Gordon, Earnhardt, Johnson laud exchange of ideas with NASCAR
LONG POND, Pa. -- Jeff Gordon has logged plenty of miles in his stock-car racing career, ever since running his first NASCAR race back in 1990. But for all the sights and on-track highlights, last weekend's summit of drivers with NASCAR officials off the track left him captivated by the possibilities for the future of the sport.
"I've got to say I think this is one of the coolest things I've seen happen in this sport since I've been in it," the four-time Sprint Cup Series champion said Friday at Pocono Raceway, site of Sunday's Axalta "We Paint Winners" 400 (1 p.m. ET, FOX Sports 1, MRN, SiriusXM). "I only wish it had happened long before my final year."
Despite his transition in his last full season of racing, Gordon was among several drivers included in a closed-door meeting of a specially selected drivers' council last Saturday night at the casino and convention center adjacent to Dover International Speedway. The meeting was intended to spark discussion and open the lines of communication among drivers and the sanctioning body's competition department.
Other drivers who have confirmed their attendance were defending Sprint Cup champion Kevin Harvick, Joey Logano, Tony Stewart, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Denny Hamlin and Kyle Larson -- all selected by their peers. From that part of the process to the sharing of ideas on various topics, Gordon lauded the progress made.
"I thought having the drivers choose it and having certain categories and ways to go about it, and just the openness that NASCAR had to pursuing that, I think it is awesome," Gordon said. "I really do. I think it is one of the greatest things that I have seen. When I look at maybe top 10 things that I see happening in this sport, this is one of them. I sat in that room and was in awe and just wowed by this step forward."
While NASCAR officials this week downplayed the gathering as one of many informal meetings with competitors and teams, drivers almost likened it to a paradigm shift in how the sides will communicate for the betterment of the sport. In terms of what was discussed, no one has said in specific detail -- only that the topics of safety enhancements and settling on the right rules package were among the biggest items.
"I feel like we are in an environment right now where there is going to be more change and trying to make the right decisions is important," Johnson said. "I feel that the drivers … we are living it inside the car. I know there is a lot of simulation and technology out there to kind of say what will happen, but we just want to make sure our voice is heard and the people that make the decisions know what is really going on in the car. I guess right now the rules package is the priority from the drivers' council."
Earnhardt said NASCAR approached the drivers and asked them to help organize the summit, a feat that required coordination of everyone's busy schedules -- a stumbling block for setting up meetings in the past, he said. From there, the drivers chose their delegation -- a group that Gordon said could change over time based on the potential for voting off council members should their participation wane.
Drivers indicated Friday that the possibilities for future council summits -- including who participates, how frequently the sides meet and the meeting format -- are all developing. The common thread, Earnhardt said, is working toward a better stock-car series.
"Things always change, improve, evolve and this is just kind of a more organized way for us to get in a room and have conversation about everything on the table," Earnhardt said. "I think it is awesome because you have all the NASCAR guys in there that you want to talk to that you want five minutes with. You have a lot of great race car drivers in there with a lot of great ideas and opinions.
"Everybody is in the room to work together. Everybody wants the same thing. We all want to have a healthy sport. We all want the racing as good as it can be and as safe as it can be. We talk about everything. We talk about the hot button topics and we talk about everything as far as what we think about particular tracks."