The answer will probably not surprise you, when you consider the mainstream marketability of four-time series champion Jeff Gordon.
According to Repucom, which specializes in sports and entertainment intelligence solutions, Gordon was seen on TV for a total of just over 24 hours of broadcast time in 2014. He and his sponsors also generated more than one billion online impressions.
Gordon's fan base is approximately 14 million strong and one in five NASCAR fans identified Gordon as the favorite driver, according to data from Repucom.
"From Saturday night racing under the lights to 'Saturday Night Live,' the four-time Sprint Cup champion has provided a tremendous amount of exposure for NASCAR, Hendrick Motorsports, sponsors and charitable causes," said Peter Laatz, executive vice president of Repucom.
"Jeff Gordon's skills as an ambassador are surpassed only by his racing accomplishments."
Gordon is ranked third among current NASCAR drivers, behind Danica Patrick and Dale Earnhardt Jr. in overall marketability upon Reucom's Celebrity DBI, an independent index that quantifies consumer perceptions of more than 5,000 celebrities worldwide.
