Gordon’s departure raises question: Who will his fans support? – Nascar

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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — The couple waited outside Chase Elliott‘s garage stall inside Daytona International Speedway Friday afternoon. For two hours they had held position; a pen and souvenir car in hand, ready to go.

As Elliott finally appeared, and made his way through the garage toward his car, Debbie Tenges moved forward in the crowd to get the autograph. Her husband Timm looked over proudly. Without stopping or slowing Elliott signed his name and went into his garage for Daytona 500 practice.

Tenges walked back to her waiting husband a few feet away, smiling widely. There was even a little skip in her step.

For longtime avid Jeff Gordon fans like the Tenges, this was an important and emotional first step. And the initial autograph interaction would verify or deny their adoration instincts.

“I wasn’t sold on Chase even before we left for this trip, but I watched his demeanor,” Timm Tenges acknowledged. “I didn’t cheer for him when he started, I thought he was too young, but I respected his abilities.

“But the dynamics are different and he has set the stage for us. It’s difficult to let go of the 24 and imagine it without Jeff in it, but I think Chase will give it a good ride.”

A few moments later, 35-year-old Gainesville, Florida, native Tobin Hedglin took position outside Elliott’s hauler across from the No. 24’s garage stall. He was dressed in a bright multi-colored Jeff Gordon T-shirt with a new Chase Elliott embroidered NAPA hat on his head.

Hedglin conceded he gave the decision a lot of thought, but insisted he is all in with Elliott despite sporting the Gordon shirt. He lifted his shirt up a bit and smiled. Underneath was a fresh Chase Elliott-version.

“It’s tough finding a new driver, but you don’t just switch teams,” Hedglin said, explaining his support includes an entire room in his house decorated with Gordon memorabilia.

“Chase starting first in his first big race doesn’t hurt though,” he said, smiling about Elliott’s pole-winning effort for Sunday’s Daytona 500 (1 p.m. ET, FOX, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

“It’s gotta be added pressure for Chase, but he’s with Hendrick, he’ll have the power. I watched Bill Elliott race when I was younger and I hope Chase follows in his footsteps.”

Jeff Gordon isn’t the only one making a major transition this season.

So are his fans.

RELATED: Gordon embraces new career with ‘contagious’ energy

Gordon’s retirement at the end of the 2015 season has been a huge deal to his vast and vocal legion of supporters. Without the four-time champ lining up on the starting grid, who would they be able to cheer for, who would their heart pine for?

It’s a big decision for NASCAR fans — who cheer for, dress for, argue for their favorite driver.

It was a much easier decision for Gordon who to support.

“It was nothing but just gleaming pride coming out of me,” Gordon said of Elliott winning the pole for his Daytona 500 debut. “I was just so proud of them. Being a part of this process, of bringing Chase to that group.”

“(Crew chief) Alan (Gustafson) can tell you, we would have meetings in March (of 2015) after a race and we would be in a debrief talking about a race and I would say ‘Hey, just a note. This is for Chase. Tell Chase about this part of the track or this moment he needs to think about this.’

“We’ve been preparing for this for a long time; I’ve been 100 percent supportive. I think he’s a great kid; I think he’s going to be a superstar in the sport. I also know that there are ’24’ fans out there that were really on the fence about whether they should keep the 24 or not keep the 24. As soon as that car was on the pole, every one of those ’24’ fans were like ‘Yes!’ and they were on board.”

Longtime Gordon fan Jason Marks shares the sentiment. He walked around the speedway infield Saturday proudly dressed in a Jeff Gordon T-shirt, and the Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, resident said he saw no reason to abandon any of his Gordon-themed wardrobe.

“Just because he retired doesn’t mean you’re not a fan,” Marks said. “Ten years from now I could still wear a Jeff Gordon T-shirt.”

Marks explained, “I could care less about the (car) number, it’s just a number. For me, even before I knew Jeff Gordon was retiring, I liked Chase Elliott so it felt like it all fell into place.

“I watch all the XFINITY and Truck races so I had liked him before. It has nothing to do with the number. I really do think he should get the credibility for his personality and for winning the XFINITY championship.

“Chase Elliott is very likable. It seems like he has a lot of talent and I think it’s going to work out pretty well.”

Patrick Kozak, 46, also sported a No. 24 T-shirt at Daytona this week. He explained he had a difficult time making the decision to root whole-heartedly for someone other than the four-time champ. He loved Gordon’s friendliness as much as his ability behind the wheel and the standards are set high.

Elliott winning the pole position for the biggest race of the year, however, finally helped sway Kozak’s decision toward the young driver.

“I’m going to give him a shot and see where it goes,” Kozak said.

Then he smiled and added, “He’s going to be around for a while.”