THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 23, 1995 TAG: 9507230215
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BOB ZELLER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: TALLADEGA, ALA. LENGTH: Medium: 78 lines
At the end of a long press conference at Talladega Superspeedway on Saturday, NASCAR's hottest driver, Jeff Gordon, took a moment to address a misconception about his boyhood years in Pittsboro, Ind.
He 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 town but, ``I could get there blindfolded with my hands behind my back. 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 press.
The cover story in the current issue of Sports Illustrated concerns NASCAR racing, and in the article Kyle Petty chided Gordon and his team for a sign on the back of their transporter that said, ``No Interviews Until After Qualifying.'' (The article didn't mention that Petty's own transporter has a sign that says, ``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. He's won five races this year and leads the Winston Cup points chase.
We demand perfection from our sports heroes, but when they live up to our expectations, 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 he's doing is not an act. Gordon is the same fellow in person that he is on television.
``He's a good kid. I've been telling people that for years,'' crew chief Ray Evernham said. ``He's under a lot of pressure, and he handles it. And everyone doesn't see all the good things he does.
``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 talked a bit about the pressure on Saturday.
``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 racetrack, doing the best job we can.''
But he addressed the subject far more eloquently last April after winning the pole position at North Wilkesboro Speedway. The pole-winner's interview was in the cramped, windowless confines of the infield media center. Gordon pulled up a chair and stuck around as the press 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.' ''
As as Evernham pointed out, Gordon has much to be thankful for. He may be under pressure, but he earns millions of dollars because of it.
``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.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Jeff Gordon
by CNB