Dale Earnhardt-Jeff Gordon Rivalry (Dale Earnhardt Survives)

The Dale Earnhardt-Jeff Gordon Rivalry is considered by many to be the greatest NASCAR rivalry of all time. But it wasn't just a rivalry, it was the beginning of new vs old fans, of a new era vs one that never truly ended, and of two men who couldn't be further apart. 
Twenty years later, people still talk about NASCAR’s greatest rivalry, Dale Earnhardt versus Jeff Gordon. Their opposition launched NASCAR into the mainstream in the 1990s and pushed the sport to its peak. And they’re both still thoroughly represented by fans at the race tracks.
== The Rivalry ==
After more than a decade of domination starting with the 1980 Cup Series championship, Dale Sr. was a ruthless driver nicknamed The Intimidator and NASCAR's biggest star in the dangerous No. 3 Chevrolet. But everything changed when California-native Gordon, 20 years Earnhardt's junior, took over in the No. 24 Chevrolet and won seven races and the championship in 1995. Between the 1993 and 2000 seasons, Gordon racked up 52 race wins and three of his four Cup Series championships compared with Earnhardt's 23 race wins and two championships. All of this would shift for 2001 through 2002, however.
=== 2001 ===
In 2001 Dale Earnhardt won his last Winston Cup title, and made NASCAR history with his record 8 championships. His biggest competition that season was Jeff Gordon, who was hunting for the title just as much as Earnhardt was.
WORK IN PROGRESS, TO BE FINISHED
Category:Dale Earnhardt Survives