Jeff Gordon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jeff Gordon |
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Gordon at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2024
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| Born | Jeffery Michael Gordon August 4, 1971 Vallejo, California, U.S. |
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| Height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) | ||||||
| Weight | 150 lb (68 kg) | ||||||
| Achievements | 1995, 1997, 1998, 2001 Winston Cup Series Champion 2017 Rolex 24 at Daytona Overall Winner 1991 USAC Silver Crown Series Champion 1990 USAC National Midget Series Champion 1997, 1999, 2005 Daytona 500 Winner 1994, 1998, 2001, 2004, 2014 Brickyard 400 Winner 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2002, 2007 Southern 500 Winner 1994, 1997, 1998 Coca-Cola 600 Winner 1995, 1997, 2001 Sprint All-Star Race Winner 1994, 1997 Advance Auto Parts Clash Winner |
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| Awards | 1991 Busch Series Rookie of the Year 1993 Winston Cup Series Rookie of the Year Named one of NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers (1998) National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame (2009) Silver Buffalo Award (2009) Heisman Humanitarian Award (2012) Motorsports Hall of Fame of America (2018) NASCAR Hall of Fame (2019) West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame (2019) Named one of NASCAR's 75 Greatest Drivers (2023) See other awards and honors below |
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| NASCAR Cup Series career | |||||||
| 805 races run over 25 years | |||||||
| Best finish | 1st (1995, 1997, 1998, 2001) | ||||||
| First race | 1992 Hooters 500 (Atlanta) | ||||||
| Last race | 2016 Goody's Fast Relief 500 (Martinsville) | ||||||
| First win | 1994 Coca-Cola 600 (Charlotte) | ||||||
| Last win | 2015 Goody's Headache Relief Shot 500 (Martinsville) | ||||||
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| NASCAR Xfinity Series career | |||||||
| 73 races run over 5 years | |||||||
| Best finish | 4th (1992) | ||||||
| First race | 1990 AC-Delco 200 (Rockingham) | ||||||
| Last race | 2000 Miami 300 (Homestead) | ||||||
| First win | 1992 Atlanta 300 (Atlanta) | ||||||
| Last win | 2000 Miami 300 (Homestead) | ||||||
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| Statistics current as of October 30, 2016. | |||||||
Jeffery Michael Gordon (born August 4, 1971) is an American racing executive and former professional stock car racing driver. He is currently the vice chairman of Hendrick Motorsports. Jeff raced full-time from 1993 to 2015. He drove the No. 24 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series and Sprint Cup Series. He also filled in for Dale Earnhardt Jr. in 2016. Many people consider him one of the greatest drivers in NASCAR history. He helped make NASCAR very popular in the 1990s and 2000s.
Gordon started his racing career in the Busch Series. He then began racing full-time in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series in 1993. He won the Cup Series championship four times: in 1995, 1997, 1998, and 2001. He also won the famous Daytona 500 race three times (1997, 1999, and 2005). Gordon holds records for winning many big races, including three career Grand Slams.
He is third on the list of all-time Cup wins with 93 career victories. He holds the record for most wins in NASCAR's modern era (since 1972). In 1998, he won 13 races, which is also a modern-era record. Gordon also has 81 pole positions, which means he started first in 81 races. This is third all-time and a modern-era record. He won at least one pole in 23 years in a row, a NASCAR record. He also has the most wins on restrictor plate tracks (12) and road courses (9). He holds the record for most consecutive races, with 797 starts.
In 1998, NASCAR named Gordon one of its 50 Greatest Drivers. In 2019, he was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame. By 2016, Forbes magazine said Gordon was the highest-paid NASCAR driver ever. He was also the 18th highest-paid athlete of all-time, earning $515 million.
Gordon is also a co-owner of the No. 48 Chevrolet team. This team was previously driven by Jimmie Johnson, who won seven Cup championships. Gordon also owned a Busch Series team called Gordon/Evernham Motorsports (later JG Motorsports).
Contents
Early Life and Racing Start
Jeff Gordon was born in Vallejo, California. His parents divorced when he was six months old. His stepfather, John Bickford, married his mother in the 1970s. He has an older sister named Kim. His younger cousin, James Bickford, also raced. Gordon went to Tri-West Hendricks High School in Lizton, Indiana. He was on the cross country team and graduated in 1989.
When he was four, Gordon started riding a BMX bike. He began racing tiny cars called quarter midgets at age five. By age six, he had won 35 races and set five track records. In 1979, Gordon won 51 quarter midget races. At age 11, he won all 25 karting races he entered. When he was 12, he briefly tried waterskiing before returning to racing.
In 1986, Gordon started racing sprint cars, winning three races. The next year, at age 16, he became the youngest driver to get a USAC license. To help his career, his family moved from California to Pittsboro, Indiana. This area had more chances for young racers. In the late 1980s, he raced in the World of Outlaws series. He became the youngest driver in that series at the time. He also won races at Bloomington and Eldora Speedways.
After high school in 1989, he won three short-track races. He was named USAC Midget Car Racing Rookie of the Year. He also won the Night Before the 500 midget car race twice. In 1990, he won the USAC national Midget title. In 1991, Gordon won the USAC Silver Crown. At 20, he was the youngest to win that championship. He finished in the top 3 in 22 of 40 USAC midget car events between 1989 and 1992.
NASCAR Career
Busch Series Beginnings
In 1990, Gordon met Hugh Connerty, who helped him get sponsorship for a car. His first Busch race was on October 20, 1990. He started on the front row but crashed early, finishing 39th.
In 1991 and 1992, Gordon raced full-time in the Busch Series for Bill Davis Racing. He won Rookie of the Year in 1991. In 1992, he set a NASCAR record by winning 11 poles in one season.
Later, in 1999, Gordon co-owned a Busch Series team called Gordon/Evernham Motorsports (GEM). He drove in six races for the team. In two seasons, Gordon won two races: in 1999 at Phoenix and in 2000 at Homestead.
Cup Series Debut and Early Wins (1992–1994)
In 1992, Rick Hendrick saw Gordon race and signed him to Hendrick Motorsports. Gordon made his first Winston Cup race appearance in November 1992. He finished 31st after a crash.
In 1993, Gordon began racing full-time in the Winston Cup Series in the No. 24 car. He won his first pole position that year. He finished 14th in points and earned the Rookie of the Year Award. Many people were unsure if he was ready for such a high level of racing. He sometimes pushed his cars too hard and crashed.
In 1994, Gordon won the Busch Clash exhibition race. In May, he won his first Cup Series race, the Coca-Cola 600. Three months later, he won the first-ever Brickyard 400 in his home state.
Championship Seasons (1995–2001)
In 1995, Gordon won his first Winston Cup Series championship. He had a tough start but won three of the next six races. He also won the special The Winston Select race. He won five more poles and four more races that season. His consistent driving helped him win the title by a large margin.
In 1996, Gordon won ten races but finished second in the championship. He lost to his teammate Terry Labonte by only 37 points.
Gordon won two championships in a row in 1997 and 1998. In 1997, he won his first Daytona 500. He was the youngest driver to win it at the time. He won 10 races that year, including the Coca-Cola 600 and the Southern 500. He also won the "Winston Million" bonus. This was one of the best seasons in NASCAR history.
The next year, 1998, was even more amazing. Gordon won a modern-era record of 13 races. He won his third championship by a huge 364-point lead. He set records for four wins in a row and 17 top-five finishes in a row. He ended the season with seven poles, 25 top-five, and 27 top-ten finishes.
In 1999, Gordon won his second Daytona 500. He won several more races that year. His crew chief, Ray Evernham, left the team. Gordon then signed a lifetime contract with Hendrick Motorsports. This deal made him a part-owner of his No. 24 team.
In 2000, with new crew chief Robbie Loomis, Gordon won his 50th career victory. He won two more races that year and finished ninth in points.
In 2001, Gordon won six races. He became the third driver in NASCAR history to win four Winston Cup championships. Only Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt had won more (seven each). Gordon won the title by 344 points.
Later Career and Retirement (2002–2016)
From 2002 to 2003, Gordon won three races each year. In 2004, he won five races. However, a new playoff system called the "Chase for the Cup" reset the points. This caused him to finish third in the championship, even though he had been leading. If the old system was still in place, he would have won the championship.
In 2005, Gordon won his third Daytona 500. He also won two more races. But he had many crashes and failed to finish nine times. He missed qualifying for the Chase for the Cup.
In 2006, Gordon won two races. In 2007, his performance greatly improved. He won six races and seven poles. He tied Dale Earnhardt for sixth all-time in Cup wins. At Talladega, he won his 77th career victory. He finished second in the championship to his teammate Jimmie Johnson. Again, if the Chase system hadn't existed, Gordon would have won the championship.
From 2008 to 2010, Gordon won only one race. In 2009, he became the first NASCAR driver to earn over $100 million in career winnings.
In 2011, Gordon won his first race in 66 starts at Phoenix. He tied Bill Elliott for most wins at Pocono. At Atlanta, he won his 85th career race. This made him the winningest driver in the modern era of NASCAR.
In 2012, Gordon won two races. At Phoenix, he was involved in a crash with Clint Bowyer. Gordon then intentionally wrecked Bowyer's car in retaliation. He was fined $100,000 and put on probation. He finished the season by winning the final race.
In 2013, Gordon made his 700th consecutive Cup start. He won his first race of the year at Martinsville. He also set a NASCAR record by winning a pole in 21 consecutive seasons.
In 2014, Gordon won four races. He won the Brickyard 400 for a record fifth time. He tied former Formula One driver Michael Schumacher for most wins at Indianapolis. Despite his success, he was eliminated from the Chase for the Cup. Many in NASCAR believe he would have won his seventh championship that year under the old points system.
On January 22, 2015, Gordon announced that 2015 would be his last full-time season. He won the pole for his final Daytona 500. In November, he won his only race of 2015 at Martinsville. This was his 93rd and final NASCAR career win. He finished sixth in his final race as a full-time driver.
Gordon returned to the Cup Series in 2016 for eight races. He filled in for the injured Dale Earnhardt Jr. His best finish was sixth at Martinsville, which was his final NASCAR race.
Other Racing Adventures
Gordon also raced in the Race of Champions three times. In 2002, he won the Nations Cup with Team USA. He also competed in the International Race of Champions (IROC) from 1995 to 2000, winning one race in 1998.
In 2007, Gordon raced in the Rolex 24, a 24-hour sports car endurance race. His team finished third. He returned in 2017 and won the race. This made him one of only four drivers to win both the Daytona 500 and the Rolex 24.
In 2003, Gordon tested a Formula One car with driver Juan Pablo Montoya. He also participated in charity dirt track races called the Prelude to the Dream.
Life After Racing: Broadcasting
After deciding to stop full-time driving, Gordon looked into becoming a television announcer. In January 2015, Fox Sports hired him as a guest analyst for Xfinity Series races.
He made his broadcasting debut on April 10, 2015. He returned for two more races that season. In May 2015, Gordon announced he would join Fox Sports full-time. He became a Cup Series analyst starting in the 2016 season. He worked alongside Mike Joy and Darrell Waltrip.
Gordon made his debut as a Cup Series analyst in February 2016. He even starred in a funny advertisement to promote his first Daytona 500 as a broadcaster.
Personal Life
Jeff Gordon has been married twice. He met his first wife, Brooke Sealey, in 1993. They married in 1994. They later divorced in 2003.
Gordon met his current wife, Ingrid Vandebosch, in 2002. They started dating in 2004 and got engaged in 2006. They married in Mexico in November 2006. They have two children: a daughter, Ella Sofia, born in 2007, and a son, Leo Benjamin, born in 2010. The family lives in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Giving Back: Philanthropy
In 1999, Gordon started the Jeff Gordon Children's Foundation. This foundation helps children with serious illnesses. In 2006, he opened the Jeff Gordon Children's Hospital.
In 2007, Gordon helped create Athletes for Hope. This group helps professional athletes get involved in charity work. It also encourages others to volunteer.
In 2011, AARP became Gordon's sponsor for the Drive to End Hunger program. This program helps feed hungry senior citizens. Gordon is also a member of the Clinton Global Initiative. This group works to solve big world problems.
Business Ventures
Jeff Gordon has had many sponsors, including Pepsi, Kellogg's, and Ray-Ban. He owns JG Motorsports, which handles his licensed products. He also owns a car dealership, Jeff Gordon Chevrolet, which opened in 1998.
In 2005, Gordon partnered to form the Jeff Gordon Racing School. This school lets fans experience stock car racing. In 2007, PepsiCo released "Jeff Gordon 24 Energy," an energy drink.
In 2005, Gordon started his own line of wine. His 2007 Ella Sofia wine won double gold medals in a competition. In 2012, Gordon became the designer of the Canadian Motor Speedway in Ontario, Canada.
Career Achievements
Awards and Honors
- 1990 Hoosier Auto Racing Fans Driver of the Year
- 1991 Busch Series Rookie of the Year
- 1993 Winston Cup Series Rookie of the Year
- 1995, 1998 Richard Petty Driver of the Year
- 1996, 1998, 1999, 2007 Best Driver ESPY Award recipient
- 1997 People's 50 Most Beautiful People
- 1998 NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers
- 2009 National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame inductee
- 2009 Silver Buffalo Award recipient
- 2012 Heisman Humanitarian Award recipient
- 2015 Indianapolis 500 honorary pace car driver
- 2018 Motorsports Hall of Fame of America inductee
- 2019 NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee
- Named one of NASCAR's 75 Greatest Drivers (2023)
Namesakes
- Jeff Gordon Boulevard – A road in Pittsboro, Indiana, was named after him in 1999.
- Jeff Gordon Expressway – A section of Interstate 85 in North Carolina was named after him in 2012.
- Jeff Gordon Raceway – Phoenix International Raceway was temporarily renamed after him in 2015.
- Jeff Gordon Terrace – A grandstand section at Bristol Motor Speedway was named after him in 2016.
- Jeff Gordon Finish Line Terrace – A grandstand section at Darlington Raceway was named after him in 2017.
Records and Milestones
With 93 career wins, Gordon is third among all-time NASCAR Cup Series winners. He is first in wins during NASCAR's modern era (since 1972).
Gordon holds records for most Cup Series wins on restrictor plate tracks (12) and road courses (9). He also won six road-course races in a row from 1997 to 2000.
He is the all-time winningest Cup Series driver at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Sonoma Raceway, with five wins each.
In 1995, at age 24, Gordon became the youngest Cup Series champion in NASCAR's modern era.
In 2009, Gordon was the first NASCAR driver to earn over $100 million in career prize money.
In 2014, Gordon joined former F1 driver Michael Schumacher as the only two racers to win five times at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in a single racing series.
In 2017, Gordon became the fourth driver to win both the Daytona 500 and the 24 Hours of Daytona.
Consecutive Starts Streak
Jeff Gordon never missed a race from his debut in 1992 until his retirement in 2015. This means he raced for over 24 years in a row. He made 797 consecutive starts, which is ninth all-time among Cup Series drivers.
In 2007, Gordon had a standby driver ready in case his first child was born during a race weekend. His daughter was born on a Wednesday, and he still raced that weekend. In 2010, he had another standby driver for his second child's birth, but he was able to race.
On September 27, 2015, Gordon started his 789th consecutive race. This made him NASCAR's "iron man," passing Ricky Rudd. Gordon finished his career with 797 consecutive races started.
Images for kids
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Jeff Gordon with his first wife, Brooke Sealey.
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Jeff Gordon 24 Energy cans.
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Jeff Gordon drove this 2015 Corvette Z06 as the honorary pace car driver for the 99th Indianapolis 500.
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Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Transportation Gene Conti and Gordon unveiling a sign for the Jeff Gordon Expressway.
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Gordon with a commemorative wine bottle celebrating his wins at Sonoma Raceway.
See also
In Spanish: Jeff Gordon para niños
- List of all-time NASCAR Cup Series winners
- List of NASCAR race wins by Jeff Gordon
- List of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champions
- List of Daytona 500 winners
- List of Daytona 500 pole position winners
- List of celebrities who own wineries and vineyards
- List of members of the NASCAR Hall of Fame
