Jeff Gordon says his biggest regret is never questioning Dale Earnhardt's rivalry tactics

Former NASCAR champion Jeff Gordon revealed in an interview that his greatest regret is never having asked Dale Earnhardt how genuine their on‑track provocations were. Gordon recalled the 1995 championship celebration when he lifted a glass of milk in response to Earnhardt’s taunts, a moment that delighted fans.

Gordon explained that, beyond the rivalry, the two drivers were business partners as co‑investors in Action Performance, the company that held exclusive rights to NASCAR die‑cast cars and merchandise. Their rivalry helped boost media attention and grow NASCAR’s fan base, with sales of both drivers’ merchandise benefiting each other.

Gordon now wonders how much of Earnhardt’s provocations were calculated for publicity rather than personal animosity, a question he never got to ask before Earnhardt’s fatal crash in 2001.