Photo – Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images
Check back for more statements of Jeff Gordon appreciation from dignitaries and media throughout the NASCAR world as they become available….Then add your thoughts by commenting to this post. Thanks!
Statement from Brian France, NASCAR Chairman & CEO:
‘Prolonged excellence and unmatched class continue to earn fans’
“Jeff Gordon transcends NASCAR and will be celebrated as one of the greatest drivers to ever race. We have all enjoyed watching his legend grow for more than two decades, and will continue to do so during his final full-time season. His prolonged excellence and unmatched class continue to earn him the admiration of fans across the globe. Today’s announcement is a bittersweet one. I’ll miss his competitive fire on a weekly basis, but I am also happy for Jeff and his family as they start a new chapter. On behalf of the entire NASCAR family, I thank Jeff for his years of dedication and genuine love for this sport, and wish him the very best in his final season.”
CEO of International Speedway Corporation Statement from Lesa France Kennedy
“Jeff Gordon’s significance to our sport cannot be overstated. He is an incredible competitor, and a favorite of millions of fans. His contributions throughout his career to NASCAR have elevated our sport’s popularity worldwide. On behalf of the France family and ISC, I thank him for those contributions and wish him the best as he embarks on this next chapter of his career – and his life. We all look forward to watching him take the green flag for his last full-time season, beginning with the DAYTONA 500.”
Homestead-Miami Speedway, President Matthew Becherer Statement
“Jeff Gordon is a great champion and a tremendous ambassador for NASCAR. He is truly a class act who played an integral role in helping to broaden the appeal of our sport. Jeff has always had a large fan-following at our race, and we look forward to celebrating his accomplishments prior to the Ford EcoBoost 400 on November 22 as he concludes his full-time Sprint Cup Series career at Homestead-Miami Speedway.”
Jeff Gordon Statistics at Homestead-Miami Speedway
Starts: 16, most of any driver in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Homestead-Miami Speedway
Wins: 1, 2012 Ford EcoBoost 400
Coors Light Poles: 1, 2014 Ford EcoBoost 400
Top 5’s: 7, most of any driver in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Homestead-Miami Speedway
Top 10’s: 12, tied with Kevin Harvick
Laps Completed: 4,205; most of any driver in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Homestead-Miami Speedway
Laps Led: 244; 5th on all-time laps led in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Homestead-Miami Speedway behind Carl Edwards (560), Tony Stewart (450), Matt Kenseth (449), Bill Elliott (248)
@JeffGordonWeb will no doubt be remembered as one of the best ever in our sport. He still has a year to accomplish more.
— Jeff Burton (@JeffBurton) January 22, 2015
Martinsville Speedway President Clay Campbell On Jeff Gordon’s Last Full Season
“I think with the announcement of 2015 being Jeff Gordon’s last full-time year behind the wheel, we all need to stop and say ‘thank you Jeff’. His contributions to this sport are so numerous it would be a blanket ‘thank you’ for everything.
“Primarily he helped to take NASCAR to another level. He was a young kid from the Midwest with a lot of potential, coming in here in 1993, starting his career when our “King” was winding his up. He arrived on the scene at a perfect time.
“I looked at his stats here at Martinsville and was truly shocked. I knew he was good here but not until I saw his record did I realize just how good he is here. Forty-four starts, eight wins, 35 top 10s, 28 top 5s, no DNFs and out of the 44 starts he led in 34 of them. That is an amazing record.
“Jeff Gordon is a class act and I wish him the best this year as well as whatever the future holds for him.”
#NASCAR … All you need to say about @JeffGordonWeb … #Wheelman @NASCARonNBC @NBCSports
— Dustin Long (@dustinlong) January 22, 2015
We’re proud to be a part of @JeffGordonWeb’s final full @NASCAR season. Here’s to picking up that 5th title in 2015! #JGFinalLap — 3M Racing (@3MRacing) January 22, 2015
A blessing & privilege it’s been to work w role model & of the greatest race car drivers of all time, @JeffGordonWeb pic.twitter.com/8J1gSYkjWq — Eddie D’Hondt (@EddieDHondt) January 22, 2015
Crazy… You’re the man! “@JeffGordonWeb: Letting team know this will be my final year competing for a championship. pic.twitter.com/arqgDMfTni” — Jimmie Johnson (@JimmieJohnson) January 22, 2015
Hard to imagine this is @JeffGordonWeb last full season. Tons of respect for him and what he’s accomplished thus far. A total professional. — Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) January 22, 2015
Jeff Gordon is an absolute legend. If you are anywhere near a NASCAR track, see him this year. — Jay Busbee (@jaybusbee) January 22, 2015
So let’s all stand and cheer on the 24th lap of every race this year. It’s easier than holding up 24 fingers. #nascar #JeffGordon — nascarcasm (@nascarcasm) January 22, 2015
Congrats to Jeff Gordon, who will go out on his terms, and near the top of his game. Few athletes get to do that. He deserves it. — David Caraviello (@dcaraviello) January 22, 2015
JeffGordon re-wrote defintion of NASCAR driver. There was pre-JG&post-JG. He solidified that stockcar drivers can be resonant F500 pitchmen — Marty Smith (@MartySmithESPN) January 22, 2015
Another thing about JeffGordon: Inspiration. 16 drivers were onstage w me for AfterTheLap. Nearly half said Gordon was their hero growing up — Marty Smith (@MartySmithESPN) January 22, 2015
Statement from Texas Motor Speedway President Eddie Gossage
“I’ve known Jeff since he was a teenager with a really bad mustache. It has been thrilling to watch him develop from a promising Busch Series driver into perhaps the greatest professional our sport has ever seen. Jeff showed last season that he still has a burning desire to win races and championships. You won’t find a finer professional, person or charitable athlete. We have been fortunate to be associated with him for all of these years. I’m sure all fans, even of the other drivers, will want to show their appreciation to Jeff this year.”