Jeff Gordon: The Championship Years: 1995
By Ryan Morgan
This is the Introduction
Jeff Gordon will undoubtedly go down as one of the greatest NASCAR drivers in the history of the sport. And with three wins (so far) this season, the four-time champion has a legitimate chance to win his fifth after the season is all said and done at Homestead. I figure it is good a time as any to take a look back at Gordon’s championship seasons. After all, his last championship came in 2001, and we can all use a refresher course on just how great the driver of the #24 car really is.
In this first installment, we will look at his maiden championship year all the way back in 1995. Back when Bill Clinton roamed the White House in his first term, Die Hard With a Vengeance was the number one grossing movie in the Box Office, and Coolio’s “Gangsta’s Paradise” was sitting on top of the Billboard charts. This all takes me back to Mr. Collin’s fifth grade class at Knox Elementary in Indiana… I don’t know about you.
OK, now that we all have time traveled back to the mid-1990s, let’s talk some racing.
(Photo: Dale Jarrett and Jeff Gordon talking racing…or the latest episode of Friends.)
Jeff Gordon made a name for himself in 1994 when he secured his first career victory in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. If NASCAR fans were not aware of this young kid after his first win, they sure were after his second victory at the inaugural running of the Brickyard 400. In one of the most anticipated races in the history of the sport, Gordon beat the likes of veterans Dale Earnhardt, Rusty Wallace, and Geoff Bodine in winning the first NASCAR race at the most historic of tracks.
1994 found him eighth in the points when the season ended at Atlanta Motor Speedway, with Earnhardt Sr. winning his seventh (and final) Winston Cup Championship.
But how far could this kid Gordon go? After all, his owner, Rick Hendrick, had yet to win a championship coming into the ’95 season. Would he be able to dismantle the juggernaut that was Richard Childress and the #3 team? Hindsight is 20/20, so these questions may seem a bit ridiculous now, but in 1995, they were legitimate.
One more thing before we get started, 1995 saw the return of the Chevy Monte Carlo, replacing the Lumina. In the previous year, the Chevy Lumina won a total of 11 races, compared to 20 wins by Chevy’s arch-nemesis, the Ford Thunderbird. A change was needed, and the Monte Carlo, as we shall see, is the answer.
This is the Race by Race Recap
(note: click on some of the links below to watch highlights of the races….but be sure to return to read the rest of the article! Also, thank you YouTube)
Most things change over time, but some things (thankfully) remain the same. And one thing that remains constant is the season opener of the NASCAR season at one of the greatest of all the races in the world: the Daytona 500. Gordon has a strong run in the early parts of the race, as he battles out the lead with eventual race winner Sterling Marlin. However, the #24 car’s left-front fender gets damage in the pits on lap 98, taking Gordon out of contention.
Top 5:
1. Sterling Marlin (Chevy)
2. Dale Earnhardt (Chevy)
3. Mark Martin (Ford)
4. Ted Musgrave (Ford)
5. Dale Jarret (Ford)
22. Jeff Gordon (Chevy)
Race 2: Goodwrench 500 at Rockingham (Side note: I miss this track and wish it would return to the Sprint Cup schedule)
It doesn’t take long for the #24 driver and crew to recover from the let down at Daytona. Starting on pole, Gordon leads a dominating 329 of the 492 laps in the event, cementing his third career victory, and flashing a sign of things to come.
Top 5:
1. Jeff Gordon
2. Bobby Labonte (Chevy)
3. Dale Earnhardt (Chevy)
4. Ricky Rudd (Ford)
5. Dale Jarret (Ford)
….Gordon wins pole but finishes 36th with mechanical issues at Richmond International Speedway. His teammate, “Texas” Terry Labonte, takes the victory.
Race 4: Purolator 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway The “Wonder Kid” dominates most of the day. The younger Labonte (Bobby), in his #18 Joe Gibbs Interstate Batteries Chevy, gives him a challenge in the late stages of the race, but Gordon holds on for his second victory of the young season. The Monte Carlos continue their domination, winning every race of the season to date.
Top 5:
1. Jeff Gordon
2. Bobby Labonte (Chevy)
3. Terry Labonte (Chevy)
4. Dale Earnhardt (Chevy)
5. Dale Jarrett (Ford)
…Gordon wins yet another pole at the TranSouth Finacial 400 at Darlington and dominates early, leading 156 of the 293 laps. His day ends, however, when he gets caught up in a spin involving Randy Lajoie. He finishes 32nd. Sterling Marlin earns his second victory of the season. Race 6: Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway.
Coming into the ’95 season, the #24 driver’s best run at Bristol was a 17th place showing. He upped that by 16 places to take his third win of the season, beating out Rusty Wallace’s Ford.
Top 5:
1. Jeff Gordon
2. Rusty Wallace (Ford)
3. Darrell Waltrip (Chevy)
4. Bobby Hamilton (Pontiac)
5. Ricky Rudd (Ford)
…Another race, another pole for the Rainbow Warriors at North Wilkesboro Speedway. But race day belongs to Dale Earnhardt, beating second place Gordon by 13.5 seconds, taking his first victory of the season. The #3 car sits atop the points standings, beating Sterling Marlin by 56 points.
…The race at Martinsville Speedway gets delayed by rain, and eventually called due to darkness after 356 of the scheduled 500 lap race. Rusty Wallace secures his first win of the season, holding off a hard charging Ted Musgrave. Wallace’s win puts the first non-Chevy in victory lane. Gordon finishes third.
…Mark Martin gets his first win of the season in the Winston Select 500 at Talladega Superspeedway, and second straight victory for Ford. Earnhardt leads late but is spun by Morgan Shepherd, ending up 21st. Gordon comes home in 2nd, and draws even with the #3 car in the points standings.
…Dale Earnhardt earns his second win of the season in the Save Mart Supermarket 300 at Sonoma Raceway, passing Mark Martin with only two laps remaining. It is the Intimidator’s first career road course victory. Gordon finishes third.
NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race The #24 car’s domination really shines under the lights of Charlotte Motor Speedway. He smokes the field, winning all three segments. And he also gets a little help from contenders Earnhardt and Darrell Waltrip, as the two drivers take each other out while battling for the lead in the final segment.
…The DuPont Chevy cannot duplicate the success the following week in Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. He starts on pole…again, but loses a wheel on lap 78. The damage forces Gordon behind the wall for repairs, he comes home in 33rd. Hendrick Driver Ken Schrader leads 169 laps in dominating fashion, but blows an engine with less than 50 laps to go. It is Bobby Labonte who earns his first career victory, with elder brother Terry coming home in second. (In post-race inspection, an unapproved hub is found on the #24 car, Crew Chief Ray Evernham receives a $60,000, the largest NASCAR fine at the time.
…Gordon wins, you guessed it, another pole in the Miller Genuine Draft 500 on the new concrete surface at Dover International Speedway. John Andretti spins early in the race, and 20 cars get caught up in the ensuing pile-up. Kyle Petty’s Pontiac starts in 37th but takes the lead from Jeff Gordon at lap 136. A very worn down Petty takes home victory, in what will be his last in the Winston Cup Series. After 12 races, Earnhardt leads Marlin by 100 points in the standings, Gordon sits third, 106 points back.
…The DuPont Chevy dominates…again…at the UAW-GM Teamwork 500 at Pocono Raceway, leading 124 of the 200 laps. But on a late race restart, Gordon misses a shift and breaks the drive-train, he finishes 16th. Teammate Terry Labonte gets his second win of the year.
…Onward to Michigan International Speedway for the Miller Genuine Draft 400. I’m not even going to write who wins the pole position (hint: it’s his seventh of the season!). Gordon leads 80 laps on the newly paved racing surface, but fellow up-and-comer Bobby Labonte takes the lead and never looks back, securing his second win of the season. Earnhardt earns his first DNF of the season. Sterling Marlin now sits atop the points standings, Earnhardt just six points back, and Gordon in third, 12 points back. (Ted Musgrave is fourth in the points after the race…impressive year for Teddy in ’95).
This race is best known for the post-race altercation between Michael Waltrip and Lake Speed. The younger Waltrip receives a $10,000 fine.
Race 15: Pepsi 400 at Daytona International Speedway
Earnhardt leads the field to the green flag, but it is Gordon’s day once again. He leads 72 laps on his way to earning his fourth win of the season.
Top 5:
1. Jeff Gordon
2. Sterlin Marlin (Chevy)
3. Dale Earnhardt (Chevy)
4. Mark Martin (Ford)
5. Ted Musgrave (Ford)
Race 16: Slick 50 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway
Gordon starts all the way back in 21st spot after hitting the wall on his first qualifying run, but it is only a matter of time before the California Kid is leading the 41 car field. He leads 126 laps on his way to back-to-back victories. His fifth win puts him atop the points standings, with Marlin 40 back, and Earnhardt 93 behind in third.
1. Jeff Gordon
2. Morgan Shepherd (Ford)
3. Mark Martin (Ford)
4. Terry Labonte (Chevy)
5. Ricky Rudd (Ford)
…The Return to Pocono Raceway for the Miller Genuine Draft 500 finds Bill Elliot on the pole. But it is Dale Jarrett who takes home the checkered flag in the #28 Texaco Havoline Ford, his first win for owner Doug Yates. Gordon comes home second.
…Sterling Marlin shows his strength once again at the restrictor plate races, winning the Diehard 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. Gordon leads 97 laps, but after making contact that sends teammate Ken Schrader flipping end over end, he finishes 8th. He now leads Sterling Marlin by 78 points, Earnhardt is 146 back in third.
…In the second running of the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the #24 team once again wins the pole position. Gordon leads 35 laps on Sunday, but eventually finishes 6th. It is Dale Earnhardt who takes the checkered flag, followed by the Ford of Rusty Wallace.
…In the second road course race of the season at the Bud at the Glen, Mark Martin wins pole and has a dominant car early. But Wally Dallenbach, driving in a one race deal with Bill Davis, nearly pulls off the upset. He leads late by a comfortable margin until a caution flag waves with 13 laps to go. Shortly after the restart, Martin passes Dallenbach and leads the remaining laps. Dallenbach comes home second, Gordon finishes third.
…Bobby Labonte completes the sweep at Michigan International Speedway in the GM Goodwrench Dealer 400. His brother, Terry, follows him in second place. Gordon once again comes home third. He now leads Sterling Marlin in the points by 168 points.
…The lights shined on Bristol Motor Speedway for the Goody’s 500. Dale Earnhardt earns a black flag after spinning Rusty Wallace early in the race, but works his way back up to the front as the laps wind down. He chases down leader Terry Labonte on the white flag lap, spinning him as they take the checkered flag. But it is Labonte’s damaged #5 Chevy that visits victory circle. Gordon leads 86 laps and finishes in 6th. Race 23: Mountain Dew Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway
Gordon recovers from a spin early to win his sixth race of the season. Earnhardt dominates much of the race, leading a race high 208 laps, but follows the rainbow-colored car home in second place. Gordon now has a 217 point lead over Sterling Marlin. Earnhardt still sits third, 294 back.
Top 5:
1. Jeff Gordon
2. Dale Earnhardt (Chevy)
3. Rusty Wallace (Ford)
4. Ward Burton (Pontiac)
5. Michael Waltrip (Pontiac)
…Rusty Wallace dominates in the Miller Genuine Draft 400 at Richmond International Speedway, leading 254 of the 400 laps. Sterling Marlin fails to finish a race for the first time all season, dropping him to third in points, behind Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt. Gordon comes home 6th.
Race 25: MBNA 500 at Dover International Speedway.
The Rainbow Warriors show no mercy in Delaware. Gordon leads 400 of the 500 laps on his way to his 7th victory of the year. The battle is for second, and Bobby Hamilton secures the runner-up spot driving for Richard Petty, his best Winston Cup finish at the time.
Top 5:
1. Jeff Gordon
2. Bobby Hamilton (Pontiac)
3. Rusty Wallace (Ford)
4. Joe Nemecheck (Chevy) (Great run for “Front Row” Joe.)
5. Dale Earnhardt (Chevy)
…Dale Earnhardt keeps his championship hopes alive with his fourth win of the season in the Goody’s 500 at Martinsville Speedway. He leads a race high 253 of the 500 laps, passing nemesis Rusty Wallace with the help of fresher tires as the race nears its conclusion. Gordon gets another top 10 with a seventh place finish.
…Mark Martin gets his third win of the season in the Tyson Holly Farms 400 at North Wilkesboro Speedway. Ernie Irvan returns in the #88 Yates Ford in his first race since his near-fatal accident at Michigan in 1994, he finishes in sixth. Gordon comes home third.
…Martin gets back-to-back wins with his first-place showing in the UAW-GM Quality 500 at Charlotte. Gordon breaks a drive-shaft while exiting the pits, and comes home a distant 30th. Earnhardt finishes second and narrows Gordon’s points lead to 205.
…Ward Burton celebrates his first victory in the AC-Delco 400 at Rockingham, driving for Bill Davis Racing. Rick Mast dominates the early stages of the race, but finishes 34th after engine failure. Gordon comes home a distant 20th for his second poor showing in two weeks. Earnhardt manages a seventh place finish and narrows the lead to 162 points.
…Ricky Rudd makes sure his ‘consecutive seasons with at least one win‘ streak makes it to 13 with his win at the Dura Lube 500 at Phoenix International Raceway. Derrick Cope finishes an impressive 2nd, with Earnhardt 3rd and Gordon 5th. Going into the final race of the season, Gordon holds a 147 point lead over the Intimidator.
…Earnhardt earns his fifth win of the season in the Napa 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. But it is not enough as he loses the championship to Gordon by 34 points. Gordon struggles to a 32nd place finish to clinch his first title.
The Conclusion
Gordon, in his third full season as a Winston Cup driver, and the same age as his car number, took on the best drivers in stock car racing: Dale Earnhardt (fresh off of his seventh championship the previous year), Rusty Wallace, Mark Martin, Sterling Marlin….names that are now legends of the sport, and the “Wonder Kid” beat them all. He showed speed on Fridays, winning an amazing eight pole positions, and backed it up on Sunday, winning seven races, from tracks as diverse as Bristol to Daytona.
As we all know now, the ’95 season was just a sign of things to come. His domination would not slow down over the following years. He still has three more championships to win in the next six years.
Next up is his 1997 championship season, which I will write a recap much like this one in the next week or so. I must give credit to the “NASCAR Year in Review” videos on YouTube for helping me write my article. The silky smooth voice of Eli Gold details each race of the season, and this article would not be possible without these wonderful and educational videos. You can watch the 1995 season review by clicking here…here….here….here…..and finally….here.
Congratulations to Jeff Gordon: The 1995 Winston Cup Champion!
Gordon’s Season Stats:
Races: 31
Wins: 7
Top 5: 17
Top 10: 23
Poles: 8
Laps Led: 2,610
Average Start: 5.0
Average Finish: 9.5
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