This is the latest in a series of NASCAR fan profiles. You can catch up on previous editions here.
Name: Jeff Anderson
Location: Allen, Texas
Twitter name: @jeffanderson42
Age: 46
1. How long have you been a NASCAR fan?
Since the early 80’s. Hardcore since ’92.
2. How many races have you attended?
As of the start of 2017, 105 Cup races. Double that if you count the lower-tier series.
3. Who is your No. 1 favorite driver?
It was Jeff Gordon. Now it’s Chase Elliott.
4. What made you a fan of Gordon?
I’m from Indiana, so I followed his career in sprint cars. Even saw him race a couple of times before the jump to NASCAR. When he made that move, I followed his progress. Never imagined he would become what he did.
5. Who is your most disliked driver?
Denny Hamlin.
6. Why don’t you like him?
He just doesn’t seem mentally “ready for prime time” and never seems to take responsibility for his many mistakes. His attitude towards other drivers at times has been particularly two-faced, in my opinion.
7. What is your favorite track?
Darlington. Love the racing up against the wall.
8. What is one thing you would change if you were in charge of NASCAR?
As a long time hardcore fan, I would kill to be able to get my hands on a Hot Pass. It’s a shame that those seem to only go to people that are sponsor affiliated or know somebody. I understand why those people get them, but I would love to spend a weekend hanging out in the garage just watching what all goes on up close.
9. What is one thing you would keep the same if you were in charge of NASCAR?
I’m torn. The playoffs have added a level of excitement and drama that is hard to quantify. In this day and age of short attention spans, I think you have to have the type of playoffs we have now. I just worry that we will get a champion one of these times that really isn’t indicative of the season. I’m hopeful that the new tweaks to the system have made that less likely.
10. How often do you yell at the TV during a race?
Not as much as when Gordon was still driving, although the late yellows with Chase Elliott leading did illicit a fair amount of shouting at the screen.
11. Do you have any advice for other fans?
When you go to the track, spring for whatever pit road access you can get and spend time there during practice. Also move around to different parts of the stands and watch. Get down close to the track at a place like Phoenix and see the car dig into the corner. On race day, walk the pit road and look at all the equipment. At Kansas, for example, the season ticket comes with the pre-race pass where you can see inspection up close and the drivers meeting as well as walk pit road.
12. What else do you want the NASCAR world to know about you?
I used to travel for work a lot and would plan some of my trips to coincide with race weekends for tracks we didn’t usually attend. I visited places like Richmond, New Hampshire and Talladega that way. The people I worked with would figure I was coming to town because it was race weekend! It’s now easer for me to name the tracks I haven’t been to than the ones I have.