New FOX Sports Films Documentary Explores Rivalry & Friendship of NASCAR Icons Dale Earnhardt and Jeff Gordon
UNRIVALED: EARNHARDT VS. GORDON Debuts Thursday, Feb. 14 on FS1
The Yankees vs. the Red Sox … Lakers and Celtics … Earnhardt and Gordon …
Every sport has an iconic rivalry that defined an era and cemented a fan base for generations to come. In NASCAR, that was found in the memorable battles of two of the most-popular drivers of all time — seven-time champion Dale Earnhardt and four-time champion and FOX NASCAR analyst Jeff Gordon.
FOX Sports Films, in collaboration with NASCAR Productions, DLP Media Group and executive-produced by Gordon, explores the racing legends’ relationship on and off-the-track in UNRIVALED: EARNHARDT VS. GORDON, a 60-minute documentary premiering Thursday, Feb. 14 on FS1 (10:00 PM ET immediately following the network’s coverage of THE DUEL AT DAYTONA).
“The Dale Earnhardt/Jeff Gordon rivalry was one for the ages,” said Charlie Dixon, EVP, Content at FOX Sports. “Race fan or not, everyone was familiar with these two and was captivated when they crossed paths on the track. FOX Sports Films is thrilled to highlight those encounters and the unexpected friendship they shared off the race track.”
Earnhardt and Gordon staged one of sports’ fiercest and most-captivating rivalries. Bitter enemies behind the wheel, the two vastly different men were fast, yet unlikely, friends outside their race cars. From their family backgrounds to their driving styles, paint schemes and fashion sense, the icons could not have been more polar opposites. UNRIVALED: EARNHARDT VS. GORDON strips away the public façade to highlight the unpredictable intersection of their lives and personalities and their impacts on NASCAR.
“Working on this project brought back so many memorable moments,” Gordon said. “Dale was such a fierce competitor, and he used his bumper plenty of times to teach me lessons on the track. Off the track — and I don’t know exactly why — he took me under his wing to teach me so much about the business side of our sport.”
The documentary also explores the racers’ polarizing fan bases, allegiances still evident today in a stroll through race track infields.
Interviewees in the film include: Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Rick Hendrick, Ray Evernham, Richard Childress, Larry McReynolds, Jay Wells, JR Rhodes, Don Hawk, Daniel Ricciardo, Ricky Craven, John Bickford, Carol Bickford, Joe Garner, Dr. Jerry Punch, Ryan McGee, Marty Smith, Kyle Busch, Austin Dillon, Mike Helton, Brian Williams, Gavin Kilduff, Chocolate Myers, Andy Petree and Chris Williams.
FOX Sports Films is dedicated to presenting captivating global sports documentaries through an unconventional and entertaining lens. Working with FOX Sports’ live rights league partners, each year the FOX Sports Films team produces original programming around the world’s biggest sporting events. Most recently, the group produced three documentaries in association with Major League Baseball, honoring legendary player moments from Kirk Gibson, Jim Abbott and Aaron Boone. Prior documentary work also includes the four-part series ALL THE WAY UP: BAKER MAYFIELD, which follows the NFL journey of the 2017 Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback; and U.S. OPEN EPICS: TIGER AND ROCCO, which chronicles Tiger Woods’ historic win over Rocco Mediate at the 2008 U.S. Open Championship.
About FOX Sports
FOX Sports is the umbrella entity representing 21st Century FOX’s wide array of multi-platform US-based sports assets. Built with brands capable of reaching more than 100 million viewers in a single weekend, FOX Sports includes ownership and interests in linear television networks, digital and mobile programming, broadband platforms, multiple web sites, joint-venture businesses and several licensing partnerships. FOX Sports includes the sports television arm of the FOX Broadcasting Company; FS1, FS2; FOX Sports Regional Networks, their affiliated regional web sites and national programming; FOX Soccer Plus; FOX Deportes and FOX College Sports. In addition, FOX Sports also encompasses FOX Sports Digital, including FOXSports.com and the FOX Sports app. Also included in the Group are FOX’s interests in joint-venture businesses Big Ten Network and BTN 2Go, as well as a licensing agreement that established the FOX Sports Radio Network.
