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Sprint Cup
CUP: Gordon Committed To Three More Years
Jeff Gordon seeks more wins, elusive fifth title...
Jeff Gordon (Right) and Steve Letarte (Left) talk it over in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series garage. (Photo: LAT Photographic)
While his hopes of winning the Chase this year are practically over, Jeff Gordon sees himself running several more years and having more chances to win an elusive fifth Sprint Cup championship.
The four-time champ said he was willing to give a five-year commitment to sponsors who were negotiating with the team this year. Gordon, 39, and Hendrick Motorsports announced this week that his No. 24 team will be sponsored for the next three years by the AARP Foundation and DuPont.
Gordon’s willingness to commit long-term doesn’t necessarily mean he thinks he’ll still be racing in five years, but it certainly is a possibility.
“I am so passionate about it. I am still competitive and my health, from my back standpoint, has gotten better and that’s giving me years to be behind the wheel,” Gordon said. “All that gets brought up when you are renegotiating and talking to sponsors and I definitely told them I am good to go for five years.
“But I’m a race-car driver. I don’t plan that far ahead. To me this is still a dangerous sport and it’s just something that I’ve always respected and appreciated the opportunity to go out there and I think week to week and year to year.”
Team owner Rick Hendrick isn’t worried that Gordon will change his mind and want to retire soon.
“Have you seen that new house he’s building?” Hendrick said. “He’ll probably be driving 10 more years. … He’s been taking lessons from Mark Martin. I think Jeff is really committed. I don’t see him slowing down.
“He’s more focused and really working harder than I’ve ever seen him work, both physically and with the team. I think Jeff is going to be around for a long time.”
Gordon had a chance to win the 2010 Chase For The Sprint Cup, but he wasn’t going to do it by dominating the Chase, but by being consistently strong.
That didn’t happen. In the first six Chase races, Gordon has three top-10 finishes, two finishes of 20th or worse and a best finish of fifth at Kansas.
So despite running second in the standings much of the regular season thanks to 10 top-five finishes, the still winless Gordon is watching others battle for the title.
The four-time champ said he was willing to give a five-year commitment to sponsors who were negotiating with the team this year. Gordon, 39, and Hendrick Motorsports announced this week that his No. 24 team will be sponsored for the next three years by the AARP Foundation and DuPont.
Gordon’s willingness to commit long-term doesn’t necessarily mean he thinks he’ll still be racing in five years, but it certainly is a possibility.
“I am so passionate about it. I am still competitive and my health, from my back standpoint, has gotten better and that’s giving me years to be behind the wheel,” Gordon said. “All that gets brought up when you are renegotiating and talking to sponsors and I definitely told them I am good to go for five years.
“But I’m a race-car driver. I don’t plan that far ahead. To me this is still a dangerous sport and it’s just something that I’ve always respected and appreciated the opportunity to go out there and I think week to week and year to year.”
Team owner Rick Hendrick isn’t worried that Gordon will change his mind and want to retire soon.
“Have you seen that new house he’s building?” Hendrick said. “He’ll probably be driving 10 more years. … He’s been taking lessons from Mark Martin. I think Jeff is really committed. I don’t see him slowing down.
“He’s more focused and really working harder than I’ve ever seen him work, both physically and with the team. I think Jeff is going to be around for a long time.”
Gordon had a chance to win the 2010 Chase For The Sprint Cup, but he wasn’t going to do it by dominating the Chase, but by being consistently strong.
That didn’t happen. In the first six Chase races, Gordon has three top-10 finishes, two finishes of 20th or worse and a best finish of fifth at Kansas.
So despite running second in the standings much of the regular season thanks to 10 top-five finishes, the still winless Gordon is watching others battle for the title.
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