Stephen A. Smith’s viral claim that NASCAR drivers “aren’t athletes” has now drawn a strong response from one of the biggest names in racing history.
Jeff Gordon didn’t hold back.
The four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion joined the growing list of NASCAR figures pushing back after Smith questioned whether stock car drivers should be considered athletes during a recent SiriusXM appearance.
“Come on, man. That don’t count. You driving a car!” Smith said during the segment. “I’m being honest. It’s a great sport. But come on, bro. Getting behind the wheel of a car is not the same.”
The comments immediately sparked backlash throughout the NASCAR world.
And Gordon made it clear he believes Smith fundamentally misunderstands what drivers endure inside the car.
Jeff Gordon Pushes Back on Stephen A. Smith’s Take
“My first response is, do we really want to give clicks and attention to Stephen A. for, I feel like that’s what he’s asking for there,” Gordon said during a recent interview with Fox News Digital.
“But at the same time, 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 then detailed the physical and mental demands drivers face during NASCAR races.
“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,” Gordon continued. “It’s just in a different sense of how a stick-and-ball sport is perceived as an athlete.”
The NASCAR Hall of Famer’s comments quickly spread across social media as fans and drivers continued debating Smith’s remarks.
Kyle Larson Also Weighed In on the Debate
Gordon wasn’t the only NASCAR star to push back on Smith’s comments.
Reigning Cup Series champion Kyle Larson also addressed the debate, though he admitted he understands why some outsiders may not fully grasp the physical demands of the sport.
“I just accept that they won’t understand, because they will never be able to strap into a race car that goes 200 miles an hour,” Larson said in the same interview with Gordon. “If they did, I don’t think they would be able to make it a lap without feeling like they’re going to die.”
Larson then pointed to the extreme physical conditions drivers face during races.
“And then you factor in three-and-a-half-hour-long races and a 150-degree car with an elevated heart rate of probably 150 for three hours, with a peak of, for me, would be 190,” Larson continued.
“I think then they would quickly realize that although you’re not shooting a ball into a hoop, this is definitely a sport and definitely a tough one where you have to be an athlete — maybe more on the endurance side of things.”
Jeff Gordon Wasn’t Alone in Defending NASCAR Drivers
The backlash toward Smith’s comments has continued growing across the garage.
Former Cup Series champion Kurt Busch also went viral after issuing a direct challenge to Smith on social media.
“Let’s go cupcake,” Busch wrote. “I will personally drive you around a nascar track for 30mins or when you pass out on lap 30.”
Front Row Motorsports later piled on as well, inviting Smith to experience a Cup Series car firsthand.
The reaction reflects a frustration many inside NASCAR have long felt whenever the sport is dismissed as “just driving.”
And with a figure as respected as Gordon now weighing in publicly, the debate has only intensified.
Why Gordon’s Response Matters
Few voices in NASCAR history carry more weight than Gordon’s.
The Hendrick Motorsports vice chairman won four Cup Series championships, captured three Daytona 500 victories, and helped elevate NASCAR into the mainstream during the 1990s and early 2000s.
Even after retiring from full-time competition, Gordon remains one of the sport’s most influential figures.
That’s part of why his response resonated so strongly.
For many NASCAR fans, Gordon wasn’t simply defending drivers — he was defending the physical and mental reality of what the sport actually demands.
And judging by the continued reaction online, this debate isn’t fading anytime soon.
Jeff Gordon Sounds Off on Stephen A. Smith’s NASCAR Comments