Fans would give anything to own Jeff Gordon or Dale Earnhardt Jr’s racing cars. But as with anything rare, valuable, and iconic, there’s always a risk of fakes in the market. Back in March 2019, controversy erupted when several alleged fake NASCAR cars linked to ‘the Intimidator’ and his son were sold at a Mecum auction. The most talked about was a 1994 Chevy Lumina, supposedly the same car Dale Earnhardt used to clinch his seventh championship.

However, Richard Childress Racing, Earnhardt’s longtime team, quickly called foul, revealing the chassis number didn’t match their records. Despite the warning, the car sold for eye-popping prices, sparking outrage among collectors and fans who accused the sellers of deception and of tarnishing NASCAR’s legacy. Fast forward to today, and a similar scheme seems to have resurfaced, and fans aren’t holding back.

Auction company based in Atlanta claims to sell iconic race cars

Recently, one NASCAR fan spotted an auction listing from a Georgia-based company claiming to sell two stock cars, all allegedly driven by Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jeff Gordon in their final starts. The listings showed Gordon’s car, a 2016 No. 24 Chevy (driven at Martinsville), and Junior’s 2017 No. 88. Both vehicles were being sold by Joey Martin Auctioneers, according to the links provided by the fan.

After retiring from full-time racing in 2015, Jeff Gordon made eight appearances the following year and finished 6th at the 2016 Goody’s Fast Relief 500, his last Cup Series race. According to the listing, the car is from that particular race. The first clear discrepancy in the listing is that the vehicle features the iconic No. 24, a number Gordon used from 1994 to his final full-time season in 2015. However, during the 2016 campaign, he exclusively drove the No. 88 Chevy, including the fixture at ‘The Paperclip’. As you would probably expect, the alarm bells were ringing.

Moreover, in his final full season of racing in 2017, Dale Jr. finished his career behind the wheel of the No. 88 Chevrolet in a scheme that honored NASCAR history while keeping his brand front and center. One of his final paint schemes was a red body with black stripes and a black roof, designed by the late Sam Bass and meant to mirror earlier ‘Gary Ghost’ tribute cars. Despite being used selectively during the season, the design represented a respectful nod to both past and present as Earnhardt Jr. closed his Cup career. But here’s the catch!

After 400 miles at Homestead-Miami Speedway, the checkered flag waved on Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s NASCAR Cup Series career. The NASCAR veteran pulled his car onto pit road, where Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick was waiting to embrace him, marking the end of an era. After a heartfelt exchange, the now 51-year-old driver handed Hendrick his final helmet, fulfilling a promise the two had made before the race.

With a smile, Dale Earnhardt Jr. said, “The deal I had with Rick was if I finished the race with the car in one piece, I’d get the car and he’d get the helmet. So, yeah, I’m going to take this thing back home.” However, he wasn’t the first driver to give Mr. H his final helmet; the touching gesture reminded the team owner of full-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon, who had also presented his helmet to him after his final race in 2015.

“That is our deal. That is the same deal he had with Jeff (Gordon) … that Jeff gave him the helmet, and Jeff got the car. And so, I think that is the same deal I’m going to get with Rick,” Junior reiterated. So now, with both cars assumed to be with their rightful owners, the NASCAR fans know when to call it a bluff.

NASCAR fans sound off on the allegedly fake race cars being auctioned

Fans have been buzzing over reports of alleged final right cars from the duo hitting the auction block, but the reaction has been mixed and often skeptical. One fan pointed out, “I’m pretty sure Jr. has ownership of the car he made his final Cup start in,” while another added, “I believe Jr. has stated on his pod that he has the car from his last start.” For many, the thought of owning a piece of NASCAR history is thrilling, especially given the iconic status of these two drivers. Yet, not everyone is convinced about the authenticity of the listings.

Some pointed to inconsistencies in the car details. “That is def not the final Jr car. Maybe I’m dumb and don’t know something, but Jr’s final race was the Axalt throwback scheme. That Diet dew car is from like 2014,” one fan argued. Another noted the technical discrepancies, saying, “Aren’t these spoilers too tall to be either of their final ride? I know 2015 had a lower downforce aero package, but I can’t remember what 2016 had….”

Despite the skepticism, some fans are still drawn to the idea of owning these machines, even if they might not be the exact final rides. One fan amused, “Despite the fact that these ones might be kinda a scam or at least not fully honestly advertised, I see a lot of old nascars on facebook. Kinda wanna buy one and make it street legal or buy a street legal one, I follow a tiktok page of a guy that has a weird gen 6/7 hybrid and it’s sick. They’re expensive af though.” The mix of fascination coming out and admiration shows just how much these cars and the legends who drove them continue to capture the imagination of NASCAR fans.