Growing up in a college town in the south, I never really paid much attention to Nascar. Anyone that lives in a college town, especially here in the south, can tell you, that college football is almost a religion here. But, we, as a family, would watch races on occasion, but keep in mind, there were only a handful of races televised every year. Auburn was more important to us. But, when we watched, we didn't have a driver we pulled for, we had drivers we pulled AGAINST. Then, a strange thing happened in 1993.
My brother-in-law, Steve, got tickets to Talladega thru his work at a local Chevrolet dealer. My sister really didn't want to go, but Steve said just pick out a car and follow it. Wanda was skeptical but she did exactly that. She had been watching for a few laps and she spotted a brightly colored rainbow car that was easy to follow around the track. She didn't know who the driver was, or who the owner was, or even what make the car was. It was easy to follow and she enjoyed the race. When she got home, she told me about it and I thought, OK...I will give this rainbow car a look see. So we started watching more races.
After watching a few races, we finally got to see the driver being interview. The rest is history.....I WAS HOOKED! Jeff Gordon was my driver! He could drive, he was articulate, well mannered, intelligent, and just plain adorable! Yes, his looks did play a part in my adoration, I am female afterall. But, he seemed to be hanging in there with the "Big Boys" and getting better and better each race.
Jeff IS the reason I watch Nascar. Jeff IS the reason I have learned what bump drafting, or wedge, or loose, or tight, or tire hop means. To me, Jeff is one of the reasons that Nascar is what it is today! I think I chose very wisely!
