Jeff Gordon and Kyle Larson rebut Stephen A. Smith’s claim that NASCAR drivers are not athletes
ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith sparked backlash in NASCAR circles after stating on his SiriusXM show The Stephen A. Smith Show in May 2024 that race car drivers are not athletes.[1][2] “Come on, man. That don’t count. You driving a car!” Smith said. “I’m being honest. It’s a great sport. But come on, bro. Getting behind the wheel of a car is not the same. You can be behind the wheel of a car in your 60s and 70s for crying out loud.”[1]
Jeff Gordon, a four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion (1995, 1997, 1998, 2001) and NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee (Class of 2019), and Kyle Larson, the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion, both of whom drive for Hendrick Motorsports, responded during a recent interview with Fox News Digital.[1][3][4] Gordon serves as a vice chairman at Hendrick Motorsports, the team that fields Larson’s No. 5 Chevrolet.[3][4]
Gordon acknowledged Smith’s comments might seek attention but emphasized the demands of motorsports. “Clearly he doesn’t know a whole lot about the sport, and he doesn’t know what it takes to be an athlete in motorsports,” Gordon said. “There’s no doubt about the mental fatigue it takes to be in the car for hours, the competitiveness and things that make drivers true athletes.”[1][2]
Larson challenged critics to experience a race lap firsthand. “If they did, I don’t think they would be able to make it a lap without feeling like they’re going to die,” he said, describing races lasting three-and-a-half hours in cars reaching 150 degrees Fahrenheit with heart rates sustained around 150 beats per minute and peaking at 190 for him.[1][2] Larson added that while definitions of athlete vary, the endurance required qualifies NASCAR driving as a sport.
Gordon noted he recently invited retired NFL center Jason Kelce for a ride-along and to drive on a course, suggesting it would change his perspective.[1][2]
Sources
- Fox News. “Jeff Gordon, Kyle Larson clap back at Stephen A. Smith’s claim NASCAR drivers aren’t athletes.” June 27, 2024. https://www.foxnews.com/sports/jeff-gordon-kyle-larson-clap-back-stephen-smith-claim-nascar-drivers-arent-athletes
- OutKick. “Stephen A. Smith: NASCAR Drivers Aren’t Athletes.” May 30, 2024. https://www.outkick.com/culture/stephen-smith-nascar-drivers-not-athletes
- NASCAR.com. “Kyle Larson driver page.” Accessed October 2024. https://www.nascar.com/drivers/kyle-larson/
- Hendrick Motorsports. “Jeff Gordon team page.” Accessed October 2024. https://www.hendrickmotorsports.com/team/jeff-gordon
