The Season That Changed NASCAR Forever...

[@Commonsense-ftw]

Millad, this video hits home being a lifelong Gordon fan. Nascar choosing entertainment started in 04 and they doubled down in 14. Can’t believe it’s been 10 years of a final 4 championship. Wake me up from this nightmare

[@doubledeuce-cn6fv]

In 2014 I was a Gordon fan and Oakland A’s fan. Clinical Depression.

[@HighWideandHandsome]

My trajectory is a lot like yours. 2014 felt so unreal at the time. After so many years of watching Jeff run decent, but not top of the pack, only pulling off wins here and there, I was ecstatic to see him lead the standings almost from the get-go and most of the year. Then Texas happened and I was crushed. Even moreso for me, though, was Phoenix the next week, knowing that it wasn't even on him that he missed. Newman bumped Larson out of the way and the extra point made all the difference. I think that took the life out of my NASCAR fandom for a while. Though I did start watching the 2015 season, once it became apparent that the #24 was worse than ever, I trailed off mid-season and didn't come back until I realized that I wouldn't get to watch his last season ever again. I vividly remember watching his Martinsville win and cheering, hoping that just maybe he could walk away with the title his last season and make up for 2014. But it was not to be.

[@chiefsonic24]

1. I was at that Michigan race and it was insane how fast they were going. Impossible to get a picture. 2. As a Gordon fan, it still haunts me in my head

[@ssb-br0wnies61]

Allegedly Gordon was told by NASCAR to come down pit road to get out of the way of the final 4 as they didn’t want a non final 4 driver winning the race even though he had the best car

[@brendanrb1014]

If that's true I swear to god

[@zay2439]

Wouldn't surprise me, wouldn't be the first time we got robbed...

[@davids5006]

I was a Gordon fan since his rookie year and I'm glad I got to catch his final win in person! 🏁🏆🏁

[@kameroncombs9868]

I’ve been a Gordon fan since I was old enough to say his name. My grandpa had me hooked when I was about 5. 2013 was the first season I watched completely through and 2014 was a great. Still go back and watch these even though it hurts to not see him win that championship

[@tylerhernandez5234]

As a Jeff Gordon fan, after I look back on it, I see the Texas race as a racing incident. I may have been pissed at Brad for years, but after reflection and chilling out, I've come to terms they both went for the same real estate

[@davisowen97]

As bad as that Texas race was, that finish at Phoenix kept me up all night and forever made me question post season formats entirely in Motorsports as a whole. Still to this day, I never understood how someone as dominant as Jeff and even Junior to a certain extent couldn’t qualify for the chip but Newman did.

[@JayuDark]

Jeff not winning the championship aside I LOVED 2014. Last year before they cranked down the horsepower but also I saw Jeff win at Indy and Michigan. That's a season I will never forget! But like you how I watched NASCAR and who I rooted for changed after Jeff retired. Now I follow Hendrick and several others. I was ALL IN on Jeff and I don't see myself ever doing that again for anyone

[@runrafarunthebestintheworld]

I didn't love 2014 all that much. It was so furustrating seeing drivers early in the season not being able to pass the leader because of an air bubble and making clean air way too important. Then teams flared out the side skirts which probably should've been illegal but they did nothing.

[@dshih199]

why would you bring up such a season radman… do you know how much pain and heartbreak us gordon fans went through

[@TexasNightmare24]

Yes 😭

[@hsidd24]

It was amazing having so much speed every week though ngl

[@Bakedbeans81]

2014 for gordon fans 💀💀

[@TheJason989]

Indeed

[@TexasNightmare24]

That race still hurts

[@hsidd24]

Pain

[@seanman4826]

Damn right

[@hunternixonfishing2500]

Just like 2020 for us Harvick fans

[@wolfeguy0049]

Watched before 2014 but 2014 is the first season I really remember. That Texas race man... watching it live was so cool but heartbreaking

[@jonathangrey6354]

it wouldve been so poetic that the race track that beat Jeff Gordon the most (3 DNFs in his first three attempts, took him until 2009 to win there; issues in the 2012 fall race, issues in both 2013 races) would send him to compete for his long awaited fifth championship (which i believe with full confidence that he would have won). Gordon executes a great restart (something he always struggled with) with 10 to go, pulls out to a 1.7 second lead in only 5 laps, only to have a caution come out and, well, we all know what happens next.

[@roguesquadron521]

After 2014 as a Gordon fan (and once he retired), I stopped watching until 2020ish when I somehow got back into it. I'm now a Byron fan (though I like Elliot and Larson too), but still I will never forget 2014.

[@jamesmaas3928]

The old points system literally made me be invested in every race. Now i dont care until the playoffs and even then its a hard watch.

[@Reckless2402]

Gordon is a 7x Winston Cup Champion. GOAT. 95, 97, 98, 2001, 2004, 2007 and 2014.

[@dariusreynolds7538]

It was fun being a harvick fan in 2014 but I loved seeing Brad being a menace😂

[@annevanish]

Awesome vid radman! I love your normal gameplay vids but this was so awesome hearing you speak on a season and in detail great vid!!

[@danielclark8702]

It was so painful I shall never forget it, was so angry & disappointed with Gordon at Texas at first & then keselowski for a long time after

[@dpatton2020]

This was a hard watch. I can feel myself starting to boil once he started talking about the Texas race

[@toasted2127]

kansas/martinsville 2021 still gives me ptsd (only busch fans will know that he needed 3 points for final 4 he got 26th at kansas because of damage and 2nd at mville)

[@burgnutt8378]

This is basically a Jeff Gordon trauma dumping video, 2014 absolutely broke me as a fan

[@brandonsolis2107]

2014 as a Gordon and Packers fan had me on a watchlist

[@tylerpowers453]

I blame 2014 Jeff Gordon missing the round of 4 to Jimmie Johnson and Jeff's pit crew. Before everyone gets pissed off hear me out. Jeff Gordon's crew screwed the tire change after the spin. that slowed him down too much. But if everyone remembers, Jeff went a lap down by mere feet leaving pits. Jimmie had about two car lengths to Keselowski under that caution. Alan and chad should have been in conversation to slow up, literally just a hair, while still maintaining pace car speed to keep position. Gordon's car hauled ass that restart, but due to being a lap down he only position passed 1 car. If he was on the lead lap he easily gained about 15 points that restart, and then Newman would not have had a reason to wreck Larson because he could not point in.

[@joshpruitt293]

It took some mental fortitude to even do this. I myself also dipped on the rest of the 2014 season. Saw the Phoenix “highlight” in 3 with Newman elbowing Larson to welfare his way into the 4, but was out entirely on Homestead. I’ve never seen it and never intend to.

[@coreypayne1208]

The year Brad became the villain

[@curtisharvey5579]

10 years later the Phoenix BS pains me more than Texas. Because Gordon crossed the line in the championship, then a kamikaze move from a scrub took that away

[@Kristian____Forest]

8:52 me right now i was so pissed off when that happened i completely lost it

[@esportscfb]

Man I just remember absolutely losing it after Phoenix and I think I would have broke the tv if Gordon won Homestead knowing that he got screwed.

[@tomasmowery164]

Nascar needs to get 900 horsepower back. Yes it's expensive but the racing product will get older fans back and new manufacturers would come no matter what.

[@ZwoodsRacing]

As a lifelong Mark Martin fan, I tend to ironically chuckle at Gordon fans lamenting about missed championships.

[@runrafarunthebestintheworld]

Yeah I don't think it was as bad as it's protrayed if the race stayed Green Gordon wins Texas easily.

[@MarkOliveras215]

My last full year in the Sandhurst House in Brook Park at the age of 20 which was also my last year of school where I officially completed 2 full years at Polaris with my teacher Mr. Charnigo since I was failing in my original class in the middle of 2011-12 which allowed me to meet some new friends that I never would’ve met had my life not gone down the path it did + on top of that, my San Antonio Spurs won their 5th championship as redemption from the previous year’s heartbreak and my move to Ridgeville was confirmed at the beginning of the 2014-15 season where I started it on Sandhurst and finished it in Sandy Ridge. Man I feel old! But the NASCAR fan in me that year was a different person compared to the one you see today. I was the #1 Larson hater who was salty about my previous driver that being JPM losing his ride to him so I became an Austin and Ty Dillon fan which was already set in store 2 years earlier as they were moving up through the ranks and as you can imagine, I was upset about Ty losing the Truck Championship in 2012 from Larson’s divebomb but now none of that stuff bothers me anymore and I’m pretty much over all that now that I’m older so I do like Larson now as I met him in 2022 at MIS where I apologized to him, he forgave me and we snapped a photo which transformed us from longtime rivals to good friends. And I don’t blame you Radman about not wanting to watch footage of that 2014 Fall Texas Race due to PTSD because I can relate as a Spurs fan with Game 6 of the 2013 NBA Finals which still haunts me even to this day. Thanks for bringing back a lot of memories for me along with making me feel old. Excellent video and good reminiscing!

[@christophercantu2005]

It brings me back. It sucks cause I think i started following nascar in 2007. Uncle and dad were Gordon fans, and I just loved the flames on that car. Always heard drive for five and wanting so badly for him to win a championship while I was watching. I thought 2014 was gonna be the year, and that damn Texas race just destroyed that hope. It sucks that I wasn’t a fan in his prime although to be fair I would’ve been in diapers at the time 💀

[@hsidd24]

Extra painful for us younger Gordon fans who never got to experience him winning a championship. What could’ve been 😞

[@runrafarunthebestintheworld]

I sort of watched the 2001 season but that was tough to watch in general.

[@Borchert97]

2014 was one of the last great seasons.

[@FoxiFyer]

Some key years in modern NASCAR history, 1992, 1998, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2011, 2014, 2020, and 2022

[@idkIamBORED]

2012 and 2004 should also be added but I am biased lmao

[@runrafarunthebestintheworld]

2007 was so great it started off with back to back bangers if not more than that. 2011 was awesome and man that Phoenix race was pretty decent. Same with many other races. Sad I missed the finish of the Las Vegas race though because I had to help out my parents outside.

[@dexterfason578]

And one specific race in 2008 (Indy)

[@joshpruitt293]

I’d argue all of 1992-1994 needs to be in there. There were 2 major deaths in 1993 that shook up the driver lineup like a west coast quake. 1994 saw the intro of Indy and E’s 7th title.

[@bostonwarrior4824]

U didn’t even mention Newman or Jimmie Johnson. Newman was so consistent it was insane. And although jimmie took a big step back, that season he was arguably just as fast as the 24 at times, hms was really strong that season, consistency wise

[@idkIamBORED]

I know Newman probably should not have won the championship, but he was top 5 in points until like the 2nd 2 last race of the regular season

[@runrafarunthebestintheworld]

Yep but Jimmie Johnson was out of the playoffs once Texas came around.

[@bostonwarrior4824]

@@runrafarunthebestintheworld yeah because he crashed at Kansas because of Greg Biffle who took him out😂 then there was no recovering from any mess you had, you had to win, no matter how good you were all season. Like there’s no bonus points like there today. I mean he still won Texas though, he was strong but certainly not like top2 but, he was competitive all year for the most part. The thing that hurt Newman was he never won

[@eliultramotive]

Jeff Gordon made the final 4 in 2015 by winning at Martinsville

[@thedarkmikebass8530]

I share the PTSD feelings about 2014. It would've been nice to see Gordon win the official championship. By that point, after ten years of the Chase nonsense, I had already switched to ignoring the official standings and tracking season-long points instead. I still do that to this day, as it's the only way I can care about the Cup under these systems that have crowned multiple illegitimate champions.

[@tomterrific6085]

2014 is to Gordans fan what 2016 is to Carl Edward fans, don't want to talk about it and gets PTSD if reminded

[@hunternixonfishing2500]

2020 for us Harvick fans

[@tomterrific6085]

@@hunternixonfishing2500 Yh I felt hella bad for Harvick and sadly that coincide with the beginning of the end for SHR

[@timchapman9926]

Im pretty sure it was Clint Bowyer causing the late cautions in Auto Club and Texas 2014 that cost Jeff Gordon two wins that year. 💀 Clint was a menace to Jeff for many years

[@ashtonsahlstrom8431]

As a fellow Jeff Gordon fan, I relate to the bad feelings about 2014, especially the Texas disappointment. Wondering also though, did you have a hard time with the Bristol summer night race in 2015? He drove the rainbow scheme again and almost could’ve won but he had to come to pit for a unscheduled stop for a loose wheel or vibration. That race hurt too.

[@spencerropas2855]

I was at that race, and as a Gordon fan I was really excited to see him up front after being stuck in traffic all race. I thought he could win because I remember he was running second and then he went down pit road for a unscheduled pit stop and my heart sank…

[@sharkk127]

I still find it funny how i really got into nascar around 2014 yet still prefer the gen 4 cars so much more than every other generation

[@runrafarunthebestintheworld]

Yep not even the 2014 cars can top the Gen 4 Cars at all.

[@bageltheonemanarmy2178]

2018 roval is my sporting event I will never watch again. I was so excited to see Jimmie and Truex fighting for a win, and then Jimmie just pushes to hard and they both spin out. Still hurts everytime I see it on shorts.

[@runrafarunthebestintheworld]

I was probably the most unphased Gordon fan ever because I knew in 2014 Gordon just wasn't good at restarts and Texas 2014 was one of those times. Also if Keselowski didn't fight Kenseth he probably would've been the champion too. Still mind boggling that with 6 wins he didn't win the title because he was on a championship run he came in clutch at Talladega 15:56 funny looking back at that because someone touched Delena's head. I also didn't watch the 2006 champions league final. The first champions league final I watched was the 2013 final same with the 2013 Europa League final I actually came rushing home from school just to watch the Europa final and caught it near the end of the second half into extra time.

[@davids5006]

His best restart was at the brickyard that year

[@runrafarunthebestintheworld]

@@davids5006 Yep and he was literally driving through the field in that race as well. Clearly wanted to win a 5th Brickyard 400.

[@natethacker896]

as a Kevin Fan 2014 was a great year for me I'm hoping Bell can win in 2024 since he's always been my second favorite

[@runrafarunthebestintheworld]

Yep Bell is overdue for a title.

[@Ronald_JonesMinakoHamlinfan]

17:48 He won in the playoffs at Martinsville

[@Dennyhamlin23XI]

Should have been Jeff Gordon in 2014 Ik him and harvick both had an incredible 2014 campaign if Brad didn’t force it 3 wide on that restart at Texas who knows what would have happened and people are going to argue about the call taking 2 tires instead of 4

[@ryanmfussner]

As a fellow Gordon fan, I too disassociated with nascar after 2014 and stopped watching for a few years after Gordon retired until roughly 2018

[@TheJason989]

2014 Fall texas race gives me bad vibes but 2014 nascar season is was good fun season

[@njj9555]

It was “fun” but not accurate in crowning a deserving champion.

[@njj9555]

It was “fun” but not accurate in crowning a deserving champion.

[@njj9555]

The more you segment the playoffs or any race, the more luck is involved.

[@NottherealKyleLarson]

I used to be mad at Newman for that at last lap move but until he got the championship in Newmans last full time start lol

[@RG5_Gamin]

This was my favorite season of all time, the racing was greats at every track, just pain as a Chevy fan this year

[@timechanger9162]

What’s even worse is Gordon dominated homestead then another late caution his crew chief which imo was his worst crew chief made a stupid call And that was it His race over Gordon is the true third 7 time champ

[@tomasmowery164]

If they scrap the playoffs more fans will come.

[@nascarnational]

what people have to realize about nascar's thinking back then has to do with jimmie johnson & how so many people reacted negatively to that, and how nascar mishandled the changes they made to stop the dominance. they might've stopped the dominance, and while getting a repeat champion is almost impossible today, it doesn't mean the mission was a complete success. if anything, nascar could've done the same thing WAY better with much better execution. off the top of my head i don't exactly know how but i think they could've done it, especially considering the sport allowed the playoffs to change *several* times between 2007-2016. basically, nascar had understandable intentions but imo they weren't done in a way i would've, or how most others would. i'd be shocked if some nascar brass at the top today don't regret going at these circumstances on a whim, very deep inside, despite not wanting to admit to it. the amount of meddling done to the points format was simply diabolical and i hope we don't see that many revisions in that short a span ever again.

[@runrafarunthebestintheworld]

Yep plus the mission wasn't really complete as Jimmie Johnson came up clutch an actually won at Homestead. I thought he deserved it. 2016 started off great for him as he was battling Kevin Harvick for most of the season.

[@kyledavenport6505]

You onow o never thought about it but i stipped wat hing soon after this too. Im a KB fan so i missed half the next season until he came back and tore things up. But i think i missed the next four years until co id and now im back full speed

[@WizardKingNick]

I was a Gordon fan back then. All the rumors of him retiring and I was looking for the next driver I wanted to root for. Brad was my next choice, but after Texas I hated him, I actually wanted to fly to Texas to beat the crap out of him. So when that happened KB became my favorite. Slowly though I still like KB but I've just became a Toyota fan in general but still root for KB (F). Also I'm almost completely sure Bowyer was the one who brought out the caution and I was convinced he did it on purpose back then.

[@timchapman9926]

It was infuriating to be a Jeff Gordon during that time. I was born in 2002 so never got to see him win a championship, after years of Jeff being so inconsistent leading up to 2014, why did the rules have to change so stupid to prevent him from winning the 5th title? 💔

[@willsugleris1751]

2014 texas for Jeff Gordon fans is like 28-3 for falcons fans (I’m a falcons fan ☹️)

[@lckiller17]

It was my 1 year at high school

[@aiwash2766]

Sameeee

[@DoritoDoritio]

Why is your description the 2001 Daytona 500?

[@runrafarunthebestintheworld]

He has a reaction video of that race.

[@justinmiller9299]

Oh jeez. So many Gordon fans lol. Y’all had to be humbled at some point and Gordon got his shot the year after. I mean I’m Stewart fan and it wasn’t easy going down this as his career faded majorly. But for 2014 even being a Gordon fan had to be fun to watch right?

[@alawalter918]

Question for you all, if Harvick doesn’t win the championship this season (2014), does he ever win one period?

[@runrafarunthebestintheworld]

Harvick is retired.

[@davids5006]

He definitely isn't winning one this year lol

[@alawalter918]

@@runrafarunthebestintheworld I meant in the video, 2014

[@alawalter918]

@@davids5006 I meant in the video, 2014

[@runrafarunthebestintheworld]

@@alawalter918 if he didn't win 2014 he rightfully would've won in 2015.

[@casimir110]

2014 was such an interesting season. it like radman said, it was hell. the format sucked, it was annoying and too unpredictable. The Winston Cup Series Format. just simple get the most points. the fact they got rid of single car qualifying was menace-like. The Fighting was something else xd. one of the only good things about 2014 was the speeds. the michigan 214 mph was insane!

[@daviddudycz5351]

2013 is what made Nascar change the chase for the cup for 2014. There is one word that i can say that made that change: manipulation. This new format prevents that and prevents drivers from dominating first half of the season and basically hanging back in second half with championship locked in, like the prime Jimmie.

[@JustinCollier-rd4fs]

2014 was the last great season, and the quality of the racing didn't need a change to the chase

[@roseannleadbetter1598]

Last question she went back, but maybe not a good idea because knowing the drivers these days they’re probably gonna kill each other

[@kennethbarrett2967]

Honestly i miss the the long lap races instead of these weak ass race stages in ONE race. I feel it’s more exciting the old way. That was the true nascar I remember

[@EViLGrEEn42090]

I was a Gordon fans since I was 6 and I watched Gordon win the Daytona 500 in 97. So Dominate. My Dad worked at ford but all my Drivers were Chevy, Gordon, JR, I liked Martin, and Rusty. I stopped watching for 10 years. I’ve never liked the chase. Maybe Kyle Bush but nobody since the 98 season has anybody averaged a 5.4-5.6 finish and Martin was averaging 6 something. Thats real racing and Dale senior. 1999 season was cool because JR, Stewart, Kenseth. One of the best rookie classes I ever seen. Hendricks fan, try to root for some fords lol. Though even at my older age I’m pulling for Ross Chastain. Different world than being a Gordon fan. lol Real good driver he just needs the speed. Right situation he would take a few of these guys spots right time right place. Trackhouse still working out the kinks.

[@zacharyzbeetnoff7043]

I’ll stand by this. If they had the chase format they had in 2010-2012. Jeff Gordon would be a 5 time champ. Hell, was a young fan. This elimination style makes little to no sense. I’m good with a 10 race chase, no win and your in. And you get points

[@tylerpowers453]

caution was for fucking clint bowyer of course

[@sunshinecoolwater9528]

Here before the debris caution.

[@Adamwinters]

Indeed.

[@Trucker2487]

What do you mean!? There were drivers back in the day that were aggressive, Jeff Gordon an Kevin Harvick are literally 2 of them that were. Tony Stewart, Dale Earnhardt, Kyle Busch, I can keep going if you need me to.

[@Mattyice2000]

I thought that season was really good

[@andrewwaring3643]

I forgot all about that final race until you mentioned Jeff Gordon pitting for no reason. I remember there being a lot of conversation about whether or not NASCAR told Jeff Gordon to basically come down pit Road and basically stay out of the way of the final four drivers.

[@jrpace87]

Gordon did win in 2015. Logano&Kenseth overshadowed it

[@tylerhomerding]

I thought the cars in 2013 had a bigger spoiler?

[@runrafarunthebestintheworld]

Nah it was kind of medium size but I disagree there was chaos at the Begining of 2013 but there was so many boring races that he only other thing that was chaotic at the end was the Chase Grid of 17 different winners and then the Richmond cheating scandal.

[@jc1424]

I was never a fan of a driver over NASCAR tbh

[@KidLatin27]

Are you kidding I remember watching the 2014 season and as a jeff Gordon fan myself plus I hated Brad keslowski because of what he did with Jeff Gordon and now I like Brad keslowski and looking back at it now it was just a racing incident and at this point I really wanted Jeff Gordon to get his 5th piston cup and if NASCAR never made the playoffs he would have won the championship but to me Jeff Gordon won the championship in 2014 and 2015 it should've been dale jr and Carl Edwards in 2016 as well too and I'm still a Hendrick Motorsports fan but with chase Elliott and Alex Bowman William Bryon and Kyle Larson.😊

[@spencerropas2855]

As a Gordon fan after the Texas race I hated keslowski. Now in todays nascar I kind of route for Brad because is kind of a underdog, but I will still never like him because of the Texas incident😂

[@TheBraydenBunch58]

*The dreaded chase grid………*

[@Itsgamingtime11YT]

Hello

[@hunternixonfishing2500]

Harvick would be a 4 time champion if not for this stupid playoff

[@typeastro]

hi

[@bigdc48]

As a Penske fan and a Gordon hater: 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 The 2014 season was GOATed

[@njj9555]

What is wrong with you?

[@swiqft5529]

gordon k