Jeff Gordon Names the NASCAR Mount Rushmore with a Surprising Third Pick

One of the biggest debates in NASCAR over the years has been the answer to the question that who belongs in the Mount Rushmore of stock car racing and no one seems to agree on all four racers that deserves a spot there. Four times Cup champion Jeff Gordon, who is one of the racers that often gets named in the list has shared hi thoughts on the debate.

On his latest appearance on the Racin’ with the Boys podcast, the Hendrick Motorsports Vice Chairman was asked to name the four driver he thinks belong in the pedestal. The first name that came to his mind was seven times champion Dale Earnhardt, who dominated the sport in the No:3 RCR Chevy for decades.

Well, you know, I think that I look at it as a combination of championships and wins, right? Because if you look at Earnhardt, Earnhardt won seven championships, but 76 races, I believe, is what he won. And so, he doesn’t have the wins to go along with the number of championships. But yet he’s still number one.

Jeff Gordon said recently.

The second name was pretty obvious as well, as Jeff Gordon named Hall of Famer Richard Petty, who is the wingiest driver with 200 wins to his name in the top tier in a career that would never be bested in the Cup series. Then he named David Pearson, as his third choice, a debatable choice for some, but a strong one regardless.

And Richard Petty’s got 200 wins and the seven championships. You know, I didn’t race against Richard, but, I would put him as number two. And then David Pearson, to me, he’s second on all-time win list at 105 wins. And to me, he’s number three.

Jeff Gordon added via Racin’ with the Boys podcast.

The fourth choice was pretty obvious as the first two, as he named his ex-teammate Jimmie Johnson, as he believes all three seven times champions is an automatic addition to the list. The veteran asserted that he would rank himself fifth in the list, his career doesn’t saw the same amount of success and domination as the rest.

And then I’d put Jimmie number four, just because, you know, you got to have the three seven-time champions. I’m not putting myself up there. If you want to put a fifth up there, I’d put myself fifth. I mean, listen, if I’m Jimmie, it’d be hard for me not to put myself up there too, because you have to have the three seven-time champions up there. I mean, that to me is just a given.

Jeff Gordon asserted.

Jeff Gordon admits there is really one Mount Rushmore spot in debate

Later in the same conversation, Gordon admitted that the real debate about the Top-4 is always about who comes fourth behind Earnhardt, Petty and Johnson. He picked Pearson because he was one the serial winners of the sport for decades and his 105 wins record was something the ex-champion really wanted to break.

I think it really comes down to who’s the fourth, right? And I would put Pearson, just because I chased his record my whole career. Well, you know, halfway through my career, when I thought you’re not getting to Richard Petty at 200, but that 105 seemed attainable at one time. And, you know, I got to 93. So, to me, Pearson, and you look at his percentage of wins and,what he did…But man, that guy won. He won a lot. And I respect that.

Jeff Gordon asserted.

The comments from the champion racer are on point and there will be big majority in the community that would agree with him. Kyle Busch and Tony Stewrat are some of the other drivers that might have a case of making it into the list, alongside Gordon who in the eyes many deserves to be the fourth.

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