Jeff Gordon News
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Jeff Gordon: Cup drivers run Nationwide races for extra money: Jeff Gordon asked why Cup drivers run Nationwide races: "Listen, the bottom-line, you want to know why those guys are running Nationwide races? For money. They're wanting extra money. The sponsors are there supporting the car owners to run the series. Those guys are able to make extra money. That's why they run it. Of course, somebody like Kyle, you know, has the opportunity to go win a championship, or Carl, then, hey, why not do that, too? But the Cup drivers that are over there, that's why they're doing it."(Examiner.com)
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Gordon's No. 24 crew wins Pit Road Precision Award: Jeff Gordon's crew took top honors in Sunday's Sprint Cup race at Auto Club Speedway, claiming the Tissot Pit Road Precision Award, which pays $5,000 each week to the winning team. It was the fourth Tissot win of the season for the No. 24 crew, which moved into sole possession of second place in the pit road standings. With six races remaining, Greg Biffle's crew leads the Tissot standings with six wins. The crew with the most wins following the 36-race Cup schedule will collect a $100,000 bonus plus Tissot watches for the crew and driver. Gordon's DuPont Chevy spent the least amount of time on pit road at Auto Club Speedway (295.170 seconds). The outstanding effort lifted Gordon to a second-place finish in the Pepsi 500. Gordon's pit crew consists of: Clay Robinson (front-tire changer), Mike Houston (front tire carrier), Tim Ladyga (rear-tire changer), Jeff Knight (rear-tire carrier), Jeff Cook (jackman), Caleb Hurd (gasman), Jamie Frady (catch can) and Andy Kruep (eighth man). The pit crew coach is Greg Morin.(Tissot)
Friday, Sept. 25, 2009
Earnhardt, Jr. and Gordon lay wreath at Arlington National Cemetery: In the humid stillness of Arlington National Cemetery on Thursday afternoon, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon and team owner Rick Hendrick solemnly walked down a set of stairs toward the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. They lined up, along with a member of the military honor guard who ceremonially patrol the tomb, and then stepped forward together to place a wreath in front of the giant marble structure. Hands over their hearts, they stood silently amidst the quiet of the cemetery where more than 330,000 men and women are buried. A few minutes later, in the basement of a nearby building just down the hall from the guards' quarters, the two National Guard-sponsored drivers reflected on the magnitude of what they had just experienced. "I was just nervous," Earnhardt Jr. said. "I get real nervous around appearances, but this one was real heavy. There's a lot of responsibility, and that was definitely the case for this." Like Earnhardt Jr., Gordon had never visited Arlington before and said he regretted not doing so earlier. "This is something I think every American should experience," Gordon said. "The peace, the security that we feel in the safety of our country is because of the men and women here at Arlington."(SceneDaily.com)
Friday, Sept. 11, 2009
J. Gordon and Earnhardt visit Guard members: Before heading to Richmond, Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr. stoped in Nashville, Tenn., to attend the 131st National Guard Association of the United States conference. Gordon and Earnhardt Jr. will meet with top leadership, including the National Guard's first four-star general, Gen. Craig R. McKinley.(HMS)
Monday, Aug. 10, 2009
Don't expect Jeff Gordon to race in Nationwide Series anytime soon: Jeff Gordon pointed out the fake nature of suggestions that the Sprint Cup performances of Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards are affected adversely by full-time participation in the Nationwide Series. "I think this is so funny and so ironic," said Gordon, "because, five years ago, it was, 'Man, all the guys that are running the Nationwide Series are running in the top five in points. Do you think you should be running more Nationwide races, and is there a correlation to that?' Now here we are saying that none of them is in the top five." But Gordon added that he wants no part of the grind. "To me, the intensity of the Cup series is enough, the schedule is hectic enough and I can totally understand those guys wanting to run eight or 10 races a year on the companion weekends," he said. "But the guys that are going for the championship? That's a lot to take on, and I could see where it could be a distraction." (Gaston Gazette)
Thursday, Aug. 6, 2009
Martin: Gordon persuaded me to Hendrick Motorsports: Veteran Mark Martin, who leads Sprint Cup drivers with four victories in 2009 and is 10th in the points standings, credits Jeff Gordon for his role in bringing him aboard Hendrick Motorsports after Martin ran a limited schedule the past two years. "Jeff was a huge supporter of Rick persuading me to do this," Martin said.(Star Gazette)
Sunday, July 26, 2009
J. Gordon still having back pain: Jeff Gordon says he has decided not to have a second procedure to deal with an achy back and instead will try to deal with the pain. Gordon said Saturday during qualifying for Sunday's race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway that the first procedure didn't help much and he doesn't see the point in having another injection of anti-inflammatory medication. Gordon has been dealing with a sore back for several months but ruled out surgery because it was too invasive. Instead he will continue to focus on a series of stretching exercises and physical training in hopes the condition will improve.(Associated Press)
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Jeff Gordon doesn't anticipate racing in Indy 500: Jeff Gordon was asked if he would ever want to drive in the Indianapolis 500 if it were not on the same day as a NASCAR race. He said he did not anticipate that happening. "I have a lot of respect for what it takes to drive an open-wheel car just one lap at the Speedway. I'm not one to do something for fun and going 200 laps becomes more than fun. I might do it if I were not driving full-time and going for a championship but I don't see it happening," said Gordon. (Terre Haute Tribune Star)
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Jeff Gordon is looking for wins: When the season resumes next weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Jeff Gordon plans to emphasize earning wins to record bonus points. "I feel like for the most part that we're really in a great position to be a real threat once the Chase comes around," he said. (USA Today)
Thursday, July 16, 2009
J. Gordon makes near $30 mil annually: There is no doubt that Jeff Gordon, driver of the No. 24 Dupont Chevrolet and four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion, is rich. In fact, Gordon's riches have been recently measured by Forbes magazine. Forbes has listed Gordon as number 63 on their list of the top 100 richest celebrities. The wealth rating magazine also estimates that Gordon brings in approximately $30 million annually. Matt Miller, of Forbes, disclosed that Gordon's worth as a celebrity is calculated based on his winnings at the race track, his share of co-owning the No. 48 car driven by his friend and past Champion Jimmie Johnson, endorsements, and licensing of various products. "Jeff Gordon is a major brand," said Miller. "His selection to the list is based on a combination of money, fame and power." Miller cited Gordon's new ventures, including video games, a wine label and his move into race track design as also contributing to the wealth ranking. (Bleacher Report)
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Letarte named Wypall Crew Chief of the Race: Steve Letarte, crew chief for the No. 24 Dupont/ National Guard Chevy driven by Jeff Gordon, has been named the Wypall Wipers Crew Chief of the Race after Saturday night's Lifelock.com 400 at Chicagoland Speedway. The team started the race with a stout car, taking the green flag on the inside of row four. Letarte kept his driver running up front most of the night by making adjustments to improve a tight racecar. With just 20 laps to go, he called his driver to pit road for four fresh tires in hopes to give him an advantage over the top eight teams who chose to stay out. The call paid off, and Gordon was able to pass cars at ease on his way to a second place finish. In addition to the $1,000 check, the winning crew chief will receive signage to announce the win on their pit box the following week. The crew chief with the most weekly wins will be honored as the WYPALL Wipers Crew Chief of the Year and will be presented a $20,000 check at the season finale in Homestead.(Wypall)
Friday, July 10, 2009
NASCAR rebrands Jeff Gordon Racing Experience into the NASCAR Racing Experience: NASCAR announced an agreement to rebrand the former Jeff Gordon Racing School into the NASCAR Racing Experience. The multi-year licensing agreement brings an authentic racing experience to NASCAR fans, its sponsors and business partners at racetracks throughout the country. The NASCAR Racing Experience (NRE) provides a menu of racing programs from a ride-along as a front-seat passenger to the full racing experience which puts fans behind the wheel of an authentic race car. The program will use current NASCAR Sprint Cup Series racecars for all of its programs. The NASCAR Racing Experience will begin operating at 12 NASCAR Sprint Cup and NASCAR Nationwide Series tracks across the country before expanding to additional tracks in 2010. Current locations include: Atlanta Motor Speedway, Chicagoland Speedway, Darlington Raceway, Kansas Speedway, Homestead-Miami Speedway, Kentucky Speedway, Lowe’s Motor Speedway, Nashville Superspeedway, Richmond International Raceway, Talladega Superspeedway and Texas Motor Speedway.(NASCAR PR)
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Jeff Gordon confident after Indy tire test: NASCAR star Jeff Gordon, a four-time winner at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, today guaranteed that tires won’t be an issue in next month’s Allstate 400 at the Brickyard. “I’m 100 percent confident it’s not going to come down to a 10-lap shootout on whose tires can last the longest,” Gordon said after morning rain cut short the final Goodyear test in preparation for the July 26 race. “I can promise all the fans out there. I hope that’s enough for them.” (More at Indy Star)
J. Gordon not a fan of long races: Count Jeff Gordon among those who think Sprint Cup races are too long: "Don't get me started on time frames of races," Jeff Gordon said after the Michigan race. "Eighty percent of them are way too long." Exactly. If NASCAR wants to make another format change instead of tweaking the car, then shortening races is the place to start. (David Newton's ESPN.com blog)
Friday, May 29, 2009
J. Gordon to carry PoliceMusuem.org on TV panel: The TV panel on the No. 24 DuPont Chevy of Jeff Gordon will feature www.PoliceMuseum.org at Dover International Speedway, and visitors to the site are encouraged to donate to the National Law Enforcement Museum that will be built in Washington, D.C. “Dover International Speedway offered special race-day ticket packages for law enforcement officers and their families with a portion of the proceeds donated to the museum,” said Gordon. “And DuPont has done a lot to raise awareness and money for this project. “A very worthwhile project that I’m glad to be a part of.”(HMS PR)
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Jeff Gordon considering early retirement? With a wary eye toward NASCAR's longest race of the year, four-time champion Jeff Gordon was injected with an anti-inflammatory this week to quiet the nagging pain in his lower back. So far, the treatment is working. And as long as his No. 24 Chevrolet is handling well enough that he doesn't have to use the brakes too much entering the high-banked corners of Lowe's Motor Speedway, Gordon said he ought to be fine in Sunday's Coca-Cola 600. But for the first time since acknowledging his back trouble earlier this year, Gordon conceded Thursday that if medication or surgery can't alleviate the discomfort over a full season, he will be forced to retire sooner than he had hoped. But he insists he feels good about Sunday's race, despite the 600-mile distance. Short tracks such as Bristol Motor Speedway and Richmond International raceway, he said, jar his lower back far more, as do the circuit's two road courses. But any amount of pain-related distraction behind the wheel is too much, Gordon added -- particularly when you're battling heavy traffic at 190 mph. "A racecar driver -- to be 100 percent focused to make the car go as fast as it can, and to focus on the adjustments you need to make -- you have to be thinking about the car," Gordon said. "You don't want to be thinking about anything else or feeling anything else." (Washington Post)
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Jeff Gordon undergoes back procedure: Four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon underwent a back procedure Monday in hopes of alleviating pain that has gotten progressively worse. "I had a facet block procedure done on my back on Monday, and it went well," Gordon said in a statement. "I was a little sore after the procedure, but I'll definitely take that brief bit of soreness if it stops the recurring back pain I've had. "I hope that will end the back issues I've been having, but it's too early to tell if that fixed the problem." A facet block procedure involves an injection of local anesthetic and anti- inflammatory into a joint in the spine. The procedure is commonly ordered for patients who suffer lower back pain or pain associated from arthritic changes in the facet joints. If the procedure is not effective, surgery maybe necessary. (Sports Network)
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Report: Ingrid wants Jeff Gordon to retire from auto racing: The wife of NASCAR superstar Jeff Gordon is begging him to quit racing - because she's terrified back spasms he's been suffering will lead to a horrifying crash. Jeff and his beautiful wife Ingrid Vandebosch are locked in heated arguments about the speed racer's future, say sources close to the couple. "Ingrid is beside herself with fear that Jeff will be gravely injured should one of these back spasms occur while he's behind the wheel and he loses control," said an insider. "She feels he's been lucky until now and wants him to get out from behind the wheel for good while he's in one piece. "Her fear is he's tempting fate and wants him to retire at the end of this racing season."(National Enquirer)
Saturday, May 9, 2009
J. Gordon talks about back pain: Jeff Gordon told Dustin Long Friday after qualifying that he will have some treatment on his back on May 18, two days after the all-star race. Here's what he said about his back and how it's impacted him.
"(The treatment) is nothing invasive. it's just some injections that are going to do deal with the pain. They say it's sort of like an arthritis and it's excessive because of some of the trauma that my back has gone through, maybe through some wrecks or something. So that's what we're going to do. That's the plan.''
Q: What is the back pain you've been feeling?
GORDON: "I can't stand up for long periods of time. I can't sit. It's not like an excruciating pain. People have disc problems. I'm not one of those people. Mine is more nerves and muscular that when I'm in the car and really pulling Gs and using the steering wheel a lot and using the brake pedal a lot, it just really aggrevates the muscle. There are a couple of tracks, like Martinsville and Bristol that have been really tough. I was actually pretty good last week. So far it's been good here this week. It's there but the things that I'm doing, the training, the massage, the stretching, those things right now are starting to pay off for me and right now I'm not having as much issues as I had at Bristol.
Q: With your treatment is this still something you're going to have to live with for the rest of your life or will the treatment eliminate it?
GORDON: "They say sometimes it eliminates it and sometimes it lasts six months. Everybody is different, so I won't really know. (More at PilotOnline)
Friday, May 8, 2009
Gordon could tie Cale Yarborough for career Cup wins: Jeff Gordon can tie Cale Yarborough for Sprint Cup career victories with a win Saturday at the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway. Gordon has 82 victories, with five of them coming at the Southern 500. That tied him with Yarborough for the most wins in the race. Yarborough will drive the honorary pace car Saturday. (Dallas Morning News)
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
No. 24 Crew wins Pit Road Precision award: Jeff Gordon’s No. 24 crew claimed the Tissot Pit Road Precision Award in Saturday night’s (May 2) NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Richmond (Va.) International Raceway. It was the third win in the last five races for the No. 24 crew, which has a solid lead in the season-long Tissot pit road competition. After 10 of 36 Sprint Cup races, Gordon’s team has three pit crew wins while seven other teams each have one. The pit crew win at the .75-mile Richmond track was a result of Gordon’s DuPont Chevrolet Impala SS spending the least amount of time on pit road – 279.607 seconds. The quick effort helped lift Gordon to an eighth-place finish and a return to first place in the Sprint Cup driver point standings. “The No. 24 DuPont crew was solid again in Richmond,” said crew chief Steve Letarte. “In an effort to stay ahead of the changing track conditions, chassis adjustments were a part of almost every pit stop—and they didn’t miss a beat.” Gordon’s pit crew consists of: Clay Robinson (front-tire changer), Mike Houston (front tire carrier), Tim Ladyga (rear-tire changer), Jeff Knight (rear-tire carrier), Jeff Cook (jackman), Caleb Hurd (gasman), Jamie Frady (catch can) and Andy Kruep (eighth man). The pit crew coach is Greg Morin. (PR)
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Jeff Gordon comments on MRI: During Friday's Q&A with media members at Richmond International Raceway, Jeff Gordon commented on his recent MRI.. "I had another MRI, one that was more detailed this week and I've got some information that I'm just not ready to release yet or admit to yeah we found some things and have a better diagnosis of it. When I know how I'm going to treat it I'll let you guys know. I don't believe it's anything serious. It's just something that's causing the pain. There's a little bit of arthritis which is not totally unnatural but there's also some other things that come from what they can understand from trauma or a crash or maybe just years of beating it up. Heck I don't know I might have picked up my luggage or something and then tore something up in there. So I don't know, but we have a better diagnosis of it and I've got some experts that are giving me all the best scenarios."(GM Racing PR)
Friday, May 1, 2009
MRI results for Jeff Gordon shows he's suffering from arthritis: Jeff Gordon says his back is still bothering him and the four-time series champion had an MRI this week. Gordon says doctors found a bit of arthritis and possible trauma from past racing accidents. But he says he's not ready to reveal any more details about his back until a proper treatment plan has been set. At this point, Gordon says he doesn't believe the problem is too serious. (AP/ESPN.com)
DuPont considering pulling out of NASCAR? DuPont, the giant chemical company, last week reported a 59 percent decline in first-quarter earnings, citing the global economic downturn. It said reduced demand will force additional cost cutting measures and require a broader range of restructuring proposals. But a company spokesman declined to say how this latest news will affect its sponsorship agreement with Hendrick Motorsports and Gordon's No. 24 Chevrolet. DuPont expects to scale back its full-year outlook, saying it expects conditions to continue to decline in the coming months, but not as steep as they did in the first quarter. Hendrick Motorsports and DuPont last year agreed to a two-year extension through the 2010 season. While DuPont officials decline to comment on the possibility of future deals, there's speculaton the company might consider pulling its NASCAR deal when it expires, following GM Goodwrench, Tide and Kodak. Aflac, 3M and Crown Royal are considering splitting their sponsorship deals with Roush Fenway Racing next season. (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Jeff Gordon wins first-quarter Driver of the Year balloting: Jeff Gordon, off to a fast start in the NASCAR Sprint Cup season, has won the first-quarter voting in the 2009 Driver of the Year balloting. The four-time Cup champion, who is the only four-time winner of the Driver of the Year award, ended a 47-race winless string earlier this month at Texas and led the series points last week when the panel of motorsports writers and broadcasters cast their votes. Gordon, who slipped to second in the standings after crashing and finishing 37th last Sunday at Talladega, narrowly beat fellow NASCAR star Kyle Busch, 111-107, in the first-quarter balloting. "We've had a strong start to the season and it was nice to get that win in Texas,'' Gordon said. "While it's the Driver of the Year Award, the No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet team gets a lot of the credit. They have given me strong cars every weekend and the pit crew has been solid.'' Gordon received eight of 18 first-place ballots and was on every ballot, while Busch, who has won races in Cup, Nationwide and trucks this season, got seven first-place vote. (SI.com)
Monday, April 27, 2009
Jeff Gordon still suffering from back pain: Jeff Gordon will chase his fifth Sprint Cup title with a bad back. Gordon expects to drive with some discomfort this season and the pain he felt last week at Phoenix International Raceway has not entirely subsided. The four-time Cup champ said the tracks in Richmond, Va.; Martinsville, Va.; Bristol, Tenn.; and the road courses could affect him later this year. The short tracks would affect Gordon the most because they tend to be more physically grueling. "I'm getting stronger and I don't expect it to happen overnight and go away," Gordon said Friday at Talladega Superspeedway. "It's going to take time." (Napa Valley Register)
Friday, April 24, 2009
J. Gordon spotted at NHL game: David Letterman, Jimmy Fallon, NASCAR champ Jeff Gordon, Kevin Spacey and Tim Robbins at the Garden cheering the Rangers on to victory over the Washington Capitals. (NY Post)
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Confirmed: Gordon involved in NY Speedway project: John Bickford, vice president and general manager of Jeff Gordon Inc., verified to The Buffalo News on Wednesday that Gordon is involved in the project. Bickford — who is also Gordon’s stepfather — stated via e-mail that while there is a letter of understanding between the parties, there is no signed agreement at this time. Gordon was not available to comment. (Buffalo News)
Gordon concerned about GM's future in NASCAR: With the federal government's growing involvement with General Motors, Gordon is concerned about how it will impact Chevrolet's involvement in NASCAR. Gordon owns an automobile dealership and has to keep an eye on his investment. "I keep about as close of tabs on it as I do any of my investments," Gordon said. "That's an investment and it's something that is a little bit more personal because I drive and race a Chevrolet. They've been incredible supporters of Hendrick and myself for so many years, so I'm certainly keeping track of it a little bit more. From a business standpoint I probably don't pay as much attention to it as I should because I'm more focused on driving the race cars." (USA Today)
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Report: Jeff Gordon involved in NY Speedway project? New details surrounding a proposed $200-million, 65,000-seat international motor speedway in Fort Erie have surfaced.An article published in the inaugural edition of Professional Motorsport Circuit, an international trade journal, says NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon is involved with the project. Gordon's name has been tagged with a signature speedway and a driving school that's part of the proposal. The article was written by Azhar Mohammad - executive director of Emirates Consulting, a Toronto-based subsidiary of Kuwaiti-based investment bank Bayt Al Mal Investment Co., that is financially backing the project. Mohammad could not be reached for comment Tuesday. "After carefully studying the pitfalls and successes of motor-sport initiatives in the North American market for almost two years, (Bayt Al Mal Investment Co.) assembled a high-profile team," the article states. "The team was spearheaded by multi-NASCAR champion Jeff Gordon, flanked by Paxton Waters Architecture, Derek Daly Design, and Philips Engineering, and supported by a host of local and international strategic partners." The Review learned through sources last week another investment group is preparing to bring a proposal to Niagara Falls council in the coming weeks to develop a racetrack on a 93- hectare parcel of land on Sodom Road. (Niagara Falls Review)
Letarte Named Wypall Wipers Crew Chief of the Race:: Steve Letarte, crew chief for the No. 24 DuPont/National Guard GED Plus Chevy driven by Jeff Gordon, has been named the Wypall Wipers Crew Chief of the Race in Sunday's Samsung 500 at Texas Motor Speedway. In addition to the $1,000 check, the winning crew chief will receive signage to announce the win on their pit box the following week. The crew chief with the most weekly wins will be honored as the Wypall Wipers Crew Chief of the Year and will be presented a $20,000 check at the season finale in Homestead. The Wypall Wipers Crew Chief Challenge will continue throughout the 2009 season and spotlight the men behind the machines.(Wypall PR)
No. 24 crew earns Tissot Pit Road Precision Award: It was a double victory for the No. 24 team Sunday at Texas Motor Speedway in Forth Worth. Along with driver Jeff Gordon winning the 500-mile NASCAR Sprint Cup race, the No. 24 over-the-wall crew won the Tissot Pit Road Precision Award. Gordon's crew also won the pit road competition the previous week in Martinsville. The No. 24 crew claimed the Tissot win in Texas due to Gordon's DuPont/National Guard Chevy spending the least amount of time on pit road -- 217.453 seconds. Gordon's pit crew consists of: Clay Robinson (front-tire changer), Mike Houston (front tire carrier), Tim Ladyga (rear-tire changer), Jeff Knight (rear-tire carrier), Jeff Cook (jackman), Caleb Hurd (gasman), Jamie Frady (catch can) and Andy Kruep (eighth man). The pit crew coach is Greg Morin. For winning the Tissot Pit Road Precision Award, the No. 24 team will receive $5,000. The team with the most pit road wins at the completion of the 36-race schedule will earn a $100,000 bonus plus Tissot watches for the driver and over-the-wall crew members.(Tissot PR)
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Gordon: Kyle Busch is no "Intimidator": Jeff Gordon raced against both Dale Earnhardt and Kyle Busch, and he's incensed that anyone could draw a comparison between the two. Earnhardt had a reputation for being a talented racer with a mean streak. So does Busch. Earnhardt had a way of stirring controversy in victory. So does Busch. But, according to Gordon, that's where the similarities end. "Please tell me you aren't trying to compare those two," Gordon said. "There's no comparison." Gordon, a four-time champion, said Earnhardt was both ruthless and calculating; Busch is brash and spontaneous. "Earnhardt was rarely on the edge, to be honest with you. But he was more of a bully. He's a guy that you never count him out. He was just tough as nails. He'd be a lap down and come back and be battling for the win at the end of the race and was just a totally different type of racer and how he approached it, than Kyle," Gordon said. "As far as results, I guess you could maybe compare results because they both really get the results. But to me, how Kyle goes about getting the results is still a little bit young and like this guy trying to tame a bull, you know. And when he first started, he was riding that bull in a china shop." (Florida Times-Union)
No. 24 Crew wins Pit Road Precision Award: The pit crew for Sprint Cup points leader Jeff Gordon won the Tissot Pit Road Precision Award in Sunday's NASCAR race at Martinsville Speedway. The No. 24 crew took top honors in the Tissot weekly competition as a result of Gordon's DuPont Chevrolet Impala SS spending the least amount of time on pit road -- 233.463 seconds. The pit road performance was a factor in Gordon's strong fourth-place finish in the Goody's Fast Pain Relief 500 at the historic half-mile flat track. Gordon's pit crew consists of: Clay Robinson (front-tire changer), Mike Houston (front tire carrier), Tim Ladyga (rear-tire changer), Jeff Knight (rear-tire carrier), Jeff Cook (jackman), Caleb Hurd (gasman), Jamie Frady (catch can) and Andy Kruep (eighth man). The pit crew coach is Greg Morin. For winning the Tissot Pit Road Precision Award, the No. 24 team will receive $5,000. The team with the most pit road wins at the completion of the 36-race schedule will earn a $100,000 bonus plus Tissot watches for the driver and over-the-wall crew members.(Tissot/DMF Communications PR)
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Boy Scouts honor Jeff Gordon: Jeff Gordon is a four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion. He's won the Daytona 500 three times. And he co-owns a racing team that's won championships of its own. And after Tuesday, he has something in common with 13 presidents, Charles Lindbergh, Walt Disney, Hank Aaron and Colin Powell. He's a Silver Buffalo. Or at least he received the Silver Buffalo award, Boy Scouts of America's highest honor given to volunteers. Gordon got the award Tuesday during the annual BSA Mecklenburg County Council's Friends of Scouting Leadership Dinner at the Charlotte Convention Center. He was recognized for his work recruiting boys to Cub Scouts and other humanitarian ventures involving children. Gordon, whose stepfather is an Eagle Scout, has been the honorary chairman and spokesman for the "Race Into Cub Scouting," a national campaign to recruit boys into Cub Scouts. He made PSAs and personal appearances for Cub Scouts. The foundation he started in 1999 has raised million to help children facing life-threatening and chronic illnesses. "Jeff has been a great supporter of scouting the last three years; he's been very instrumental in the successful campaign to recruit kids into Boy Scouts," Bob Mazzuca, BSA's chief scout executive, told the Observer before the dinner. "He's been very generous with his time. Just his stature has been a huge help for us to recruit kids."(JeffGordon.com)
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Jeff Gordon defends Goodyear tires: While Goodyear has been an easy target of criticism from many of the drivers, Gordon defending the tire-maker after Sunday's race because of how difficult it is to build a tire for the track conditions at Atlanta. "Don't put all the blame on Goodyear," Gordon said. "I will challenge any tire manufacturer out there to build a tire for this car at this racetrack. It's impossible. I made kind of a joke earlier in the week with the Goodyear guys. I said I'm not going to complain about tires ever again because I thought that the last time we were slipping and sliding around a lot, and this time we were really slipping and sliding around. I think they came here. It was about 40 degrees cooler, track temperature. The conditions were different. … Everybody seemed to be happy with the tire. I think the cool track temperature may have covered up a couple things. I give them credit for trying. They were trying to do some things with the construction, based on some of the comments drivers made about how much the cars were moving around on the straightaways and getting into the corners. It didn't pay off." (USA Today)
Friday, February 27, 2009
NASCAR Milestone -- 20,000 lap: Four-time champion Jeff Gordon will reach the 20,000-lap milestone in his Cup career when he completes 11 laps Sunday.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
DuPont slashes motorsports budget: DuPont, long recognized as the leader in hospitality among NASCAR sponsors, is drastically reducing its program this year as part of its companywide cost cutting. Instead of entertaining the 17,000 guests it had at 37 races last year, DuPont will buy hospitality packages at just six races this season and will host fewer than 2,000 guests. “The economy has had a huge impact on us,” said Larry Deas, DuPont’s motorsports manager. “The current environment along with the high cost of hospitality have forced us to make significant cuts.” Whether DuPont’s cuts signal the beginning of the end for its sponsorship of Jeff Gordon’s No. 24 Chevrolet remains to be seen. DuPont, which has been on the car since 1993, has been the only primary sponsor Gordon has known at Hendrick Motorsports and together they own the longest driver-sponsor-owner streak in the sport. DuPont’s current contract with Hendrick Motorsports runs through the end of the 2010 season. Deas would not speculate on how DuPont’s team deal might be affected in the future, but industry experts say it’s a bad sign that an iconic sponsor has made such deep cuts, which could represent a savings well into the seven figures, analysts say. Most high-end team sponsorships cost $20 million or more a year before activation. (SportsBusinessJournal)
Monday, February 9, 2009
Gordon-Evernham reunion? Jeff Gordon opened the door this week to the idea of a reunion with Ray Evernham but it wouldn't be as a crew chief if it ever happened. "We've always stayed great friends, and I admire him and he's a sharp guy and he's done a lot, obviously, in this sport,'' Gordon said. "We're always looking to find ways to make ourselves better. "If (an Evernham reunion) was ever the case, it wouldn't be in a crew chief role. If it's an engineer, if it's a team manager, whatever options are out there for anybody we always take them serious. With my experience with Ray being so positive in the past, I certainly wouldn't throw it out. It's not something that is happening, but it's not something that I would ever say never would.'' Asked about a possibility of Evernham returning to Hendrick Motorsports in some fashion, car owner Rick Hendrick didn't say no. Instead, he said that he remains close to Evernham. "We consult with each other all the time,'' Hendrick said. "That hasn't changed since he left. He calls me, and I talk to him. We share information. We talked about the fact that the manufacturers were not going to be around as strong as they are three or four years ago. We think a lot alike, and I respect his knowledge a ton. We talk almost every week. We've been consultants to each other.'' (The Roanoke Times)
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Jeff Gordon willing to take salary cut: On Monday, Jeff Gordon, four-time Cup champion, told the Sporting News wire service he is willing to take a salary cut -- Forbes magazine lists his annual income, including endorsements, at $32 million -- if it would help his team, Hendrick Motorsports, through the economic crisis. "It's no laughing matter," said Gordon, driver of the No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet. "It's tough times. It's something to be very serious about. ... I'll do whatever it takes for us to have the best team we can possibly have. If that means take part of my salary to keep certain people on or hire certain people, I'll do it." Gordon added that luxuries that go with being a racing star probably no longer are warranted. "It's stupid what we spend on motor homes and planes and all this," he said. "Do we need that? No." (ThatsRacin)
June 26, 2007
NASCAR issues teams #48, #24 penalties for Sonoma Infractions: NASCAR has issued penalties and fines to the #24 and #48 Hendrick Motorsports teams that compete in the Nextel Cup Series, as a result of rule infractions found this past weekend at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif. Both cars – the #24 driven by Jeff Gordon and the #48 driven by Jimmie Johnson – were found to be in violation of Sections 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 12-4-Q (car, car parts, components and/or equipment used do not conform to NASCAR rules); 20-2.1E (parts or components of the car not previously approved by NASCAR that have been installed or modified to enhance aerodynamic performance will not be permitted); and 20-2H (fenders may not be cut or altered except for wheel or tire clearance which must be approved by the Series Director) of the 2007 NASCAR rule book. The violations were found during the initial inspection process last Friday. As a result, Gordon and Johnson have each been penalized 100 driver championship points. Their respective crew chiefs – Steve Letarte and Chad Knaus – have each been fined $100,000, suspended for the next six Nextel Cup Series events until Aug. 15, 2007 and placed on probation until Dec. 31, 2007. In addition, Rick Hendrick, owner of the #24, has been penalized 100 car owner championship points as has Gordon, who is the owner of the #48.(NASCAR PR)
Hendrick Motorsports response to NASCAR: Car owner Rick Hendrick responded to NASCAR sanctions announced today involving the #24 and #48 Nextel Cup Series teams of Hendrick Motorsports. "We are disappointed in NASCAR's decision and feel the penalties are excessive," Hendrick said. "Right now, all of our options are being evaluated, including our personnel situation and a possible appeal to the National Stock Car Racing Commission. We'll take some time to decide on a direction and make an announcement regarding our plans for New Hampshire later in the week." (Hendrick Motorsports PR)
Jeff Gordon documentary to air on TNT: A documentary-style feature on the driver is set to debut on TNT and then be available as a DVD. he program, "24 x 24: Wide Open with Jeff Gordon," will debut on TNT July 7 with an extended version DVD set to be released July 10. The documentary explores the life of Gordon, both on and off the track. It includes interviews with motorsports and entertainment personalities as well as Gordon's family and friends. Gordon allowed cameras to follow him for 24 hours to film the project. (SceneDaily.com)
June 23, 2007
Gordon and Johnson OK'd for Saturday practices: Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon wasted no time returning to the track after NASCAR inspectors approved their cars. The two had an unexpected day off Friday after their cars failed to pass inspection. NASCAR deemed the front fenders on the No. 24 and No. 48 Chevrolets illegal and banned the two drivers from the day's practice and qualifying. NASCAR did, however, allow the teams to alter the fenders and send the cars back through inspection. Both teams did that Friday, but waited until Saturday morning for official approval. "Everything is fine," said Doug Duchardt, vice president of development for Hendrick. "We're way behind, but we'll just go out there and prepare today the way we would on any Saturday and hope for the best." (AP/ABC News)
June 22, 2007
J. Gordon and J. Johnson fail inspection; Neither allowed to qualify or practice: Nextel Cup Series points leader Jeff Gordon and defending series champion Jimmie Johnson, both of the Hendrick Motorsports stable, have failed inspection at Infineon Raceway. The cars of neither Gordon, the defending race champion, nor Johnson will be allowed to practice or qualify Friday. NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said both cars "failed the initial inspection ... as a result of body modifications found to be outside NASCAR tolerances. The front fender [of both cars] was modified outside of NASCAR regulations. They did not meet the C2 template inspection." According to Poston, Hendrick Motorsports' No. 5 and No. 25 cars, for Kyle Busch and Casey Mears, passed inspections. Poston added, "both teams have an opportunity to repair and resubmit their cars" for inspection up to the start of practice Saturday. "Assuming they pass inspection, they can practice [Saturday] and start at the rear of the field [Sunday]," he said. (NASCAR.com) Note: Further penalties, including possible suspensions if any, will be announced next week.
June 20, 2007
Jeff and Ingrid announce the birth of Ella Sofia Gordon: Earlier today, Jeff Gordon and Ingrid Vandebosch welcomed a new daughter into the world. Ella Sofia Gordon was born at 9:09 a.m., weighed 7 pounds, 1 ounce and was 20 inches long. “It’s been an absolutely incredible experience,” Gordon said. “Ingrid came through amazingly and we’re both really happy and overjoyed. We can’t wait to get home and start our lives together as a family.” The four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion will travel to Northern California later this week and is scheduled to participate in all on-track activities at Infineon Raceway, site of this weekend’s NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race. (JeffGordon.com)
June 18, 2007
Jeff Gordon knew of Earnhardt deal in the process; Johnson surprised by signing: Privately he listened to team owner Rick Hendrick agonize over the arduous, closed-door maneuvering to sign Dale Earnhardt Jr. "Rick was going back and forth, back and forth," [Jeff] Gordon said. "He was like, 'Man, I would love to do this,' and at the same time, 'I don't know how I'm going to do it.' And, 'Should we do it?' " Gordon didn't waver. "I was very supportive of it from the beginning," he said, sitting in the lounge of his team transporter during preparations for today's Citizens Bank 400. On the other hand, reigning Nextel Cup Jimmie Johnson, the other resident star at Hendrick, "really was surprised," Johnson said, when he learned of the blockbuster signing just before it was announced Wednesday. (LA Times)
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Birthdate: Aug. 4, 1971