Jeff Gordon
Jeff Gordon
Jeffery Michael "Jeff" Gordonis an American semi-retired professional stock car racing driver and currently an announcer for Fox NASCAR. He formerly drove the No. 24 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports in 23 full-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series seasons between 1993 and 2015, and currently serves as a substitute driver for Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionRace Car Driver
Date of Birth4 August 1971
CityVallejo, CA
CountryUnited States of America
When you win four championships, you create a lot of expectations that you are supposed to be in the mix every year. This year we fell short, but no matter what people believe or what the perception is, we are doing everything possible to get back in there next season.
With his mom and some of the illnesses she's gone through, Robbie is trying to decide right now what his plans are. It has nothing to do with our performance. I believe 100 percent in Robbie Loomis and his abilities. When we're on, there's nobody better.
At Talladega, you worry about the big one that takes out 17 cars. Here, you worry about the 17 little ones that take out several cars. You're always racing with people around you so you don't have anywhere to go when things go wrong. And believe me, a lot of things go wrong.
Even though we had a great car and great results here in the spring, this team has been working hard to build a new car. We believe it's even better than the car we used here earlier this year, we just hope the results are the same.
He was one of the most competitive guys out there. There were days when he'd push you and shove you right out of the way and frustrate you, then there were other days where you just saw his talent and you had a blast racing with him. I think certainly the fans miss the excitement that he brought. I don't think there will be anybody to replace Dale. I believe he was the best race-car driver I've ever raced against.
I do believe in karma, but I also do believe in consistency. If you are running in the top five week in and week out, you'll put yourself in position to eventually get into Victory Lane.
I believe 100 percent in Robbie Loomis and in his abilities. When we're on, there's nobody better, and because of our lack of performance this year I really don't think that, you know, Robbie should be put to blame for that.
I don't know if we had to go win a championship in February, if that was the final event, that we'd be ready for that. But I really believe just in the last 10 races of last year, what I saw in Steve was unbelievable, and that really has me excited about getting this season started.
I got on a plane. I remember when I got on the plane, the talk was, you know, they're checking Dale out, that it's more than what it looked like, but I still didn't think it would be anything more than maybe some injuries. Then I landed at home and my phone just lit up. I started getting those messages. I mean, I was blown away. I couldn't believe it. I was just in shock.
Tony is a true American racer. You can put him in any car on any track, and he'll be fast. He's good on the short tracks, the intermediate tracks, the restrictor-plate tracks and the road courses.
Years like that make you hungrier, make you humble. You have no idea how disappointing it was.
Years like that make you hungrier, make you humble. The criticism has come a little bit stronger, come more often. I understand why. We've won four championships, a lot of races. We've prided ourselves on being competitive every year. When we're not, we recognize as well as everybody we're having an off year.
We're just happy to we have some things that have been positive and going our way. We haven't looked like we've had the best performance out there but we have had some good situations.
We're focused on our program, making our stuff as good as we can make it and then we'll find out how we stack up against the competition.