Jeff Gordon Not In Tony Stewart’s Groove
By Tim Tuttle
Special to the Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service
Don’t look for Jeff Gordon to follow in the tire tracks of Tony Stewart and become Sprint Cup’s next owner-driver.
“What works so well for me is I’m an equity owner at Hendrick (Motorsports), and one day I hope I can have more of a role in the decision-making process,” said Gordon, who will be shooting for his fifth victory in the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard on Sunday. “But I never wanted to make those decisions while I was driving. I felt like it would be a distraction.”
Gordon makes exceptions to that rule when it comes to major changes.
“When (Dale Earnhardt Jr.) was coming over, I got involved with the decision,” he said. “When we built the team with Jimmie (Johnson), I was probably more involved with that than any other thing I’ve done. For the most part, I just stick to driving.
“When the day comes that I’m not driving, I’m going to have something to fall back on, and I want to sink myself into it as much as I have as a driver. I look forward to that.”
Gordon, who will turn 37 in August, has a lifetime contract with Hendrick, the only Sprint Cup team he has driven for during his outstanding career.
“I don’t really see myself driving past 40 very much,” Gordon said. “I think that if you love what you do and you’re still good at it, you keep going to some extent. I think in some way, I’m always going to want to drive a racecar. Just full time in the Cup Series, I don’t see myself doing it for more than four or five more years.”
Sports cars could be at the top of Gordon’s list after he departs Cup.
“I’d love to do the Rolex 24 Hours (at Daytona) and Le Mans,” he said. “I’d like to drive some cars I used to drive or didn’t get a chance to drive, even the dirt late models we do at Tony’s place (Eldora Speedway in Ohio) have been a blast. But my primary job per se will probably be involved with Hendrick Motorsports on the management side of it.”
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7 Comments on Jeff Gordon Not In Tony Stewart’s Groove
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I BELEIVE THAT JEFF GORDON IS DOING THE RIGHT THING IN STAYING WITH HEDRICKS BECAUSE THEY WORK GREAT TOGETHER AND JEFF IS TREATED LIKE A SON BY MR HENDRICKS AND THEY SHARE A LOT OF INFORMATION TOGETER WHICH MAKS FOR A WINNNG TEAM !
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Mr. Hendrick treats all of his drivers as thouogh they were his family. He is not just choosing Gordon.
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Kannapolis is Earnhardt and his family is still there. Your city will lose a lot of respect and money. I think there is room for both growth and Earnhardt.
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I think he has waited a long time to find the right love of his life, Engrid and Ella and a few more will be his biggest accomplishment in the futre, hes a natural dad and husband. So it took getting screwed, well it did me a few times to find the love of my life.
Good thinking Jeff, on your behalf and your familys futre.
love,
Sherry in Texas
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What more could a driver like Jeff ask for… A life time contract… Equity ownership in one of the sports tops teams & I’m sure future ownership shares of the Hendrick Corporation itself. As devoted as Mr. Henderick’s whole orginization seem to be to one another, I don’t forsee any down side to Jeff, Jimmy, or Jr for that matter staying right where they are. It wasn’t just a lifetime contract Jeff made with “Mr. H,” that contract goes both ways, I’m sure!!!
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Oh yeah, doesn’t he also have equity ownership in his own #24 Team?
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I admire Hendrick motors for the devotion to their drivers,crews,and all involved.They treat them all with respect and admiration along with being family oriented.I am an avid fan of Hendricks teams.I wish the very best to them all and I will be watching them all and routing for them.
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