NASCAR Champions Fire Back After Sports Pundit Questions Their Toughness

Clear Facts

• Stephen A. Smith claimed NASCAR drivers are not athletes, stating “you’re driving a car” and drivers can compete in their 60s and 70s
• NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Larson challenged critics to complete one lap at 200 mph in 150-degree heat without feeling like they’re going to die
• Four-time champion Jeff Gordon noted drivers endure hours of mental and physical fatigue with heart rates reaching 190 bpm during three-and-a-half-hour races

Sports commentator Stephen A. Smith stirred controversy in NASCAR circles after declaring drivers are not athletes during his SiriusXM show last month.

“Come on, man. That don’t count. You driving a car!” Smith said. “I’m being honest. It’s a great sport. But come on, bro. Getting behind the wheel of a car is not the same.”

“You can be behind the wheel of a car in your 60s and 70s for crying out loud.”

NASCAR legends Kyle Larson and Jeff Gordon didn’t let the remarks slide. During an interview with Fox News Digital, they defended the physical and mental demands of their sport.

“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 began. “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. 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. It’s just in a different sense of how a stick-and-ball sport is perceived as an athlete.”

Larson, the reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion, issued a direct challenge to Smith or anyone questioning drivers’ athletic abilities.

“Everybody’s got a little bit different definition for what an athlete might mean to them. So his definition is different than the way I would feel about it. Do I get worked up about it when I hear somebody say that we’re not athletes? No.”

“I do,” Gordon interjected.

Larson continued with measured perspective while laying out the facts.

“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. 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 explained.

“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. 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.”

Gordon revealed he recently invited former NFL center Jason Kelce to experience racing firsthand, taking a lap and driving a car on a course.

“I’m pretty sure he’d have a different opinion about it,” Gordon said. “Just ask him.”

The debate highlights a long-standing divide between traditional sports fans and motorsports enthusiasts. NASCAR drivers endure extreme physical conditions while maintaining split-second decision-making at speeds exceeding 200 miles per hour. The combination of sustained cardiovascular stress, heat exhaustion risk, and the mental acuity required places unique athletic demands on competitors.

Both Gordon and Larson represent the pinnacle of NASCAR achievement, with Gordon’s four Cup Series championships and Larson’s recent dominance showcasing years of dedication to their craft.

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