Everyone at Left Turn Cult posted their personal three best drivers of all-time via social media last week. Needless to say, it was taken to the heights of NASCAR Twitter and not in a good way.
The picks were as followed:
- Cody: (David Pearson, Dale Earnhardt Sr and Kyle Busch)
- JKL: (David Pearson, Ned Jarrett and Jimmie Johnson)
- Dalton: (Dale Earnhardt Sr., Darrell Waltrip and Kyle Busch)
- Cooper: (Dale Earnhardt Sr., Alan Kulwicki and Jimmie Johnson)
- Parv: (Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt Sr. and Kyle Busch)
Seen lots of lists recently and we wanted in on the fun, so here ya go!
— LEFT TURN CULT đ (@leftturncult) March 8, 2023
Who do you agree/disagree with? Who is in your top 3?
Light up those replies!#NASCAR75 | #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/TPdbwsNY3k
Now the one question on NASCAR Twitterâs mind is: âwhy the fuck is Ned Jarrett and Alan Kulwicki on this list, and why isnât Jeff Gordon?â
The answer is simple. Lists are subjective. Personally, I donât agree with Kyle Busch being in the best driver category of all time, but to each their own.
In all seriousness, Jeff Gordon did have a better career than Alan Kulwicki and Ned Jarrett, but is he in the top three of all-time? If anything, this particular tweet sparked conversation on who is the best three of all time?
The answer is simple.
Richard Petty, Dale Sr. and Jimmie Johnson.
Why didnât Gordon make the cut? He should have been better.
The all-time list composed by me (JKL of Left Turn Cult) is based on two things: All time wins, and then being each a seven time champion. Now calm down there, ârainbow warriors,â Itâs not as bad as it seems. Jeff definitely makes the top five. He just doesnât make the top three.
Here are the reasons: Gordon blasted on the scene like a shotgun blast in 1992. His first race was the Kingâs last race (refer to a paragraph above to see Richard on the true top three).
By 2001 he had gained four championships and fifty-eight wins. Obviously on the road to being the greatest of all time (G.O.A.T. for short), but then something happened. The next season in 2002 a young hotshot rookie, named Jimmie Johnson, would star in the fourth team at Rick Hendrick.
Gordon was the man Jimmie ran to and asked for advice on sponsorship. Gordon then explained to him his name has already been brought up at Hendrick, and that they should âStay in touchâ. Gordon denies having the main hammer when the deal was struck, but context clues definitely say he was providing the nails.
So why didnât Jeff Gordon make the top three?
Jeff Gordon.
Itâs his fault he hired Jimmie Johnson. If he had not even entertained a conversation with Jimmie, then, who knows? Maybe Jeff would have won more championships guaranteed with the seven time not going to Hendrick, and Jeff being the star player for another ten years.
Unfortunately (or fortunately) if youâre a Jimmie fan (those are rare) that didnât happen. Jimmie would obviously go on to win five in a row. Then win two more championships after that. Gordon would total out in more victories, but ships mean more than boats. Jimmie has seven ships. Gordon has four.
Now I know youâre angry, but I know you wouldnât knock off Dale Sr. The person you would take off the list is Richard Petty. The reasonings you have is the fact he ran when the competitive level was low, and he could afford to beat carpenters and plumbers. NASCAR has changed a lot since then.
The answer is simple: Jeff loses points for the rainbow scheme compared to the towering wing of the super bird. Sorry, I donât make the rules. Top five driver of all time.
Tell us what you think! Do you agree or disagree with ole JKL?
