NASCAR: Gordon races for the exit
LONG POND, PA.— Jeff Gordon’s request for a low-key farewell tour has mostly been respected, though the four-time NASCAR champion has been feted with a parade, bourbon, an 18-litre bottle of wine, even a track named in his honour.
In the final season of his trailblazing career, there was another tribute this weekend for the retiring great: Pocono Raceway painted “GORDON” in white at the start/finish line in honour of the most successful driver in track history.
Raceway CEO Brandon Igdalsky presented Gordon with a $24,000 cheque — to match his car number — for the Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation.
But the biggest goodbye of the season is the one Gordon would love to wave to the zero in the win column that would force him to qualify for the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship on points.
Gordon is 11th in the standings and a near lock to make the 16-driver field, though the results haven’t been enough to satisfy a driver with 92 career wins. He was mixed up in an early race wreck last weekend in the Brickyard 400 where he took a car patched with duct tape to a 42ndplace finish.
The Indianapolis fans didn’t care, chanting “Jeff! Jeff! Jeff!” as he left the Brickyard for the final time.
The cheers have touched Gordon, and has made him take note of his impact on the sport.
“There have been moments that have been really special to me, and that have stood out that I’m very appreciative of,” Gordon said.
Kyle Busch won the pole for Sunday’s race, while Gordon will line up in 10th.