NASCAR has undergone several transformations in recent years. And while legends like Jeff Gordon continue to be active in the sport, new and influential figures like Michael Jordan and Pitbull are making their presence felt in NASCAR. Jeff Gordon, a racing legend and now part of the Hendrick Motorsports leadership, recently shared his thoughts on how these new personalities are influencing the sport.

Traditionally, the sport was driven by big and established teams. Teams such as Hendrick Motorsports, Joe Gibbs Racing, Team Penske, and Richard Childress Racing are synonymous with the names of their founders. These organizations have played a pivotal role in the growth and development of NASCAR for decades.

Jeff Gordon is welcoming the change in the star power that drives NASCAR

With new team owners from diverse backgrounds entering the scene, NASCAR is evolving fast. Michael Jordan, the legendary NBA superstar, co-owns the 23XI Racing team, and Pitbull, the renowned musician who also co-owns the Trackhouse Racing team, are among the prominent figures who have invested in NASCAR. Their involvement has indeed garnered immense attention for the sport.

And these personalities are also actively trying to make the sport better. Back in 2021, Pitbull expressed his desire to bring innovative ideas and attract new fans to NASCAR. He emphasized the importance of being a leader and making a difference in the sport. Gordon is set to take over the reins at Hendrick Motorsports in the future. And he sees the entry of newcomers like Jordan and Pitbull as a positive development for NASCAR. In his conversation with FOX Sports, he emphasized the collective approach to growing the sport.

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Jeff Gordon was asked how he feels about other people attracting attention instead of those who have long been in the sport. Gordon remarked, “First of all, I’m not in an attention-seeking position. That was different as a driver. You’re trying to attract sponsors or keep your sponsors happy and fans and all those things. We love the brand that we have, and we want to maintain that. But when Michael Jordan and Pitbull and others like that come into the sport, it grows the sport. It makes it better for all of us. I’d like to think we’re competitors on the track with the other teams. But off the track, I feel like we’re all on the same team to build the sport.”

Bob Pockrass, recently shared Gordon’s exclusive via Twitter.

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Jeff Gordon has recently been talking about how teams should focus on building their own fan loyalty instead of relying on the star power of their drivers. And now he has another insider pushing back on his ideas.

Brett Griffin denies the feasibility of Gordon’s ideas

NASCAR’s fan base is unique in its loyalty. Fans often attach themselves to individual drivers rather than teams, unlike other major sports like the NFL or the NBA. Jeff Gordon recently initiated a conversation about the need for NASCAR organizations to build fan loyalty toward the teams themselves rather than solely relying on the charisma of drivers.

However, NASCAR insider Brett Griffin has challenged the feasibility of this idea. In a recent episode of the Door Bumper Clear podcast, Griffin brought up the example of Tom Brady’s move from the New England Patriots to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFL to emphasize the difficulty of transitioning fan loyalty from players to teams.

Griffin stated, “I think the prime example of this is in football. Tom Brady left the Patriots, and he went to the Buccaneers. Patriot fans stayed Patriot fans, most of them. I’m not saying they didn’t go support the Bucs. But if you’re a Dallas Cowboys fan and Dak Prescott leaves, Most of you’re gonna stay a Dallas Cowboys fan.”

“But when you look at our sport, and the debate is, we need fans to stay as fans of a team when the drivers leave, there are very, very, very few instances where this applies,” he added.

He also gave the example of Brad Keselowski to make his point. “If Brad Keselowski sells his interest in Roush Fenway Keselowski (Racing) today, and he leaves. And he goes to Rick Ware Racing. Every single Keselowski fan is going to leave and go with him. It’s just the way it is. That’s never going to change for the race fans,” he concluded.

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The debate on team loyalty in NASCAR remains a complex and ongoing conversation. While it may be feasible in other sports, where team identities are deeply ingrained in the culture, NASCAR’s distinct driver-focused tradition stands firm.