Jeff
Gordon will compete in his 23rd and final full-time Sprint Cup Series season in
2015. Gordon announced the decision this morning to the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports
team, and operation he has headlined since November of 1992.
“As
a race car driver, much of what I’ve done throughout my life has been based on
following my instincts and trying to make good decisions,” Gordon said. “I
thought long and hard about my future this past year and during the offseason,
and I’ve decided 2015 will be the last time I compete for a championship. I
won’t use the ‘R-word’ because I plan to stay extremely busy in the years
ahead, and there’s always the possibility I’ll compete in selected events,
although I currently have no plans to do that.
“I
don’t foresee a day when I’ll ever step away from racing. I’m a fan of all
forms of motor sports, but particularly NASCAR. We have a tremendous product,
and I’m passionate about the business and its future success. As an equity
owner in Hendrick Motorsports, I’m a partner with Rick and will remain heavily
involved with the company for many years to come. It means so much to have the
chance to continue working with the owner who took a chance on me and the
incredible team that’s stood behind me every step of the way.
“Racing
has provided a tremendous amount of opportunity that’s been extraordinarily
rewarding and fulfilling in my life. The work we’re doing with the Jeff Gordon
Children’s Foundation will continue to be extremely important to me. Outside
the race car, my passion is pediatric cancer research, and my efforts will
remain focused there when I’m no longer driving.
“I’ll
explore opportunities for the next phase of my career, but my primary focus now
and throughout 2015 will be my performance in the No. 24 Chevrolet. I’m going
to pour everything I have into this season and look forward to the challenge of
competing for one last championship.
“To
everyone at NASCAR, my teammates, sponsors, competitors, friends, family,
members of the media and especially our incredible fans, all I can say is thank
you.”
Gordon,
43, has earned four career Cup championships, 92 points-paying race wins and 77
pole positions, all for longtime car owner Rick Hendrick. He is third in
all-time victories behind only NASCAR Hall of Fame drivers Richard Petty (200)
and David Pearson (105).
One
of the most versatile drivers of his era in any auto racing discipline,
Gordon’s résumé includes three Daytona 500 victories and a record five
Brickyard 400 wins. He is the sport’s winningest road course driver with nine
victories, stands alone as the all-time leader with 12 restrictor plate wins
and has won at every track on the Sprint Cup circuit with the exception of
Kentucky Speedway.
“There’s
simply no way to quantify Jeff’s impact,” said Hendrick, who first noticed
Gordon during a race at Atlanta Motor Speedway in March 1992. “He’s one of the
biggest sports stars of a generation, and his contributions to the success and
growth of NASCAR are unsurpassed. There’s been no better ambassador for stock
car racing and no greater representation of what a champion should be. I will
never be able to properly express the respect and admiration I have for Jeff
and how meaningful our relationship is to me. I’m so grateful for everything
he’s done for our company and my family, and I look forward to many more years
together as friends and business partners.”
Hendrick Motorsports will
announce plans for its 2016 team alignment at a later date.
Moody, do you think that Jeff is just going to hang it up? I know that he's had his back issues, but I just can't see him going cold turkey. Perhaps we finally see a cup car out of JRM for races he'd still like to run?
ReplyDeleteLet the haters hate him personally, but Jeff Gordon needs to be respected for his awesome body of work in NASCAR, period! That is unquestionable/non-debatable!
ReplyDeleteClearing the way for Chase Elliot?
ReplyDeleteGood for him. He won't have to race is in this silly chase. I hope a reporter is brave enough to ask whether or not that was a contributing factor.
ReplyDeleteHe completely changed the game. The Larson's, Logano's, Custer's etc. owe a lot to him.
Welcome Chase Elliot! Ellen, JJ's girlfriend
ReplyDeleteThere is the seat for Chase Elliott. We all wondered what car he would be in and now we know.
ReplyDeleteA class act. Farewell Jeff, race hard, race to win.
ReplyDeleteJeff has had a great career, but I hope this announcement doesn't mean he is going in the NASCAR HoF in 2016. Sure he deserves it and will be a 1st ballot shoe in, but lets work on the backlog first before the likes of Jeff Gordon and Mark Martin are fast tracked in.
ReplyDeleteHe needs to break out the Rainbow Warrior paint scheme for at least a few races this year, if not, just the non-points races
ReplyDelete