Photo – Getty Images Archive & Jerry Markland/Getty Images

…and possibly his Most Cherished Celebration

Driver of the No. 24 Chevrolet, Jeff Gordon has spent his entire Sprint Cup Series career with Hendrick Motorsports, accomplishing some amazing triumphs.

Jeff Gordon started his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series career at Atlanta Motor Speedway on November 15, 1992 – he finished 21st that day. Since then, he’s had five series wins at the Atlanta track. And, 23 years later, Gordon goes back to his beginning for his 750th Sprint Cup Series start.

Impressive – Amazing – Incredible – are a few of the words used to describe Gordon’s 23-year career.

Earning his first pole award at Charlotte Motor Speedway on October 10, 1993, Gordon now has a total of 76 series pole awards – third on the all-time list.

After 41 Cup starts, Gordon earned his first win, also at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 29, 1994. Since then, Gordon has visited victory lane a total of 91 times in the Sprint Cup Series – again third on the all-time list – behind Richard Petty with 200 and David Pearson with 105 wins.

The Chase for the Sprint Cup championship started in 2004 and Gordon has given his No. 24 team a chance to compete in the Chase ten of 11 years, missing only the second season – 2005. Incredibly, Gordon has never won a championship under the Chase format, but this year, that could all change. Gordon may finally find success in his ‘drive for five’ series championships and finally a Chase championship.

This could be a banner year for Gordon, as he now sits first in the point standings with a lead of 27 points ahead of second-place Dale Earnhardt Jr. Both drivers have the most wins of the season – three – along with Brad Keselowski at third, Joey Logano fourth, six-time series champion, Jimmie Johnson in fifth.

There was a time when Gordon was ‘King’ of Cup championships – 1995 to 2001 – winning four championships in 1995, 1997, 1998 and 2001. In the three years Gordon didn’t win the title, his points finishes were all in the top-ten – 1996 second, 1999 sixth, and in 2000 ninth.

Along the way Gordon has amassed 429 top-ten Sprint Cup finishes and led a total 24,126 laps – all-in-all, he’s completed a total 214,441 laps.

Jeff Gordon celebrating his historic fifth win at Indianapolis Motor Speedway July 27, 2014 with his family L-R Ingrid Vandebosch, Leo and Ella Photo – JeffGordon.com

Other milestones in Gordon’s personal life include his marriage to Ingrid Vandebosch in 2006 and the birth of his children – Ella Sophia in 2007 and Leo Benjamin in 2010. Since his four championships were before these important life events, 2014 presents a merging of personal and professional highlights and maybe something Gordon cherishes most.

With all of his accomplishments over the last 23 years, there’s one unrealized dream for Jeff Gordon. His biggest wish is to win his fifth championship – the first in the Chase format – so he can experience that triumph with his family.

Perhaps 2014 will bring Gordon his most valued achievement of his career – a spectacular celebration at Homestead-Miami in November.