Rivalries are central to NASCAR, constituting a major part of its appeal among supporters. Although Richard Petty and David Pearson set the stage with their sheer competitive nature, finishing 1-2 on 63 occasions. Surprisingly, it was Pearson who came out on top with 33 wins against King Petty’s 30. But, the rivalry that truly put NASCAR as a sport on the map was Dale Earnhardt up against Jeff Gordon.

The Wonder Boy was looking to claim his place among NASCAR’s greatest, while the Intimidator wasn’t keen on losing his guard. It was a battle of identity and personalities. You had Dale Earnhardt, who was rough and about his business, hailing from North Carolina, while Gordon was a clean and camera-friendly driver from California. It all started in 1995 when the HMS driver won his first title in 1995 and shot up in popularity. “I didn’t like him at the time because this guy went from being my hero to someone trying to get in my head, and he’s messing with me on and track and off the track.”

Although in the broad scheme of things, Gordon did come out as the victor, as he would go on to claim two more titles until the 2001 Daytona 500 tragedy. But despite trading paint off each other’s cars, the two drivers got along really well off the racetrack. Sure, Earnhardt rattled his cage, but in the process, he sharpened Gordon’s skills and made him the superstar who would etch his name in NASCAR folklore.

Jeff Gordon Reflects on Lessons from Dale Earnhardt

The rivalry was the only memorable part of his racing career with Earnhardt, but what came with it was a lifetime of friendship and mentorship from the latter, which Gordon remembers very fondly. In a recent interview on the red carpet for the premiere of the documentary series “Earnhardt,” Gordon spoke to a reporter from DirtyMoMedia about the legacy that Earnhardt left behind and what lessons Gordon himself learnt through his years racing against him.

Mentioning one of the toughest but most well-known rivalries in NASCAR, Jeff Gordon did not hesitate to agree that it was his favorite rivalry, too. “My favorite NASCAR rivalry, too. It’s just my life, I mean to be able to go head-to-head with Dale Earnhardt, was just amazing,” said Gordon. Dale Earnhardt and Jeff Gordon conquered the minds of fans in the 1990s. NASCAR, being primarily a Southern sport, did not see much outside influence in the early times until Gordon stepped in and turned out to be a successful rookie among veterans, including Dale Earnhardt.

While Earnhardt’s dominance continued over the sport for many years, in 1995, Gordon took control into his hands by winning his first NASCAR Cup Series Championship, after which the dynamic tension peaked. The most intense rivalry between the two was the 1995 Coca-Cola 600 race, when Gordon passed Earnhardt late in the race to claim the victory. Fans loyal to Earnhardt often booed Gordon, treating him like an outsider, being a Westerner, creating a dramatic narrative that intensified the interest in the sport. Earnhardt never backed down; he responded to the crowd’s reaction to Gordon by saying, “The kid can drive the hell out of a car, I’ll give him that.”

That is when the off-track mentorship began, as Gordon recalled in the interview. “He taught me especially how to race on the superspeedways, not by him trying to teach, but just watching,” said Gordon. “He absolutely taught me about the business side of it.” Not only was Earnhardt a part of NASCAR, but he was what made NASCAR what it stands for today. “But, to me, people like myself, our lives changed because of what Dale Earnhardt did for NASCAR and what he did for racing and bringing fans in,” Gordon reminisced about the glorious past that NASCAR witnessed because of the Intimidator.

If you were to go on eBay or an online shopping portal, you would find vintage Jeff Gordon merch still selling like hot cakes. From the vintage 90s DuPont Rainbow Warrior shirt to the iconic DuPont jackets. Not to forget the die-casts and the Flames helmet. All of these items would be on any NASCAR collector’s wish list. This was also a time when Jeff Gordon was a huge part of popular culture, featuring in TV shows and even Hollywood movies that would be based on his character.

Interestingly, Gordon was spotted attending a red carpet event, and his mere presence and social media post sent the NASCAR fans into a frenzy about the potential of Days of Thunder sequel.

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Jeff Gordon and Tom Cruise Reignite Their Racing Bond at Hollywood Premiere

In a more recent and exciting revelation, Jeff Gordon and Hollywood Superstar Tom Cruise stole the show at the premiere of Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning. The premiere wasn’t just about Cruise’s mission as Ethan Hunt in his latest movie, but also about reconciling a potential collaboration between two icons from two different worlds of Hollywood and NASCAR. Tom Cruise has been involved in NASCAR, even if not directly, but through his 1990 film Days of Thunder, where he portrayed a stock car driver and helped introduce the sport to a broader audience.

During the production, Cruise trained with real NASCAR teams and developed friendships within the racing community, with one being Jeff Gordon. Cruise remains a casual supporter of the sport, but he showed his admiration for NASCAR and the community during the promotions of his film. “I gained a real respect for NASCAR and the drivers. The intensity, the danger, the focus — it’s something else. These guys are incredible athletes,” said Cruise. He also noted how working on the film deepened his understanding of racing culture and teamwork and often praised the sport’s blend of precision and adrenaline.

“Thanks for rolling out the red carpet, @TomCruise!” was the post shared by Gordon on X. Fans aren’t just speculating about NASCAR’s return to big screens; in fact, Gordon has been lobbying for a Days of Thunder sequel. “I’ve absolutely talked to Tom about it because I want him to do the project. We want to be a part of it if it were to happen.” At a time when NASCAR is getting all the attention through Netflix’s Full Speed and Prime Video entering as a broadcaster, a movie based on NASCAR wouldn’t be a bad idea.