By the numbers: How two departing champions stack up
You couldn't find two drivers more different than Tony Stewart and Jeff Gordon, two multi-time champions closing in on the twilights of their respective careers.
Gordon has eight races left in his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series career before he hangs up his helmet.
On Wednesday, Stewart will announce that he will retire from driving at the end of the 2016 season.
Both men are 44 years old, both have fervent fan bases and both are regarded by their peers as among the best racers ever.
In terms of personalities, though, they are different as night and day. Gordon, a native of California, brought in a whole new fan base to NASCAR with his polished and articulate personality, while Indiana native Stewart engaged fans with his throwback style and unfiltered comments. Gordon is a dedicated family man, Stewart a lifelong bachelor. Stewart has built Stewart-Haas Racing into one of the most successful teams in the sport, while Gordon will be part of the FOX NASCAR television team next year.
Here's how they match up statistically:
Championships: Gordon, 4. Stewart, 3. There was a time in the mid-to-late 1990s, when Gordon was almost unbeatable, winning three championships in four years from 1995-98. The one blemish on his record is that Gordon has never won a championship in the era of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, his last title coming in 2001. That said, he could still win a fifth title in this, his final season.
Stewart, meanwhile, is the only driver in history to win championships in Winston Cup title (2002), Nextel Cup (2005) and Sprint Cup (2011). Stewart also owns championships in the Verizon IndyCar Series, IROC and USAC.
Race victories: Gordon, 92. Stewart, 48. It's not surprising that Gordon has more victories than Stewart, given that Gordon has raced in the Cup Series a full six years longer than Stewart.
Gordon's victory total ranks him third overall in NASCAR Premier Series history behind only Richard Petty (200) and David Pearson (105). Stewart is tied for 13th overall in NASCAR victories with Herb Thomas, best known for driving The Fabulous Hudson Hornet in the early 1950s. Like Stewart, Thomas was a multi-time champion and a successful owner/driver.
Earnings: Gordon, $150,828,486. Stewart, $121,286,604. When it comes to getting paid, both Gordon and Stewart clearly came along at the right times. Gordon is the all-time leading money winner in the sport, while Stewart ranks fifth overall.
