Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, July 23, 1995 TAG: 9507240090
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB ZELLER
DATELINE: TALLADEGA, ALA. LENGTH: Medium
Gordon said an Indiana publication had written that ``I don't remember where I lived in Indiana and all I remembered is that I lived on five acres outside Pittsboro.''
Gordon sought to set the record straight. Yes, he lived on five acres outside the small Indiana town, but, ``I could get there blindfolded with my hands behind my back,'' he said. ``I don't want people in Pittsboro to read that and say Jeff forgot where he came from.''
It was just another brush fire for a 23-year-old racing superstar whose life is running at 200 mph. Actually, there were two brush fires to address in this session with the media.
The cover story in the current issue of Sports Illustrated is NASCAR racing, and in the article Kyle Petty chided Gordon and his team for a sign on the back of their transporter that read, ``No Interviews Until After Qualifying.''
The article didn't mention that Petty's transporter has a sign that reads, ``Please, No Autographs During Practice.''
When asked about the sign, Gordon said, ``Somebody did bring that to my attention. I believe our sign came down. There's not going to be a sign anymore. That sign has been up there for two years. It was really just a team rule to try to calm things down a little bit.''
These two anecdotes illustrate just how hard Gordon is trying to please everyone. It's an impossible task, but he's certainly trying, and winning, too. Gordon has won five Winston Cup races this year and leads the points standings heading into today's Diehard 500.
We demand perfection from our sports heroes, but when they live up to our expectations, and taste success as well, some of us can't stomach it. But no matter what you say or think of the kid, he's doing an admirable job of handling the pressure of NASCAR stardom.
What Gordon is doing is not an act. He is the same fellow in person that you see on television.
``He's a good kid,'' said Ray Evernham, Gordon's crew chief. ``I've been telling people that for years. They've been wanting to make him into whatever, but he's a good kid. He comes from a good family. He's under a lot of pressure and he handles it.
``And everyone doesn't see all the good things he does,'' Evernham said. ``They don't see it when he rents a plane to fly back from Tupelo, Miss., so he can make my son's birthday party. And he commissioned a hat with all the proceeds going to the Leukemia Society [Evernham's son has leukemia].''
Gordon spoke a bit Saturday about the pressure.
``People are going to make comments, but we're not going to worry about them,'' he said. ``We're just going to continue - whether on or off the race track - doing the best job we can.''
But Gordon addressed the subject far more eloquently in April after winning the pole position at North Wilkesboro (N.C.) Speedway.
The pole winner's interview was in the cramped, windowless confines of the infield media center at North Wilkesboro. Gordon pulled up a chair and stuck around for a while as the NASCAR media corps probed the issue of the pressure and price of fame and success.
``If you've got a car capable of winning, do you fall back and keep friends or go out and try to win and maybe lose some friends?'' he asked rhetorically. ``I want to get along with everybody. I know it's difficult to see a 23-year-old doing the things we're doing. It would be difficult for me to see someone do it. But right now we've got to take advantage of it.
``I'm always being put to the test, so why can't I pass that test?'' he asked. ``I feel like, if I'm going to be graded, I want to get an A.''
Gordon said Saturday he really hasn't had a lot of frustration off the race track. ``It's all pretty much been on the race track,'' he said.
As Evernham pointed out, Gordon has much to be thankful for already. He may be under pressure, but he earns millions of dollars because of it, too.
``I think he enjoys it,'' Evernham said. ``He's starting to enjoy it more. The way I feel is I haven't been getting the attention long enough yet to be mad about it. I still like it. I'm afraid every day that it's going to go away.''
by CNB