Jeff Gordon Career #59 2002 Sharpie 500 At Bristol Finish

Jeff wins at Bristol at night for the first time in a epic bump and run finish on Rusty Wallace

[@truspirit1925]

These were the days....can't tell ya how much these good ol days made me feel...adrenaline rush....being a 24 fan....the excitement was so unbelievable.

[@kylefrey3136]

Rusty complaining about Jeff bumping him is hilarious since he did the same thing to Harvick to get the lead...

[@DavidJ867]

That's what people forget about this race. Everyone remembers Gordon bumping Rusty out of the way for the win, but hardly anyone remembers Rusty doing the same thing to Harvick to get the lead in the first place.

[@shredbacca]

Kyle Frey we have the same last name

[@stevensmall9398]

What goes around comes around

[@Fordyote5.0]

He was Whining? Lol

[@Leandros912]

I was a kid when he won this race, but it's stayed in my mind for many years. Something about this win that is so incredible.

[@chrisuncleahmad]

Still hard to believe this is Gordon's only Bristol night race win.

[@nascarfanatic2425]

It really is, especially considering how dominant he was in 2011.... ONLY TO LOSE IT TO THE DAMN PIT ROAD TIMING AREAS!!!!!

[@MRNASCARFAN25]

Back then the old Bristol was hard to win not like today Bristol to easy

[@JeffGordonFan4Life]

miss when the track use to be like this

[@WhoopityDoo]

Damn straight. They turned it into a miniature Dover with that stupid fucking progressive banking.

[@stonewalljackson4535]

This always brings a huge smile to me face. The camera from the back of Krusty's care is priceless. All you see is that blue Du Pont. Once of my favorite NASCAR moments. Couldn't have happened to a nice guy

[@bcs7888]

Even after the 2015 Martinsville victory, this is my favorite Jeff Gordon victory. So much behind it, and the way he got it done!

[@brianhawkins4165]

Anen

[@oompalee267]

Man I miss this type of racing. I miss when I used to be able to watch an entire race and not fall asleep or change the channel. I miss when night races were special instead of having one every other week. I miss real champions at the end of the season not a 10 race champion.....Good ol days :(

[@oompalee267]

Also missed sold out crowds and people going crazy during races and I miss BP and HELL I miss TNTs old coverage they suck now with the huge advertisement banner over the ticker thankfully well never see that much of the screen taken over just to say KFC or Sprint.

[@oompalee267]

oompalee267 LOL im not done i just keep watching and finding more things I miss. I miss when someone cursed on screen they laughed instead of instantly freaking out and apologizing nonestop.

[@oompalee267]

oompalee267 LIFE IS A HIGHWAY I WANNA RIDE IT ALL NIGHT LOOOONG lol even the cheesy music at the end.

[@WhoopityDoo]

No, he's right. NASCAR was so much better before Brian France got a hold of it. His stupid gimmicks ran a lot of fans off.

[@mrbeaverstate]

I love Gordon but Rusty's response was just great.

[@FastLane46]

I was only 7 when this race took place, but man I remember flipping out when Jeff moved Rusty out of the way and took the checkers. I wish NASCAR could be like this again, though 2014 was a pretty good season IMO

[@Mycrazyadventur91]

It's funny how he makes it seem like it was wrong for what Gordon did, but just 10 laps prior Wallace did the exact same thing to Harvick

[@costalucas98]

I'm definitely gonna miss the DuPont car.

[@jeremeymcdude]

This race is an example of how to race at a short track. Anyone who watched this race today and is angry MTJ got moved by Logano should look at this race to understand that this is how you win at a short track.

[@JJA1987]

People are so pussyfooted now over many things and Joey did nothing wrong in that deal

[@dudeduderson7267]

Back when NASCAR could fill up every seat

[@DavidJ867]

LOL. Different reactions to the bump and runs going on in the late laps. Rusty bump-and-running Harvick: "Little bump and run there..." Gordon bump-and-running Rusty: "THE BUMP AND RUN!"

[@nathanwygal5526]

LOL I know right!

[@brianhawkins4165]

Virtual Zenlethics that’s great ❤️

[@WhoopityDoo]

It's a shame how much they fucked this track up with that repaving. No idea what Bruton Smith was thinking. You used to be on a 3 year waiting list to get a ticket for this race. Now you can buy 20,000 of them the night of the race if you want to.

[@nigelio3]

They fucked it up trying to create multiple grooves. Instead of leaving it alone, which was fantastic. Having one lane (on the bottom) created the need for diving your nose under somebody or the bump-and-run. It intensified the need of getting a great run off of the corner to set up the entry of the next. It was the best racing in the history of the series.

[@Weezy10580]

Rusty blew this race

[@tonyfurtado9037]

Back when drivers new how to “move” another driver without wrecking them.. IMO These were the best drivers in the best Era in NASCAR. This was racing!

[@reeceschrock396]

This was my first time seeing Jeff Gordon win. I was 6 or 7. I liked him cus my dad liked him.

[@mattshaw3225]

THE GREATEST RACE....OF ALL TIME

[@turbospencer3182]

Back when Bristol was the most exciting track of them ALL !😢 WISH it was still that configuration! Mark Martin described racing here better than any other quote!

[@DavidStewart-np3cj]

Man that replay, Jeff really popped him. Just destroyed the bumper sheet metal on the 2 car. When Rusty moved Harvick, there wasn't a scratch on either car. Seems like Jeff got to the gas--hard!

[@Reckless2402]

he didn't wreck him, who cares. He didn't hit him that hard

[@JJA1987]

Rusty did it too Jeff only he wrecked him at Richmond in 98 so that was some payback for that

[@devonmartinez1857]

They got history, but Rusty was blocking a bit

[@reeceschrock396]

My first time seeing Jeff win. Was so stoked.

[@nightflyer3242]

This race made me fell in love with NASCAR.

[@Jutho3121]

Absolute. Classic. Race. Period.

[@Gtaivfan1000]

Did not notice until now, when they showed the replay of the move Gordon made, I did not realize how hard Gordon nudged Rusty out of the way, he actually caved Rusty's bumper in quite a bit lol :)

[@jordantollefson7150]

I remember watching this awesome shit

[@micoolangelo]

This is the Bristol Racing that I miss so much

[@rdaws73]

The 90s thru the mid 2000s was the best years for NASCAR. Miss those days.

[@justicesierra25]

Awesome seeing Steve Letarte celebrate as a member of the 24 crew.

[@USAD3AGLE]

Thanks for the upload man, this win has a distinct memory for me. Great timing too with Rusty's induction! Keep it up

[@needsmetal]

Imagine how many wins he would have if he still had Everham

[@GreenDayBestDayAlt]

This race is one of my favorites ever Jeff getting off his winless streak and knocking Rusty Wallace outta the way Loved and Rusty reaction "I was trying desperately to knock the shit outta him but just couldn't catch him" Priceless

[@crbassassin]

the single grove racing is better than the side by side racing we have at bristol. Back then you could pass, now its just two cars running side by side

[@Rainbowarriors24]

yea wouldnt say it was Rusty's favorite moment but shows the rivalry and great racing these two put on.

[@JJA1987]

Had their been more laps Junior might have caught both of em cause he was the fastest car toward the end of the race

[@joeysixtysix]

Derp

[@Reckless2402]

Ah back when the fans were full and the race track was awesome. They ruined it when they re-did it years ago.

[@jamesmoster9227]

good hard racing 🏁

[@ballsthatclank]

Today they have to fucking wreck someone to pass them...the bump and run is a lost art.

[@tonyenglish7176]

Rusty didnt get turned sideways as he said. Its a classic move and was for years before Gordon came along. Dale Earnhardt being one who used it. Rusty struggled with crying and was dubbed the "cry baby" for years. Hes a great driver and didnt need to make excuses or blame.

[@Colddeed]

It's funny how the crowd seems to cheer for Jeff during his victory lap/burnout, but then start booing him when he gets out of the car.

[@dbo2834]

Chevy ford dodge pontiac. Its a shame what we have now

[@bdavis24fan]

Hmmmm the 25 of Joe Nemechek was a teammate to the 24 in 2002. CONSPIRACY THEORY!!!! lol But in all seriousness this was a great moment. Too bad Jeff doesn't have more wins in the night race at Bristol.

[@Colddeed]

Back when Jeff Gordon still got booed an awful lot.

[@racinboy234567]

From what I remember those cars didnt have a whole lot of rear bumper bracing like the cars of today have, so doing that wasnt real hard.

[@shawnramsey2791]

He mad cause he got out bumped at the right time

[@jruh42]

I am a huge NASCAR fan but this chase is pushing me to just stop watching. Stupid chase!

[@kylefrey3136]

***** How long tho will it be exciting? It's the same thing each and every time. In the end that's going to get old. Brian France doesn't understand that. Or anything really about how NASCAR should operate.

[@jackjohnson9603]

What are you talking about Kyle? France made the chase so it will NEVER be the same because of the rounds and the winner take all. Finally France has listened to the fans by giving us the gen-6 and basically Jimmie proofing the chase. You saw Newman throw Larson out of the way right? I'm a gordon fan and I thought this was the best NASCAR chase ever wish they would just put it back to the way it was but hey this is fine too

[@kylefrey3136]

You don't understand what I'm saying. The last race literally always has the same set up. It's the same storylines each time basically. There's always going to be 4 drivers who have a shot of winning a championship in the last race. He's making every championship battle a game 7. The problem with that is the aura and the unpredictability of a championship race is ruined. There might be some fun battles, but it will get boring very quickly.

[@jackjohnson9603]

I see your point but can't agree. First off you said that it would get old having four drivers each year. Well aren't there always two teams in the Super Bowl? And the whole unpredictability thing is ridiculous at least now four drivers go in with a shot so there's always a possibility of four outcomes. Second the way it used to be was this guy has to come in and finish 20th and no matter what happens he's the champion isn't that boring?

[@kylefrey3136]

Yes but we're not talking about football are we? NASCAR was about that every year there would be a chance of any driver having a shot of winning the championship. Now drivers are eliminated from even contending for a championship before 7 races to go in the season due to a few bad finishes. It's stupid. For example, this past year Gordon easily was the best driver but due to the chase format, he was out of contention before the last race. Which is stupid. The whole aura of a championship was ruined because now you basically only have to win one race during the first 26 weeks and then you can take it easy until the last 10. That's not a real champion. As for your last point I always found the championship race as a bonus, I would rather have great races each week than a fun championship battle and boring racing. People show up to see good racing. But to each his own on that. France keeps trying to make every championship battle exciting, but that's going to make it not exciting because it's the same thing each and every year. 4 drivers in the last race have a shot. Before when that happened it was amazing, it was must see TV, now it's just what happens EVERY SINGLE YEAR.