Retired Gordon may keep on truckin’
Life is good for Jeff Gordon.
He is juggling post-retirement quite fabulously, mixing broadcast duties for Fox Sports with work for his former sponsor, Axalta, and hands-on duties as a partner in Hendrick Motorsports.
He went on a family vacation to Indonesia last year and plans to visit the Greek islands this summer.
And he is starting to pick up the well-deserved accolades from a fabulous career, including his NASCAR Hall of Fame nomination and recent induction into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in Daytona Beach, Fla.
But a wheelman never gives up his first love.
Gordon said he remains smitten at the prospect of driving again, likely at Martinsville, for a Camping World Truck Series race.
“Under the right scenario I would consider it,” he said before his induction last week. “It would take more than me to be in that race. I would have to convince some friends.
“Call it the Seniors Tour,” he said, breaking into a laugh.
Those “friends” could include former teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr. or, better yet, broadcast partner Darrell Waltrip, 71.
All it takes is a little prodding and convincing.
“Me and DW joke, ‘OK, what’s the track we can both get in there and get it done?’ ” Gordon said. “And we both say, ‘Martinsville!’ If I can get DW, that would really be good.”
What say you, Mr. Waltrip? I reached out via text message.
“He thinks he’s king of Martinsville. I challenge that!” he replied. “Jaws would bring tears to the Rainbow Warrior. And he knows it!” I think it’s on, boys! Now for logistics: Martinsville has two truck dates: Saturday (not going to happen) and Oct. 27 (that would be the one).
Gordon, 46, likes the feel of the track, mostly because it’s weathered time well.
“A trucks race at Martinsville seems to make the most sense,” he said. “I like Martinsville. It’s a track that during my career changed the least amount from technology to driving style.
“So if I’m not active in the car and it’s a shorter race in the truck series, I feel I can get in there.”
Mark your calendars, everyone.
Johnson on the rise: Jimmie Johnson has run more like a backpacker than a seven-time Cup champion this season, but he definitely made up some ground Sunday at Fontana, finishing ninth.
“They’re starting to make gains,” Fox Sports analyst Larry McReynolds said. “This showed us where they are on speed, and he mentioned it in his postrace interview — they still are lacking. They still need more. Well, next week, we go to a short track (Martinsville) that’s another one of his best tracks and see if they can continue to improve.”
On the flip side, Johnson took another competitive jolt with the announcement that longtime sponsor Lowe’s is leaving after the season. So ends a prosperous 18-year run for both parties.
It’s a tough landscape out there. Target, Home Depot, Sprint, UPS, Subway, Great Clips and Dollar General are among the companies to have dropped out of the racing-sponsorship business.
“I really don’t view it as a statement of our sport,” Johnson said at Fontana. “I see our sport growing. I see many new sponsors coming into Hendrick Motorsports. I see a returning sponsor coming to NASCAR. I’ve seen full grandstands.
“It’s been an exciting start to the season. I really don’t feel it has a reflection on the sport. It’s a business decision that Lowe’s needed to make, and that stuff happens.”
Ready to rumble: Kyle “Rowdy” Busch does not suffer in silence when the trolls come knocking on his door in cyberspace.
He took to Twitter on Sunday night when he was criticized for apparently blowing off the Fox Sports crew after finishing third. In fact, Busch said the Fox team missed its window of opportunity, and it isn’t incumbent on him to stick around and wait.
It turned into a heavy sparring session on Twitter — check out @KyleBusch should anyone want to take a peek.
“Enjoy @KyleBusch engaging the haters along with his fans on Twitter. Regardless of your opinion on him, he is great for @NASCAR,” Earnhardt tweeted. “Never boring.”