"I didn’t say you weren't" - When Jeff Gordon confronted Ryan Newman for blocking Chase Elliott
Jeff Gordon once confronted Ryan Newman after Hendrick Motorsports driver Chase Elliott was held up by Newman while battling for his first Cup Series victory. In the closing laps of a playoff race at Dover, Elliott struggled to lap Newman, allowing Kyle Busch to steal the lead in the penultimate lap of the race.
The incident took place in 2017 when Gordon was part of the Fox broadcast booth, and Elliott was driving the #24 HMS Chevy, still chasing his first career Cup victory. Newman put up a staunch defense in the final laps, fighting to advance to the Round of 12 but ultimately missed out by one position, leading to his elimination.
Post-race, Gordon approached Newman on the pit road, where the latter was completing his media duties. The 4x NASCAR champion walked up to the #31 Richard Childress Racing driver and quipped, "Thanks for the help." Gordon felt compelled to stand up for Elliott and his former #24 HMS Chevy team.
"What’s that?" Newman replied walking towards Gordon.
"Thanks for the help," Gordon said."What was happening with the leaders, man," he added.
Newman stressed he was in his own battle, fighting to advance into the Round of 12.
"You don’t think I was racing for my own position?" to which Gordon replied, "I didn’t say you weren’t."
"Just watch what you say, man," Newman said before adding, "You said it as a smart-ass,"
"No, I didn’t, You took it that way." said Gordon and walked away.
Despite the post-race confrontation on the pit road, Gordon and Newman seemed to settle the matter near the garage area. The four-time NASCAR champion was seen putting his arm around Newman in a show of reconciliation.
As for Chase Elliott, he had to wait another year for his maiden NASCAR Cup Series victory, which he secured at Watkins Glen in 2018.
Jeff Gordon reveals which NASCAR driver got under his skin
In an interview with The Athletic reporter Jeff Gluck earlier this year, Jeff Gordon was asked which driver he’d least like to be stuck with in an elevator. The four-time NASCAR champion named Robby Gordon as the driver who got under his skin the most—even more than even former rival Brad Keselowski.
"Which driver would you least like to be stuck with on an elevator?" Gluck asked Gordon
"Probably Robby Gordon. Robby and I get along fine now, but of any driver, he has probably gotten under my skin the most. Even more than (Brad) Keselowski. Just go back and watch New Hampshire whatever year that was (2001)," Gordon said in response.
Robby Gordon was one of NASCAR's most chaotic drivers, who made plenty of rivals on the track. One such incident occurred in New Hampshire in 2001, when he tangled with Jeff Gordon, ultimately wrecking him in a heated battle to secure the win.