Jeff Gordon
Encyclopedia
Jeffery Michael "Jeff" Gordon (born August 4, 1971) is a professional NASCAR
driver. He is the driver of the #24 Drive to End Hunger
/DuPont
/Pepsi
Chevrolet Impala
. He is a four-time Sprint Cup Series champion and a three-time Daytona 500
winner. He is third on the all-time wins list, with 85 career wins, and has the most wins in NASCAR's modern era (1972–present). He has won a total of 85 career races and was the fastest to reach 50 wins. In 2009, Gordon became the first driver to reach $100 million in career winnings in the Cup series.
Gordon, along with Rick Hendrick
, are the co-owners of the #48 Lowe's
Chevrolet, driven by
Jimmie Johnson
, who won the 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010 Cup series championships. Gordon also has an equity stake in his own #24 team. He was born in Vallejo, California
, raised in Pittsboro, Indiana
, and currently lives in Charlotte, North Carolina
.
The Roy Hayer Memorial Race Track (Previously the Cracker Jack Track) in Rio Linda, California
is noted as the first track Gordon ever competed on. By the age of 4 Gordon had won 35 main events and set 11 track records. By the age of 13 Gordon took an interest in the 650 hp sprint cars
. Gordon and his family had to overcome an insurance hurdle. The minimum age for driving the sprint cars was 16. His persistence paid off with an all Florida speed weeks. Supporting his career choice, Gordon's family moved from Vallejo, California
to Pittsboro, Indiana
, where there were more opportunities for younger racers. Before the age of 18, Gordon had already won three short-track races and was awarded USAC
Midget Car Racing Rookie of the Year in 1989. That season was highlighted by winning Night Before the 500 midget car race on the day before the Indianapolis 500
. In 1990, Gordon won his second consecutive Night Before the 500, the Hut Hundred, and the Belleville Midget Nationals on his way to winning the USAC national Midget title. In 1991, Gordon into the USAC Silver Crown, and at the age of 20 became the youngest driver to win the season championship. He also won the 4 Crown Nationals midget car race that season. In his midget car career between 1989 and 1992, he finished in the Top 3 in 22 of 40 USAC midget car events. And he remembered, "the car is heavy".
restaurants and was also a partner in Outback Steakhouse. Connerty secured some sponsorship for a car through Outback, and they tested for the last few Busch Grand National races left in 1990. Ray Evernham
was called in to work with Jeff in his stock car debut. His first Busch race came on October 20, 1990 at Rockingham in the AC-Delco 200. Gordon drove the #67 Outback Steakhouse Pontiac for Connerty. Gordon ran the second fastest lap during qualifying and started on the outside of the front row of the field. Gordon would however, get involved in a wreck on lap 33. He ended up with a 39th place finish.
In 1991 and 1992, Gordon went on to the Busch Series
driving Ford Thunderbird
s for Bill Davis Racing
. In his first year as a Busch driver he won rookie of the year. In 1992, Gordon set a NASCAR record by capturing 11 poles in one season. His time with Bill Davis Racing introduced Gordon to Ray Evernham
as his crew chief. He was sponsored by Carolina Ford Dealers in 1991 and Baby Ruth
in 1992.
at Atlanta in the last race of that season; in addition to the race being Richard Petty
's final race in NASCAR and the championship battle among six drivers (eventually won by Alan Kulwicki
by virtue of his second place finish in the race), this was Gordon's first start in the #24 DuPont
Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports that he has driven for his entire Cup Series career.
Gordon began driving the #24 full-time in the 1993 Winston Cup season, in which he won a Daytona 500 qualifying race
, the Rookie of the Year award, and finished 14th in points. Ray Evernham
was placed as Jeff Gordon's first crew chief. Gordon's success in the sport reshaped the paradigm and eventually gave younger drivers an opportunity to compete in NASCAR. However, during the 1993 season, many doubted Gordon's ability to compete at such a level at such a young age because of his tendency to push the cars too hard and crash. His last-place finish at the 1993 First Union 400
was a firm example of this theory.
in the World 600, (now called the Coca Cola 600) NASCAR's longest race of the season. Additionally, Gordon scored a popular hometown victory at Indianapolis Motor Speedway
in the inaugural Brickyard 400
, passing Ernie Irvan
for the lead late in the race when Irvan cut down a tire. Gordon finished eighth in the Winston Cup point standings for the '94 season, as Dale Earnhardt
grabbed the driving championship for his 7th and final time.
into the final race of the season. Many see this as a symbolic passing of the torch, as Gordon collected his first championship the year after Earnhardt won his final championship. (A similar situation befell Earnhardt early in his career, as he won his first championship after Richard Petty, whose record seven titles he would eventually tie, won his last). Gordon finished the season with eight poles, and seven victories, winning at Rockingham in the second race of the season, Atlanta, Bristol (starting a streak of four consecutive wins in the spring event), Daytona (in the Pepsi 400), New Hampshire, Darlington (Starting a streak of four consecutive wins in the Southern 500 event), and Dover. The team's consistency was much better as well, having 3 DNF's in 1995, compared to 21 in his previous two seasons combined.
Gordon got off to a rocky start in 1996, but rebounded to win ten races, the series high. The 24 team collected wins at Richmond, Darlington (winning both the spring event and the Southern 500), Bristol, Dover (winning both events of the season), Pocono, Talladega, Martinsville, and North Wilkesboro (winning the final event ever at the track). This would start a three year streak of winning double digit races. He finished 2nd to teammate Terry Labonte for the championship, losing by 37 points.
Jeff Gordon won his first Daytona 500 in 1997, becoming the youngest driver in history to win the race, a record that would stand until Trevor Bayne
's Daytona win in 2011. He won the second race of the season at Rockingham the following week. Later in the season he also won the Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte and had a chance to become the first man since Bill Elliott in 1985 to win the "Winston Million." Gordon completed the feat by holding off a determined Jeff Burton in the final laps of the Southern 500 at Darlington. While Elliott failed to win the Winston Cup in 1985, Jeff Gordon claimed his second Winston Cup championship in 1997, completing one of the most impressive single-season performances in NASCAR history. He finished the season with 10 victories (Daytona, Rockingham, Bristol, Martinsville, Charlotte, Pocono, California, Watkins Glen, Darlington, and New Hampshire) for the second straight season. His victory at California was in the track's inaugural race, and his victory at Watkins Glen began a streak of seven consecutive road course victories. In 1998 Gordon set a modern era record with 13 victories, easily winning the Winston Cup for the third time.
In 1999, Gordon along with crew chief Evernham formed Gordon/Evernham Motorsports. Though short lived, the race team enjoyed success. The co-owned team received a full sponsorship from Pepsi
and ran six races with Gordon as driver and Ray Evernham as crew chief in the NASCAR Busch Series. GEM only survived one year as Evernham was pulled away by Dodge, ending one of the most dominant driver/crew-chief combinations in NASCAR history. Jeff Gordon extended his Busch experiment one more year, through 2000 as co-owner, with Rick Hendrick buying Evernham's half. After the departure of Evernham (who left Hendrick Motorsports to begin his own team, Evernham Motorsports, reintroducing Dodge into the series), the race team was renamed JG Motorsports
. While winning seven times in 1999, Gordon's season was a major disappointment, finishing 6th in the series standings. Brian Whitesell was named the interim crew-chief for remainder of the season after Evernham's departure in September. Whitesell scored back to back victories in his first two races.
2000 saw Gordon enter his first campaign with Robbie Loomis as crew-chief. Loomis had been with Petty Enterprises for years prior. The team struggled as the rebuilding process went on. Gordon scored his first victory of 2000 at Talladega in the spring event, winning his 50th career victory in the series. He went on to win at Sears Point Raceway (now Infineon Raceway) and Richmond. Gordon finished the season 9th in points.
Many people questioned Gordon's ability to win championships without longtime crew chief, Ray Evernham, especially after Gordon struggled to a 9th place points finish in 2000, winning only three races. Gordon answered those challenges in 2001 by winning 6 races (including a third Brickyard 400 win, and the inaugural event at Kansas Speedway) en route to his 4th Winston Cup championship. Jeff Gordon became the third driver to win four Cup championships in NASCAR history only second to Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt (7 times). The 24 car's paint scheme was changed for the first time this season, abandoning the 'Rainbow Warrior' scheme in favor of a flames-themed car. Both paint schemes were designed by Sam Bass.
in August, his first victory in the night race at Bristol. He followed that up with a fifth victory in the Southern 500
at Darlington
a week later. Gordon won for the third and final time in 2002 at Kansas Speedway
, his second consecutive at the track. The 24 team finished the season 5th in points.
In 2003, Jeff Gordon returned with Robbie Loomis for a third season together. Gordon won early in April, winning Martinsville
, and winning Atlanta and Martinsville again in the fall. He finished the year 4th in the NASCAR standings, with 3 wins, 15 Top-5 finishes, and 20 Top-10 finishes. Gordon also was in second in rank to Matt Kenseth
for the championship early in the season. In June, Gordon went to Indianapolis Motor Speedway to take part in a test with then-F1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya
. The two switched rides, with Gordon driving an F1 car for the first time. Montoya would eventually join the NASCAR Cup series in 2007.
victories at Indianapolis Motor Speedway
, and one of only five drivers to have four victories at the historic track. Prior to this victory, Gordon won at Talladega (ending the DEI dominance on restrictor plate tracks), and followed that up with a victory the following weekend at California. He also won at Infineon Raceway, and followed that up with a victory the following weekend in the Pepsi 400 at Daytona, his second consecutive restrictor plate win. He finished 3rd in the 2004 NEXTEL Cup points standing behind Kurt Busch
and teammate Jimmie Johnson
even though he scored the most total points throughout the whole season, a consequence of the new Chase system implemented in 2004. While the Hendrick Motorsports team enjoyed success with Johnson and Gordon finished 2nd and 3rd in the points, the team suffered a major off-track tragedy. On October 24, during the race weekend at Martinsville, a Hendrick Motorsports plane carrying engine builder Randy Dorton, team President John Hendrick (Rick Hendrick's brother), Vice President Jeff Turner, Ricky Hendrick (Rick Hendrick's 24 year old son) and more crashed on its way to the track. Everyone on board were killed. The team was clearly affected by this, but continued with impressive performances.
, his third win in the event. Inconsistency would plague him throughout the year, however. A late season (notably top 10s at Indy and Bristol) run put him in position to qualify for the Chase, but in the last race before the Chase at Richmond
, Gordon made contact with the wall and failed to start for the chase. Despite this disappointment, on October 23 Gordon won the Subway 500
at Martinsville Speedway
, his first win in 22 points races, and his 7th career victory at the 0.526 mile (0.84651284 km) track, which leads all active drivers at the facility. He went on to finish 11th in the Championship and received a $1,000,000 bonus as the top driver finishing outside the Chase. It was Gordon's first time outside the top 10 in the point standings since 1993.
On September 14, 2005 Crew Chief Robbie Loomis
resigned from the #24 team. Loomis stayed on with Hendrick Motorsports as a consultant for Jimmie Johnson
's #48 team through the Chase for The NEXTEL Cup in 2005. Steve Letarte
, Gordon's car chief for most of the '05 season and long time member of the 24 crew, replaced Loomis as crew chief effective at New Hampshire International Speedway
on September 18, 2005.
, at the Infineon Raceway
– his first win of the season and fifth at Infineon. The day before the race, he announced his engagement to Belgian model Ingrid Vandebosch
.
On June 29, 2006, Gordon announced that he would participate in the Rolex 24 endurance sports car event at Daytona International Speedway, teaming up with SunTrust Racing drivers Max Angelelli
and Wayne Taylor
, who won the 2005 Rolex 24 race. His team went on to finish third, despite problems, two laps behind the winning team of Juan Pablo Montoya
, Scott Pruett
, and Salvador Durán
. On July 9, 2006, Gordon won his first race at the Chicagoland Speedway
at the running of the USG Sheetrock 400
(this was also the first win for Hendrick Motorsports
at this track).
Gordon made the "Chase for the NEXTEL Cup" with his improvements on the intermediate 1.5/2-mile downforce racetracks from 2005. His consistency in the latter portions of 2006 made him competitive week-in and week-out, eventually finishing 6th in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Standings.
Jeff Gordon attended the awards ceremony at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City
for his top-10 finish in the NEXTEL Cup Standings. While there he collected a check for his 2006 winnings of $7,471,447 which brings his career winnings total to $82,838,526.
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Gordon started the 2007 Cup season off by winning his Gatorade Duel qualifying race. Due to a rear shock bolt breaking during the race on his car, he failed the post-race inspection which found that the rear of his car was too low and, as a result, had to start 42nd in the 2007 Daytona 500. He went on to finish 10th in the race despite being involved in a crash during a spectacular last-lap finish.
On March 23, 2007, Gordon won his 58th career pole for the 2007 Food City 500
at Bristol
, the first race for the Car of Tomorrow
. He went on to a 3rd place in the race, which gave him the points lead for the first time since the 2005 Daytona 500. At Texas Motor Speedway, Gordon started on the pole because qualifying was rained out. He led the most laps before brushing the wall coming out of turn 4 and finishing 4th. On April 19, 2007 at Phoenix International Raceway, Gordon won the pole, and tied Darrell Waltrip's modern day record of 59 career poles.
Two days later, at the Subway Fresh Fit 500, he won for the first time at PIR, ending also a streak of 21 races of non-pole winners at the track. With the win, he also tied Dale Earnhardt
for 6th all time in overall number of NASCAR NEXTEL Cup series wins (second in the modern era). After winning the race, he held a black flag with the number 3 to honor the late Dale Earnhardt
.
On April 28, 2007, Gordon earned the pole at Talladega Superspeedway
, his 60th career pole (and third consecutive in 2007), passing Darrell Waltrip
's record of 59 to become the modern era pole leader. One day later, he passed Earnhardt for sole position of sixth on the all time wins list with 77 by winning the Aaron's 499
.
On May 13, 2007, Gordon held on despite an overheating car and a late charge by Denny Hamlin
to win the Dodge Avenger 500, the 78th win of his career, and his 7th at Darlington Raceway
.
In the 2007 Coca-Cola 600
, Gordon crashed after contact with Tony Raines
and AJ Allmendinger on lap 61 at Lowe's Motor Speedway, only 91.5 miles (147.3 km) into the race, ending his streak of completing every lap during the season. Gordon finished 41st.
On June 11, 2007, Gordon earned his 4th win of the year and 79th of his career in a rain shortened race at Pocono Raceway. Six days later, he scored a ninth place finish at the Citizens Bank 400 at Michigan International Speedway
, the 300th top-ten finish of his career.
On September 8, 2007, Gordon earned a place in the Chase for the NEXTEL Cup
. With his four wins in the first 26 races, he earned the "Regular Season" Championship, and the second seed (teammate Jimmie Johnson
earned the top seed with six wins) in the chase.
On October 7, 2007, Gordon led only the final lap in winning the UAW-Ford 500 at Talladega Superspeedway
for his 80th career victory, using a strategy of staying near the end of the field until nearly the end of the race to avoid the inevitable "big one", especially with the unknowns involved in racing the Car of Tomorrow
. With the win, he swept the 2007 season races at Talladega, and won his 12th race at a restrictor plate
track (Daytona
and Talladega), making him the all-time leader for restrictor plate wins.
On October 13, 2007, Gordon led 71 laps and, although fuel was a question near the end of the race, he was able to finish the race and earned his 81st career victory in the Bank of America 500
at Lowe's Motor Speedway
.
Finishing fourth in the 2007 Ford 400
, Gordon finished the 2007 Chase for the Nextel Cup
2nd in the standings to Hendrick Motorsports
teammate Jimmie Johnson
, trailing by 77. However, Gordon's top-ten finish at Homestead left him with a total of 30 top-ten finishes for the season, setting a new modern era Cup Series record. This was the second time that Gordon lost a championship because of the Chase points system. As with 2004, he recorded the most points over the entire season, but lost the title because of the ten race championship system. Gordon has been the only driver to lose the title because of the Chase more than once.
Gordon finished fourth in the Budweiser Shootout
and finished third in the Gatorade Duel qualifying race. He started the 50th annual Daytona 500
from the eighth position and led eight laps, some under caution, but on lap 159 suffered suspension failure and finished in 39th position.
Jeff Gordon wrecked with 5 laps to go at Las Vegas Motor Speedway
(LVMS), claiming that it was one of the hardest wrecks he's ever had, and leading him to call for safety improvements on the inside walls of LVMS and other similar tracks. The wreck has had drivers and owners from all around NASCAR now concerned with the lack of a SAFER barrier
on the inside walls at tracks and the design of the wall where it allows access for emergency vehicles. Greg Biffle
went as far to say that the wreck should be taken as seriously as the one that took Dale Earnhardt
's life in 2001. Other drivers who have publicly supported Gordon's call for safety improvements include Jeff Burton
, Tony Stewart
, Robby Gordon
, and Kurt Busch
.
Gordon collected his 64th career pole for the Kobalt Tools 500 on March 7, 2008, then went on to finish 5th in the race leading 3 laps.
Gordon collected his 65th career pole for the Goody's Cool Orange 500 on March 28, 2008 at Martinsville Speedway. Gordon went on to finish second in the race after being caught up in a crash caused by Aric Almirola and coming back from the tail end of the field. Gordon led 90 laps in the race.
Gordon finished 3rd in the Dodge Challenger 500 making that his 4th straight top 3 finish in that particular event.
Gordon scored a 3rd at the Toyota/Save Mart 350 making this finish his 4th top 3 finish in the last 8 events at Sonoma.
On September 7, 2008, with his 8th place finish at Richmond, Gordon will make his 4th appearance in the Chase for the Sprint Cup earning the 10th seed out of 12 drivers.
Gordon collected his 66th career pole at the Dover International Speedway
for the Camping World RV 400
. Gordon led 30 laps in the race and scored a top 5, while Greg Biffle
won.
On October 31, 2008, Gordon earned his 67th career pole, his fourth of the 2008 season, and first ever at Texas Motor Speedway
. Gordon finished 2nd to Carl Edwards
.
Gordon finished 7th in the 2008 Chase for the Sprint Cup, 368 points out of first place. He finished winless for the first time since 1993. This was also the final season the team ran the flames paint scheme that was introduced in 2001. In 2009, the 24 car would unveil its third 'regular' paint scheme. The new scheme was not much different than the previous flames design, but the color blue was replaced with black. This was the first time in Gordon's career that his primary paint scheme did not feature the color blue.
. Gordon finished 4th at the Shootout, the same finish he had in 2008 after getting through three wrecks, including a last lap crash. He held off Tony Stewart
to win his 5th Gatorade Duel. It was his first win in forty-one races. As a result of the win Gordon started 3rd in the Daytona 500
and, after overcoming a tire issue late in the race, finished 13th.
Despite leading 64 laps, Gordon finished runner-up to Matt Kenseth
in the Auto Club 500
. It was Gordon's 9th top-5 finish at California.
Gordon led 17 laps in the Shelby 427 but cut a tire coming into the pits and as a result he finished 6th, despite having a shredded fender. Gordon took his first points lead since 2007.
Gordon led 35 laps in the Kobalt Tools 500 and finished second to Kurt Busch
for his second top five finish of the season.
Gordon finished 4th in the Food City 500
to collect his third top five of the season and extended his point lead to 77 points.
Gordon led 147 laps in the Goody's Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville, but finished fourth. His teammate Jimmie Johnson
won the event. Gordon extended his point lead to 90 points over Clint Bowyer
.
Gordon ended his 47 race winless streak, winning the Samsung 500 for his 82nd career victory and his first at Texas Motor Speedway
. With the win, Gordon has won at every track that currently hosts a Cup race except Homestead-Miami Speedway
and Kentucky Speedway
. He held off teammate Jimmie Johnson
for the win and extended his points lead to 162 points. Gordon also led 105 of the 334 laps, earning him 10 bonus points.
Gordon scored a 5th place in the Southern 500
; despite a loose wheel in the beginning of the race. It was Gordon's 5th straight top 5 finish at the track. He extended his point lead to 31 points over Tony Stewart
. Gordon scored second place finishes behind teammate Mark Martin
, in both the June LifeLock 400 at Michigan
and the July LifeLock.com 400 at Chicagoland Speedway
. Because Martin and Gordon finished 1–2 in both races, LifeLock will pay a $1 million bonus to a Colorado family.
Gordon qualified for the 2009 Chase by virtue of his second place standing in the points following the Chevy Rock & Roll 400. Reseeding dropped him to sixth in the points.
Gordon scored two consecutive second place finishes at the Kansas Speedway
and the Auto Club Speedway. He finished second to Tony Stewart
and teammate Jimmie Johnson
in those races and sits 3rd in points behind by 112 points. (After Texas) He was behind 169 points after Phoenix. He finished 3rd in points giving Hendrick Motorsports the first team ever to finish 1–2–3 in the points. He finished behind teammate Mark Martin
and Jimmie Johnson
. Johnson became the first driver to win four straight titles, but under the new Chase points system. Gordon's four came under the season long points standings. Had this system still been in place, instead of the Chase, Gordon's Cup total would be at six championships, as he scored the most season long points in both 2004 and 2007.
. Gordon led 124 laps at Texas, but was involved in a multi-car wreck late in the race. Gordon went on to lead 4 laps at Talladega but was caught up in a wreck with Jeff Burton near the end of the race and dropped him down to a 22nd place finish. Gordon was leading on the final restart of the Crown Royal Presents the Heath Calhoun 400, but was passed by the winner of the race, Kyle Busch
. This was Gordon's eighth second place finish since his last win came at Texas a year ago. At the Southern 500 at Darlington, Gordon led a race-high 110 laps, but was shuffled back to the end of the lead lap as a result of being on pit road when a caution came out. He eventually worked his way up in the last 20 laps to finish fourth. In Dover, Gordon finished 11th after he was a top 15 car all day in a 400 lap event. Gordon recorded a 6th place finish at Charlotte, after opting for track position over pitting with 20 laps to go. Gordon did not have a very fast car, but managed to hold on to a top-10 finish. Gordon made his 600th career NASCAR Sprint Cup start in the 2010 Lifelock.com 400 on July 10, 2010 at the Chicagoland Speedway and finished 3rd. Gordon cut a right front tire late at the Carfax 400 at Michigan, resulting in a 27th place finish, but remained 2nd in the points standings. Gordon finished 13th at the Emory Healthcare 500
in Atlanta, and remained 2nd in the points standings. The Chase started well for Gordon. He finished 6th at Loudon. after struggling at Dover, he finished 5th at Kansas, and 9th at Fontana. He earned his first pole of the season at Charlotte and he was the pick to win the race, but unfortunately, he had battery issues and he was caught speeding on pit road finished a disappointing 23rd place finish. At Martinsville, he got wrecked by rival Kurt Busch
, ending his championship hopes. At Texas, he was running well, until an incident occurred between him and Jeff Burton
. Gordon wrecked under caution, and he was very upset with Burton, causing them to have a shove and a physical fight. He would finish 37th. In the Ford 400
, he started 11th and finished 37th, due to an engine failure. He went winless again, and it would be the third time in his career he went winless (also in 1993 and 2008).
. The following week at Phoenix
, Jeff started 17th. He dominated the race, leading 138 of the 312 laps. With eight laps to go, Jeff came up beside Kyle Busch, Gordon got loose and slid up and into Busch. Gordon drove away to a half-second lead. He held off Busch in the remaining 7 laps to win. It was Jeff's first win since Texas in April 2009, and his 2nd win in the previous 3 seasons. But the momentum wouldn't last long. He ran inside the top 5 at Las Vegas, but blew a tire and hit the wall and finished 36th with his first DNF of 2011. He struggled at Bristol
and Fontana, finishing outside the top 10 in both. At Martinsville
, he led a few laps and finished 5th, his first top 10 since his Phoenix win. He ran out of fuel with a lap to go at Texas while running inside the top 10, finishing 23rd. Gordon won his 70th pole at Talladega
, breaking a 3rd-place tie with Cale Yarborough
for most poles. At Talladega he 2-car drafted with Mark Martin
almost the entire race. He led a few laps at the beginning of the race, but then purposely fell outside the top 30 to avoid any trouble. With about 10 to go, Gordon and Martin started their charge to the front, taking the lead at the white flag. Then, while side-by-side with Clint Bowyer
and Kevin Harvick
, coming through the tri-oval, Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr. squeezed to their inside. Jr. rubbed fenders with Martin, killing his and Gordon's momentum. Gordon finished third, in a 3-wide photo-finish won by Johnson over Bowyer by 0.002 seconds. The following week at Richmond
, Gordon stayed in the top 3 all night long, and looked to be a serious contender for the win. But battling back in the pack from a 4-tire call, Matt Kenseth
squeezed up on Clint Bowyer and turned Jeff into an inside wall opening. He finished 39th and had his second DNF of the season. The following week at Darlington, Gordon was consistently running in the top 5, a green-white-checkered moved him from 6th to a 12th-place finish. After Darlington, Gordon was 17th points, but due to the new Wild-Card in the Chase, he would be in the Chase due to his Phoenix win. Jeff finished outside the top 10 at Dover
and Charlotte
. He had a top-5 run going at Charlotte, but being caught a lap down late relegated him to a 20th-place finish. Kansas
, the following week. Gordon finished 4th behind some fuel-strategy winners. Coming off a great run at Kansas, Gordon and the #24 team looked to continue the success at Pocono. After starting third, Gordon never lost sight of the leaders, staying in the top 3 all day. With 41 to go, Gordon beat Kurt Busch
off pit road, but restarted second to Juan Pablo Montoya
, who took 2 tires. Jeff quickly assumed the lead on the restart. After a round of green-flag pit stops, Jeff passed Landon Cassill
, for the lead and never looked back. He had his 2nd win of the year, 84th career win, tying him 3rd all-time with Darrell Waltrip
and Bobby Allison
, and his fifth win at Pocono, tying him with Bill Elliott
for all-time wins at the racetrack. Following his Pocono win, Jeff again struggled with his 1.5–2 mile tracks, finishing 17th at Michigan
. Everyone had high expectations for Gordon at Infineon
. But the entire race showed Gordon mired back in the 22nd position. But a call from Gustafson put Jeff 7th with about 20 to go. Gordon muscled his way through the field, avoiding and staying ahead of wrecks. He grabbed second coming to the white flag, and ran out of time to catch leader Kurt Busch
. The second place finish put Gordon in 9th place in the standings.
The Coke Zero 400
at Daytona weekend started out well for Gordon, starting 4th. His drafting buddy Mark Martin started on pole, and chose the outside line at the start, and that quickly put him and Gordon out front. Jeff and Mark approached this race the same as Talladega, as they hung out at the back for the entire race. A green flag run of about 100 laps caused the Hendrick duos to be many seconds behind the leader. Gordon and Martin charged to the front and caught the leaders with 3 to go. But a bunched up field in turn 3 caused Gordon to slide up and into Kyle Busch and spin. A save by Gordon minimized his damage. He restarted 18th behind Kyle Busch. With Gordon pushing, Kyle moved by most of the field before a final last-turn, last-lap wreck took out top contenders. Gordon finished 6th and complimented Kyle on his ability to make moves through the pack. The 6th-place finish put Gordon in 8th place in points.
The next week marked the first-ever Sprint Cup Series race held at the Kentucky Speedway. Gordon was fast in the practice sessions, and when qualifying was rained out, but would start 14th. However, the handling of the 24 DuPont Chevrolet was not to Gordon's liking. At one point, he said that Kentucky was "one of the most frustrating places I've ever driven." For much of the race, Gordon ran in the mid 20s, even falling one lap down to then race leader, and eventual winner, Kyle Busch. After a caution for debris came out, Crew Chief Alan Gustafson opted to not pit and take the wave around to make up the lost lap. A late caution, pit strategy, and a bit of luck enabled Gordon to pit and run inside the top 10 for the final 50 laps. He would salvage a tenth-place finish, moving him up to 7th place in the points.
At Loudon, he led 19 laps but had electric issues. He worked his way up to fourth, but cut a tire on the last lap and was forced to settle for eleventh. Two weeks later at Indianapolis, Gordon led 36 laps but lost to Paul Menard
's fuel strategy. He finished a very close second. At the next race at Pocono, Gordon would finish 6th. He placed 13th at Watkins Glen International a week later. At Michigan, he led 50 laps, but finished sixth after simply losing the car late. He led a race-high 206 laps at Bristol the next week, and finished third to Martin Truex, Jr. and Brad Keselowski
.
The following Sunday race at Atlanta was delayed due to rain, and was moved to Tuesday, due to a tropical storm (Lee) on the track on Monday. In that race Jeff Gordon led the majority of the laps at the beginning of the race. However, with tightness and tire issues as well as cautions and a red flag being thrown out due to rain, he was placed in a tough situation as far as the race strategy. The race continued and Jeff marched his way up to the lead once again. His car gradually became loose, and he eventually lost the lead to Matt Kenseth
as well as several more positions. But several more cautions enabled Jeff to complete adjustments and furthermore take better care of his tires, in fear of wearing them out early. He charged back up to the leader Jimmie Johnson
and passed him, but as the race led to 10–15 laps to go, Jeff was starting to become loose again in the long run. This allowed Jimmie Johnson to catch Jeff and pass him once, but Jimmie was loose too, enabling Jeff to reclaim the lead. Both drivers battled side-by-side and battled looseness issues. Coming to the white flag, Jimmie was excessively loose off turn 4 behind him, allowing Jeff some breathing room. Jeff held off Jimmie for the final lap and took his 3rd victory of the season as well as his 85th career win, placing 3rd on the all-time win list, behind Richard Petty and David Pearson, beating Bobby Allison and Darrell Waltrip. He then moved up to 5th in points.
At Richmond
(September 10, 2011), Jeff Gordon had a poor qualifying run of 17th at the Wonderful Pistachios 400. He had a fast car at the beginning, but suddenly the car experienced tightness issues and he dropped back to the 20's in position. He missed an opportunity to pit and make some adjustments under caution, due to communication errors between him and his crew chief. However, coming to 250 laps, the caution between his teammate Jimmie Johnson and Kurt Busch gave him a chance to pit and make such adjustments, and eventually he climbed back up to the front and took the lead. He led the field in for service under the caution on Lap 384. He came out of the pits second and had a bad restart, but shot back with a finish of 3rd at Richmond, with Kevin Harvick winning the race, and Carl Edwards in second. Jeff Gordon commented on how it was interesting that Paul Menard
, a Richard Childress teammate of Harvick's, caused the caution by just spinning into the grass.
Gordon's summer hot streak made him a top pick for the 2011 Chase for the Sprint Cup. He was seeded 3rd for the chase, because of his 3 wins.
Gordon's Chase started off with a disappointing 23rd Qualifying effort at Chicagoland Speedway
. He would run near that position all day, going even a lap down during the midpoint of the race. He started his climb late i the race, before fuel milage came into play. He made it to 17th when he ran out of gas with 2 laps to go and finished 24th, making a deep hole to climb out of early in the Chase.
The second race in the Chase, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, looked to be a rebound race for Gordon, as he ran well in the spring race. He started out the good weekend qualifying 7th, and looked fast in practice. Gordon started the race and quickly clawed his way to the front, grabbing the lead at lap 164. He opened gaps of 4+ seconds on the field, and was clearly the car to beat. But, while trying to stretch fuel for the last pit stop, Jeff ran out of gas under green coming to pit road, and took a long time getting re-fired, erasing his 9 second lead. What made matters worse, there was a problem during the exchange of fuel cans and they didnt get enough fuel in the car as they would've liked. He charged back up to 3rd, but then got word of the fuel mishap, he fell to 6th. While conserving in 7th, leaders started to pit for fuel. Hamlin, Kahne, and Bowyer run out of fuel. Greg Biffle
also ran out of fuel, but beat Jeff by inches for 3rd. Gordon's 4th place finish boosted him to 5th in points. A great rebound from Chicagoland.
Dover International Speedway
, the third race in the Chase, going in, was going to be a questionable weekend for the 24 team, as they struggled in the spring race. Finishing practice sessions in the top 5 showed promise for the race. But, a 34th starting position quickly changed the mood in the 24 camp. The day looked up for the 24 team after moving through the field quickly. Gordon stayed most of the day near 10th position. A very uneventful day for the 24 team ended with a solid 12th place finish. But, most of the chasers ran in the top 5, but some ran in the back 20s. Gordon gained points on the Championship leader, but fell to ninth in points, 19 points behind. A very reasonable margin.
Kansas Speedway
looked like the best track for Gordon in the Chase. The past 5 attempts at Kansas being top 5's, and an average finish of 8th (best among chasers), backed up the mood of the team. He qualified a decent 10th, after finishing the practice sessions in the top 5 and 10. The race started very well for Gordon, moving into the top 5 in a matter of about 25 laps. Gordon had a top 3 car all day long, Jimmie Johnson
only being faster, as the leader. Gordon's pit stops were flawless all day, gaining many spots, besides the handfuls that took 2 tires. On a restart with 45 laps to go, Gordon restarted fifth behind Ku Busch, Harvick, Johnson and Keselowski, with Tony Stewart
behind him, in seventh. When the green dropped, Stewart dove below Gordon into turn 1 and moved him up the track. The contact quickly threw Gordon from 5th to 17th. While in the back, Gordon reported seeing smoke inside the car. While, the car looked to be slow, Gordon inched up to 14th, before the engine let go with 2 to go. Gordon dropped to 34th, and with most of the Chase contenders having good days, put him 10th in points, 47 behind the leaders. The point margin is a very difficult hole to climb out of. Especially at a track that would possibly be Jeff's best shot at a win.
†Non-points race
. He was slated to run it again in 2004 against Formula One
Champion Michael Schumacher
but was sidelined by the flu, and Casey Mears
took his place. In 2005, Gordon competed in the Race of Champions event again, this time held in Paris, France, where he was partnered with famed motocross racer/X Games winner Travis Pastrana
. In 2007, Gordon competed in the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona for the first time. He raced the #10 Pontiac
for Wayne Taylor racing. His teammates consisted of: Max Angelelli
, Jan Magnussen
, and Wayne Taylor
. The team placed third in Gordon's first ever Rolex 24.
Gordon won one race in IROC
, in 1998
.
Season in progress.
Data as of October 31st, 2011.
as a sponsor. From 1993 to 2000, Gordon carried a rainbow scheme that got the team their nickname. Throughout the years, Gordon has sometimes carried different paint, such as Jurassic Park
the ride in 1997, Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
in 1999, and Snoopy
in the 2000 Brickyard 400, and a Superman
theme. In 1997, Gordon signed a long-term contract with Pepsi
that is still in place today. Every year Gordon has driven a car with the Pepsi scheme (he almost always has car with a Pepsi paint scheme at a night race, particularly Daytona International Speedway
in July). In 2001, Gordon debuted a new scheme designed by NASCAR artist Sam Bass, which kept a blue base but changed the rainbow pattern to flames. In 2006, Gordon acquired a new sponsor, Nicorette
. In 2007, Gordon increased his partnership with Nicorette, and ran the paint scheme in 4 races. At Talladega
in 2007, Gordon had a fan design contest. The design got a real treat, as Gordon won the race. Since 2007, Gordon has had the same design with different colors. (e.g. Nicorette scheme, green and yellow flames). Gordon will occasionally run a scheme that will support a different type of DuPont
paint such as Cromax Pro.
Gordon announced that the primary scheme of the DuPont #24 Chevrolet was to change for 2009 & beyond on the QVC
show For Race Fans Only. The 2009 scheme kept the flames format but the colors were radically changed to red and orange flames on a black base color. The new 2009 DuPont paint scheme was unveiled on NBC
's Today show. In 2009, National Guard signed a contract with Gordon, replacing Nicorette. National Guard was the primary sponsor on Gordon's car for 6–8 races per season through 2010. Occasionally, a one-race sponsor steps in to sponsor Gordon's car for one race. For example, Gordon ran a Megatron scheme at Charlotte in the Fall of 2009 to promote the movie Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
that was soon to come out on .
Hendrick Motorsports owner, Rick Hendrick, said in November 2009 that he is working on signing a contract extension with DuPont, Gordon's primary sponsor since the beginning of his career. DuPont's current contract with Jeff Gordon expires at the end of 2010, and Hendrick said he wants it to be Gordon's primary sponsor for the rest of his career. In 2010 reports surfaced that Hendrick Motorsports was in talks with Walmart to be a sponsor for the #24 car, the deal never materialized. In October 2010, Hendrick Motorsports announced a scaled-down three-year extension of its sponsorship agreement with DuPont: DuPont will be Gordon's primary sponsor for 14 races, with AARP
picking up 22 of the remaining races and long-term sponsor Pepsi continuing as primary sponsor for 2 races.
. He has an older sister named Kim.
Gordon met first wife Brooke Sealey after he won a Busch race. Sealey was then a college student and had been present as Ms. Winston in the victory lane in 1992. The pair began dating in secret, due to a rule that did not allow drivers to date Ms. Winston, and they were married in 1994. In 2003, Gordon's divorce from Sealey became tabloid fodder. In court papers, she asked for "exclusive use of the couple's oceanfront home, valued at $9 million, as well as alimony
, two cars and periodic use of their boats and an airplane."
Gordon was introduced to Ingrid Vandebosch
by a mutual friend in 2002, but they did not begin dating until 2004. Jeff announced their engagement on June 24, 2006, at a croquet
event at Meadowood Resort in St. Helena, California
. According to Gordon, they had kept the engagement secret for the following 30 days. Gordon and Vandebosch were married in a small, private ceremony in Mexico on Nov. 7, 2006. On June 20, 2007, Vandebosch gave birth to their first child, Ella Sofia Gordon in New York City
. On February 4, 2010, Gordon revealed that he and his wife are expecting their second child in August, and on March 16, 2010, he revealed that the baby is a boy. Gordon had Scott Pruett
ready to step into the 24 at Watkins Glen because his wife was due to give birth the weekend of August 8, 2010. On August 9, 2010, Vandebosch delivered their son, Leo Benjamin Gordon, at 8:53 am. He weighed 7 lbs., 2 oz., and was 19 inches long.
Gordon owns a private jet, a British Aerospace BAE-125-800, also known as a Hawker 800, with a tail number on this jet matching his car number, N24JG and also owns a Lazzara 106 yacht called the 24 Karat.
In 1999, Jeff Gordon established The Jeff Gordon Foundation to help support children facing life-threatening and chronic illnesses. In 2007, Jeff Gordon along with Andre Agassi
, Muhammad Ali
, Lance Armstrong
, Warrick Dunn
, Mia Hamm
, Tony Hawk
, Andrea Jaeger
, Jackie Joyner-Kersee
, Mario Lemieux
, Alonzo Mourning
, and Cal Ripken, Jr.
founded Athletes for Hope
, a charitable organization which helps professional athletes get involved in charitable causes and inspires millions of non-athletes to volunteer and support the community.
It was announced in 2009 that Gordon would receive the Silver Buffalo Award
, the Boy Scouts of America
's highest award for his work as a Scout Recruiter and humanitarian work.
Gordon is a Christian. He has talked about how in the early nineties he got curious and followed some drivers to the weekly chapel one week, which is how he first started to learn more about God.
at the January 10, 2009, Chili Bowl Nationals race at Tulsa
. Most recently Jeff was inducted into the Watkins Glen International Hall of Fame because of his outstanding success on the track.
ten times on days when Regis Philbin
was unavailable. In January 2003, Gordon became the first NASCAR driver to host NBC
's Saturday Night Live
. In 2005, he played himself in Herbie Fully Loaded. In 2009 he voiced a character on the animated series Speed Racer/Next Generation. On April 11, 2010, Jeff was the guest celebrity on an episode of ABC
's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
.
He provides his voice as Jeff Gorvette, a Chevrolet Corvette C6.R
no. #24, in Pixar
's 2011 animated movie, Cars 2
.
Jeff appears in PlayStation 3
videogame Gran Turismo 5
as himself, providing tutorials on racing in NASCAR.
He also appears on the cover of NASCAR Thunder 2002
and NASCAR 09
. He is also on the cover of NASCAR 06: Total Team Control
with Jimmie Johnson
.
In the movie "Couple's Retreat", Jeff was mentioned when Jason Bateman said: "If Jeff Gordon told you the oil was low, you'd want to change it."
In 2003 he appeared in the movie "LooneyToons Back in Action" in Las Vegas doing a give away contest for his race car before Yosemite Sam steals the car
In the King of The Hill episode "Life In The Fast Lane, Bobby's Saga", Jeff Gordon is portrayed less than favorably, screaming "Daddy!" in a nasal tone when his cars spins out and hits a wall, alluding to earlier comments in the episode about how the main cast doesn't care for him because his father pulled strings to get him the car.
31
| style="background:#fff;"|
| style="background:#fff;"|
| style="background:#fff;"|
| style="background:#fff;"|
| style="background:#fff;"|
| style="background:#fff;"|
| style="background:#fff;"|
! 79th
! 70
|-
! 1993
! Hendrick Motorsports
|24
! DuPont
! Chevrolet
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| DAY
5
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| CAR
34
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| RIC
6
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| ATL
4
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DAR
24
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| BRI
17
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| NWS
34
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| MAR
8
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| TAL
11
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| INF
11
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| LOW
2
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| DOV
18
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| POC
28
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| MIC
2
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| DAY2
5
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| NHA
7
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| POC2
37
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| TAL2
31
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| GLN
31
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| MIC2
3
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| BRI2
20
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| DAR2
22
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| RIC2
10
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DOV2
24
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| MAR2
11
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| NWS2
34
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| LOW2
5
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| CAR2
21
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| PHO
35
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| ATL2
31
| style="background:#fff;"|
| style="background:#fff;"|
| style="background:#fff;"|
| style="background:#fff;"|
| style="background:#fff;"|
| style="background:#fff;"|
! 14th
! 3447
|-
! 1994
! Hendrick Motorsports
|24
! DuPont
! Chevrolet
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| DAY
4
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| CAR
32
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| RIC
3
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| ATL
8
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DAR
31
| style="bafdfdf;"| TAL
24
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| BRI
22
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| NWS
15
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| MAR
33
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| INF
37
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| LOW
1
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| DOV
5
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| POC
6
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| MIC
12
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| DAY2
8
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| NHA
39
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| POC2
8
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| TAL2
31
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| IND
1
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| GLN
9
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| MIC2
15
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| BRI2
32
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| DAR2
6
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| RIC2
2
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| DOV2
11
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| MAR2
11
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| NWS2
8
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| LOW2
28
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| CAR2
29
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| PHO
4
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| ATL2
15
| style="background:#fff;"|
| style="background:#fff;"|
| style="background:#fff;"|
| style="background:#fff;"|
| style="background:#fff;"|
! 8th
! 3776
|-
! 1995
! Hendrick Motorsports
|24
! DuPont
! Chevrolet
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| DAY
22
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| CAR
1
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| RIC
36
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| ATL
1
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DAR
32
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| BRI
1
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| NWS
2
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| MAR
3
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| TAL
2
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| INF
3
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| LOW
33
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| DOV
6
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| POC
16
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| MIC
2
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| DAY2
1
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| NHA
1
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| POC2
2
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| TAL2
8
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| IND
6
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| GLN
3
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| MIC2
3
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| BRI2
6
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| DAR2
1
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| RIC2
6
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| DOV2
1
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| MAR2
7
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| NWS2
3
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| LOW2
30
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| CAR2
20
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| PHO
5
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| ATL2
32
| style="background:#fff;"|
| style="background:#fff;"|
| style="background:#fff;"|
| style="background:#fff;"|
| style="background:#fff;"|
! 1st
! 4614
|-
! 1996
! Hendrick Motorsports
|24
! DuPont
! Chevrolet
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DAY
42
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| CAR
40
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| RIC
1
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| ATL
3
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| DAR
1
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| BRI
1
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| NWS
2
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| MAR
3
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| TAL
33
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| INF
6
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| LOW
4
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| DOV
1
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| POC
1
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| MIC
6
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| DAY2
3
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| NHA
34
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| POC2
7
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| TAL2
1
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| IND
37
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| GLN
4
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| MIC2
5
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| BRI2
2
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| DAR2
1
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| RIC2
2
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| DOV2
1
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| MAR2
1
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| NWS2
1
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| LOW2
31
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| CAR2
12
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| PHO
5
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| ATL2
3
| style="background:#fff;"|
| style="background:#fff;"|
| style="background:#fff;"|
| style="background:#fff;"|
| style="background:#fff;"|
! 2nd
! 4620
|-
! 1997
! Hendrick Motorsports
|24
! DuPont
! Chevrolet
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| DAY
1
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| CAR
1
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| RIC
4
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| ATL
42
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| DAR
3
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| TEX
30
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| BRI
1
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| MAR
1
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| INF
2
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| TAL
5
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| LOW
1
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DOV
26
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| POC
1
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| MIC
5
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| CAL
1
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| DAY2
21
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| NHA
23
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| POC2
2
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| IND
4
| style="background:#fffrbf;"| GLN
1
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| MIC2
2
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| BRI2
35
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| DAR2
1
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| RIC2
3
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| NHA2
1
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| DOV2
7
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| MAR2
4
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| LOW2
5
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| TAL2
35
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| CAR2
4
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| PHO
17
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| ATL2
17
| style="background:#fff;"|
| style="background:#fff;"|
| style="background:#fff;"|
| style="background:#fff;"|
! 1st
! 4710
|-
! 1998
! Hendrick Motorsports
|24
! DuPont
! Chevrolet
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| DAY
16
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| CAR
1
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| VEG
17
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| ATL
19
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| DAR
2
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| BRI
1
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| TEX
31
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| MAR
8
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| TAL
5
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| CAL
4
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| LOW
1
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| DOV
3
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| RIC
37
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| MIC
3
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| POC
2
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| INF
1
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| NHA
3
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| POC2
1
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| IND
1
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| GLN
1
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| MIC2
1
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| BRI2
5
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| NHA2
1
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| DAR2
1
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| RIC2
2
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| DOV2
2
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| MAR2
2
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| LOW2
5
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| TAL2
2
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| DAY2
1
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| PHO
7
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| CAR2
1
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| ATL2
1
| style="background:#fff;"|
| style="background:#fff;"|
| style="background:#fff;"|
! 1st
! 5328
|-
! 1999
! Hendrick Motorsports
|24
! DuPont
! Chevrolet
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| DAY
1
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| CAR
39
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| VEG
3
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| ATL
1
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| DAR
3
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| TEX
43
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| BRI
6
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| MAR
3
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| TAL
38
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| CAL
1
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| RIC
31
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| LOW
39
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| DOV
2
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| MIC
2
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| POC
2
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| INF
1
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| DAY2
21
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| NHA
3
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| POC2
32
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| IND
3
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| GLN
1
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| MIC2
4
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| BRI2
4
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| DAR2
13
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| RIC2
40
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| NHA2
5
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| DOV2
17
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| MAR2
1
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| LOW2
1
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| TAL2
12
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| CAR2
11
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| PHO
10
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| HOM
10
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| ATL2
38
| style="background:#fff;"|
| style="background:#fff;"|
! 6th
! 4620
|-
! 2000
! Hendrick Motorsports
|24
! DuPont
! Chevrolet
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| DAY
34
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| CAR
10
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| VEG
28
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| ATL
9
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| DAR
8
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| BRI
8
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| TEX
25
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| MAR
4
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| TAL
1
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| CAL
11
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| RIC
14
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| LOW
10
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| DOV
32
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| MIC
14
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| POC
8
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| INF
1
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| DAY2
10
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| NHA
5
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| POC2
3
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| IND
33
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| GLN
23
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| MIC2
36
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| BRI2
23
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| DAR2
4
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| RIC2
1
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| NHA2
6
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| DOV2
9
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| MAR2
5
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| LOW2
39
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| TAL2
4
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| CAR2
2
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| PHO
7
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| HOM
7
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| ATL2
4
| style="background:#fff;"|
| style="background:#fff;"|
! 9th
! 4361
|-
! 2001
! Hendrick Motorsports
|24
! DuPont
! Chevrolet
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DAY
30
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| CAR
3
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| VEG
1
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| ATL
2
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DAR
40
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| BRI
4
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| TEX
5
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| MAR
12
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| TAL
27
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| CAL
2
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| RIC
2
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| LOW
29
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| DOV
1
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| MIC
1
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| POC
2
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| INF
3
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| DAY2
37
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| CHI
17
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| NHA
2
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| POC2
8
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| IND
1
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| GLN
1
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| MIC2
7
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| BRI2
3
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| DAR2
2
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| RIC2
36
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| DOV2
4
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| KAN
1
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| LOW2
16
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| MAR2
9
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| TAL2
7
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| PHO
6
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| CAR2
25
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| HOM
28
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| ATL2
6
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| NHA2
15
! 1st
! 5112
|-
! 2002
! Hendrick Motorsports
|24
! DuPont
! Chevrolet
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| DAY
9
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| CAR
7
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| VEG
17
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| ATL
16
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| DAR
9
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| BRI
31
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| TEX
2
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| MAR
23
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| TAL
4
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| CAL
16
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| RIC
7
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| LOW
5
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| DOV
6
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| POC
5
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| MIC
5
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| INF
37
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| DAY2
22
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| CHI
2
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| NHA
29
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| POC2
12
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| IND
6
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| GLN
22
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| MIC2
19
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| BRI2
1
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| DAR2
1
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| RIC2
40
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| NHA2
14
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DOV2
37
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| KAN
1
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| TAL2
42
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| LOW2
4
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| MAR2
36
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| ATL2
6
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| CAR2
5
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| PHO
3
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| HOM
5
! 5th
! 4607
|-
! 2003
! Hendrick Motorsports
|24
! DuPont
! Chevrolet
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| DAY
12
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| CAR
15
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| VEG
37
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| ATL
2
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| DAR
33
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| BRI
9
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| TEX
3
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| TAL
8
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| MAR
1
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| CAL
11
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| RIC
16
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| LOW
8
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| DOV
2
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| POC
13
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| MIC
3
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| INF
2
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| DAY2
14
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| CHI
4
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| NHA
24
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| POC2
36
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| IND
4
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| GLN
33
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| MIC2
30
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| BRI2
28
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DAR2
32
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| RIC2
10
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| NHA2
19
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| DOV2
5
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| TAL2
5
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| KAN
5
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| LOW2
5
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| MAR2
36
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| ATL2
1
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| PHO
7
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| CAR2
22
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| HOM
5
! 4th
! 4785
|-
! 2004
! Hendrick Motorsports
|24
! DuPont
! Chevrolet
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| DAY
8
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| CAR
10
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| VEG
15
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| ATL
10
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DAR
41
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| BRI
9
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| TEX
3
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| MAR
6
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| TAL
1
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| CAL
1
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| RIC
6
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| LOW
30
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DOV
36
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| POC
4
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| MIC
38
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| INF
1
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| DAY2
1
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| CHI
4
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| NHA
2
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| POC2
5
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| IND
1
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| GLN
21
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| MIC2
7
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| BRI2
14
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| CAL2
37
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| RIC2
3
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| NHA2
7
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| DOV2
3
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| TAL2
15
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| KAN
13
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| LOW2
2
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| MAR2
9
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| ATL2
34
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| PHO
3
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| DAR2
3
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| HOM
3
! 3rd
! 6490
|}
}}
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
driver. He is the driver of the #24 Drive to End Hunger
AARP
AARP, formerly the American Association of Retired Persons, is the United States-based non-governmental organization and interest group, founded in 1958 by Ethel Percy Andrus, PhD, a retired educator from California, and based in Washington, D.C. According to its mission statement, it is "a...
/DuPont
DuPont
E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company , commonly referred to as DuPont, is an American chemical company that was founded in July 1802 as a gunpowder mill by Eleuthère Irénée du Pont. DuPont was the world's third largest chemical company based on market capitalization and ninth based on revenue in 2009...
/Pepsi
Pepsi
Pepsi is a carbonated soft drink that is produced and manufactured by PepsiCo...
Chevrolet Impala
Chevrolet Impala
The Chevrolet Impala is a full-size automobile built by the Chevrolet division of General Motors introduced for the 1958 model year. Deriving its name from the southern African antelope, Chevrolet's most expensive passenger model through 1965 had become the best-selling automobile in the United...
. He is a four-time Sprint Cup Series champion and a three-time Daytona 500
Daytona 500
The Daytona 500 is a -long NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held annually at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. It is one of four restrictor plate races on the Cup schedule....
winner. He is third on the all-time wins list, with 85 career wins, and has the most wins in NASCAR's modern era (1972–present). He has won a total of 85 career races and was the fastest to reach 50 wins. In 2009, Gordon became the first driver to reach $100 million in career winnings in the Cup series.
Gordon, along with Rick Hendrick
Rick Hendrick
Joseph Riddick Hendrick III , better known as Rick Hendrick, is the current owner of the American NASCAR team, Hendrick Motorsports and founder of the Hendrick Automotive Group and Hendrick Marrow Program. He attended Park View High School in South Hill, Virginia, and began his career in auto...
, are the co-owners of the #48 Lowe's
Lowe's
Lowe's Companies, Inc. is a U.S.-based chain of retail home improvement and appliance stores. Founded in 1946 in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, the chain now serves more than 14 million customers a week in its 1,710 stores in the United States and 20 in Canada. Expansion into Canada began in...
Chevrolet, driven by
Jimmie Johnson
Jimmie Johnson
Jimmie Kenneth Johnson is an American NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race car driver. He currently drives the No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports....
, who won the 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010 Cup series championships. Gordon also has an equity stake in his own #24 team. He was born in Vallejo, California
Vallejo, California
Vallejo is the largest city in Solano County, California, United States. The population was 115,942 at the 2010 census. It is located in the San Francisco Bay Area on the northeastern shore of San Pablo Bay...
, raised in Pittsboro, Indiana
Pittsboro, Indiana
Pittsboro is a town in Middle Township, Hendricks County, Indiana, United States. The population was 2,928 at the 2010 Census.-History:The town of Pittsboro was founded on December 9, 1834, by Simon T. Hadley and Wiliam L. Matlock. The town was named "Pittsborough" in honor of Hadley's home in...
, and currently lives in Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
.
Early career
Gordon began racing at the age of five, racing quarter midgets.The Roy Hayer Memorial Race Track (Previously the Cracker Jack Track) in Rio Linda, California
Rio Linda, California
Rio Linda is a census-designated place in Sacramento County, California, United States. It is part of the Sacramento–Arden-Arcade–Roseville Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 census, the CDP population was 15,106, up from 10,466 at the 2000 census...
is noted as the first track Gordon ever competed on. By the age of 4 Gordon had won 35 main events and set 11 track records. By the age of 13 Gordon took an interest in the 650 hp sprint cars
Sprint car racing
Sprint cars are high-powered race cars designed primarily for the purpose of running on short oval or circular dirt or paved tracks. Sprint car racing is popular in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa....
. Gordon and his family had to overcome an insurance hurdle. The minimum age for driving the sprint cars was 16. His persistence paid off with an all Florida speed weeks. Supporting his career choice, Gordon's family moved from Vallejo, California
Vallejo, California
Vallejo is the largest city in Solano County, California, United States. The population was 115,942 at the 2010 census. It is located in the San Francisco Bay Area on the northeastern shore of San Pablo Bay...
to Pittsboro, Indiana
Pittsboro, Indiana
Pittsboro is a town in Middle Township, Hendricks County, Indiana, United States. The population was 2,928 at the 2010 Census.-History:The town of Pittsboro was founded on December 9, 1834, by Simon T. Hadley and Wiliam L. Matlock. The town was named "Pittsborough" in honor of Hadley's home in...
, where there were more opportunities for younger racers. Before the age of 18, Gordon had already won three short-track races and was awarded USAC
United States Automobile Club
The United States Auto Club is one of the sanctioning bodies of auto racing in the United States. From 1956 to 1979, the USAC sanctioned the United States National Championship, and from 1956 to 1997 the organization sanctioned the Indianapolis 500...
Midget Car Racing Rookie of the Year in 1989. That season was highlighted by winning Night Before the 500 midget car race on the day before the Indianapolis 500
Indianapolis 500
The Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, also known as the Indianapolis 500, the 500 Miles at Indianapolis, the Indy 500 or The 500, is an American automobile race, held annually, typically on the last weekend in May at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana...
. In 1990, Gordon won his second consecutive Night Before the 500, the Hut Hundred, and the Belleville Midget Nationals on his way to winning the USAC national Midget title. In 1991, Gordon into the USAC Silver Crown, and at the age of 20 became the youngest driver to win the season championship. He also won the 4 Crown Nationals midget car race that season. In his midget car career between 1989 and 1992, he finished in the Top 3 in 22 of 40 USAC midget car events. And he remembered, "the car is heavy".
Busch Series career
In 1990 Gordon met Hugh Connerty, who owned some HootersHooters
Hooters is the trade name of two privately held American restaurant chains: Hooters of America, Incorporated, based in Atlanta, Georgia, and Hooters, Incorporated, based in Clearwater, Florida...
restaurants and was also a partner in Outback Steakhouse. Connerty secured some sponsorship for a car through Outback, and they tested for the last few Busch Grand National races left in 1990. Ray Evernham
Ray Evernham
Ray Evernham is currently a consultant for Hendrick Companies. In 1999, Evernham won the NASCAR Winston Cup Illustrated “Person of the Year”.-Racer:...
was called in to work with Jeff in his stock car debut. His first Busch race came on October 20, 1990 at Rockingham in the AC-Delco 200. Gordon drove the #67 Outback Steakhouse Pontiac for Connerty. Gordon ran the second fastest lap during qualifying and started on the outside of the front row of the field. Gordon would however, get involved in a wreck on lap 33. He ended up with a 39th place finish.
In 1991 and 1992, Gordon went on to the Busch Series
Busch Series
The NASCAR Nationwide Series is a stock car racing series owned and operated by the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing. It is promoted as NASCAR's "minor league" circuit, and is a proving ground for drivers who wish to step up to the organization's "big leagues"; the Sprint Cup circuit...
driving Ford Thunderbird
Ford Thunderbird
The Thunderbird , is an automobile manufactured by the Ford Motor Company in the United States over eleven model generations from 1955 through 2005...
s for Bill Davis Racing
Bill Davis Racing
Bill Davis Racing was a racing team that participated in all three of NASCAR's top divisions until 2009.The team had run Toyota-branded stock cars and trucks in both the Camping World Truck Series and Sprint Cup Series since 2007. Dodge, Ford, and Pontiac previously backed the team...
. In his first year as a Busch driver he won rookie of the year. In 1992, Gordon set a NASCAR record by capturing 11 poles in one season. His time with Bill Davis Racing introduced Gordon to Ray Evernham
Ray Evernham
Ray Evernham is currently a consultant for Hendrick Companies. In 1999, Evernham won the NASCAR Winston Cup Illustrated “Person of the Year”.-Racer:...
as his crew chief. He was sponsored by Carolina Ford Dealers in 1991 and Baby Ruth
Baby Ruth
Baby Ruth is an American candy bar made of peanuts, caramel and chocolate-flavored nougat covered in chocolate.In 1921, the Curtiss Candy Company refashioned its Kandy Kake into the Baby Ruth. The bar was a staple of the Chicago-based company for some seven decades. Curtiss was purchased by Nabisco...
in 1992.
Cup Series career
Gordon made his Winston Cup debut in the history-making 1992 Hooters 5001992 Hooters 500
The 1992 Hooters 500 was the final race of the 1992 NASCAR season. The race is considered one of the greatest NASCAR races of all-time. It was held November 15, 1992 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, and was televised live on ESPN...
at Atlanta in the last race of that season; in addition to the race being Richard Petty
Richard Petty
Richard Lee Petty is a former NASCAR driver who raced in the Strictly Stock/Grand National Era and the NASCAR Winston Cup Series...
's final race in NASCAR and the championship battle among six drivers (eventually won by Alan Kulwicki
Alan Kulwicki
Alan Dennis Kulwicki , nicknamed "Special K" and the "Polish Prince", was an American NASCAR Winston Cup Series racecar driver. He started racing at local short tracks in Wisconsin before moving up to regional stock car touring series...
by virtue of his second place finish in the race), this was Gordon's first start in the #24 DuPont
DuPont
E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company , commonly referred to as DuPont, is an American chemical company that was founded in July 1802 as a gunpowder mill by Eleuthère Irénée du Pont. DuPont was the world's third largest chemical company based on market capitalization and ninth based on revenue in 2009...
Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports that he has driven for his entire Cup Series career.
Gordon began driving the #24 full-time in the 1993 Winston Cup season, in which he won a Daytona 500 qualifying race
Gatorade Duel
The Gatorade Duel is NASCAR Sprint Cup Series preliminary event to the Daytona 500 held annually in February at Daytona International Speedway. It consists of two races, and serves as a qualifying race for the Daytona 500...
, the Rookie of the Year award, and finished 14th in points. Ray Evernham
Ray Evernham
Ray Evernham is currently a consultant for Hendrick Companies. In 1999, Evernham won the NASCAR Winston Cup Illustrated “Person of the Year”.-Racer:...
was placed as Jeff Gordon's first crew chief. Gordon's success in the sport reshaped the paradigm and eventually gave younger drivers an opportunity to compete in NASCAR. However, during the 1993 season, many doubted Gordon's ability to compete at such a level at such a young age because of his tendency to push the cars too hard and crash. His last-place finish at the 1993 First Union 400
1993 First Union 400
The 1993 First Union 400 was a NASCAR Winston Cup Series racing event that took place on April 18, 1993 at North Wilkesboro Speedway in the American community of North Wilkesboro, North Carolina.-Summary:...
was a firm example of this theory.
1994
In 1994, Gordon collected his first career victory at the Charlotte Motor SpeedwayCharlotte Motor Speedway
Charlotte Motor Speedway is a motorsports complex located in Concord, North Carolina, United States 13 miles from Charlotte, North Carolina. The complex features a quad oval track that hosts NASCAR racing including the prestigious Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day weekend and the Sprint All-Star Race...
in the World 600, (now called the Coca Cola 600) NASCAR's longest race of the season. Additionally, Gordon scored a popular hometown victory at Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway, located in Speedway, Indiana in the United States, is the home of the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race and the Brickyard 400....
in the inaugural Brickyard 400
1994 Brickyard 400
The Inaugural Brickyard 400 was held on Saturday August 6, 1994 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The race marked the nineteenth race of the 1994 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season. It was first race held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway besides the Indianapolis 500 since the Harvest Classic in...
, passing Ernie Irvan
Ernie Irvan
Virgil Earnest Irvan, more commonly known as Ernie Irvan is a former race driver in NASCAR. He is best remembered for his comeback after a serious head injury at Michigan International Speedway which earned him numerous awards and respect from his fellow drivers...
for the lead late in the race when Irvan cut down a tire. Gordon finished eighth in the Winston Cup point standings for the '94 season, as Dale Earnhardt
Dale Earnhardt
Ralph Dale Earnhardt, Sr. was an American race car driver, best known for his involvement in stock car racing for NASCAR...
grabbed the driving championship for his 7th and final time.
1995–2001
1995 saw Gordon win his first NASCAR Winston Cup Championship. He won it by battling 7-time and defending champ, Dale EarnhardtDale Earnhardt
Ralph Dale Earnhardt, Sr. was an American race car driver, best known for his involvement in stock car racing for NASCAR...
into the final race of the season. Many see this as a symbolic passing of the torch, as Gordon collected his first championship the year after Earnhardt won his final championship. (A similar situation befell Earnhardt early in his career, as he won his first championship after Richard Petty, whose record seven titles he would eventually tie, won his last). Gordon finished the season with eight poles, and seven victories, winning at Rockingham in the second race of the season, Atlanta, Bristol (starting a streak of four consecutive wins in the spring event), Daytona (in the Pepsi 400), New Hampshire, Darlington (Starting a streak of four consecutive wins in the Southern 500 event), and Dover. The team's consistency was much better as well, having 3 DNF's in 1995, compared to 21 in his previous two seasons combined.
Gordon got off to a rocky start in 1996, but rebounded to win ten races, the series high. The 24 team collected wins at Richmond, Darlington (winning both the spring event and the Southern 500), Bristol, Dover (winning both events of the season), Pocono, Talladega, Martinsville, and North Wilkesboro (winning the final event ever at the track). This would start a three year streak of winning double digit races. He finished 2nd to teammate Terry Labonte for the championship, losing by 37 points.
Jeff Gordon won his first Daytona 500 in 1997, becoming the youngest driver in history to win the race, a record that would stand until Trevor Bayne
Trevor Bayne
Trevor Bayne is an American NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and Nationwide Series race car driver. He drives the No. 21 Motorcraft/QuickLane Ford Fusion for Wood Brothers Racing in the Sprint Cup Series, and the No. 16 Ford Mustang for Roush Fenway Racing in the Nationwide Series.Bayne began his racing...
's Daytona win in 2011. He won the second race of the season at Rockingham the following week. Later in the season he also won the Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte and had a chance to become the first man since Bill Elliott in 1985 to win the "Winston Million." Gordon completed the feat by holding off a determined Jeff Burton in the final laps of the Southern 500 at Darlington. While Elliott failed to win the Winston Cup in 1985, Jeff Gordon claimed his second Winston Cup championship in 1997, completing one of the most impressive single-season performances in NASCAR history. He finished the season with 10 victories (Daytona, Rockingham, Bristol, Martinsville, Charlotte, Pocono, California, Watkins Glen, Darlington, and New Hampshire) for the second straight season. His victory at California was in the track's inaugural race, and his victory at Watkins Glen began a streak of seven consecutive road course victories. In 1998 Gordon set a modern era record with 13 victories, easily winning the Winston Cup for the third time.
In 1999, Gordon along with crew chief Evernham formed Gordon/Evernham Motorsports. Though short lived, the race team enjoyed success. The co-owned team received a full sponsorship from Pepsi
Pepsi
Pepsi is a carbonated soft drink that is produced and manufactured by PepsiCo...
and ran six races with Gordon as driver and Ray Evernham as crew chief in the NASCAR Busch Series. GEM only survived one year as Evernham was pulled away by Dodge, ending one of the most dominant driver/crew-chief combinations in NASCAR history. Jeff Gordon extended his Busch experiment one more year, through 2000 as co-owner, with Rick Hendrick buying Evernham's half. After the departure of Evernham (who left Hendrick Motorsports to begin his own team, Evernham Motorsports, reintroducing Dodge into the series), the race team was renamed JG Motorsports
JG Motorsports
JG Motorsports was a NASCAR Busch Series race team co-owned by Jeff Gordon and Rick Hendrick, which attempted 20 races in the year 2000.The team evolved from Gordon/Evernham Motorsports which ran six races in the Busch Series in 1999....
. While winning seven times in 1999, Gordon's season was a major disappointment, finishing 6th in the series standings. Brian Whitesell was named the interim crew-chief for remainder of the season after Evernham's departure in September. Whitesell scored back to back victories in his first two races.
2000 saw Gordon enter his first campaign with Robbie Loomis as crew-chief. Loomis had been with Petty Enterprises for years prior. The team struggled as the rebuilding process went on. Gordon scored his first victory of 2000 at Talladega in the spring event, winning his 50th career victory in the series. He went on to win at Sears Point Raceway (now Infineon Raceway) and Richmond. Gordon finished the season 9th in points.
Many people questioned Gordon's ability to win championships without longtime crew chief, Ray Evernham, especially after Gordon struggled to a 9th place points finish in 2000, winning only three races. Gordon answered those challenges in 2001 by winning 6 races (including a third Brickyard 400 win, and the inaugural event at Kansas Speedway) en route to his 4th Winston Cup championship. Jeff Gordon became the third driver to win four Cup championships in NASCAR history only second to Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt (7 times). The 24 car's paint scheme was changed for the first time this season, abandoning the 'Rainbow Warrior' scheme in favor of a flames-themed car. Both paint schemes were designed by Sam Bass.
2002–03
Gordon entered the 2002 season as defending champion, but the year was far from perfect. In addition (or perhaps because of), Gordon's divorce proceedings with wife Brooke affecting his performance on the track. A strong showing in the Daytona 500 was ruined when Sterling Marlin sent Gordon spinning in the infield grass with a handful of laps remaining, while leading the race. Gordon had won his 125 qualifier, but finished ninth in the Daytona 500 after the contact with Marlin. It was announced to the media during the spring event at Darlington that Gordon's then-wife, Brooke, was filing for divorce. Many think that the addition of the 48 team with Jimmie Johnson as driver in 2002, also took away from Gordon's season as the 24 team helped to build the 48 team. Gordon did not win until the Sharpie 500 night race at BristolBristol Motor Speedway
Bristol Motor Speedway, formerly known as Bristol International Raceway and Bristol Raceway is a NASCAR short track venue located in Bristol, Tennessee. Constructed in 1960, it held its first NASCAR race on July 30, 1961...
in August, his first victory in the night race at Bristol. He followed that up with a fifth victory in the Southern 500
Southern 500
The Showtime Southern 500 is the annual spring NASCAR Sprint Cup race held at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina, USA, and is the second such event at Darlington to bear the name. It began in 1957 as a race in the Convertible Division, known as the Rebel 300. In 1966, the race was...
at Darlington
Darlington Raceway
Darlington Raceway is a race track built for NASCAR racing located near Darlington, South Carolina. It is nicknamed the "Lady in Black" and "The Track Too Tough to Tame" by many NASCAR fans and drivers and advertised as "A NASCAR Tradition"...
a week later. Gordon won for the third and final time in 2002 at Kansas Speedway
Kansas Speedway
Kansas Speedway is a tri-oval race track in Kansas City, Kansas. The speedway was built in 2001 and currently hosts two annual NASCAR race weekends. The IndyCar Series also raced at the speedway until 2011...
, his second consecutive at the track. The 24 team finished the season 5th in points.
In 2003, Jeff Gordon returned with Robbie Loomis for a third season together. Gordon won early in April, winning Martinsville
Martinsville Speedway
Martinsville Speedway is an International Speedway Corporation-owned NASCAR stock car racing track located in Henry County, near Ridgeway, Virginia, just to the south of Martinsville. At in length, it is the shortest track in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The track was also one of the first paved...
, and winning Atlanta and Martinsville again in the fall. He finished the year 4th in the NASCAR standings, with 3 wins, 15 Top-5 finishes, and 20 Top-10 finishes. Gordon also was in second in rank to Matt Kenseth
Matt Kenseth
Matthew Roy "Matt" Kenseth is an American stock car driver. Kenseth currently drives the No. 17 Crown Royal Ford Fusion in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series for Roush Fenway Racing...
for the championship early in the season. In June, Gordon went to Indianapolis Motor Speedway to take part in a test with then-F1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya
Juan Pablo Montoya
Juan Pablo Montoya Roldán is a Colombian race car driver known internationally for participating and winning in Formula One and CART race competitions. He has enjoyed great success. Currently, he competes in NASCAR, driving the #42 Target Chevrolet Impala for Earnhardt Ganassi Racing in the Sprint...
. The two switched rides, with Gordon driving an F1 car for the first time. Montoya would eventually join the NASCAR Cup series in 2007.
2004
2004 was a huge rebound for the team. Gordon won the Brickyard 400 in August 2004, obtaining his 4th Indy win (1994, 1998, 2001, 2004). He is the only NASCAR driver with four Brickyard 400Allstate 400 at the Brickyard
The Brickyard 400 is an annual 400-mile NASCAR Sprint Cup points race held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana. The event, when first held in 1994, marked the first race other than the Indianapolis 500 to be held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway since 1916...
victories at Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway, located in Speedway, Indiana in the United States, is the home of the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race and the Brickyard 400....
, and one of only five drivers to have four victories at the historic track. Prior to this victory, Gordon won at Talladega (ending the DEI dominance on restrictor plate tracks), and followed that up with a victory the following weekend at California. He also won at Infineon Raceway, and followed that up with a victory the following weekend in the Pepsi 400 at Daytona, his second consecutive restrictor plate win. He finished 3rd in the 2004 NEXTEL Cup points standing behind Kurt Busch
Kurt Busch
Kurt Thomas Busch is an American NASCAR and NHRA driver. He drives the No. 22 Shell Oil Company/Pennzoil Dodge Charger in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, and will race on an "opportunity permitting" basis in the Pro Stock division of NHRA...
and teammate Jimmie Johnson
Jimmie Johnson
Jimmie Kenneth Johnson is an American NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race car driver. He currently drives the No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports....
even though he scored the most total points throughout the whole season, a consequence of the new Chase system implemented in 2004. While the Hendrick Motorsports team enjoyed success with Johnson and Gordon finished 2nd and 3rd in the points, the team suffered a major off-track tragedy. On October 24, during the race weekend at Martinsville, a Hendrick Motorsports plane carrying engine builder Randy Dorton, team President John Hendrick (Rick Hendrick's brother), Vice President Jeff Turner, Ricky Hendrick (Rick Hendrick's 24 year old son) and more crashed on its way to the track. Everyone on board were killed. The team was clearly affected by this, but continued with impressive performances.
2005
Gordon started the 2005 season with a win in the Daytona 500Daytona 500
The Daytona 500 is a -long NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held annually at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. It is one of four restrictor plate races on the Cup schedule....
, his third win in the event. Inconsistency would plague him throughout the year, however. A late season (notably top 10s at Indy and Bristol) run put him in position to qualify for the Chase, but in the last race before the Chase at Richmond
Richmond International Raceway
Richmond International Raceway is a 3/4-mile , D-shaped, asphalt race track located just outside Richmond, Virginia in Henrico County. It hosts the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and Nationwide Series...
, Gordon made contact with the wall and failed to start for the chase. Despite this disappointment, on October 23 Gordon won the Subway 500
Subway 500
The Tums Fast Relief 500 is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car race held at the Martinsville Speedway in Ridgeway, Virginia. It is currently the seventh race in the ten race Chase for the Sprint Cup. Since 2007, the race has been carried on ABC....
at Martinsville Speedway
Martinsville Speedway
Martinsville Speedway is an International Speedway Corporation-owned NASCAR stock car racing track located in Henry County, near Ridgeway, Virginia, just to the south of Martinsville. At in length, it is the shortest track in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The track was also one of the first paved...
, his first win in 22 points races, and his 7th career victory at the 0.526 mile (0.84651284 km) track, which leads all active drivers at the facility. He went on to finish 11th in the Championship and received a $1,000,000 bonus as the top driver finishing outside the Chase. It was Gordon's first time outside the top 10 in the point standings since 1993.
On September 14, 2005 Crew Chief Robbie Loomis
Robbie Loomis
Robbie Loomis is a former NASCAR crew chief who worked for Petty Enterprises and Hendrick Motorsports during his time as a crew chief, working most notably with Richard Petty and Jeff Gordon...
resigned from the #24 team. Loomis stayed on with Hendrick Motorsports as a consultant for Jimmie Johnson
Jimmie Johnson
Jimmie Kenneth Johnson is an American NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race car driver. He currently drives the No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports....
's #48 team through the Chase for The NEXTEL Cup in 2005. Steve Letarte
Steve Letarte
Steve Letarte is the crew chief for Dale Earnhardt, Jr. in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. He first began as crew chief for Jeff Gordon when he took over the job of the #24 DuPont Chevrolet from Robbie Loomis in September 2005. Letarte was born in Cornish, Maine.-Early Racing Career:Letarte began...
, Gordon's car chief for most of the '05 season and long time member of the 24 crew, replaced Loomis as crew chief effective at New Hampshire International Speedway
New Hampshire International Speedway
New Hampshire Motor Speedway is a oval speedway located in Loudon, New Hampshire which has hosted NASCAR racing annually since the early 1990s, as well as an IndyCar weekend and the oldest motorcycle race in North America, the Loudon Classic...
on September 18, 2005.
2006
Gordon won his ninth road race, the 2006 Dodge/Save Mart 350Dodge/Save Mart 350
The Toyota/Save Mart 350 is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event held annually at Infineon Raceway at Sears Point in Sonoma, California. This race is one of only two Sprint Cup races annually run on a road circuit ....
, at the Infineon Raceway
Infineon Raceway
Infineon Raceway, formerly Sears Point Raceway, is a road course and drag strip located on the landform known as Sears Point in the southern Sonoma Mountains near Sonoma, California, USA. The course is a complex series of twists and turns that go up and down the hills...
– his first win of the season and fifth at Infineon. The day before the race, he announced his engagement to Belgian model Ingrid Vandebosch
Ingrid Vandebosch
Ingrid Vandebosch is a model and actress who won the Elite Look of the Year Award in 1990. She is the wife of NASCAR racecar driver Jeff Gordon.-Modeling career:...
.
On June 29, 2006, Gordon announced that he would participate in the Rolex 24 endurance sports car event at Daytona International Speedway, teaming up with SunTrust Racing drivers Max Angelelli
Max Angelelli
Massimiliano Angelelli is an Italian race car driver.His career begun in Italian Formula Alfa Boxer in 1987 and continued for 15 years. His only championship win as the 1992 Italian Formula Three title...
and Wayne Taylor
Wayne Taylor
Wayne Taylor is a South African sports car racer. He won the 1996 and 2005 24 Hours of Daytona, and the 2005 Rolex Series. He co-drives for SunTrust Racing with Max Angelelli...
, who won the 2005 Rolex 24 race. His team went on to finish third, despite problems, two laps behind the winning team of Juan Pablo Montoya
Juan Pablo Montoya
Juan Pablo Montoya Roldán is a Colombian race car driver known internationally for participating and winning in Formula One and CART race competitions. He has enjoyed great success. Currently, he competes in NASCAR, driving the #42 Target Chevrolet Impala for Earnhardt Ganassi Racing in the Sprint...
, Scott Pruett
Scott Pruett
Scott Donald Pruett is an American race car driver who has competed in NASCAR, Champ Car, IMSA, Trans-Am and Grand-Am. He and his wife Judy have three children, and are children's book authors....
, and Salvador Durán
Salvador Durán
Salvador Durán Sánchez is a Mexican race car driver currently racing in the NACAR Corona Series and formerly Formula Renault 3.5 Series championship with the Interwetten.com team....
. On July 9, 2006, Gordon won his first race at the Chicagoland Speedway
Chicagoland Speedway
Chicagoland Speedway is a tri-oval speedway in Joliet, Illinois, USA, southwest of Chicago. The speedway opened in 2001 and currently hosts NASCAR racing including the opening event in the 2011 Chase for the Sprint Cup. Until 2011, the speedway also hosted the IZOD IndyCar Series, recording...
at the running of the USG Sheetrock 400
USG Sheetrock 400
The GEICO 400 is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car race held annually at the Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Illinois. In 2007 it was announced that the 2008 race would become a night race after being held as a day time race for the past 7 years....
(this was also the first win for Hendrick Motorsports
Hendrick Motorsports
Hendrick Motorsports , originally named All Star Racing, is a current American auto racing team created in 1984 by Rick Hendrick. The team currently competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with Chevrolet Impalas...
at this track).
Gordon made the "Chase for the NEXTEL Cup" with his improvements on the intermediate 1.5/2-mile downforce racetracks from 2005. His consistency in the latter portions of 2006 made him competitive week-in and week-out, eventually finishing 6th in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Standings.
Jeff Gordon attended the awards ceremony at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
for his top-10 finish in the NEXTEL Cup Standings. While there he collected a check for his 2006 winnings of $7,471,447 which brings his career winnings total to $82,838,526.
2007
On March 23, 2007, Gordon won his 58th career pole for the 2007 Food City 500
Food City 500
The Food City 500 is a 500 lap race NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held on the track at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee. This is one of two NASCAR races held at Bristol, the other being the Irwin Tools Night Race, and is considered one of NASCAR's best races...
at Bristol
Bristol Motor Speedway
Bristol Motor Speedway, formerly known as Bristol International Raceway and Bristol Raceway is a NASCAR short track venue located in Bristol, Tennessee. Constructed in 1960, it held its first NASCAR race on July 30, 1961...
, the first race for the Car of Tomorrow
Car of Tomorrow
The Car of Tomorrow, sometimes called CoT or "Car of Today", is the car style for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Larger and boxier than the design it replaced, the Car of Tomorrow is safer, costs less to maintain, and was intended to make for closer competition.The car was introduced in the 2007 Cup...
. He went on to a 3rd place in the race, which gave him the points lead for the first time since the 2005 Daytona 500. At Texas Motor Speedway, Gordon started on the pole because qualifying was rained out. He led the most laps before brushing the wall coming out of turn 4 and finishing 4th. On April 19, 2007 at Phoenix International Raceway, Gordon won the pole, and tied Darrell Waltrip's modern day record of 59 career poles.
Two days later, at the Subway Fresh Fit 500, he won for the first time at PIR, ending also a streak of 21 races of non-pole winners at the track. With the win, he also tied Dale Earnhardt
Dale Earnhardt
Ralph Dale Earnhardt, Sr. was an American race car driver, best known for his involvement in stock car racing for NASCAR...
for 6th all time in overall number of NASCAR NEXTEL Cup series wins (second in the modern era). After winning the race, he held a black flag with the number 3 to honor the late Dale Earnhardt
Dale Earnhardt
Ralph Dale Earnhardt, Sr. was an American race car driver, best known for his involvement in stock car racing for NASCAR...
.
On April 28, 2007, Gordon earned the pole at Talladega Superspeedway
Talladega Superspeedway
Talladega Superspeedway is a motorsports complex located north of Talladega, Alabama, United States. It is located on the former Anniston Air Force Base just outside the small city of Lincoln. It was constructed by International Speedway Corporation, a business controlled by the France Family, in...
, his 60th career pole (and third consecutive in 2007), passing Darrell Waltrip
Darrell Waltrip
Darrell Lee Waltrip is a 3-time NASCAR Cup Series champion , 3-time runner-up , winner of the 1989 Daytona 500 and 5-time winner of the prestigeous Coca-Cola 600 ,...
's record of 59 to become the modern era pole leader. One day later, he passed Earnhardt for sole position of sixth on the all time wins list with 77 by winning the Aaron's 499
Aaron's 499
The Aaron's 499 is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car auto race held at Talladega Superspeedway in Talladega, Alabama. The race has always been held in late April or early May. The Aaron's 499 is also one of four races currently run with restrictor plates, the others being the AMP Energy 500,...
.
On May 13, 2007, Gordon held on despite an overheating car and a late charge by Denny Hamlin
Denny Hamlin
James Dennis Alan "Denny" Hamlin is an American race car driver. Though originally born in Tampa, Florida, Hamlin was raised for most of his life in Chesterfield, Virginia. After racing in go-karts for a number of years, he worked his way up to Late Models by 2004 and signed a development contract...
to win the Dodge Avenger 500, the 78th win of his career, and his 7th at Darlington Raceway
Darlington Raceway
Darlington Raceway is a race track built for NASCAR racing located near Darlington, South Carolina. It is nicknamed the "Lady in Black" and "The Track Too Tough to Tame" by many NASCAR fans and drivers and advertised as "A NASCAR Tradition"...
.
In the 2007 Coca-Cola 600
Coca-Cola 600
The Coca-Cola 600, formerly known as the World 600, is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held each year at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina on Memorial Day weekend...
, Gordon crashed after contact with Tony Raines
Tony Raines
Floyd Anthony Raines is an American race car driver. He is a former National Touring Series champion in the now defunct American Speed Association and 1999 Rookie of the Year in the NASCAR Nationwide Series...
and AJ Allmendinger on lap 61 at Lowe's Motor Speedway, only 91.5 miles (147.3 km) into the race, ending his streak of completing every lap during the season. Gordon finished 41st.
On June 11, 2007, Gordon earned his 4th win of the year and 79th of his career in a rain shortened race at Pocono Raceway. Six days later, he scored a ninth place finish at the Citizens Bank 400 at Michigan International Speedway
Michigan International Speedway
Michigan International Speedway is a two-mile moderate-banked D-shaped superspeedway located off U.S. Highway 12 on more than in Brooklyn, in the scenic Irish Hills area of southeastern Michigan. The track is used primarily for NASCAR events. It is sometimes known as a "sister track" to Texas...
, the 300th top-ten finish of his career.
On September 8, 2007, Gordon earned a place in the Chase for the NEXTEL Cup
Chase for the Nextel Cup
The Chase for the Sprint Cup, originally known as "The Chase for the Championship" during its creation, and then "The Chase for the Nextel Cup" is the championship system used in NASCAR's top division, the Sprint Cup Series, akin to the postseason in American professional sports leagues...
. With his four wins in the first 26 races, he earned the "Regular Season" Championship, and the second seed (teammate Jimmie Johnson
Jimmie Johnson
Jimmie Kenneth Johnson is an American NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race car driver. He currently drives the No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports....
earned the top seed with six wins) in the chase.
On October 7, 2007, Gordon led only the final lap in winning the UAW-Ford 500 at Talladega Superspeedway
Talladega Superspeedway
Talladega Superspeedway is a motorsports complex located north of Talladega, Alabama, United States. It is located on the former Anniston Air Force Base just outside the small city of Lincoln. It was constructed by International Speedway Corporation, a business controlled by the France Family, in...
for his 80th career victory, using a strategy of staying near the end of the field until nearly the end of the race to avoid the inevitable "big one", especially with the unknowns involved in racing the Car of Tomorrow
Car of Tomorrow
The Car of Tomorrow, sometimes called CoT or "Car of Today", is the car style for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Larger and boxier than the design it replaced, the Car of Tomorrow is safer, costs less to maintain, and was intended to make for closer competition.The car was introduced in the 2007 Cup...
. With the win, he swept the 2007 season races at Talladega, and won his 12th race at a restrictor plate
Restrictor plate
A restrictor plate or air restrictor is a device installed at the intake of an engine to limit its power. This kind of system is occasionally used in road vehicles for insurance purposes, but mainly in automobile racing, to limit top speed and thus increase safety, to provide equal level of...
track (Daytona
Daytona International Speedway
Daytona International Speedway is a race track in Daytona Beach, Florida, United States. Since opening in 1959, it has been the home of the Daytona 500, one of the most prestigious races in NASCAR. In addition to NASCAR, the track also hosts races of ARCA, AMA Superbike, Grand-Am and Motocross...
and Talladega), making him the all-time leader for restrictor plate wins.
On October 13, 2007, Gordon led 71 laps and, although fuel was a question near the end of the race, he was able to finish the race and earned his 81st career victory in the Bank of America 500
Bank of America 500
The Bank of America 500 is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race that is hosted annually at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina, United States. The race is usually held in the month of October, as part of the Chase for the Sprint Cup and is 500 miles long...
at Lowe's Motor Speedway
Lowe's Motor Speedway
Charlotte Motor Speedway is a motorsports complex located in Concord, North Carolina, United States 13 miles from Charlotte, North Carolina. The complex features a quad oval track that hosts NASCAR racing including the prestigious Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day weekend and the Sprint All-Star Race...
.
Finishing fourth in the 2007 Ford 400
2007 Ford 400
The 2007 Ford 400, the final race of the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup season for 2007 and the 2007 Chase for the NEXTEL Cup, was run on Sunday, November 18, 2007 at the Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Florida, located in Dade County outside Miami, the final event of the three day Ford Championship...
, Gordon finished the 2007 Chase for the Nextel Cup
Chase for the Nextel Cup
The Chase for the Sprint Cup, originally known as "The Chase for the Championship" during its creation, and then "The Chase for the Nextel Cup" is the championship system used in NASCAR's top division, the Sprint Cup Series, akin to the postseason in American professional sports leagues...
2nd in the standings to Hendrick Motorsports
Hendrick Motorsports
Hendrick Motorsports , originally named All Star Racing, is a current American auto racing team created in 1984 by Rick Hendrick. The team currently competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with Chevrolet Impalas...
teammate Jimmie Johnson
Jimmie Johnson
Jimmie Kenneth Johnson is an American NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race car driver. He currently drives the No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports....
, trailing by 77. However, Gordon's top-ten finish at Homestead left him with a total of 30 top-ten finishes for the season, setting a new modern era Cup Series record. This was the second time that Gordon lost a championship because of the Chase points system. As with 2004, he recorded the most points over the entire season, but lost the title because of the ten race championship system. Gordon has been the only driver to lose the title because of the Chase more than once.
2008
Budweiser Shootout
Budweiser Shootout at Daytona, generally referred to as the Bud Shootout, is an annual invitation-only NASCAR Sprint Cup Series exhibition event held at Daytona International Speedway in February, the weekend before the Daytona 500. It is the first competitive event of the season and serves as a...
and finished third in the Gatorade Duel qualifying race. He started the 50th annual Daytona 500
2008 Daytona 500
The 2008 Daytona 500 was the 50th annual running of "The Great American Race", the Daytona 500. The race took place on Sunday, February 17, 2008 at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. The race was the 50th to be run since the first in 1959, won by Lee Petty. To commemorate...
from the eighth position and led eight laps, some under caution, but on lap 159 suffered suspension failure and finished in 39th position.
Jeff Gordon wrecked with 5 laps to go at Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Las Vegas Motor Speedway, located in Clark County, Nevada near Las Vegas, is a complex of multiple tracks for automobile racing. The complex is owned by Speedway Motorsports, Inc., which is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina.-History:...
(LVMS), claiming that it was one of the hardest wrecks he's ever had, and leading him to call for safety improvements on the inside walls of LVMS and other similar tracks. The wreck has had drivers and owners from all around NASCAR now concerned with the lack of a SAFER barrier
SAFER barrier
The Steel and Foam Energy Reduction barrier, sometimes called a soft wall, is a technology found primarily on oval automobile race tracks and intended to make racing accidents safer...
on the inside walls at tracks and the design of the wall where it allows access for emergency vehicles. Greg Biffle
Greg Biffle
Gregory Jack "Greg" Biffle is a NASCAR driver who drives the #16 3M Ford Fusion for Roush Fenway Racing in the Sprint Cup Series. After racing in the NASCAR Winter Heat Series in the mid-90s, he was recommended to Jack Roush by former announcer Benny Parsons...
went as far to say that the wreck should be taken as seriously as the one that took Dale Earnhardt
Dale Earnhardt
Ralph Dale Earnhardt, Sr. was an American race car driver, best known for his involvement in stock car racing for NASCAR...
's life in 2001. Other drivers who have publicly supported Gordon's call for safety improvements include Jeff Burton
Jeff Burton
Jeffrey Brian "Jeff" Burton , also referred to as JB or The Mayor, is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver who drives the #31 Caterpillar Chevrolet Impala for Richard Childress Racing. Burton is the younger brother of Ward Burton, who is a former Sprint Cup driver...
, Tony Stewart
Tony Stewart
Anthony Wayne "Tony" Stewart is an American auto racing driver and owner. Throughout his racing career, Stewart has won titles in Indy cars and stock cars as well as midget, sprint and USAC Silver Crown cars, giving him the recognition of "one of the finest racers of his generation."Stewart...
, Robby Gordon
Robby Gordon
Robert W. "Robby" Gordon is an American racecar driver who currently competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series as an owner-driver, driving the No. 7 Speed Energy Dodge Charger for Robby Gordon Motorsports, and also competes part-time in the Nationwide Series...
, and Kurt Busch
Kurt Busch
Kurt Thomas Busch is an American NASCAR and NHRA driver. He drives the No. 22 Shell Oil Company/Pennzoil Dodge Charger in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, and will race on an "opportunity permitting" basis in the Pro Stock division of NHRA...
.
Gordon collected his 64th career pole for the Kobalt Tools 500 on March 7, 2008, then went on to finish 5th in the race leading 3 laps.
Gordon collected his 65th career pole for the Goody's Cool Orange 500 on March 28, 2008 at Martinsville Speedway. Gordon went on to finish second in the race after being caught up in a crash caused by Aric Almirola and coming back from the tail end of the field. Gordon led 90 laps in the race.
Gordon finished 3rd in the Dodge Challenger 500 making that his 4th straight top 3 finish in that particular event.
Gordon scored a 3rd at the Toyota/Save Mart 350 making this finish his 4th top 3 finish in the last 8 events at Sonoma.
On September 7, 2008, with his 8th place finish at Richmond, Gordon will make his 4th appearance in the Chase for the Sprint Cup earning the 10th seed out of 12 drivers.
Gordon collected his 66th career pole at the Dover International Speedway
Dover International Speedway
Dover International Speedway is a NASCAR-sanctioned race track located in Dover, Delaware, owned by, and serving as the corporate headquarters of, Dover Motorsports, Inc. It is co-located with a harness racing track, Dover Downs, and shares the complex with Dover Downs Hotel & Casino...
for the Camping World RV 400
Dover International Speedway
Dover International Speedway is a NASCAR-sanctioned race track located in Dover, Delaware, owned by, and serving as the corporate headquarters of, Dover Motorsports, Inc. It is co-located with a harness racing track, Dover Downs, and shares the complex with Dover Downs Hotel & Casino...
. Gordon led 30 laps in the race and scored a top 5, while Greg Biffle
Greg Biffle
Gregory Jack "Greg" Biffle is a NASCAR driver who drives the #16 3M Ford Fusion for Roush Fenway Racing in the Sprint Cup Series. After racing in the NASCAR Winter Heat Series in the mid-90s, he was recommended to Jack Roush by former announcer Benny Parsons...
won.
On October 31, 2008, Gordon earned his 67th career pole, his fourth of the 2008 season, and first ever at Texas Motor Speedway
Texas Motor Speedway
Texas Motor Speedway is a speedway located in the northernmost portion of the U.S. city of Fort Worth, Texas – the portion located in Denton County, Texas....
. Gordon finished 2nd to Carl Edwards
Carl Edwards
Carl Michael Edwards, II is a NASCAR driver. He currently drives the #99 Fastenal/Aflac Ford Fusion in the Sprint Cup Series and the #60 Ford in the Nationwide Series for Roush Fenway Racing...
.
Gordon finished 7th in the 2008 Chase for the Sprint Cup, 368 points out of first place. He finished winless for the first time since 1993. This was also the final season the team ran the flames paint scheme that was introduced in 2001. In 2009, the 24 car would unveil its third 'regular' paint scheme. The new scheme was not much different than the previous flames design, but the color blue was replaced with black. This was the first time in Gordon's career that his primary paint scheme did not feature the color blue.
2009
Gordon started off the 2009 season by drawing the 28th and final position of the Budweiser ShootoutBudweiser Shootout
Budweiser Shootout at Daytona, generally referred to as the Bud Shootout, is an annual invitation-only NASCAR Sprint Cup Series exhibition event held at Daytona International Speedway in February, the weekend before the Daytona 500. It is the first competitive event of the season and serves as a...
. Gordon finished 4th at the Shootout, the same finish he had in 2008 after getting through three wrecks, including a last lap crash. He held off Tony Stewart
Tony Stewart
Anthony Wayne "Tony" Stewart is an American auto racing driver and owner. Throughout his racing career, Stewart has won titles in Indy cars and stock cars as well as midget, sprint and USAC Silver Crown cars, giving him the recognition of "one of the finest racers of his generation."Stewart...
to win his 5th Gatorade Duel. It was his first win in forty-one races. As a result of the win Gordon started 3rd in the Daytona 500
2009 Daytona 500
The 2009 Daytona 500, the fifty-first running of Daytona 500, was the first points-paying race to open the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup season. The race was won by Matt Kenseth making a car numbered 17 winning the Daytona 500 for the first time in 20 years since Darrell Waltrip's win back in 1989 and the...
and, after overcoming a tire issue late in the race, finished 13th.
Despite leading 64 laps, Gordon finished runner-up to Matt Kenseth
Matt Kenseth
Matthew Roy "Matt" Kenseth is an American stock car driver. Kenseth currently drives the No. 17 Crown Royal Ford Fusion in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series for Roush Fenway Racing...
in the Auto Club 500
Auto Club 500
The Auto Club 400 is a long NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car race held at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California. Prior to 2005, the race was held in late April or early May, and until 2010, the race was run at a length of 500 miles. When the NASCAR Realignment of 2005 was made, the race...
. It was Gordon's 9th top-5 finish at California.
Gordon led 17 laps in the Shelby 427 but cut a tire coming into the pits and as a result he finished 6th, despite having a shredded fender. Gordon took his first points lead since 2007.
Gordon led 35 laps in the Kobalt Tools 500 and finished second to Kurt Busch
Kurt Busch
Kurt Thomas Busch is an American NASCAR and NHRA driver. He drives the No. 22 Shell Oil Company/Pennzoil Dodge Charger in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, and will race on an "opportunity permitting" basis in the Pro Stock division of NHRA...
for his second top five finish of the season.
Gordon finished 4th in the Food City 500
Food City 500
The Food City 500 is a 500 lap race NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held on the track at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee. This is one of two NASCAR races held at Bristol, the other being the Irwin Tools Night Race, and is considered one of NASCAR's best races...
to collect his third top five of the season and extended his point lead to 77 points.
Gordon led 147 laps in the Goody's Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville, but finished fourth. His teammate Jimmie Johnson
Jimmie Johnson
Jimmie Kenneth Johnson is an American NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race car driver. He currently drives the No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports....
won the event. Gordon extended his point lead to 90 points over Clint Bowyer
Clint Bowyer
Clint Bowyer is a NASCAR driver. He drives the #15 5 Hour Energy Toyota Camry in the Sprint Cup Series for Michael Waltrip Racing. Early in his career, he drove for Richard Childress Racing. He won the 2008 Nationwide Series championship....
.
Gordon ended his 47 race winless streak, winning the Samsung 500 for his 82nd career victory and his first at Texas Motor Speedway
Texas Motor Speedway
Texas Motor Speedway is a speedway located in the northernmost portion of the U.S. city of Fort Worth, Texas – the portion located in Denton County, Texas....
. With the win, Gordon has won at every track that currently hosts a Cup race except Homestead-Miami Speedway
Homestead-Miami Speedway
Homestead-Miami Speedway is a race track in Homestead, Florida southwest of Miami.Since 2002 Homestead has hosted the final races of the season in all three of NASCAR's series: the Sprint Cup Series, Nationwide Series, and the Camping World Truck Series...
and Kentucky Speedway
Kentucky Speedway
Kentucky Speedway is a tri-oval speedway in Sparta, Kentucky, which has hosted ARCA, NASCAR and Indy Racing League racing annually since it opened in 2000. The track is currently owned and operated by Speedway Motorsports, Inc. and Jerry Carroll, who, along with four other investors, owned...
. He held off teammate Jimmie Johnson
Jimmie Johnson
Jimmie Kenneth Johnson is an American NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race car driver. He currently drives the No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports....
for the win and extended his points lead to 162 points. Gordon also led 105 of the 334 laps, earning him 10 bonus points.
Gordon scored a 5th place in the Southern 500
Southern 500
The Showtime Southern 500 is the annual spring NASCAR Sprint Cup race held at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina, USA, and is the second such event at Darlington to bear the name. It began in 1957 as a race in the Convertible Division, known as the Rebel 300. In 1966, the race was...
; despite a loose wheel in the beginning of the race. It was Gordon's 5th straight top 5 finish at the track. He extended his point lead to 31 points over Tony Stewart
Tony Stewart
Anthony Wayne "Tony" Stewart is an American auto racing driver and owner. Throughout his racing career, Stewart has won titles in Indy cars and stock cars as well as midget, sprint and USAC Silver Crown cars, giving him the recognition of "one of the finest racers of his generation."Stewart...
. Gordon scored second place finishes behind teammate Mark Martin
Mark Martin
Mark Martin may refer to:* Mark Martin , American racecar driver* Mark Martin , American cartoonist* Mark Martin , American judge* Mark Martin , British murderer...
, in both the June LifeLock 400 at Michigan
Michigan International Speedway
Michigan International Speedway is a two-mile moderate-banked D-shaped superspeedway located off U.S. Highway 12 on more than in Brooklyn, in the scenic Irish Hills area of southeastern Michigan. The track is used primarily for NASCAR events. It is sometimes known as a "sister track" to Texas...
and the July LifeLock.com 400 at Chicagoland Speedway
Chicagoland Speedway
Chicagoland Speedway is a tri-oval speedway in Joliet, Illinois, USA, southwest of Chicago. The speedway opened in 2001 and currently hosts NASCAR racing including the opening event in the 2011 Chase for the Sprint Cup. Until 2011, the speedway also hosted the IZOD IndyCar Series, recording...
. Because Martin and Gordon finished 1–2 in both races, LifeLock will pay a $1 million bonus to a Colorado family.
Gordon qualified for the 2009 Chase by virtue of his second place standing in the points following the Chevy Rock & Roll 400. Reseeding dropped him to sixth in the points.
Gordon scored two consecutive second place finishes at the Kansas Speedway
Kansas Speedway
Kansas Speedway is a tri-oval race track in Kansas City, Kansas. The speedway was built in 2001 and currently hosts two annual NASCAR race weekends. The IndyCar Series also raced at the speedway until 2011...
and the Auto Club Speedway. He finished second to Tony Stewart
Tony Stewart
Anthony Wayne "Tony" Stewart is an American auto racing driver and owner. Throughout his racing career, Stewart has won titles in Indy cars and stock cars as well as midget, sprint and USAC Silver Crown cars, giving him the recognition of "one of the finest racers of his generation."Stewart...
and teammate Jimmie Johnson
Jimmie Johnson
Jimmie Kenneth Johnson is an American NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race car driver. He currently drives the No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports....
in those races and sits 3rd in points behind by 112 points. (After Texas) He was behind 169 points after Phoenix. He finished 3rd in points giving Hendrick Motorsports the first team ever to finish 1–2–3 in the points. He finished behind teammate Mark Martin
Mark Martin
Mark Martin may refer to:* Mark Martin , American racecar driver* Mark Martin , American cartoonist* Mark Martin , American judge* Mark Martin , British murderer...
and Jimmie Johnson
Jimmie Johnson
Jimmie Kenneth Johnson is an American NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race car driver. He currently drives the No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports....
. Johnson became the first driver to win four straight titles, but under the new Chase points system. Gordon's four came under the season long points standings. Had this system still been in place, instead of the Chase, Gordon's Cup total would be at six championships, as he scored the most season long points in both 2004 and 2007.
2010
Gordon started off the season slow, starting with a 26th place finish at Daytona and a 19th place finish at Auto Club Speedway. However, at Las Vegas, Gordon dominated, leading 219 of the race's 267 laps. Unfortunately for Gordon, crew chief Steve Letarte opted to take two tires instead of four, arguably costing Gordon the win, as his teammate Jimmie Johnson in the 48 car passed him on four fresh tires. Gordon finished 18th at the Kobalt Tools 500 at Atlanta. Gordon was leading with 2 laps to go at Martinsville in the spring, but a bump from Matt Kenseth and a charge from Denny Hamlin relegated the #24 DuPont team to a 3rd place finish. Gordon scored a runner-up finish in the Subway Fresh Fit 600 to eventual winner Ryan NewmanRyan Newman
Ryan Joseph Newman is a driver in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. He drives the #39 United States Army/Tornados/Haas Automation Chevrolet Impala for Stewart Haas Racing under crew chief Tony Gibson. Newman graduated from Purdue University in 2001 with a B.S. in vehicle structure engineering...
. Gordon led 124 laps at Texas, but was involved in a multi-car wreck late in the race. Gordon went on to lead 4 laps at Talladega but was caught up in a wreck with Jeff Burton near the end of the race and dropped him down to a 22nd place finish. Gordon was leading on the final restart of the Crown Royal Presents the Heath Calhoun 400, but was passed by the winner of the race, Kyle Busch
Kyle Busch
Kyle Thomas Busch, is an American NASCAR driver and team owner. He currently drives the No. 18 Mars/Interstate Batteries Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing in the Sprint Cup Series, the No. 18 Z-Line Designs/NOS Energy Drink Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs in the Nationwide Series, and the No...
. This was Gordon's eighth second place finish since his last win came at Texas a year ago. At the Southern 500 at Darlington, Gordon led a race-high 110 laps, but was shuffled back to the end of the lead lap as a result of being on pit road when a caution came out. He eventually worked his way up in the last 20 laps to finish fourth. In Dover, Gordon finished 11th after he was a top 15 car all day in a 400 lap event. Gordon recorded a 6th place finish at Charlotte, after opting for track position over pitting with 20 laps to go. Gordon did not have a very fast car, but managed to hold on to a top-10 finish. Gordon made his 600th career NASCAR Sprint Cup start in the 2010 Lifelock.com 400 on July 10, 2010 at the Chicagoland Speedway and finished 3rd. Gordon cut a right front tire late at the Carfax 400 at Michigan, resulting in a 27th place finish, but remained 2nd in the points standings. Gordon finished 13th at the Emory Healthcare 500
Emory Healthcare 500
The AdvoCare 500 is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car race held at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Georgia. Prior to its most recent rescheduling the fall Atlanta race was always run during the final stages of the NASCAR season, in either October or November, and was one of the ten races in...
in Atlanta, and remained 2nd in the points standings. The Chase started well for Gordon. He finished 6th at Loudon. after struggling at Dover, he finished 5th at Kansas, and 9th at Fontana. He earned his first pole of the season at Charlotte and he was the pick to win the race, but unfortunately, he had battery issues and he was caught speeding on pit road finished a disappointing 23rd place finish. At Martinsville, he got wrecked by rival Kurt Busch
Kurt Busch
Kurt Thomas Busch is an American NASCAR and NHRA driver. He drives the No. 22 Shell Oil Company/Pennzoil Dodge Charger in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, and will race on an "opportunity permitting" basis in the Pro Stock division of NHRA...
, ending his championship hopes. At Texas, he was running well, until an incident occurred between him and Jeff Burton
Jeff Burton
Jeffrey Brian "Jeff" Burton , also referred to as JB or The Mayor, is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver who drives the #31 Caterpillar Chevrolet Impala for Richard Childress Racing. Burton is the younger brother of Ward Burton, who is a former Sprint Cup driver...
. Gordon wrecked under caution, and he was very upset with Burton, causing them to have a shove and a physical fight. He would finish 37th. In the Ford 400
Ford 400
The Ford 400 is a NASCAR Sprint Cup stock car race held at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Florida.The race is relatively new on the NASCAR circuit, first being run in 1999. Since 2002, the Ford 400 has been part of the Ford Championship Weekend, the last week of the NASCAR season. Starting...
, he started 11th and finished 37th, due to an engine failure. He went winless again, and it would be the third time in his career he went winless (also in 1993 and 2008).
2011
Gordon started the 2011 season in Daytona driving the #24 "Drive to End Hunger" Chevrolet Impala, plus new crew chief Alan Gustafson. He started the race in the 2nd position but after an unfortunate multi-car accident, finished the race in 28th, right behind teammate Jimmie JohnsonJimmie Johnson
Jimmie Kenneth Johnson is an American NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race car driver. He currently drives the No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports....
. The following week at Phoenix
Phoenix International Raceway
Phoenix International Raceway, also known as PIR, is a one-mile, low-banked tri-oval race track located in Avondale, Arizona. The track opened in 1964 and currently hosts two NASCAR race weekends annually. PIR has also hosted the Indycar Series, CART, USAC and the Rolex Sports Car Series...
, Jeff started 17th. He dominated the race, leading 138 of the 312 laps. With eight laps to go, Jeff came up beside Kyle Busch, Gordon got loose and slid up and into Busch. Gordon drove away to a half-second lead. He held off Busch in the remaining 7 laps to win. It was Jeff's first win since Texas in April 2009, and his 2nd win in the previous 3 seasons. But the momentum wouldn't last long. He ran inside the top 5 at Las Vegas, but blew a tire and hit the wall and finished 36th with his first DNF of 2011. He struggled at Bristol
Bristol Motor Speedway
Bristol Motor Speedway, formerly known as Bristol International Raceway and Bristol Raceway is a NASCAR short track venue located in Bristol, Tennessee. Constructed in 1960, it held its first NASCAR race on July 30, 1961...
and Fontana, finishing outside the top 10 in both. At Martinsville
Martinsville Speedway
Martinsville Speedway is an International Speedway Corporation-owned NASCAR stock car racing track located in Henry County, near Ridgeway, Virginia, just to the south of Martinsville. At in length, it is the shortest track in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The track was also one of the first paved...
, he led a few laps and finished 5th, his first top 10 since his Phoenix win. He ran out of fuel with a lap to go at Texas while running inside the top 10, finishing 23rd. Gordon won his 70th pole at Talladega
Talladega Superspeedway
Talladega Superspeedway is a motorsports complex located north of Talladega, Alabama, United States. It is located on the former Anniston Air Force Base just outside the small city of Lincoln. It was constructed by International Speedway Corporation, a business controlled by the France Family, in...
, breaking a 3rd-place tie with Cale Yarborough
Cale Yarborough
William Caleb "Cale" Yarborough , is a farmer, businessman and former NASCAR Winston Cup Series driver and owner. He is one of only two drivers in NASCAR history to win three consecutive championships...
for most poles. At Talladega he 2-car drafted with Mark Martin
Mark Martin
Mark Martin may refer to:* Mark Martin , American racecar driver* Mark Martin , American cartoonist* Mark Martin , American judge* Mark Martin , British murderer...
almost the entire race. He led a few laps at the beginning of the race, but then purposely fell outside the top 30 to avoid any trouble. With about 10 to go, Gordon and Martin started their charge to the front, taking the lead at the white flag. Then, while side-by-side with Clint Bowyer
Clint Bowyer
Clint Bowyer is a NASCAR driver. He drives the #15 5 Hour Energy Toyota Camry in the Sprint Cup Series for Michael Waltrip Racing. Early in his career, he drove for Richard Childress Racing. He won the 2008 Nationwide Series championship....
and Kevin Harvick
Kevin Harvick
Kevin Michael Harvick is an American stock car auto racing race car driver and car owner currently competing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series for Richard Childress Racing, driving the No. 29 Budweiser/Jimmy John's/Rheem/Okuma/Realtree Outdoors/Bad Boy Buggies Chevrolet Impala...
, coming through the tri-oval, Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr. squeezed to their inside. Jr. rubbed fenders with Martin, killing his and Gordon's momentum. Gordon finished third, in a 3-wide photo-finish won by Johnson over Bowyer by 0.002 seconds. The following week at Richmond
Richmond International Raceway
Richmond International Raceway is a 3/4-mile , D-shaped, asphalt race track located just outside Richmond, Virginia in Henrico County. It hosts the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and Nationwide Series...
, Gordon stayed in the top 3 all night long, and looked to be a serious contender for the win. But battling back in the pack from a 4-tire call, Matt Kenseth
Matt Kenseth
Matthew Roy "Matt" Kenseth is an American stock car driver. Kenseth currently drives the No. 17 Crown Royal Ford Fusion in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series for Roush Fenway Racing...
squeezed up on Clint Bowyer and turned Jeff into an inside wall opening. He finished 39th and had his second DNF of the season. The following week at Darlington, Gordon was consistently running in the top 5, a green-white-checkered moved him from 6th to a 12th-place finish. After Darlington, Gordon was 17th points, but due to the new Wild-Card in the Chase, he would be in the Chase due to his Phoenix win. Jeff finished outside the top 10 at Dover
Dover International Speedway
Dover International Speedway is a NASCAR-sanctioned race track located in Dover, Delaware, owned by, and serving as the corporate headquarters of, Dover Motorsports, Inc. It is co-located with a harness racing track, Dover Downs, and shares the complex with Dover Downs Hotel & Casino...
and Charlotte
Charlotte Motor Speedway
Charlotte Motor Speedway is a motorsports complex located in Concord, North Carolina, United States 13 miles from Charlotte, North Carolina. The complex features a quad oval track that hosts NASCAR racing including the prestigious Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day weekend and the Sprint All-Star Race...
. He had a top-5 run going at Charlotte, but being caught a lap down late relegated him to a 20th-place finish. Kansas
Kansas Speedway
Kansas Speedway is a tri-oval race track in Kansas City, Kansas. The speedway was built in 2001 and currently hosts two annual NASCAR race weekends. The IndyCar Series also raced at the speedway until 2011...
, the following week. Gordon finished 4th behind some fuel-strategy winners. Coming off a great run at Kansas, Gordon and the #24 team looked to continue the success at Pocono. After starting third, Gordon never lost sight of the leaders, staying in the top 3 all day. With 41 to go, Gordon beat Kurt Busch
Kurt Busch
Kurt Thomas Busch is an American NASCAR and NHRA driver. He drives the No. 22 Shell Oil Company/Pennzoil Dodge Charger in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, and will race on an "opportunity permitting" basis in the Pro Stock division of NHRA...
off pit road, but restarted second to Juan Pablo Montoya
Juan Pablo Montoya
Juan Pablo Montoya Roldán is a Colombian race car driver known internationally for participating and winning in Formula One and CART race competitions. He has enjoyed great success. Currently, he competes in NASCAR, driving the #42 Target Chevrolet Impala for Earnhardt Ganassi Racing in the Sprint...
, who took 2 tires. Jeff quickly assumed the lead on the restart. After a round of green-flag pit stops, Jeff passed Landon Cassill
Landon Cassill
Landon Douglas Cassill is a driver in the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series. He is a test driver for Hendrick Motorsports. He currently drives the #51 Chevrolet Impala for Phoenix Racing in the Sprint Cup Series....
, for the lead and never looked back. He had his 2nd win of the year, 84th career win, tying him 3rd all-time with Darrell Waltrip
Darrell Waltrip
Darrell Lee Waltrip is a 3-time NASCAR Cup Series champion , 3-time runner-up , winner of the 1989 Daytona 500 and 5-time winner of the prestigeous Coca-Cola 600 ,...
and Bobby Allison
Bobby Allison
Robert Arthur Allison is a former NASCAR Winston Cup driver and was named one of NASCAR's 50 greatest drivers. His two sons, Clifford Allison and Davey Allison followed him into racing, and both died within a year of each other....
, and his fifth win at Pocono, tying him with Bill Elliott
Bill Elliott
William Clyde "Bill" Elliott , also known as Awesome Bill from Dawsonville or Million Dollar Bill, is a part-time driver and former champion of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Elliott was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America on August 15, 2007. He won the 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup...
for all-time wins at the racetrack. Following his Pocono win, Jeff again struggled with his 1.5–2 mile tracks, finishing 17th at Michigan
Michigan International Speedway
Michigan International Speedway is a two-mile moderate-banked D-shaped superspeedway located off U.S. Highway 12 on more than in Brooklyn, in the scenic Irish Hills area of southeastern Michigan. The track is used primarily for NASCAR events. It is sometimes known as a "sister track" to Texas...
. Everyone had high expectations for Gordon at Infineon
Infineon Raceway
Infineon Raceway, formerly Sears Point Raceway, is a road course and drag strip located on the landform known as Sears Point in the southern Sonoma Mountains near Sonoma, California, USA. The course is a complex series of twists and turns that go up and down the hills...
. But the entire race showed Gordon mired back in the 22nd position. But a call from Gustafson put Jeff 7th with about 20 to go. Gordon muscled his way through the field, avoiding and staying ahead of wrecks. He grabbed second coming to the white flag, and ran out of time to catch leader Kurt Busch
Kurt Busch
Kurt Thomas Busch is an American NASCAR and NHRA driver. He drives the No. 22 Shell Oil Company/Pennzoil Dodge Charger in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, and will race on an "opportunity permitting" basis in the Pro Stock division of NHRA...
. The second place finish put Gordon in 9th place in the standings.
The Coke Zero 400
Coke Zero 400
The Coke Zero 400 powered by Coca-Cola at Daytona is a 160 lap, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car race held annually, beginning in 1959, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida; the second major stock car event held at Daytona on the Sprint Cup circuit...
at Daytona weekend started out well for Gordon, starting 4th. His drafting buddy Mark Martin started on pole, and chose the outside line at the start, and that quickly put him and Gordon out front. Jeff and Mark approached this race the same as Talladega, as they hung out at the back for the entire race. A green flag run of about 100 laps caused the Hendrick duos to be many seconds behind the leader. Gordon and Martin charged to the front and caught the leaders with 3 to go. But a bunched up field in turn 3 caused Gordon to slide up and into Kyle Busch and spin. A save by Gordon minimized his damage. He restarted 18th behind Kyle Busch. With Gordon pushing, Kyle moved by most of the field before a final last-turn, last-lap wreck took out top contenders. Gordon finished 6th and complimented Kyle on his ability to make moves through the pack. The 6th-place finish put Gordon in 8th place in points.
The next week marked the first-ever Sprint Cup Series race held at the Kentucky Speedway. Gordon was fast in the practice sessions, and when qualifying was rained out, but would start 14th. However, the handling of the 24 DuPont Chevrolet was not to Gordon's liking. At one point, he said that Kentucky was "one of the most frustrating places I've ever driven." For much of the race, Gordon ran in the mid 20s, even falling one lap down to then race leader, and eventual winner, Kyle Busch. After a caution for debris came out, Crew Chief Alan Gustafson opted to not pit and take the wave around to make up the lost lap. A late caution, pit strategy, and a bit of luck enabled Gordon to pit and run inside the top 10 for the final 50 laps. He would salvage a tenth-place finish, moving him up to 7th place in the points.
At Loudon, he led 19 laps but had electric issues. He worked his way up to fourth, but cut a tire on the last lap and was forced to settle for eleventh. Two weeks later at Indianapolis, Gordon led 36 laps but lost to Paul Menard
Paul Menard
Paul Menard is a NASCAR driver. He currently drives the #27 Menards Chevrolet in the Sprint Cup Series for Richard Childress Racing and runs part-time for Kevin Harvick Inc. in the Nationwide Series. He is the son of Menards founder John Menard, Jr., whose company is his sponsor...
's fuel strategy. He finished a very close second. At the next race at Pocono, Gordon would finish 6th. He placed 13th at Watkins Glen International a week later. At Michigan, he led 50 laps, but finished sixth after simply losing the car late. He led a race-high 206 laps at Bristol the next week, and finished third to Martin Truex, Jr. and Brad Keselowski
Brad Keselowski
Bradley Robert Keselowski is an American auto racing driver currently competing in the #2 Miller Lite Dodge Charger in the Sprint Cup Series and the #22 Discount Tire Company/Ruby Tuesday Dodge Challenger in the Nationwide Series for Penske Racing...
.
The following Sunday race at Atlanta was delayed due to rain, and was moved to Tuesday, due to a tropical storm (Lee) on the track on Monday. In that race Jeff Gordon led the majority of the laps at the beginning of the race. However, with tightness and tire issues as well as cautions and a red flag being thrown out due to rain, he was placed in a tough situation as far as the race strategy. The race continued and Jeff marched his way up to the lead once again. His car gradually became loose, and he eventually lost the lead to Matt Kenseth
Matt Kenseth
Matthew Roy "Matt" Kenseth is an American stock car driver. Kenseth currently drives the No. 17 Crown Royal Ford Fusion in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series for Roush Fenway Racing...
as well as several more positions. But several more cautions enabled Jeff to complete adjustments and furthermore take better care of his tires, in fear of wearing them out early. He charged back up to the leader Jimmie Johnson
Jimmie Johnson
Jimmie Kenneth Johnson is an American NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race car driver. He currently drives the No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports....
and passed him, but as the race led to 10–15 laps to go, Jeff was starting to become loose again in the long run. This allowed Jimmie Johnson to catch Jeff and pass him once, but Jimmie was loose too, enabling Jeff to reclaim the lead. Both drivers battled side-by-side and battled looseness issues. Coming to the white flag, Jimmie was excessively loose off turn 4 behind him, allowing Jeff some breathing room. Jeff held off Jimmie for the final lap and took his 3rd victory of the season as well as his 85th career win, placing 3rd on the all-time win list, behind Richard Petty and David Pearson, beating Bobby Allison and Darrell Waltrip. He then moved up to 5th in points.
At Richmond
Richmond International Raceway
Richmond International Raceway is a 3/4-mile , D-shaped, asphalt race track located just outside Richmond, Virginia in Henrico County. It hosts the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and Nationwide Series...
(September 10, 2011), Jeff Gordon had a poor qualifying run of 17th at the Wonderful Pistachios 400. He had a fast car at the beginning, but suddenly the car experienced tightness issues and he dropped back to the 20's in position. He missed an opportunity to pit and make some adjustments under caution, due to communication errors between him and his crew chief. However, coming to 250 laps, the caution between his teammate Jimmie Johnson and Kurt Busch gave him a chance to pit and make such adjustments, and eventually he climbed back up to the front and took the lead. He led the field in for service under the caution on Lap 384. He came out of the pits second and had a bad restart, but shot back with a finish of 3rd at Richmond, with Kevin Harvick winning the race, and Carl Edwards in second. Jeff Gordon commented on how it was interesting that Paul Menard
Paul Menard
Paul Menard is a NASCAR driver. He currently drives the #27 Menards Chevrolet in the Sprint Cup Series for Richard Childress Racing and runs part-time for Kevin Harvick Inc. in the Nationwide Series. He is the son of Menards founder John Menard, Jr., whose company is his sponsor...
, a Richard Childress teammate of Harvick's, caused the caution by just spinning into the grass.
Gordon's summer hot streak made him a top pick for the 2011 Chase for the Sprint Cup. He was seeded 3rd for the chase, because of his 3 wins.
Gordon's Chase started off with a disappointing 23rd Qualifying effort at Chicagoland Speedway
Chicagoland Speedway
Chicagoland Speedway is a tri-oval speedway in Joliet, Illinois, USA, southwest of Chicago. The speedway opened in 2001 and currently hosts NASCAR racing including the opening event in the 2011 Chase for the Sprint Cup. Until 2011, the speedway also hosted the IZOD IndyCar Series, recording...
. He would run near that position all day, going even a lap down during the midpoint of the race. He started his climb late i the race, before fuel milage came into play. He made it to 17th when he ran out of gas with 2 laps to go and finished 24th, making a deep hole to climb out of early in the Chase.
The second race in the Chase, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, looked to be a rebound race for Gordon, as he ran well in the spring race. He started out the good weekend qualifying 7th, and looked fast in practice. Gordon started the race and quickly clawed his way to the front, grabbing the lead at lap 164. He opened gaps of 4+ seconds on the field, and was clearly the car to beat. But, while trying to stretch fuel for the last pit stop, Jeff ran out of gas under green coming to pit road, and took a long time getting re-fired, erasing his 9 second lead. What made matters worse, there was a problem during the exchange of fuel cans and they didnt get enough fuel in the car as they would've liked. He charged back up to 3rd, but then got word of the fuel mishap, he fell to 6th. While conserving in 7th, leaders started to pit for fuel. Hamlin, Kahne, and Bowyer run out of fuel. Greg Biffle
Greg Biffle
Gregory Jack "Greg" Biffle is a NASCAR driver who drives the #16 3M Ford Fusion for Roush Fenway Racing in the Sprint Cup Series. After racing in the NASCAR Winter Heat Series in the mid-90s, he was recommended to Jack Roush by former announcer Benny Parsons...
also ran out of fuel, but beat Jeff by inches for 3rd. Gordon's 4th place finish boosted him to 5th in points. A great rebound from Chicagoland.
Dover International Speedway
Dover International Speedway
Dover International Speedway is a NASCAR-sanctioned race track located in Dover, Delaware, owned by, and serving as the corporate headquarters of, Dover Motorsports, Inc. It is co-located with a harness racing track, Dover Downs, and shares the complex with Dover Downs Hotel & Casino...
, the third race in the Chase, going in, was going to be a questionable weekend for the 24 team, as they struggled in the spring race. Finishing practice sessions in the top 5 showed promise for the race. But, a 34th starting position quickly changed the mood in the 24 camp. The day looked up for the 24 team after moving through the field quickly. Gordon stayed most of the day near 10th position. A very uneventful day for the 24 team ended with a solid 12th place finish. But, most of the chasers ran in the top 5, but some ran in the back 20s. Gordon gained points on the Championship leader, but fell to ninth in points, 19 points behind. A very reasonable margin.
Kansas Speedway
Kansas Speedway
Kansas Speedway is a tri-oval race track in Kansas City, Kansas. The speedway was built in 2001 and currently hosts two annual NASCAR race weekends. The IndyCar Series also raced at the speedway until 2011...
looked like the best track for Gordon in the Chase. The past 5 attempts at Kansas being top 5's, and an average finish of 8th (best among chasers), backed up the mood of the team. He qualified a decent 10th, after finishing the practice sessions in the top 5 and 10. The race started very well for Gordon, moving into the top 5 in a matter of about 25 laps. Gordon had a top 3 car all day long, Jimmie Johnson
Jimmie Johnson
Jimmie Kenneth Johnson is an American NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race car driver. He currently drives the No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports....
only being faster, as the leader. Gordon's pit stops were flawless all day, gaining many spots, besides the handfuls that took 2 tires. On a restart with 45 laps to go, Gordon restarted fifth behind Ku Busch, Harvick, Johnson and Keselowski, with Tony Stewart
Tony Stewart
Anthony Wayne "Tony" Stewart is an American auto racing driver and owner. Throughout his racing career, Stewart has won titles in Indy cars and stock cars as well as midget, sprint and USAC Silver Crown cars, giving him the recognition of "one of the finest racers of his generation."Stewart...
behind him, in seventh. When the green dropped, Stewart dove below Gordon into turn 1 and moved him up the track. The contact quickly threw Gordon from 5th to 17th. While in the back, Gordon reported seeing smoke inside the car. While, the car looked to be slow, Gordon inched up to 14th, before the engine let go with 2 to go. Gordon dropped to 34th, and with most of the Chase contenders having good days, put him 10th in points, 47 behind the leaders. The point margin is a very difficult hole to climb out of. Especially at a track that would possibly be Jeff's best shot at a win.
List of Jeff Gordon's wins
| Win No. | Date | Race Name | Track |
|---|---|---|---|
| – | February 11, 1993 | Gatorade Twin 125 Qualifiers #1† |  Daytona International SpeedwayDaytona International Speedway Daytona International Speedway is a race track in Daytona Beach, Florida, United States. Since opening in 1959, it has been the home of the Daytona 500, one of the most prestigious races in NASCAR. In addition to NASCAR, the track also hosts races of ARCA, AMA Superbike, Grand-Am and Motocross... at Daytona Beach, FL |
| – | February 13, 1994 | Busch Clash† | Daytona International Speedway at Daytona Beach, FL |
| – | May 21, 1994 | Winston Select Open† |  Charlotte Motor SpeedwayCharlotte Motor Speedway Charlotte Motor Speedway is a motorsports complex located in Concord, North Carolina, United States 13 miles from Charlotte, North Carolina. The complex features a quad oval track that hosts NASCAR racing including the prestigious Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day weekend and the Sprint All-Star Race... at Concord, NC |
| 1 | May 29, 1994 | Coca-Cola 600 | Charlotte Motor Speedway at Concord, NC |
| 2 | August 6, 1994 | Brickyard 400 |  Indianapolis Motor SpeedwayIndianapolis Motor Speedway The Indianapolis Motor Speedway, located in Speedway, Indiana in the United States, is the home of the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race and the Brickyard 400.... at Speedway, IN |
| 3 | February 26, 1995 | Goodwrench 500 | North Carolina Speedway North Carolina Speedway Rockingham Speedway, formerly North Carolina Motor Speedway and later North Carolina Speedway is a racetrack located near Rockingham, North Carolina... at Rockingham, NC |
| 4 | March 12, 1995 | Purolator 500 |  Atlanta Motor SpeedwayAtlanta Motor Speedway Atlanta Motor Speedway is a track just outside Hampton, Georgia, twenty miles south of Atlanta. It is a quad-oval track with a seating capacity of over 125,000. It opened in 1960 as a standard oval. In 1994, 46 condominiums were built over the northeastern side of the track... at Hampton, GA |
| 5 | April 2, 1995 | Food City 500 |  Bristol Motor SpeedwayBristol Motor Speedway Bristol Motor Speedway, formerly known as Bristol International Raceway and Bristol Raceway is a NASCAR short track venue located in Bristol, Tennessee. Constructed in 1960, it held its first NASCAR race on July 30, 1961... at Bristol, TN |
| – | May 22, 1995 | The Winston Select† | Charlotte Motor Speedway at Concord, NC |
| 6 | July 1, 1995 | Pepsi 400 | Daytona International Speedway at Daytona Beach, FL |
| 7 | July 9, 1995 | Slick 50 300 |  New Hampshire Motor Speedway at Loudon, NH |
| 8 | September 3, 1995 | Mountain Dew Southern 500 |  Darlington RacewayDarlington Raceway Darlington Raceway is a race track built for NASCAR racing located near Darlington, South Carolina. It is nicknamed the "Lady in Black" and "The Track Too Tough to Tame" by many NASCAR fans and drivers and advertised as "A NASCAR Tradition"... at Darlington, SC |
| 9 | September 17, 1995 | MBNA 500 |  Dover International SpeedwayDover International Speedway Dover International Speedway is a NASCAR-sanctioned race track located in Dover, Delaware, owned by, and serving as the corporate headquarters of, Dover Motorsports, Inc. It is co-located with a harness racing track, Dover Downs, and shares the complex with Dover Downs Hotel & Casino... at Dover, DE |
| 10 | March 3, 1996 | Pontiac Excitement 400 |  Richmond International RacewayRichmond International Raceway Richmond International Raceway is a 3/4-mile , D-shaped, asphalt race track located just outside Richmond, Virginia in Henrico County. It hosts the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and Nationwide Series... at Richmond, VA |
| 11 | March 24, 1996 | TranSouth Financial 400 | Darlington Raceway at Darlington, SC |
| 12 | March 31, 1996 | Food City 500 | Bristol Motor Speedway at Bristol, TN |
| 13 | June 2, 1996 | Miller 500 | Dover International Speedway at Dover, DE |
| 14 | June 16, 1996 | UAW-GM Teamwork 500 |  Pocono RacewayPocono Raceway Pocono Raceway also known as the Tricky Triangle, is a superspeedway located in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania at Long Pond... at Long Pond, PA |
| 15 | July 28, 1996 | DieHard 500 |  Talladega SuperspeedwayTalladega Superspeedway Talladega Superspeedway is a motorsports complex located north of Talladega, Alabama, United States. It is located on the former Anniston Air Force Base just outside the small city of Lincoln. It was constructed by International Speedway Corporation, a business controlled by the France Family, in... at Talladega, AL |
| 16 | September 1, 1996 | Mountain Dew Southern 500 | Darlington Raceway at Darlington, SC |
| 17 | September 15, 1996 | MBNA 500 | Dover International Speedway at Dover, DE |
| 18 | September 22, 1996 | Hanes 500 | Martinsville Speedway Martinsville Speedway Martinsville Speedway is an International Speedway Corporation-owned NASCAR stock car racing track located in Henry County, near Ridgeway, Virginia, just to the south of Martinsville. At in length, it is the shortest track in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The track was also one of the first paved... at Martinsville, VA |
| 19 | September 29, 1996 | Tyson Holly Farms 400 | North Wilkesboro Speedway North Wilkesboro Speedway North Wilkesboro Speedway was a short track that held races in NASCAR's top three series from NASCAR's inception in 1949 until its closure in 1996... at North Wilkesboro, NC |
| – | February 9, 1997 | Busch Clash† | Daytona International Speedway at Daytona Beach, FL |
| 20 | February 16, 1997 | Daytona 500 | Daytona International Speedway at Daytona Beach, FL |
| 21 | February 23, 1997 | Goodwrench Service 400 | North Carolina Speedway at Rockingham, NC |
| 22 | April 13, 1997 | Food City 500 | Bristol Motor Speedway at Bristol, TN |
| 23 | April 20, 1997 | Goody's Headache Powder 500 | Martinsville Speedway at Martinsville, VA |
| – | May 17, 1997 | The Winston† | Charlotte Motor Speedway at Concord, NC |
| 24 | May 25, 1997 | Coca-Cola 600 | Charlotte Motor Speedway at Concord, NC |
| 25 | June 8, 1997 | Pocono 500 | Pocono Raceway at Long Pond, PA |
| 26 | June 22, 1997 | California 500 Presented by NAPA |  Auto Club Speedway at Fontana, CA |
| 27 | August 10, 1997 | The Bud At The Glen |  Watkins Glen InternationalWatkins Glen International Watkins Glen International is an auto race track located near Watkins Glen, New York, at the southern tip of Seneca Lake. The facility is owned by International Speedway Corporation... at Watkins Glen, NY |
| 28 | August 31, 1997 | Mountain Dew Southern 500 | Darlington Raceway at Darlington, SC |
| 29 | September 14, 1997 | CMT 300 | New Hampshire Motor Speedway at Loudon, NH |
| 30 | February 22, 1998 | GM Goodwrench Service Plus 400 | North Carolina Speedway at Rockingham, NC |
| 31 | March 29, 1998 | Food City 500 | Bristol Motor Speedway at Bristol, TN |
| 32 | May 24, 1998 | Coca-Cola 600 | Charlotte Motor Speedway at Concord, NC |
| 33 | June 28, 1998 | Save Mart / Kragen 350 | Infineon Raceway Infineon Raceway Infineon Raceway, formerly Sears Point Raceway, is a road course and drag strip located on the landform known as Sears Point in the southern Sonoma Mountains near Sonoma, California, USA. The course is a complex series of twists and turns that go up and down the hills... at Sonoma, CA |
| 34 | July 26, 1998 | Pennsylvania 500 | Pocono Raceway at Long Pond, PA |
| 35 | August 1, 1998 | Brickyard 400 | Indianapolis Motor Speedway at Speedway, IN |
| 36 | August 9, 1998 | The Bud At The Glen | Watkins Glen International at Watkins Glen, NY |
| 37 | August 16, 1998 | Pepsi 400 Presented by DeVilbiss |  Michigan International SpeedwayMichigan International Speedway Michigan International Speedway is a two-mile moderate-banked D-shaped superspeedway located off U.S. Highway 12 on more than in Brooklyn, in the scenic Irish Hills area of southeastern Michigan. The track is used primarily for NASCAR events. It is sometimes known as a "sister track" to Texas... at Brooklyn, MI |
| 38 | August 30, 1998 | Farm Aid on CMT 300 | New Hampshire Motor Speedway at Loudon, NH |
| 39 | September 6, 1998 | Pepsi Southern 500 | Darlington Raceway at Darlington, SC |
| 40 | October 17, 1998 | Pepsi 400 | Daytona International Speedway at Daytona Beach, FL |
| 41 | November 1, 1998 | AC Delco 400 | North Carolina Speedway at Rockingham, NC |
| 42 | November 8, 1998 | NAPA 500 | Atlanta Motor Speedway at Hampton, GA |
| 43 | February 14, 1999 | Daytona 500 | Daytona International Speedway at Daytona Beach, FL |
| 44 | March 14, 1999 | Cracker Barrel 500 | Atlanta Motor Speedway at Hampton, GA |
| 45 | May 2, 1999 | California 500 Presented by NAPA | Auto Club Speedway at Fontana, CA |
| 46 | June 27, 1999 | Save Mart / Kragen 350 | Infineon Raceway at Sonoma, CA |
| 47 | August 15, 1999 | Frontier @ the Glen | Watkins Glen International at Watkins Glen, NY |
| 48 | October 3, 1999 | NAPA AutoCare 500 | Martinsville Speedway at Martinsville, VA |
| 49 | October 11, 1999 | UAW-GM Quality 500 | Charlotte Motor Speedway at Concord, NC |
| 50 | April 16, 2000 | DieHard 500 | Talladega Superspeedway at Talladega, AL |
| 51 | June 25, 2000 | Save Mart / Kragen 350 | Infineon Raceway at Sonoma, CA |
| 52 | September 9, 2000 | Chevrolet Monte Carlo 400 | Richmond International Raceway at Richmond, VA |
| 53 | March 4, 2001 | UAW-Daimler Chrysler 400 |  Las Vegas Motor SpeedwayLas Vegas Motor Speedway Las Vegas Motor Speedway, located in Clark County, Nevada near Las Vegas, is a complex of multiple tracks for automobile racing. The complex is owned by Speedway Motorsports, Inc., which is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina.-History:... at Las Vegas, NV |
| – | May 19, 2001 | The Winston† | Charlotte Motor Speedway at Concord, NC |
| 54 | June 3, 2001 | MBNA Platinum 400 | Dover International Speedway at Dover, DE |
| 55 | June 10, 2001 | Kmart 400 | Michigan International Speedway at Brooklyn, MI |
| 56 | August 5, 2001 | Brickyard 400 | Indianapolis Motor Speedway at Speedway, IN |
| 57 | August 12, 2001 | Global Crossing at the Glen | Watkins Glen International at Watkins Glen, NY |
| 58 | September 30, 2001 | Protection One 400 |  Kansas SpeedwayKansas Speedway Kansas Speedway is a tri-oval race track in Kansas City, Kansas. The speedway was built in 2001 and currently hosts two annual NASCAR race weekends. The IndyCar Series also raced at the speedway until 2011... at Kansas City, KS |
| – | February 14, 2002 | Gatorade Twin 125 Qualifiers #1† | Daytona International Speedway at Daytona Beach, FL |
| 59 | August 24, 2002 | Sharpie 500 | Bristol Motor Speedway at Bristol, TN |
| 60 | September 1, 2002 | Mountain Dew Southern 500 | Darlington Raceway at Darlington, SC |
| 61 | September 29, 2002 | Protection One 400 | Kansas Speedway at Kansas City, KS |
| 62 | April 13, 2003 | Virginia 500 | Martinsville Speedway at Martinsville, VA |
| 63 | October 19, 2003 | Subway 500 | Martinsville Speedway at Martinsville, VA |
| 64 | October 26/27, 2003 | Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 | Atlanta Motor Speedway at Hampton, GA |
| 65 | April 25, 2004 | Aaron's 499 | Talladega Superspeedway at Talladega, AL |
| 66 | May 2, 2004 | Auto Club 500 | Auto Club Speedway at Fontana, CA |
| 67 | June 27, 2004 | Dodge / Save Mart 350 | Infineon Raceway at Sonoma, CA |
| 68 | July 3, 2004 | Pepsi 400 | Daytona International Speedway at Daytona Beach, FL |
| 69 | August 8, 2004 | Brickyard 400 | Indianapolis Motor Speedway at Speedway, IN |
| 70 | February 20, 2005 | Daytona 500 | Daytona International Speedway at Daytona Beach, FL |
| 71 | April 10, 2005 | Advance Auto Parts 500 | Martinsville Speedway at Martinsville, VA |
| 72 | May 1, 2005 | Aaron's 499 | Talladega Superspeedway at Talladega, AL |
| 73 | October 23, 2005 | Subway 500 | Martinsville Speedway at Martinsville, VA |
| – | February 16, 2006 | Gatorade Duel #2† | Daytona International Speedway at Daytona Beach, FL |
| 74 | June 25, 2006 | Dodge / Save Mart 350 | Infineon Raceway at Sonoma, CA |
| 75 | July 9, 2006 | USG Sheetrock 400 |  Chicagoland SpeedwayChicagoland Speedway Chicagoland Speedway is a tri-oval speedway in Joliet, Illinois, USA, southwest of Chicago. The speedway opened in 2001 and currently hosts NASCAR racing including the opening event in the 2011 Chase for the Sprint Cup. Until 2011, the speedway also hosted the IZOD IndyCar Series, recording... at Joliet, IL |
| – | February 15, 2007 | Gatorade Duel #2† | Daytona International Speedway at Daytona Beach, FL |
| 76 | April 21, 2007 | Subway Fresh Fit 500 |  Phoenix International RacewayPhoenix International Raceway Phoenix International Raceway, also known as PIR, is a one-mile, low-banked tri-oval race track located in Avondale, Arizona. The track opened in 1964 and currently hosts two NASCAR race weekends annually. PIR has also hosted the Indycar Series, CART, USAC and the Rolex Sports Car Series... at Avondale, AZ |
| 77 | April 29, 2007 | Aaron's 499 | Talladega Superspeedway at Talladega, AL |
| 78 | May 13, 2007 | Dodge Avenger 500 | Darlington Raceway at Darlington, SC |
| 79 | June 10, 2007 | Pocono 500 | Pocono Raceway at Long Pond, PA |
| 80 | October 7, 2007 | UAW-Ford 500 | Talladega Superspeedway at Talladega, AL |
| 81 | October 13, 2007 | Bank Of America 500 | Charlotte Motor Speedway at Concord, NC |
| – | February 12, 2009 | Gatorade Duel #1† | Daytona International Speedway at Daytona Beach, FL |
| 82 | April 5, 2009 | Samsung 500 |  Texas Motor SpeedwayTexas Motor Speedway Texas Motor Speedway is a speedway located in the northernmost portion of the U.S. city of Fort Worth, Texas – the portion located in Denton County, Texas.... at Fort Worth, TX |
| 83 | February 27, 2011 | Subway Fresh Fit 500 | Phoenix International Raceway at Avondale, AZ |
| 84 | June 12, 2011 | 5-hour Energy 500 | Pocono Raceway at Long Pond, PA |
| 85 | September 6, 2011 | AdvoCare 500 | Atlanta Motor Speedway at Hampton, GA |
†Non-points race
Other racing
Gordon has also participated in some off-road events, including a winning drive with Team USA at the 2002 Race of ChampionsRace of Champions
The Race of Champions is an international motorsport event held at the end of each year, featuring some of the world's best racing and rally drivers...
. He was slated to run it again in 2004 against Formula One
Formula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
Champion Michael Schumacher
Michael Schumacher
Michael Schumacher is a German Formula One racing driver for the Mercedes GP team. Famous for his eleven-year spell with Ferrari, Schumacher is a seven-time World Champion and is widely regarded as the greatest F1 driver of all time...
but was sidelined by the flu, and Casey Mears
Casey Mears
Casey James Mears is the driver of the #13 GEICO Toyota for Germain Racing in the Sprint Cup Series. He is a former winner of the Coca-Cola 600....
took his place. In 2005, Gordon competed in the Race of Champions event again, this time held in Paris, France, where he was partnered with famed motocross racer/X Games winner Travis Pastrana
Travis Pastrana
Travis Alan Pastrana is an American motorsports competitor and stunt performer who has won championships and X Games gold medals in several events, including supercross, motocross, freestyle motocross, and rally racing. He runs a show called Nitro Circus with some of his friends...
. In 2007, Gordon competed in the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona for the first time. He raced the #10 Pontiac
Pontiac
Pontiac was an automobile brand that was established in 1926 as a companion make for General Motors' Oakland. Quickly overtaking its parent in popularity, it supplanted the Oakland brand entirely by 1933 and, for most of its life, became a companion make for Chevrolet. Pontiac was sold in the...
for Wayne Taylor racing. His teammates consisted of: Max Angelelli
Max Angelelli
Massimiliano Angelelli is an Italian race car driver.His career begun in Italian Formula Alfa Boxer in 1987 and continued for 15 years. His only championship win as the 1992 Italian Formula Three title...
, Jan Magnussen
Jan Magnussen
Jan Magnussen is a racing driver from Denmark and a GM factory driver. He has competed in several of the most prestigious events in motor sport including CART, NASCAR, the FIA Formula One World Championship and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.- Lower series racing :Magnussen dominated the 1994 British...
, and Wayne Taylor
Wayne Taylor
Wayne Taylor is a South African sports car racer. He won the 1996 and 2005 24 Hours of Daytona, and the 2005 Rolex Series. He co-drives for SunTrust Racing with Max Angelelli...
. The team placed third in Gordon's first ever Rolex 24.
Gordon won one race in IROC
International Race of Champions
International Race of Champions, better known as IROC, was a North American auto racing competition, promoted as an equivalent of an American All-Star Game or The Masters...
, in 1998
IROC XXII
The twenty-second season of the International Race of Champions started on February 13, 1998. The series used identically prepared Pontiac Firebird Trans Am race cars, and contested races at Daytona International Speedway1, California Speedway, Michigan International Speedway, and Indianapolis...
.
Career NASCAR statistics
| Season | Races | Wins | Poles | Top 5 | Top 10 | DNF | Position | Team(s) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 79th | Hendrick Motorsports Hendrick Motorsports Hendrick Motorsports , originally named All Star Racing, is a current American auto racing team created in 1984 by Rick Hendrick. The team currently competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with Chevrolet Impalas... |
|||
| 1993 | 30 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 11 | 11 | 14th | Hendrick Motorsports Hendrick Motorsports Hendrick Motorsports , originally named All Star Racing, is a current American auto racing team created in 1984 by Rick Hendrick. The team currently competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with Chevrolet Impalas... |
|||
| 1994 | 31 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 14 | 10 | 8th | Hendrick Motorsports Hendrick Motorsports Hendrick Motorsports , originally named All Star Racing, is a current American auto racing team created in 1984 by Rick Hendrick. The team currently competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with Chevrolet Impalas... |
|||
| 1995 | 31 | 7 | 8 | 17 | 23 | 3 | 1st | Hendrick Motorsports Hendrick Motorsports Hendrick Motorsports , originally named All Star Racing, is a current American auto racing team created in 1984 by Rick Hendrick. The team currently competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with Chevrolet Impalas... |
|||
| 1996 | 31 | 10 | 5 | 21 | 24 | 5 | 2nd | Hendrick Motorsports Hendrick Motorsports Hendrick Motorsports , originally named All Star Racing, is a current American auto racing team created in 1984 by Rick Hendrick. The team currently competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with Chevrolet Impalas... |
|||
| 1997 | 32 | 10 | 1 | 22 | 23 2 | 2 | 1st | Hendrick Motorsports Hendrick Motorsports Hendrick Motorsports , originally named All Star Racing, is a current American auto racing team created in 1984 by Rick Hendrick. The team currently competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with Chevrolet Impalas... |
|||
| 1998 | 33 | 13 | 7 | 26 | 28 | 2 | 1st | Hendrick Motorsports Hendrick Motorsports Hendrick Motorsports , originally named All Star Racing, is a current American auto racing team created in 1984 by Rick Hendrick. The team currently competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with Chevrolet Impalas... |
|||
| 1999 | 34 | 7 | 7 | 18 | 21 | 7 | 6th | Hendrick Motorsports Hendrick Motorsports Hendrick Motorsports , originally named All Star Racing, is a current American auto racing team created in 1984 by Rick Hendrick. The team currently competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with Chevrolet Impalas... |
|||
| 2000 | 34 | 3 | 3 | 11 | 22 | 2 | 9th | Hendrick Motorsports Hendrick Motorsports Hendrick Motorsports , originally named All Star Racing, is a current American auto racing team created in 1984 by Rick Hendrick. The team currently competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with Chevrolet Impalas... |
|||
| 2001 | 36 | 6 | 6 | 18 | 24 | 2 | 1st | Hendrick Motorsports Hendrick Motorsports Hendrick Motorsports , originally named All Star Racing, is a current American auto racing team created in 1984 by Rick Hendrick. The team currently competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with Chevrolet Impalas... |
|||
| 2002 | 36 | 3 | 3 | 13 | 20 | 3 | 4th | Hendrick Motorsports Hendrick Motorsports Hendrick Motorsports , originally named All Star Racing, is a current American auto racing team created in 1984 by Rick Hendrick. The team currently competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with Chevrolet Impalas... |
|||
| 2003 | 36 | 3 | 4 | 15 | 20 | 5 | 4th | Hendrick Motorsports Hendrick Motorsports Hendrick Motorsports , originally named All Star Racing, is a current American auto racing team created in 1984 by Rick Hendrick. The team currently competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with Chevrolet Impalas... |
|||
| 2004 | 36 | 5 | 6 | 16 | 25 | 4 | 3rd | Hendrick Motorsports Hendrick Motorsports Hendrick Motorsports , originally named All Star Racing, is a current American auto racing team created in 1984 by Rick Hendrick. The team currently competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with Chevrolet Impalas... |
|||
| 2005 | 36 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 14 | 9 | 11th | Hendrick Motorsports Hendrick Motorsports Hendrick Motorsports , originally named All Star Racing, is a current American auto racing team created in 1984 by Rick Hendrick. The team currently competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with Chevrolet Impalas... |
|||
| 2006 | 36 | 2 | 2 | 14 | 18 | 7 | 6th | Hendrick Motorsports Hendrick Motorsports Hendrick Motorsports , originally named All Star Racing, is a current American auto racing team created in 1984 by Rick Hendrick. The team currently competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with Chevrolet Impalas... |
|||
| 2007 | 36 | 6 | 7 | 21 | 30 | 1 | 2nd | Hendrick Motorsports Hendrick Motorsports Hendrick Motorsports , originally named All Star Racing, is a current American auto racing team created in 1984 by Rick Hendrick. The team currently competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with Chevrolet Impalas... |
|||
| 2008 | 36 | 0 | 4 | 13 | 19 | 6 | 7th | Hendrick Motorsports Hendrick Motorsports Hendrick Motorsports , originally named All Star Racing, is a current American auto racing team created in 1984 by Rick Hendrick. The team currently competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with Chevrolet Impalas... |
|||
| 2009 | 36 | 1 | 1 | 16 | 25 | 1 | 3rd | Hendrick Motorsports Hendrick Motorsports Hendrick Motorsports , originally named All Star Racing, is a current American auto racing team created in 1984 by Rick Hendrick. The team currently competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with Chevrolet Impalas... |
|||
| 2010 | 36 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 17 | 4 | 9th | Hendrick Motorsports Hendrick Motorsports Hendrick Motorsports , originally named All Star Racing, is a current American auto racing team created in 1984 by Rick Hendrick. The team currently competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with Chevrolet Impalas... |
|||
| 2011 | 36 | 3 | 1 | 13 | 18 | 3 | 8th | Hendrick Motorsports Hendrick Motorsports Hendrick Motorsports , originally named All Star Racing, is a current American auto racing team created in 1984 by Rick Hendrick. The team currently competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with Chevrolet Impalas... |
|||
| Totals | 647 | 85 | 70 | 285 | 394 | 88 | |||||
Season in progress.
Data as of October 31st, 2011.
Sponsorship and paint
Jeff Gordon and his team have carried the nickname "The Rainbow Warriors" throughout the years. Jeff has always carried DuPontDuPont
E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company , commonly referred to as DuPont, is an American chemical company that was founded in July 1802 as a gunpowder mill by Eleuthère Irénée du Pont. DuPont was the world's third largest chemical company based on market capitalization and ninth based on revenue in 2009...
as a sponsor. From 1993 to 2000, Gordon carried a rainbow scheme that got the team their nickname. Throughout the years, Gordon has sometimes carried different paint, such as Jurassic Park
Jurassic Park (film)
Jurassic Park is a 1993 American science fiction adventure film directed by Steven Spielberg. The film is based on the novel of the same name by Michael Crichton. It stars Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, Richard Attenborough, Martin Ferrero, and Bob Peck...
the ride in 1997, Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace is a 1999 American epic space opera film written and directed by George Lucas. It is the fourth film to be released in the Star Wars saga, as the first of a three-part prequel to the original Star Wars trilogy, as well as the first film in the saga in terms...
in 1999, and Snoopy
Snoopy
Snoopy is an fictional character in the long-running comic strip Peanuts, by Charles M. Schulz. He is Charlie Brown's pet beagle. Snoopy began his life in the strip as a fairly conventional dog, but eventually evolved into perhaps the strip's most dynamic character—and among the most recognizable...
in the 2000 Brickyard 400, and a Superman
Superman
Superman is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by DC Comics, widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born American artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective...
theme. In 1997, Gordon signed a long-term contract with Pepsi
Pepsi
Pepsi is a carbonated soft drink that is produced and manufactured by PepsiCo...
that is still in place today. Every year Gordon has driven a car with the Pepsi scheme (he almost always has car with a Pepsi paint scheme at a night race, particularly Daytona International Speedway
Daytona International Speedway
Daytona International Speedway is a race track in Daytona Beach, Florida, United States. Since opening in 1959, it has been the home of the Daytona 500, one of the most prestigious races in NASCAR. In addition to NASCAR, the track also hosts races of ARCA, AMA Superbike, Grand-Am and Motocross...
in July). In 2001, Gordon debuted a new scheme designed by NASCAR artist Sam Bass, which kept a blue base but changed the rainbow pattern to flames. In 2006, Gordon acquired a new sponsor, Nicorette
Nicorette
Nicorette is the brand name of a pharmaceutical preparation that contains nicotine for the treatment of tobacco dependence. Nicorette was the first medicinal preparation to facilitate smoking cessation....
. In 2007, Gordon increased his partnership with Nicorette, and ran the paint scheme in 4 races. At Talladega
Talladega Superspeedway
Talladega Superspeedway is a motorsports complex located north of Talladega, Alabama, United States. It is located on the former Anniston Air Force Base just outside the small city of Lincoln. It was constructed by International Speedway Corporation, a business controlled by the France Family, in...
in 2007, Gordon had a fan design contest. The design got a real treat, as Gordon won the race. Since 2007, Gordon has had the same design with different colors. (e.g. Nicorette scheme, green and yellow flames). Gordon will occasionally run a scheme that will support a different type of DuPont
DuPont
E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company , commonly referred to as DuPont, is an American chemical company that was founded in July 1802 as a gunpowder mill by Eleuthère Irénée du Pont. DuPont was the world's third largest chemical company based on market capitalization and ninth based on revenue in 2009...
paint such as Cromax Pro.
Gordon announced that the primary scheme of the DuPont #24 Chevrolet was to change for 2009 & beyond on the QVC
QVC
QVC is a multinational corporation specializing in televised home shopping. Founded in 1986 by Joseph Segel in West Goshen Township, Pennsylvania, United States, QVC broadcasts in five countries as QVC US, QVC UK, QVC Germany, QVC Japan and – QVC Italy to 200 million households...
show For Race Fans Only. The 2009 scheme kept the flames format but the colors were radically changed to red and orange flames on a black base color. The new 2009 DuPont paint scheme was unveiled on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
's Today show. In 2009, National Guard signed a contract with Gordon, replacing Nicorette. National Guard was the primary sponsor on Gordon's car for 6–8 races per season through 2010. Occasionally, a one-race sponsor steps in to sponsor Gordon's car for one race. For example, Gordon ran a Megatron scheme at Charlotte in the Fall of 2009 to promote the movie Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen is a 2009 American science fiction-action film directed by Michael Bay and produced by Steven Spielberg. It is the sequel to the 2007 film Transformers and the second installment in the live-action Transformers series...
that was soon to come out on .
Hendrick Motorsports owner, Rick Hendrick, said in November 2009 that he is working on signing a contract extension with DuPont, Gordon's primary sponsor since the beginning of his career. DuPont's current contract with Jeff Gordon expires at the end of 2010, and Hendrick said he wants it to be Gordon's primary sponsor for the rest of his career. In 2010 reports surfaced that Hendrick Motorsports was in talks with Walmart to be a sponsor for the #24 car, the deal never materialized. In October 2010, Hendrick Motorsports announced a scaled-down three-year extension of its sponsorship agreement with DuPont: DuPont will be Gordon's primary sponsor for 14 races, with AARP
AARP
AARP, formerly the American Association of Retired Persons, is the United States-based non-governmental organization and interest group, founded in 1958 by Ethel Percy Andrus, PhD, a retired educator from California, and based in Washington, D.C. According to its mission statement, it is "a...
picking up 22 of the remaining races and long-term sponsor Pepsi continuing as primary sponsor for 2 races.
Personal life
Gordon's parents are Carol Ann Bickford (née Houston) and William Grinnell Gordon of Vacaville, CaliforniaVacaville, California
Vacaville, California is a city located in the northeastern portion of the San Francisco Bay Area in Solano County. The city is nearly half way between Sacramento and San Francisco on I-80. It sits approximately from Sacramento, and from San Francisco...
. He has an older sister named Kim.
Gordon met first wife Brooke Sealey after he won a Busch race. Sealey was then a college student and had been present as Ms. Winston in the victory lane in 1992. The pair began dating in secret, due to a rule that did not allow drivers to date Ms. Winston, and they were married in 1994. In 2003, Gordon's divorce from Sealey became tabloid fodder. In court papers, she asked for "exclusive use of the couple's oceanfront home, valued at $9 million, as well as alimony
Alimony
Alimony is a U.S. term denoting a legal obligation to provide financial support to one's spouse from the other spouse after marital separation or from the ex-spouse upon divorce...
, two cars and periodic use of their boats and an airplane."
Gordon was introduced to Ingrid Vandebosch
Ingrid Vandebosch
Ingrid Vandebosch is a model and actress who won the Elite Look of the Year Award in 1990. She is the wife of NASCAR racecar driver Jeff Gordon.-Modeling career:...
by a mutual friend in 2002, but they did not begin dating until 2004. Jeff announced their engagement on June 24, 2006, at a croquet
Croquet
Croquet is a lawn game, played both as a recreational pastime and as a competitive sport. It involves hitting plastic or wooden balls with a mallet through hoops embedded into the grass playing court.-History:...
event at Meadowood Resort in St. Helena, California
St. Helena, California
St. Helena is a city in Napa County, California, United States. It is part of the northern San Francisco Bay Area. The population was 5,814 at the 2010 census....
. According to Gordon, they had kept the engagement secret for the following 30 days. Gordon and Vandebosch were married in a small, private ceremony in Mexico on Nov. 7, 2006. On June 20, 2007, Vandebosch gave birth to their first child, Ella Sofia Gordon in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. On February 4, 2010, Gordon revealed that he and his wife are expecting their second child in August, and on March 16, 2010, he revealed that the baby is a boy. Gordon had Scott Pruett
Scott Pruett
Scott Donald Pruett is an American race car driver who has competed in NASCAR, Champ Car, IMSA, Trans-Am and Grand-Am. He and his wife Judy have three children, and are children's book authors....
ready to step into the 24 at Watkins Glen because his wife was due to give birth the weekend of August 8, 2010. On August 9, 2010, Vandebosch delivered their son, Leo Benjamin Gordon, at 8:53 am. He weighed 7 lbs., 2 oz., and was 19 inches long.
Gordon owns a private jet, a British Aerospace BAE-125-800, also known as a Hawker 800, with a tail number on this jet matching his car number, N24JG and also owns a Lazzara 106 yacht called the 24 Karat.
In 1999, Jeff Gordon established The Jeff Gordon Foundation to help support children facing life-threatening and chronic illnesses. In 2007, Jeff Gordon along with Andre Agassi
Andre Agassi
Andre Kirk Agassi is a retired American professional tennis player and former world no. 1. Generally considered by critics and fellow players to be one of the greatest tennis players of all time, Agassi has been called the best service returner in the history of the game...
, Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali is an American former professional boxer, philanthropist and social activist...
, Lance Armstrong
Lance Armstrong
Lance Edward Armstrong is an American former professional road racing cyclist who won the Tour de France a record seven consecutive times, after having survived testicular cancer. He is also the founder and chairman of the Lance Armstrong Foundation for cancer research and support...
, Warrick Dunn
Warrick Dunn
Warrick De'Mon Dunn is a former American football running back, and current minority owner of the Atlanta Falcons. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 12th overall in the 1997 NFL Draft, after playing college football at Florida State...
, Mia Hamm
Mia Hamm
Mariel Margaret "Mia" Hamm is a retired American soccer player. Hamm played many years as a forward for the United States women's national soccer team and was a founding member of the Washington Freedom. Hamm has scored more international goals in her career than any other player, male or female,...
, Tony Hawk
Tony Hawk
Anthony Frank "Tony" Hawk , nicknamed "The Birdman" is an American retired professional skateboarder and actor. Hawk gained significant fame for completing the first 900 as well as his licensed video game titles distributed by Activision...
, Andrea Jaeger
Andrea Jaeger
Andrea Jaeger is a former World No. 2 professional tennis player from the United States whose brief but highly successful tennis career ended prematurely due to major shoulder injuries. Jaeger reached the singles final of Wimbledon in 1983 and the French Open in 1982...
, Jackie Joyner-Kersee
Jackie Joyner-Kersee
Jacqueline "Jackie" Joyner-Kersee is a retired American athlete, ranked among the all-time greatest athletes in the women's heptathlon as well as in the women's long jump. She won three gold, one silver, and two bronze Olympic medals, in those four different events...
, Mario Lemieux
Mario Lemieux
Mario Lemieux, OC, CQ is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He is acknowledged to be one of the best players of all time. He played 17 seasons as a forward for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League between 1984 and 2006...
, Alonzo Mourning
Alonzo Mourning
Alonzo Harding Mourning, Jr. is a former American professional basketball player, who played most of his 15-year NBA career for the Miami Heat....
, and Cal Ripken, Jr.
Cal Ripken, Jr.
Calvin Edwin "Cal" Ripken, Jr. , nicknamed "Iron Man", is a former Major League Baseball shortstop and third baseman. He played his entire 21-year baseball career for the Baltimore Orioles ....
founded Athletes for Hope
Athletes for hope
is a nonprofit organization that works to educate professional athletes about philanthropy, connect them with charitable causes, recognize these efforts and inspire others to get involved in the community. AFH emphasizes that its focus is on the athlete's time and not their money.The CEO of...
, a charitable organization which helps professional athletes get involved in charitable causes and inspires millions of non-athletes to volunteer and support the community.
It was announced in 2009 that Gordon would receive the Silver Buffalo Award
Silver Buffalo Award
The Silver Buffalo Award is the national-level distinguished service award of the Boy Scouts of America. It is presented for noteworthy and extraordinary service to youth on a national basis, either as part of, or independent of the Scouting program...
, the Boy Scouts of America
Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
's highest award for his work as a Scout Recruiter and humanitarian work.
Gordon is a Christian. He has talked about how in the early nineties he got curious and followed some drivers to the weekly chapel one week, which is how he first started to learn more about God.
Career awards
He was inducted in the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of FameNational Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame
The National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame is a Hall of Fame and museum for midget cars. The Hall of Fame is located at Angell Park Speedway in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, and can be accessed during weekly Sunday races during the summer.-A-C:...
at the January 10, 2009, Chili Bowl Nationals race at Tulsa
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa is the second-largest city in the state of Oklahoma and 46th-largest city in the United States. With a population of 391,906 as of the 2010 census, it is the principal municipality of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area, a region with 937,478 residents in the MSA and 988,454 in the CSA. Tulsa's...
. Most recently Jeff was inducted into the Watkins Glen International Hall of Fame because of his outstanding success on the track.
In popular media
Gordon occasionally appears on television shows. He has co-hosted Live with Regis and KellyLive with Regis and Kelly
Live! with Kelly is a syndicated American television morning talk show, hosted by Kelly Ripa. The show has aired since 1983 in New York City and 1988 nationwide. Tony Pigg has been the show's announcer since its inception...
ten times on days when Regis Philbin
Regis Philbin
Regis Francis Xavier Philbin is an American media personality, actor and singer, known for hosting talk and game shows since the 1960s. Philbin is often called "the hardest working man in show business" and holds the Guinness World Record for the most time spent in front of a television camera...
was unavailable. In January 2003, Gordon became the first NASCAR driver to host NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
's Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live is a live American late-night television sketch comedy and variety show developed by Lorne Michaels and Dick Ebersol. The show premiered on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title of NBC's Saturday Night.The show's sketches often parody contemporary American culture...
. In 2005, he played himself in Herbie Fully Loaded. In 2009 he voiced a character on the animated series Speed Racer/Next Generation. On April 11, 2010, Jeff was the guest celebrity on an episode of ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition is a reality television series providing home renovations for less fortunate families and community schools etc...
.
He provides his voice as Jeff Gorvette, a Chevrolet Corvette C6.R
Chevrolet Corvette C6.R
The Chevrolet Corvette C6.R is a grand tourer racing car built by Pratt & Miller and General Motors for competition in endurance racing. It is a replacement for the Corvette C5-R racing car, applying the body style of the new C6 generation Chevrolet Corvette as well as improvements to increase the...
no. #24, in Pixar
Pixar
Pixar Animation Studios, pronounced , is an American computer animation film studio based in Emeryville, California. The studio has earned 26 Academy Awards, seven Golden Globes, and three Grammy Awards, among many other awards and acknowledgments. Its films have made over $6.3 billion worldwide...
's 2011 animated movie, Cars 2
Cars 2
Cars 2 is a 2011 American computer-animated action film produced by Pixar, and it is the sequel to the 2006 film, Cars. In the film, race car Lightning McQueen and tow truck Mater head to Japan and Europe to compete in the World Grand Prix, but Mater becomes sidetracked with international espionage...
.
Jeff appears in PlayStation 3
PlayStation 3
The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
videogame Gran Turismo 5
Gran Turismo 5
is the fifth edition of the Gran Turismo racing video game series. Developed by Polyphony Digital and published by Sony Computer Entertainment, it was released for PlayStation 3 on November 24, 2010...
as himself, providing tutorials on racing in NASCAR.
He also appears on the cover of NASCAR Thunder 2002
NASCAR Thunder 2002
NASCAR Thunder 2002 is a racing simulator video game developed by EA Tiburon and published by EA Sports that came out for the PlayStation, PlayStation 2, and Xbox. The theme song for the game is Sweet Home Alabama by Lynyrd Skynyrd...
and NASCAR 09
NASCAR 09
NASCAR 09 is the twelfth installment in the EA Sports NASCAR series, it is the sequel to 2007 game NASCAR 08. It is developed by EA Tiburon and released on the PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and mobile phones in North America on June 10, 2008. On March 12, 2008, EA announced Jeff Gordon as...
. He is also on the cover of NASCAR 06: Total Team Control
NASCAR 06: Total Team Control
NASCAR 06: Total Team Control is the ninth installment of the EA Sports' NASCAR video game series. It was developed by EA Tiburon and released on August 30, 2005 for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox...
with Jimmie Johnson
Jimmie Johnson
Jimmie Kenneth Johnson is an American NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race car driver. He currently drives the No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports....
.
In the movie "Couple's Retreat", Jeff was mentioned when Jason Bateman said: "If Jeff Gordon told you the oil was low, you'd want to change it."
In 2003 he appeared in the movie "LooneyToons Back in Action" in Las Vegas doing a give away contest for his race car before Yosemite Sam steals the car
In the King of The Hill episode "Life In The Fast Lane, Bobby's Saga", Jeff Gordon is portrayed less than favorably, screaming "Daddy!" in a nasal tone when his cars spins out and hits a wall, alluding to earlier comments in the episode about how the main cast doesn't care for him because his father pulled strings to get him the car.
NASCAR Sprint Cup results
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)31
| style="background:#fff;"|
| style="background:#fff;"|
| style="background:#fff;"|
| style="background:#fff;"|
| style="background:#fff;"|
| style="background:#fff;"|
| style="background:#fff;"|
! 79th
! 70
|-
! 1993
! Hendrick Motorsports
Hendrick Motorsports
Hendrick Motorsports , originally named All Star Racing, is a current American auto racing team created in 1984 by Rick Hendrick. The team currently competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with Chevrolet Impalas...
|24
! DuPont
DuPont
E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company , commonly referred to as DuPont, is an American chemical company that was founded in July 1802 as a gunpowder mill by Eleuthère Irénée du Pont. DuPont was the world's third largest chemical company based on market capitalization and ninth based on revenue in 2009...
! Chevrolet
Chevrolet
Chevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918...
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| DAY
Daytona 500
The Daytona 500 is a -long NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held annually at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. It is one of four restrictor plate races on the Cup schedule....
5
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| CAR
34
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| RIC
6
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| ATL
4
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DAR
24
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| BRI
Food City 500
The Food City 500 is a 500 lap race NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held on the track at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee. This is one of two NASCAR races held at Bristol, the other being the Irwin Tools Night Race, and is considered one of NASCAR's best races...
17
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| NWS
First Union 400
The First Union 400 was a former NASCAR Winston Cup race held at North Wilkesboro Speedway in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, USA, in late March or early April from 1951 to 1996...
34
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| MAR
Martinsville Speedway
Martinsville Speedway is an International Speedway Corporation-owned NASCAR stock car racing track located in Henry County, near Ridgeway, Virginia, just to the south of Martinsville. At in length, it is the shortest track in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The track was also one of the first paved...
8
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| TAL
Aaron's 499
The Aaron's 499 is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car auto race held at Talladega Superspeedway in Talladega, Alabama. The race has always been held in late April or early May. The Aaron's 499 is also one of four races currently run with restrictor plates, the others being the AMP Energy 500,...
11
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| INF
11
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| LOW
Coca-Cola 600
The Coca-Cola 600, formerly known as the World 600, is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held each year at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina on Memorial Day weekend...
2
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| DOV
18
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| POC
28
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| MIC
Michigan International Speedway
Michigan International Speedway is a two-mile moderate-banked D-shaped superspeedway located off U.S. Highway 12 on more than in Brooklyn, in the scenic Irish Hills area of southeastern Michigan. The track is used primarily for NASCAR events. It is sometimes known as a "sister track" to Texas...
2
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| DAY2
5
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| NHA
7
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| POC2
Pocono Raceway
Pocono Raceway also known as the Tricky Triangle, is a superspeedway located in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania at Long Pond...
37
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| TAL2
31
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| GLN
31
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| MIC2
3
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| BRI2
20
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| DAR2
22
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| RIC2
Chevy Rock and Roll 400
The Wonderful Pistachios 400 is a NASCAR Sprint Cup stock car race held at the Richmond International Raceway in Richmond, Virginia. Since 2004, the race has served as the last race in NASCAR's "regular season". After this race, the top twelve drivers in the standings advance to the ten-race...
10
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DOV2
24
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| MAR2
Martinsville Speedway
Martinsville Speedway is an International Speedway Corporation-owned NASCAR stock car racing track located in Henry County, near Ridgeway, Virginia, just to the south of Martinsville. At in length, it is the shortest track in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The track was also one of the first paved...
11
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| NWS2
Tyson Holly Farms 400
The Tyson Holly Farms 400 was a former NASCAR Winston Cup event that took place every last weekend in September or first weekend in October at the North Wilkesboro Speedway in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina USA, from 1949 to 1996 except 1956. The 1996 race was the last NASCAR national series...
34
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| LOW2
5
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| CAR2
21
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| PHO
35
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| ATL2
31
| style="background:#fff;"|
| style="background:#fff;"|
| style="background:#fff;"|
| style="background:#fff;"|
| style="background:#fff;"|
| style="background:#fff;"|
! 14th
! 3447
|-
! 1994
! Hendrick Motorsports
Hendrick Motorsports
Hendrick Motorsports , originally named All Star Racing, is a current American auto racing team created in 1984 by Rick Hendrick. The team currently competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with Chevrolet Impalas...
|24
24
Year 24 was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Cethegus and Varro...
! DuPont
DuPont
E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company , commonly referred to as DuPont, is an American chemical company that was founded in July 1802 as a gunpowder mill by Eleuthère Irénée du Pont. DuPont was the world's third largest chemical company based on market capitalization and ninth based on revenue in 2009...
! Chevrolet
Chevrolet
Chevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918...
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| DAY
Daytona 500
The Daytona 500 is a -long NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held annually at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. It is one of four restrictor plate races on the Cup schedule....
4
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| CAR
32
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| RIC
3
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| ATL
Golden Corral 500
The Atlanta 500 was a NASCAR Sprint Cup stock car race that was run every March at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Georgia from 1960 until 2010...
8
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DAR
31
| style="bafdfdf;"| TAL
24
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| BRI
Food City 500
The Food City 500 is a 500 lap race NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held on the track at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee. This is one of two NASCAR races held at Bristol, the other being the Irwin Tools Night Race, and is considered one of NASCAR's best races...
22
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| NWS
First Union 400
The First Union 400 was a former NASCAR Winston Cup race held at North Wilkesboro Speedway in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, USA, in late March or early April from 1951 to 1996...
15
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| MAR
Martinsville Speedway
Martinsville Speedway is an International Speedway Corporation-owned NASCAR stock car racing track located in Henry County, near Ridgeway, Virginia, just to the south of Martinsville. At in length, it is the shortest track in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The track was also one of the first paved...
33
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| INF
Infineon Raceway
Infineon Raceway, formerly Sears Point Raceway, is a road course and drag strip located on the landform known as Sears Point in the southern Sonoma Mountains near Sonoma, California, USA. The course is a complex series of twists and turns that go up and down the hills...
37
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| LOW
Coca-Cola 600
The Coca-Cola 600, formerly known as the World 600, is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held each year at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina on Memorial Day weekend...
1
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| DOV
5
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| POC
6
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| MIC
Michigan International Speedway
Michigan International Speedway is a two-mile moderate-banked D-shaped superspeedway located off U.S. Highway 12 on more than in Brooklyn, in the scenic Irish Hills area of southeastern Michigan. The track is used primarily for NASCAR events. It is sometimes known as a "sister track" to Texas...
12
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| DAY2
8
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| NHA
39
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| POC2
Pocono Raceway
Pocono Raceway also known as the Tricky Triangle, is a superspeedway located in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania at Long Pond...
8
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| TAL2
31
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| IND
1
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| GLN
9
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| MIC2
15
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| BRI2
Bristol Motor Speedway
Bristol Motor Speedway, formerly known as Bristol International Raceway and Bristol Raceway is a NASCAR short track venue located in Bristol, Tennessee. Constructed in 1960, it held its first NASCAR race on July 30, 1961...
32
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| DAR2
6
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| RIC2
Chevy Rock and Roll 400
The Wonderful Pistachios 400 is a NASCAR Sprint Cup stock car race held at the Richmond International Raceway in Richmond, Virginia. Since 2004, the race has served as the last race in NASCAR's "regular season". After this race, the top twelve drivers in the standings advance to the ten-race...
2
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| DOV2
11
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| MAR2
Martinsville Speedway
Martinsville Speedway is an International Speedway Corporation-owned NASCAR stock car racing track located in Henry County, near Ridgeway, Virginia, just to the south of Martinsville. At in length, it is the shortest track in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The track was also one of the first paved...
11
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| NWS2
Tyson Holly Farms 400
The Tyson Holly Farms 400 was a former NASCAR Winston Cup event that took place every last weekend in September or first weekend in October at the North Wilkesboro Speedway in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina USA, from 1949 to 1996 except 1956. The 1996 race was the last NASCAR national series...
8
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| LOW2
28
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| CAR2
29
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| PHO
4
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| ATL2
15
| style="background:#fff;"|
| style="background:#fff;"|
| style="background:#fff;"|
| style="background:#fff;"|
| style="background:#fff;"|
! 8th
! 3776
|-
! 1995
! Hendrick Motorsports
Hendrick Motorsports
Hendrick Motorsports , originally named All Star Racing, is a current American auto racing team created in 1984 by Rick Hendrick. The team currently competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with Chevrolet Impalas...
|24
24
Year 24 was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Cethegus and Varro...
! DuPont
DuPont
E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company , commonly referred to as DuPont, is an American chemical company that was founded in July 1802 as a gunpowder mill by Eleuthère Irénée du Pont. DuPont was the world's third largest chemical company based on market capitalization and ninth based on revenue in 2009...
! Chevrolet
Chevrolet
Chevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918...
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| DAY
Daytona 500
The Daytona 500 is a -long NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held annually at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. It is one of four restrictor plate races on the Cup schedule....
22
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| CAR
1
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| RIC
36
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| ATL
Golden Corral 500
The Atlanta 500 was a NASCAR Sprint Cup stock car race that was run every March at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Georgia from 1960 until 2010...
1
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DAR
32
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| BRI
Food City 500
The Food City 500 is a 500 lap race NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held on the track at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee. This is one of two NASCAR races held at Bristol, the other being the Irwin Tools Night Race, and is considered one of NASCAR's best races...
1
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| NWS
First Union 400
The First Union 400 was a former NASCAR Winston Cup race held at North Wilkesboro Speedway in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, USA, in late March or early April from 1951 to 1996...
2
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| MAR
Martinsville Speedway
Martinsville Speedway is an International Speedway Corporation-owned NASCAR stock car racing track located in Henry County, near Ridgeway, Virginia, just to the south of Martinsville. At in length, it is the shortest track in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The track was also one of the first paved...
3
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| TAL
2
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| INF
3
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| LOW
Coca-Cola 600
The Coca-Cola 600, formerly known as the World 600, is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held each year at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina on Memorial Day weekend...
33
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| DOV
Dover International Speedway
Dover International Speedway is a NASCAR-sanctioned race track located in Dover, Delaware, owned by, and serving as the corporate headquarters of, Dover Motorsports, Inc. It is co-located with a harness racing track, Dover Downs, and shares the complex with Dover Downs Hotel & Casino...
6
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| POC
16
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| MIC
Michigan International Speedway
Michigan International Speedway is a two-mile moderate-banked D-shaped superspeedway located off U.S. Highway 12 on more than in Brooklyn, in the scenic Irish Hills area of southeastern Michigan. The track is used primarily for NASCAR events. It is sometimes known as a "sister track" to Texas...
2
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| DAY2
1
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| NHA
1
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| POC2
Pocono Raceway
Pocono Raceway also known as the Tricky Triangle, is a superspeedway located in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania at Long Pond...
2
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| TAL2
8
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| IND
6
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| GLN
3
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| MIC2
3
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| BRI2
Bristol Motor Speedway
Bristol Motor Speedway, formerly known as Bristol International Raceway and Bristol Raceway is a NASCAR short track venue located in Bristol, Tennessee. Constructed in 1960, it held its first NASCAR race on July 30, 1961...
6
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| DAR2
1
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| RIC2
Chevy Rock and Roll 400
The Wonderful Pistachios 400 is a NASCAR Sprint Cup stock car race held at the Richmond International Raceway in Richmond, Virginia. Since 2004, the race has served as the last race in NASCAR's "regular season". After this race, the top twelve drivers in the standings advance to the ten-race...
6
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| DOV2
1
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| MAR2
Martinsville Speedway
Martinsville Speedway is an International Speedway Corporation-owned NASCAR stock car racing track located in Henry County, near Ridgeway, Virginia, just to the south of Martinsville. At in length, it is the shortest track in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The track was also one of the first paved...
7
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| NWS2
Tyson Holly Farms 400
The Tyson Holly Farms 400 was a former NASCAR Winston Cup event that took place every last weekend in September or first weekend in October at the North Wilkesboro Speedway in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina USA, from 1949 to 1996 except 1956. The 1996 race was the last NASCAR national series...
3
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| LOW2
30
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| CAR2
20
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| PHO
5
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| ATL2
32
| style="background:#fff;"|
| style="background:#fff;"|
| style="background:#fff;"|
| style="background:#fff;"|
| style="background:#fff;"|
! 1st
! 4614
|-
! 1996
! Hendrick Motorsports
Hendrick Motorsports
Hendrick Motorsports , originally named All Star Racing, is a current American auto racing team created in 1984 by Rick Hendrick. The team currently competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with Chevrolet Impalas...
|24
24
Year 24 was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Cethegus and Varro...
! DuPont
DuPont
E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company , commonly referred to as DuPont, is an American chemical company that was founded in July 1802 as a gunpowder mill by Eleuthère Irénée du Pont. DuPont was the world's third largest chemical company based on market capitalization and ninth based on revenue in 2009...
! Chevrolet
Chevrolet
Chevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918...
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DAY
Daytona 500
The Daytona 500 is a -long NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held annually at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. It is one of four restrictor plate races on the Cup schedule....
42
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| CAR
40
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| RIC
1
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| ATL
Golden Corral 500
The Atlanta 500 was a NASCAR Sprint Cup stock car race that was run every March at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Georgia from 1960 until 2010...
3
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| DAR
1
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| BRI
Food City 500
The Food City 500 is a 500 lap race NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held on the track at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee. This is one of two NASCAR races held at Bristol, the other being the Irwin Tools Night Race, and is considered one of NASCAR's best races...
1
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| NWS
First Union 400
The First Union 400 was a former NASCAR Winston Cup race held at North Wilkesboro Speedway in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, USA, in late March or early April from 1951 to 1996...
2
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| MAR
Martinsville Speedway
Martinsville Speedway is an International Speedway Corporation-owned NASCAR stock car racing track located in Henry County, near Ridgeway, Virginia, just to the south of Martinsville. At in length, it is the shortest track in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The track was also one of the first paved...
3
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| TAL
33
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| INF
6
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| LOW
Coca-Cola 600
The Coca-Cola 600, formerly known as the World 600, is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held each year at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina on Memorial Day weekend...
4
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| DOV
Dover International Speedway
Dover International Speedway is a NASCAR-sanctioned race track located in Dover, Delaware, owned by, and serving as the corporate headquarters of, Dover Motorsports, Inc. It is co-located with a harness racing track, Dover Downs, and shares the complex with Dover Downs Hotel & Casino...
1
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| POC
1
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| MIC
Michigan International Speedway
Michigan International Speedway is a two-mile moderate-banked D-shaped superspeedway located off U.S. Highway 12 on more than in Brooklyn, in the scenic Irish Hills area of southeastern Michigan. The track is used primarily for NASCAR events. It is sometimes known as a "sister track" to Texas...
6
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| DAY2
3
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| NHA
34
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| POC2
Pocono Raceway
Pocono Raceway also known as the Tricky Triangle, is a superspeedway located in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania at Long Pond...
7
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| TAL2
1
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| IND
37
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| GLN
4
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| MIC2
5
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| BRI2
Bristol Motor Speedway
Bristol Motor Speedway, formerly known as Bristol International Raceway and Bristol Raceway is a NASCAR short track venue located in Bristol, Tennessee. Constructed in 1960, it held its first NASCAR race on July 30, 1961...
2
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| DAR2
1
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| RIC2
Chevy Rock and Roll 400
The Wonderful Pistachios 400 is a NASCAR Sprint Cup stock car race held at the Richmond International Raceway in Richmond, Virginia. Since 2004, the race has served as the last race in NASCAR's "regular season". After this race, the top twelve drivers in the standings advance to the ten-race...
2
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| DOV2
1
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| MAR2
Martinsville Speedway
Martinsville Speedway is an International Speedway Corporation-owned NASCAR stock car racing track located in Henry County, near Ridgeway, Virginia, just to the south of Martinsville. At in length, it is the shortest track in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The track was also one of the first paved...
1
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| NWS2
Tyson Holly Farms 400
The Tyson Holly Farms 400 was a former NASCAR Winston Cup event that took place every last weekend in September or first weekend in October at the North Wilkesboro Speedway in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina USA, from 1949 to 1996 except 1956. The 1996 race was the last NASCAR national series...
1
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| LOW2
31
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| CAR2
12
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| PHO
5
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| ATL2
3
| style="background:#fff;"|
| style="background:#fff;"|
| style="background:#fff;"|
| style="background:#fff;"|
| style="background:#fff;"|
! 2nd
! 4620
|-
! 1997
! Hendrick Motorsports
Hendrick Motorsports
Hendrick Motorsports , originally named All Star Racing, is a current American auto racing team created in 1984 by Rick Hendrick. The team currently competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with Chevrolet Impalas...
|24
24
Year 24 was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Cethegus and Varro...
! DuPont
DuPont
E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company , commonly referred to as DuPont, is an American chemical company that was founded in July 1802 as a gunpowder mill by Eleuthère Irénée du Pont. DuPont was the world's third largest chemical company based on market capitalization and ninth based on revenue in 2009...
! Chevrolet
Chevrolet
Chevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918...
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| DAY
Daytona 500
The Daytona 500 is a -long NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held annually at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. It is one of four restrictor plate races on the Cup schedule....
1
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| CAR
1
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| RIC
4
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| ATL
Golden Corral 500
The Atlanta 500 was a NASCAR Sprint Cup stock car race that was run every March at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Georgia from 1960 until 2010...
42
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| DAR
3
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| TEX
30
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| BRI
Food City 500
The Food City 500 is a 500 lap race NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held on the track at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee. This is one of two NASCAR races held at Bristol, the other being the Irwin Tools Night Race, and is considered one of NASCAR's best races...
1
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| MAR
Martinsville Speedway
Martinsville Speedway is an International Speedway Corporation-owned NASCAR stock car racing track located in Henry County, near Ridgeway, Virginia, just to the south of Martinsville. At in length, it is the shortest track in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The track was also one of the first paved...
1
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| INF
2
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| TAL
Aaron's 499
The Aaron's 499 is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car auto race held at Talladega Superspeedway in Talladega, Alabama. The race has always been held in late April or early May. The Aaron's 499 is also one of four races currently run with restrictor plates, the others being the AMP Energy 500,...
5
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| LOW
Coca-Cola 600
The Coca-Cola 600, formerly known as the World 600, is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held each year at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina on Memorial Day weekend...
1
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DOV
Dover International Speedway
Dover International Speedway is a NASCAR-sanctioned race track located in Dover, Delaware, owned by, and serving as the corporate headquarters of, Dover Motorsports, Inc. It is co-located with a harness racing track, Dover Downs, and shares the complex with Dover Downs Hotel & Casino...
26
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| POC
Pocono 500
The 5-hour Energy 500 is the first of two stock car races held at the Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania, on the NASCAR Sprint Cup schedule in mid-June, the other being the Pennsylvania 500, usually held in early August. The Pocono 500 replaced a 400-mile race at Texas World Speedway on...
1
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| MIC
Michigan International Speedway
Michigan International Speedway is a two-mile moderate-banked D-shaped superspeedway located off U.S. Highway 12 on more than in Brooklyn, in the scenic Irish Hills area of southeastern Michigan. The track is used primarily for NASCAR events. It is sometimes known as a "sister track" to Texas...
5
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| CAL
Auto Club 500
The Auto Club 400 is a long NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car race held at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California. Prior to 2005, the race was held in late April or early May, and until 2010, the race was run at a length of 500 miles. When the NASCAR Realignment of 2005 was made, the race...
1
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| DAY2
21
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| NHA
23
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| POC2
Pennsylvania 500
The Good Sam RV Insurance 500 is the second of two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car races held at the Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania, the other being the Pocono 500...
2
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| IND
Allstate 400 at the Brickyard
The Brickyard 400 is an annual 400-mile NASCAR Sprint Cup points race held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana. The event, when first held in 1994, marked the first race other than the Indianapolis 500 to be held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway since 1916...
4
| style="background:#fffrbf;"| GLN
1
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| MIC2
2
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| BRI2
Bristol Motor Speedway
Bristol Motor Speedway, formerly known as Bristol International Raceway and Bristol Raceway is a NASCAR short track venue located in Bristol, Tennessee. Constructed in 1960, it held its first NASCAR race on July 30, 1961...
35
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| DAR2
1
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| RIC2
3
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| NHA2
1
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| DOV2
7
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| MAR2
Martinsville Speedway
Martinsville Speedway is an International Speedway Corporation-owned NASCAR stock car racing track located in Henry County, near Ridgeway, Virginia, just to the south of Martinsville. At in length, it is the shortest track in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The track was also one of the first paved...
4
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| LOW2
5
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| TAL2
35
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| CAR2
4
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| PHO
17
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| ATL2
17
| style="background:#fff;"|
| style="background:#fff;"|
| style="background:#fff;"|
| style="background:#fff;"|
! 1st
! 4710
|-
! 1998
! Hendrick Motorsports
Hendrick Motorsports
Hendrick Motorsports , originally named All Star Racing, is a current American auto racing team created in 1984 by Rick Hendrick. The team currently competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with Chevrolet Impalas...
|24
24
Year 24 was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Cethegus and Varro...
! DuPont
DuPont
E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company , commonly referred to as DuPont, is an American chemical company that was founded in July 1802 as a gunpowder mill by Eleuthère Irénée du Pont. DuPont was the world's third largest chemical company based on market capitalization and ninth based on revenue in 2009...
! Chevrolet
Chevrolet
Chevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918...
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| DAY
Daytona 500
The Daytona 500 is a -long NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held annually at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. It is one of four restrictor plate races on the Cup schedule....
16
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| CAR
1
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| VEG
17
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| ATL
Golden Corral 500
The Atlanta 500 was a NASCAR Sprint Cup stock car race that was run every March at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Georgia from 1960 until 2010...
19
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| DAR
2
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| BRI
Food City 500
The Food City 500 is a 500 lap race NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held on the track at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee. This is one of two NASCAR races held at Bristol, the other being the Irwin Tools Night Race, and is considered one of NASCAR's best races...
1
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| TEX
31
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| MAR
8
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| TAL
Aaron's 499
The Aaron's 499 is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car auto race held at Talladega Superspeedway in Talladega, Alabama. The race has always been held in late April or early May. The Aaron's 499 is also one of four races currently run with restrictor plates, the others being the AMP Energy 500,...
5
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| CAL
Auto Club 500
The Auto Club 400 is a long NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car race held at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California. Prior to 2005, the race was held in late April or early May, and until 2010, the race was run at a length of 500 miles. When the NASCAR Realignment of 2005 was made, the race...
4
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| LOW
Coca-Cola 600
The Coca-Cola 600, formerly known as the World 600, is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held each year at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina on Memorial Day weekend...
1
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| DOV
3
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| RIC
37
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| MIC
3
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| POC
Pocono 500
The 5-hour Energy 500 is the first of two stock car races held at the Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania, on the NASCAR Sprint Cup schedule in mid-June, the other being the Pennsylvania 500, usually held in early August. The Pocono 500 replaced a 400-mile race at Texas World Speedway on...
2
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| INF
1
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| NHA
3
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| POC2
Pennsylvania 500
The Good Sam RV Insurance 500 is the second of two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car races held at the Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania, the other being the Pocono 500...
1
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| IND
1
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| GLN
1
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| MIC2
1
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| BRI2
5
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| NHA2
1
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| DAR2
1
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| RIC2
2
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| DOV2
2
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| MAR2
2
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| LOW2
5
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| TAL2
2
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| DAY2
1
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| PHO
7
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| CAR2
1
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| ATL2
1
| style="background:#fff;"|
| style="background:#fff;"|
| style="background:#fff;"|
! 1st
! 5328
|-
! 1999
! Hendrick Motorsports
Hendrick Motorsports
Hendrick Motorsports , originally named All Star Racing, is a current American auto racing team created in 1984 by Rick Hendrick. The team currently competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with Chevrolet Impalas...
|24
24
Year 24 was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Cethegus and Varro...
! DuPont
DuPont
E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company , commonly referred to as DuPont, is an American chemical company that was founded in July 1802 as a gunpowder mill by Eleuthère Irénée du Pont. DuPont was the world's third largest chemical company based on market capitalization and ninth based on revenue in 2009...
! Chevrolet
Chevrolet
Chevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918...
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| DAY
Daytona 500
The Daytona 500 is a -long NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held annually at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. It is one of four restrictor plate races on the Cup schedule....
1
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| CAR
39
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| VEG
3
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| ATL
1
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| DAR
3
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| TEX
Samsung/Radio Shack 500
The Samsung Mobile 500 is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held at the Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas USA. Even though is advertised as a "500 mile" race, because TMS is a track, the actual distance is . There were 10 different winners in the first ten races, the longest such streak for...
43
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| BRI
Food City 500
The Food City 500 is a 500 lap race NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held on the track at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee. This is one of two NASCAR races held at Bristol, the other being the Irwin Tools Night Race, and is considered one of NASCAR's best races...
6
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| MAR
3
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| TAL
Aaron's 499
The Aaron's 499 is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car auto race held at Talladega Superspeedway in Talladega, Alabama. The race has always been held in late April or early May. The Aaron's 499 is also one of four races currently run with restrictor plates, the others being the AMP Energy 500,...
38
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| CAL
Auto Club 500
The Auto Club 400 is a long NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car race held at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California. Prior to 2005, the race was held in late April or early May, and until 2010, the race was run at a length of 500 miles. When the NASCAR Realignment of 2005 was made, the race...
1
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| RIC
31
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| LOW
Coca-Cola 600
The Coca-Cola 600, formerly known as the World 600, is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held each year at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina on Memorial Day weekend...
39
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| DOV
2
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| MIC
2
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| POC
Pocono 500
The 5-hour Energy 500 is the first of two stock car races held at the Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania, on the NASCAR Sprint Cup schedule in mid-June, the other being the Pennsylvania 500, usually held in early August. The Pocono 500 replaced a 400-mile race at Texas World Speedway on...
2
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| INF
1
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| DAY2
21
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| NHA
3
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| POC2
Pennsylvania 500
The Good Sam RV Insurance 500 is the second of two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car races held at the Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania, the other being the Pocono 500...
32
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| IND
3
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| GLN
1
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| MIC2
4
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| BRI2
Sharpie 500
The Irwin Tools Night Race at Bristol is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car race held at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee. It is one of two Sprint Cup races held at Bristol, the other being the Food City 500, but it is by far the more popular of the two...
4
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| DAR2
13
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| RIC2
40
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| NHA2
5
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| DOV2
17
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| MAR2
1
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| LOW2
1
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| TAL2
12
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| CAR2
11
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| PHO
10
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| HOM
10
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| ATL2
38
| style="background:#fff;"|
| style="background:#fff;"|
! 6th
! 4620
|-
! 2000
! Hendrick Motorsports
Hendrick Motorsports
Hendrick Motorsports , originally named All Star Racing, is a current American auto racing team created in 1984 by Rick Hendrick. The team currently competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with Chevrolet Impalas...
|24
24
Year 24 was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Cethegus and Varro...
! DuPont
DuPont
E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company , commonly referred to as DuPont, is an American chemical company that was founded in July 1802 as a gunpowder mill by Eleuthère Irénée du Pont. DuPont was the world's third largest chemical company based on market capitalization and ninth based on revenue in 2009...
! Chevrolet
Chevrolet
Chevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918...
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| DAY
Daytona 500
The Daytona 500 is a -long NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held annually at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. It is one of four restrictor plate races on the Cup schedule....
34
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| CAR
10
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| VEG
28
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| ATL
9
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| DAR
8
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| BRI
Food City 500
The Food City 500 is a 500 lap race NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held on the track at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee. This is one of two NASCAR races held at Bristol, the other being the Irwin Tools Night Race, and is considered one of NASCAR's best races...
8
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| TEX
DirecTV 500
The Goody's Fast Relief 500 is a 500-lap NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car race held at the Martinsville Speedway in , just outside of Martinsville...
25
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| MAR
4
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| TAL
Aaron's 499
The Aaron's 499 is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car auto race held at Talladega Superspeedway in Talladega, Alabama. The race has always been held in late April or early May. The Aaron's 499 is also one of four races currently run with restrictor plates, the others being the AMP Energy 500,...
1
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| CAL
11
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| RIC
14
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| LOW
Coca-Cola 600
The Coca-Cola 600, formerly known as the World 600, is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held each year at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina on Memorial Day weekend...
10
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| DOV
32
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| MIC
14
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| POC
Pocono 500
The 5-hour Energy 500 is the first of two stock car races held at the Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania, on the NASCAR Sprint Cup schedule in mid-June, the other being the Pennsylvania 500, usually held in early August. The Pocono 500 replaced a 400-mile race at Texas World Speedway on...
8
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| INF
1
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| DAY2
10
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| NHA
5
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| POC2
Pennsylvania 500
The Good Sam RV Insurance 500 is the second of two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car races held at the Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania, the other being the Pocono 500...
3
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| IND
33
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| GLN
23
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| MIC2
36
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| BRI2
23
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| DAR2
4
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| RIC2
1
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| NHA2
6
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| DOV2
9
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| MAR2
5
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| LOW2
39
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| TAL2
4
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| CAR2
2
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| PHO
7
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| HOM
7
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| ATL2
4
| style="background:#fff;"|
| style="background:#fff;"|
! 9th
! 4361
|-
! 2001
! Hendrick Motorsports
Hendrick Motorsports
Hendrick Motorsports , originally named All Star Racing, is a current American auto racing team created in 1984 by Rick Hendrick. The team currently competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with Chevrolet Impalas...
|24
24
Year 24 was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Cethegus and Varro...
! DuPont
DuPont
E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company , commonly referred to as DuPont, is an American chemical company that was founded in July 1802 as a gunpowder mill by Eleuthère Irénée du Pont. DuPont was the world's third largest chemical company based on market capitalization and ninth based on revenue in 2009...
! Chevrolet
Chevrolet
Chevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918...
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DAY
Daytona 500
The Daytona 500 is a -long NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held annually at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. It is one of four restrictor plate races on the Cup schedule....
30
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| CAR
3
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| VEG
UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400
The Kobalt Tools 400 is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car race held annually at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas, Nevada. The inaugural race was first held in 1998. For several years, the race was sponsored by United Auto Workers and DaimlerChrysler...
1
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| ATL
2
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DAR
40
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| BRI
Food City 500
The Food City 500 is a 500 lap race NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held on the track at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee. This is one of two NASCAR races held at Bristol, the other being the Irwin Tools Night Race, and is considered one of NASCAR's best races...
4
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| TEX
5
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| MAR
12
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| TAL
Aaron's 499
The Aaron's 499 is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car auto race held at Talladega Superspeedway in Talladega, Alabama. The race has always been held in late April or early May. The Aaron's 499 is also one of four races currently run with restrictor plates, the others being the AMP Energy 500,...
27
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| CAL
2
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| RIC
2
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| LOW
Coca-Cola 600
The Coca-Cola 600, formerly known as the World 600, is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held each year at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina on Memorial Day weekend...
29
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| DOV
1
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| MIC
1
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| POC
Pocono 500
The 5-hour Energy 500 is the first of two stock car races held at the Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania, on the NASCAR Sprint Cup schedule in mid-June, the other being the Pennsylvania 500, usually held in early August. The Pocono 500 replaced a 400-mile race at Texas World Speedway on...
2
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| INF
3
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| DAY2
37
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| CHI
17
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| NHA
2
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| POC2
Pennsylvania 500
The Good Sam RV Insurance 500 is the second of two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car races held at the Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania, the other being the Pocono 500...
8
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| IND
1
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| GLN
1
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| MIC2
7
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| BRI2
Sharpie 500
The Irwin Tools Night Race at Bristol is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car race held at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee. It is one of two Sprint Cup races held at Bristol, the other being the Food City 500, but it is by far the more popular of the two...
3
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| DAR2
2
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| RIC2
36
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| DOV2
4
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| KAN
1
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| LOW2
16
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| MAR2
9
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| TAL2
7
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| PHO
6
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| CAR2
25
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| HOM
28
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| ATL2
6
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| NHA2
15
! 1st
! 5112
|-
! 2002
! Hendrick Motorsports
Hendrick Motorsports
Hendrick Motorsports , originally named All Star Racing, is a current American auto racing team created in 1984 by Rick Hendrick. The team currently competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with Chevrolet Impalas...
|24
24
Year 24 was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Cethegus and Varro...
! DuPont
DuPont
E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company , commonly referred to as DuPont, is an American chemical company that was founded in July 1802 as a gunpowder mill by Eleuthère Irénée du Pont. DuPont was the world's third largest chemical company based on market capitalization and ninth based on revenue in 2009...
! Chevrolet
Chevrolet
Chevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918...
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| DAY
Daytona 500
The Daytona 500 is a -long NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held annually at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. It is one of four restrictor plate races on the Cup schedule....
9
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| CAR
Subway 400
The Subway 400 was the second race of the NASCAR Nextel Cup season until 2004, held a week after the Daytona 500. This 400 mile annual race was sponsored by Subway and was held at North Carolina Speedway since 1966...
7
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| VEG
UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400
The Kobalt Tools 400 is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car race held annually at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas, Nevada. The inaugural race was first held in 1998. For several years, the race was sponsored by United Auto Workers and DaimlerChrysler...
17
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| ATL
16
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| DAR
9
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| BRI
Food City 500
The Food City 500 is a 500 lap race NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held on the track at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee. This is one of two NASCAR races held at Bristol, the other being the Irwin Tools Night Race, and is considered one of NASCAR's best races...
31
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| TEX
2
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| MAR
23
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| TAL
Aaron's 499
The Aaron's 499 is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car auto race held at Talladega Superspeedway in Talladega, Alabama. The race has always been held in late April or early May. The Aaron's 499 is also one of four races currently run with restrictor plates, the others being the AMP Energy 500,...
4
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| CAL
16
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| RIC
7
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| LOW
Coca-Cola 600
The Coca-Cola 600, formerly known as the World 600, is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held each year at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina on Memorial Day weekend...
5
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| DOV
6
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| POC
Pocono 500
The 5-hour Energy 500 is the first of two stock car races held at the Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania, on the NASCAR Sprint Cup schedule in mid-June, the other being the Pennsylvania 500, usually held in early August. The Pocono 500 replaced a 400-mile race at Texas World Speedway on...
5
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| MIC
5
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| INF
37
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| DAY2
22
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| CHI
2
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| NHA
29
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| POC2
Pennsylvania 500
The Good Sam RV Insurance 500 is the second of two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car races held at the Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania, the other being the Pocono 500...
12
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| IND
6
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| GLN
22
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| MIC2
19
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| BRI2
Sharpie 500
The Irwin Tools Night Race at Bristol is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car race held at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee. It is one of two Sprint Cup races held at Bristol, the other being the Food City 500, but it is by far the more popular of the two...
1
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| DAR2
1
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| RIC2
40
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| NHA2
14
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DOV2
37
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| KAN
1
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| TAL2
42
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| LOW2
4
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| MAR2
36
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| ATL2
6
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| CAR2
5
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| PHO
3
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| HOM
Ford 400
The Ford 400 is a NASCAR Sprint Cup stock car race held at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Florida.The race is relatively new on the NASCAR circuit, first being run in 1999. Since 2002, the Ford 400 has been part of the Ford Championship Weekend, the last week of the NASCAR season. Starting...
5
! 5th
! 4607
|-
! 2003
! Hendrick Motorsports
Hendrick Motorsports
Hendrick Motorsports , originally named All Star Racing, is a current American auto racing team created in 1984 by Rick Hendrick. The team currently competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with Chevrolet Impalas...
|24
24
Year 24 was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Cethegus and Varro...
! DuPont
DuPont
E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company , commonly referred to as DuPont, is an American chemical company that was founded in July 1802 as a gunpowder mill by Eleuthère Irénée du Pont. DuPont was the world's third largest chemical company based on market capitalization and ninth based on revenue in 2009...
! Chevrolet
Chevrolet
Chevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918...
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| DAY
Daytona 500
The Daytona 500 is a -long NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held annually at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. It is one of four restrictor plate races on the Cup schedule....
12
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| CAR
Subway 400
The Subway 400 was the second race of the NASCAR Nextel Cup season until 2004, held a week after the Daytona 500. This 400 mile annual race was sponsored by Subway and was held at North Carolina Speedway since 1966...
15
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| VEG
UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400
The Kobalt Tools 400 is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car race held annually at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas, Nevada. The inaugural race was first held in 1998. For several years, the race was sponsored by United Auto Workers and DaimlerChrysler...
37
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| ATL
2
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| DAR
33
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| BRI
Food City 500
The Food City 500 is a 500 lap race NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held on the track at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee. This is one of two NASCAR races held at Bristol, the other being the Irwin Tools Night Race, and is considered one of NASCAR's best races...
9
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| TEX
3
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| TAL
Aaron's 499
The Aaron's 499 is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car auto race held at Talladega Superspeedway in Talladega, Alabama. The race has always been held in late April or early May. The Aaron's 499 is also one of four races currently run with restrictor plates, the others being the AMP Energy 500,...
8
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| MAR
1
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| CAL
Auto Club 500
The Auto Club 400 is a long NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car race held at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California. Prior to 2005, the race was held in late April or early May, and until 2010, the race was run at a length of 500 miles. When the NASCAR Realignment of 2005 was made, the race...
11
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| RIC
16
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| LOW
Coca-Cola 600
The Coca-Cola 600, formerly known as the World 600, is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held each year at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina on Memorial Day weekend...
8
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| DOV
2
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| POC
Pocono 500
The 5-hour Energy 500 is the first of two stock car races held at the Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania, on the NASCAR Sprint Cup schedule in mid-June, the other being the Pennsylvania 500, usually held in early August. The Pocono 500 replaced a 400-mile race at Texas World Speedway on...
13
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| MIC
3
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| INF
2
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| DAY2
14
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| CHI
4
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| NHA
24
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| POC2
Pennsylvania 500
The Good Sam RV Insurance 500 is the second of two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car races held at the Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania, the other being the Pocono 500...
36
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| IND
4
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| GLN
33
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| MIC2
GFS Marketplace 400
The Pure Michigan 400 is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race being held annually at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Michigan since 1969. However, during the 1973 season it was not held after Roger Penske replaced the race with a Champ car event. The inaugural event was scheduled to be 600...
30
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| BRI2
Sharpie 500
The Irwin Tools Night Race at Bristol is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car race held at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee. It is one of two Sprint Cup races held at Bristol, the other being the Food City 500, but it is by far the more popular of the two...
28
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DAR2
32
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| RIC2
10
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| NHA2
Sylvania 300
The Sylvania 300 is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car race held at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, New Hampshire.The Sylvania 300 has traditionally held in mid-September, however, the race has been rescheduled once in its history...
19
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| DOV2
5
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| TAL2
5
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| KAN
Banquet 400
The Hollywood Casino 400 is the current incarnation of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car race held at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas.This race is the fourth of ten annual races in the Chase for the Sprint Cup.-Past winners:...
5
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| LOW2
5
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| MAR2
Subway 500
The Tums Fast Relief 500 is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car race held at the Martinsville Speedway in Ridgeway, Virginia. It is currently the seventh race in the ten race Chase for the Sprint Cup. Since 2007, the race has been carried on ABC....
36
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| ATL2
1
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| PHO
7
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| CAR2
22
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| HOM
Ford 400
The Ford 400 is a NASCAR Sprint Cup stock car race held at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Florida.The race is relatively new on the NASCAR circuit, first being run in 1999. Since 2002, the Ford 400 has been part of the Ford Championship Weekend, the last week of the NASCAR season. Starting...
5
! 4th
! 4785
|-
! 2004
! Hendrick Motorsports
Hendrick Motorsports
Hendrick Motorsports , originally named All Star Racing, is a current American auto racing team created in 1984 by Rick Hendrick. The team currently competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with Chevrolet Impalas...
|24
24
Year 24 was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Cethegus and Varro...
! DuPont
DuPont
E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company , commonly referred to as DuPont, is an American chemical company that was founded in July 1802 as a gunpowder mill by Eleuthère Irénée du Pont. DuPont was the world's third largest chemical company based on market capitalization and ninth based on revenue in 2009...
! Chevrolet
Chevrolet
Chevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918...
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| DAY
Daytona 500
The Daytona 500 is a -long NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held annually at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. It is one of four restrictor plate races on the Cup schedule....
8
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| CAR
Subway 400
The Subway 400 was the second race of the NASCAR Nextel Cup season until 2004, held a week after the Daytona 500. This 400 mile annual race was sponsored by Subway and was held at North Carolina Speedway since 1966...
10
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| VEG
UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400
The Kobalt Tools 400 is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car race held annually at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas, Nevada. The inaugural race was first held in 1998. For several years, the race was sponsored by United Auto Workers and DaimlerChrysler...
15
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| ATL
10
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DAR
41
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| BRI
Food City 500
The Food City 500 is a 500 lap race NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held on the track at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee. This is one of two NASCAR races held at Bristol, the other being the Irwin Tools Night Race, and is considered one of NASCAR's best races...
9
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| TEX
3
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| MAR
6
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| TAL
Aaron's 499
The Aaron's 499 is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car auto race held at Talladega Superspeedway in Talladega, Alabama. The race has always been held in late April or early May. The Aaron's 499 is also one of four races currently run with restrictor plates, the others being the AMP Energy 500,...
1
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| CAL
Auto Club 500
The Auto Club 400 is a long NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car race held at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California. Prior to 2005, the race was held in late April or early May, and until 2010, the race was run at a length of 500 miles. When the NASCAR Realignment of 2005 was made, the race...
1
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| RIC
6
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| LOW
Coca-Cola 600
The Coca-Cola 600, formerly known as the World 600, is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held each year at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina on Memorial Day weekend...
30
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DOV
36
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| POC
Pocono 500
The 5-hour Energy 500 is the first of two stock car races held at the Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania, on the NASCAR Sprint Cup schedule in mid-June, the other being the Pennsylvania 500, usually held in early August. The Pocono 500 replaced a 400-mile race at Texas World Speedway on...
4
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| MIC
38
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| INF
1
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| DAY2
1
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| CHI
4
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| NHA
2
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| POC2
Pennsylvania 500
The Good Sam RV Insurance 500 is the second of two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car races held at the Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania, the other being the Pocono 500...
5
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| IND
1
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| GLN
21
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| MIC2
GFS Marketplace 400
The Pure Michigan 400 is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race being held annually at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Michigan since 1969. However, during the 1973 season it was not held after Roger Penske replaced the race with a Champ car event. The inaugural event was scheduled to be 600...
7
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| BRI2
Sharpie 500
The Irwin Tools Night Race at Bristol is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car race held at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee. It is one of two Sprint Cup races held at Bristol, the other being the Food City 500, but it is by far the more popular of the two...
14
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| CAL2
Auto Club 500
The Auto Club 400 is a long NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car race held at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California. Prior to 2005, the race was held in late April or early May, and until 2010, the race was run at a length of 500 miles. When the NASCAR Realignment of 2005 was made, the race...
37
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| RIC2
3
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| NHA2
Sylvania 300
The Sylvania 300 is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car race held at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, New Hampshire.The Sylvania 300 has traditionally held in mid-September, however, the race has been rescheduled once in its history...
7
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| DOV2
3
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| TAL2
15
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| KAN
Banquet 400
The Hollywood Casino 400 is the current incarnation of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car race held at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas.This race is the fourth of ten annual races in the Chase for the Sprint Cup.-Past winners:...
13
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| LOW2
2
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| MAR2
Subway 500
The Tums Fast Relief 500 is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car race held at the Martinsville Speedway in Ridgeway, Virginia. It is currently the seventh race in the ten race Chase for the Sprint Cup. Since 2007, the race has been carried on ABC....
9
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| ATL2
34
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| PHO
3
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| DAR2
3
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| HOM
Ford 400
The Ford 400 is a NASCAR Sprint Cup stock car race held at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Florida.The race is relatively new on the NASCAR circuit, first being run in 1999. Since 2002, the Ford 400 has been part of the Ford Championship Weekend, the last week of the NASCAR season. Starting...
3
! 3rd
! 6490
|}
External links
- Official website
- Official team website
- Driver's statistics at racing-reference.info
- NASCAR.com driver page
- Jayski team/driver page
- Jeff Gordon Racing School
- The Jeff Gordon Foundation
- Athletes for Hope
- NPR story about Gordon
- Men's Vogue article on Gordon from April 2008 issue
- Jeff Gordon Facebook page
- Driver Spotlight
}}