Jeff Gordon Insults Large Segment of NASCAR Audience by Taking Direct Shot at WWE Smackdown During Bristol Dirt Race
NASCAR fans have been waiting all year for the dirt race at Bristol. They had to wait an extra day after the area endured a deluge on Sunday. The Monday event lived up to expectations as Joey Logano won the NASCAR Cup Series race, and both fans and drivers were pleased with the final product. However, some fans watching on television likely weren’t happy during the race when Jeff Gordon fired a direct shot at the WWE.
Jeff Gordon and Clint Bowyer promote Bristol dirt race
There was a buzz around the spring race at Bristol since NASCAR announced it would be the first Cup Series race on dirt in 50 years. The network heavily promoted the event since the season opener at Daytona.
Fox used Jeff Gordon and Clint Bowyer in one spot to promote the event, with the pair hanging out at a smaller dirt track. Both former drivers-turned-broadcasters each donned a pair of goggles trackside and watched as a car zipped by, throwing dirt in their faces.
The commercial took a funny turn when both began drinking from red plastic cups, and Bowyer protected his cup by covering it with a pair of pantyhose he “borrowed” from Gordon. In addition to that commercial, both drivers continually talked about their excitement around the event during race broadcasts.
Jeff Gordon takes direct shot at WWE Smackdown
On Monday, the Bristol dirt race finally happened. It lived up to the billing as the Cup Series drivers slid their way around the half-mile track known as “The Last Great Colosseum.”
Under a caution midway through the second stage, Fox went to a commercial break. The final spot during the break was a promo for the upcoming WWE Friday Night Smackdown. When the commercial ended, the NASCAR broadcast resumed up in the booth with Mike Joy, Jeff Gordon, and Clint Bowyer.
After Joy referred to the Bristol race as dirt track mania, Jeff Gordon jumped in with his own observations of the race, and took a direct shot at WWE in the process.
“Smackdown’s got nothing on Bristol dirt. Come on. Come on,” Gordon repeated.
“Oh boy, I’m going to step back from you here,” Joy said as he stepped away from Gordon.
“Exactly,” Bowyer agreed with a laugh on Gordon’s other side.
Jeff Gordon has a history with WWE
It’s never good business for Jeff Gordon or anyone at Fox to take a shot at another Fox show. Despite his comments, Gordon has actually teamed up with WWE in the past.
In September 2019, Gordon, ironically enough, did a spot for Fox promoting the network debut of Friday Night Smackdown. During the commercial, he donned his racing gear and then welcomed the new show to the network by getting behind the wheel of a moving truck that featured various wrestlers on the side of the vehicle.
Gordon opened the truck door that read: “Friday Night Smackdown is moving to Fox.” The commercial ended with the truck going out of the picture and the screen showing the date for the network premiere.
While Jeff Gordon’s comments likely offended some NASCAR fans watching the Bristol dirt race on Monday, he’s not anti-WWE. He’s just more of a fan of Bristol dirt.
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