“You Don’t Like Supportive Parents”—Fans Divided as NASCAR Driver Namedrops Jeff Gordon in a Rant

Inducted into NASCAR’s Hall of Fame in 2019, Jeff Gordon raced full-time in NASCAR from 1993 to 2015. During this span, the “Rainbow Warrior” won four Cup Series championships and three Daytona 500 titles. Inducted to the NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2019, Gordon is NASCAR’s leading entry (23 overall) in the list of the world’s highest-paid athletes in career earnings. He has won close to $700 million in career earnings as per Statista. Hanging his firesuit for good in 2015, Jeff Gordon has since taken up the role of Vice Chairman for Hendrick Motorsports. 

Never at the center stage of any controversy, Gordon has always been loved and revered by the NASCAR community. But a recent tweet from NASCAR’s “Pizza Man,” wherein he namedropped Jeff Gordon, has divided fans.

What caused the ARCA Menards Series driver to namedrop Gordon?

Although Gordon’s professional racing career started in 1991, the “Rainbow Warrior” got his first taste of racing when he was just five years old. Driving a quarter midget car around a makeshift racetrack that his step-father had converted from a fairground, the young Gordon found his love for the racetrack. Jeff Gordon set five track records at just six years of age and won 35 main quarter midget events. Taking inspiration from his step-father, John Bickford, Gordon then moved on to driving a sprint car, gradually making his way up to stock cars. Initially struggling for funding, Jeff Gordon made his mark when he won at the 1992 Atlanta Motor Speedway. After that, Rick Hendrick hired Jeff Gordon to drive full-time for HMS, and the rest is history.

As Gordon’s racing roots stem from the quarter midget cars, Brayton Laster namedropped the HMS VC while ranting about parents spending outrageous amounts of money for their kids’ go-kart racing. “Parents really will spend like $5,000 on a go-kart for their 4 year old in a spec class with 4 other karts and when their kid wins they act like blud is Jeff Gordon,” wrote the Fast Track Racing driver.

Watch This Story: Jeff Gordon Gives Advice To His 18-Year-Old Self That Would’ve Saved Him From Bitter $15.3 Million Loss

While this rant from Laster found support from a few enthusiasts, many others were not pleased with his remarks.

Brayton Laster’s Jeff Gordon comment has fans on the fence

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Following the comments on parents likening their kids to Jeff Gordon, divided opinions filled in the comments on Laster’s post. Many fans even attacked Laster’s remarks noting how his parents too must have done the same thing. Laster then responded to those comments saying that as a kid he got a used chassis from a friend. His parents then spent a small amount of money to source tires and a cheap motor from Harbor Freight. The “Pizza Man” even noted he never won and just had fun while racing as kids.

Here are some of the mixed comments from fans.

“D*mn sounds like you don’t like supportive parents. What’s going on”

“I’m sure your parents once did the same”

“I don’t think that is the end all be all. Should probably be an investment, and then try to pick a sponsor deal for the kid. If they’re really ‘Jeff Gordon’ they’ll keep growing and winning stuff.”

“My son has been given a PS2 and Dirt 2 Daytona. He’ll find his way.”

“Then at that same track they’ll be a guy unloading a kart from the back of an S10 with 2 year old tires just trying to have a good time”

“I’ve seen this at junior speedway motorcycle races. It’s nuts.”

Read More: Weeks After Brutal Rick Hendrick’s Final Warning, Ross Chastain Confesses Being Left Breathless by HMS Boss

Do you think Brayton Laster’s rant is justified? Share your thoughts in comments below.