: To answer the question I had in my original comment below, no the 2014 Auto Club 400 finish is not in this video but it should be here as well. Fuck Clint Bowyer for costing Gordon the win by spinning in purpose and fuck NASCAR for calling a caution and fuck Brian France for creating the Chase. Oh what could've been. Gordon the unluckiest/most robbed driver ever by far.
Is the race from a few years ago at Auto Club Speedway on here? When there was that dumbass that spun it in the infield with like 2 laps to go? I was there. Jimmie dominated the entire time and looked like no one could touch him then I think he had a tire go down and Gordon took the lead. I was so excited because he won the very first two races I ever went to back in Atlanta Nov 1998 and and March 1999. I was 12 and 13 years old for those races. As the years went by, I ended up going to over 15 other races including 2015 Homestead where he had a chance to win the championship in his final season and also the next year at Bristol when he ran in the 88 car. I never would've predicted that after winning the very first two races I went to, that I would attended races the next 17 years and never see him win another one. Oh but he came so close in more than one occasion.
Confederate flag at 25:42
2014 with BK will always be my number 1. Gordon wins that race he probably wins the sprint cup.
Texas 2014 cost us the championship Gordon went to homestead lead most laps 2012 martinsville still reminds me Gordon get past team mate Johnson and is running away 3 laps left and a start and park stop on the track there and last couple heartbreaks I saw Clint Bowyer was the cattions
Don't even wanna watch the video 😪
I would add 2010 Texas spring race. Had the dominant car and was wrecked with 19 to go right in front of me.
2014 texas spring race hurts the most for me, i thought jeff had it, only for one of my least favorite drivers (logano) to win
2014 Texas still hurts the most by far
2014 at Texas still stings the worst. Best car from that night only for it to be taken away under damning circumstances.
2014 should've have been a championship year, considering how strong a car he had at Homestead but instead opted for the title contenders to battle for the last 1/4 of that race.
Besides the race at New Hampshire (don't know what year) that Gordon finished 2nd when rain came out and gave Logano his first win (don't remember the scenario but if it hadn't started raining Gordon most likely would've won) but, and again I don't remember what year or track, but Gordon was leading and was a hundred feet away from taking the white flag and a mystery caution came out costing him yet another win. I remember being so upset because if had hit the start/finish line and the caution would've come out he would've won. Can't remember what place he got after the mystery caution. IMO Gordon should be ahead of Pearson (105) for 2nd most wins in NASCAR had he won these races and not been overtaken with bad luck!
As a kyle larson fan i have endured many heartbreaking losses
The 3 of jr was the saddest he diy
2004 chase, 2007 chase, 2014 chase.
I'll never, EVER, forget Texas. Damn. What could have been.
Why didn't Rieuteman pit?
2012 Atlanta
The entirety of 2015 was disappointing and heartbreaking.
I don't think I punched a wall in anger more than Texas 2014 like I did with Super Bowl XLII.
So many races that I can think of that got away: Martinsville in the spring of 2012, Texas 2014, Auto Club 2014, Watkins Glen 2007, But that Texas one still hurt's the most. Maybe Clint hated Jeff. IDK. Ha Ha. But his website published an article titled "The one that got away" and it was on the 2007 season. jeffgordon.com/one-got-away-jeff-gordon-wishes-get-2007-playoff-run-back/
I truly believe on the last Season he drove and year Brad cut his tire. I believe for sure would have won the championship especially that Texas year. He easily been a 5 time. Kyle was to strong on the last year but I think he could've done it if he had a car like Kyle that race.
I had forgotten that Gordon still got the better of Bowyer on that dive bomb in 2012.
They should have just given Martinsville to Jeff. He was the winner of that race. And Texas hurts really bad. Stings to get taken out by a horse
JG should EASILY be in 2nd place (105) with the most wins. How many times was he in the lead in the last few laps, and have bad luck, other bad drivers, or just a cheap shot from another driver cause him to lose the race?? I know of at least 15-20 races!!
The texas race does hurt the most