Retire? Jeff Gordon? Sure, it will happen eventually. Gordon will give up his Hall of Fame-caliber NASCAR driving career, but here’s the twist — it might happen sooner than you think.
In fact, the 36-year-old Gordon insists 40 might be his point of no return.
“I don’t see myself driving past 40 very much,” he says. “In some way I’ll always want to drive a race car, but to do it full-time in the Sprint Cup Series, I don’t see myself doing it more than four to five more years.”
What does he see himself doing after that?
“I would love to do the Rolex 24-hour race again,” he says. “I’d love to do LeMans. I’d like to drive cars I used to drive or don’t get a chance to drive. Heck, even the dirt track late models we do at Tony’s has been a blast.”
That’s a reference to fellow NASCAR driver Tony Stewart’s dirt track at Eldora Speedway in Ohio where NASCAR drivers gather each summer for a night of grass-roots camaraderie and racing.
Gordon also figures to get more involved in managing the Hendrick MotorSports team where he’s already a part owner.
“If they think I can add something to that,” he says, “I’d like to try it.”
That Gordon is even considering retiring in his mid-30s reflects the strain of racing combined with a season of poor-handling cars and juggling fatherhood (he and wife Ingrid Vandebosch have a 1-year-old daughter, Ella).
“I’ve worked harder this year as a driver than I ever have before,” he says. “There’s the testing. The sport is getting more expensive so we’re asking more of our sponsors so, in return, we have to give back more. It doesn’t come for nothing. Then the car. Being a dad. All of those things have been overwhelming. You want to find ways to taper back because it wears you down.”
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I am at his charity event right now
with all his sponsors here and everything
and he does look tired. I mean he is going
from lane to lane getting his photo taken with each group
(there are over 50 lanes in use)
without even getting to bowl at all
(exept for the few shots for ESPN)
Gotta feel for him
Maybe Jeff needs to have a chat with Mark Martin (LOL).
I think Smoke will retire around age 40 too. That is why he got the team. Hey Andrew how did Jeff’s event go? I was in Indy today too but I was at Office Depot seeing Carl Edwards. He’s my younger driver. Let me tell you he is down to earth as he can be. Wonderful young man. Smoke is a great guy too and they all do so much to help others.Hope Jeff made lots of money for Riley!
freekey1 wrote:
why would he have a chat with Mark, Mark retired at 46 and has not won a race since 2005, he is just wasting his time thinking he can win a championship in the next 2 years .
I dont see gordon or stewart retiring at 40,not when thats something you’ve done your whole life unless you suffer some type of injury like ned jarrett example,cause tony and jeff both im sure could be competing for wins and championships in their mid 40s.
Lee88-20 wrote:
I don’t know how you can say that when this isn’t the first time Jeff has said this. he has been saying for awhile now that he wont race in Cup past 40. he is sick of the 36 week schedule and since he married Ingrid and had Ella they want to spend time more at home that in a motor home compound with a 12 foot fence around you all weekend. you can see he is turning more and more into a family man every week the way he is around Ella at the track, she is the cutest thing on pit road on Sundays and we get a blast out of Jeff putting her in the car and playing on pit wall with her.
Howie Motorsports Photography wrote:
I know what your saying howie but still its hard to give up something you’ve done your whole life,hes not gonna retire at 40 trust me.
Their are only 7 full time driver out of 43 in the Cup series
Waltrip
Labonte
Burton
Gordon R
Blaney
Nemechek
Martin
Out of those 7, their is only one still capable of winning a championship and that is Burton.
Howie Motorsports Photography wrote:
And your point? yeah burton and if labonte was with a good team he could still compete,but you mentioning r gordon waltrip blaney nemechek is a complete joke how can you compare them to gordon lol.
my point is that those 7 drivers are the only ones out of 43 that are over 40 and not one of them besides Jeff is capable of winning a championship no matter what kind of equipment they are in. Bobby is a great guy but he is 44 now and hasnt had a win since 2003. he left JGR in 2006 so he had 3 years in good equipment and couldnt get it done. remember he stepped down because he didnt feel competitive.
All of you guys that have to always make
comments about Jeff G being gay do not
seem to be very sure of your masculinity or
you would not feel the need to demean Jeff
in that manner — go soak you head!!!!!!!!
(pun intended)
LOL LOL This coming from BJWONDERWOMAN
Your right gordon may not be gay but Im sure he’ll hold it in his mouth till the gay guy gets there. As for the rest of this who cares what gordon does after he leaves the sport, i dont
????????????????????????
I would be happy to man up!! How about you?
Your wrong again, Kenneth has 24,000 myspace readers that come on here to read about their drivers and a lot of them are under 18.
Your comments just go to so how immature you are and you shouldn’t be allowed on here if you keep this up all the time.
CYBER BULLYING, I like to see you try to prove that. that really makes me laugh.
To get back on the subject……
I think that JG is past his prime, yes he is a 4-time champ, unless he wins for the next 4 years straight, he will not get past Petty / Earnhardt wins. Don’t get me wrong, I do like JG on occations, but he is slowly loosing his edge. I really don’t blame him on retiring, expecially since he has a family now.
TOYTOTAS are taking over deal with people
Howie Motorsports Photography wrote:
I agree, but Mark still likes to race and I think Jeff will realize that also.
ROWDY BUSH wrote:
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What does toyota taking over have to do with “deal with people”?
More importantly, what does it have to do with JG?