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The end is nigh!
This will be Jeff Gordon's final full-time season competing for a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship, Hendrick Motorsports announced Thursday. When the four-time champion broke the news to his No. 24 team, Gordon said he hesitated to use the word "retirement" as he enters his 23rd racing season. "As a race car driver, much of what I've done throughout my life has been based on following my instincts and trying to make good decisions. I thought long and hard about my future this past year and during the offseason, and I've decided 2015 will be the last time I compete for a championship. I won't use the 'r-word' because I plan to stay extremely busy in the years ahead, and there's always the possibility I'll compete in selected events, although I currently have no plans to do that," Gordon said in a statement.
"I don't foresee a day when I'll ever step away from racing," the three-time Daytona 500 and five-time Brickyard 400 winner added. "I'm a fan of all forms of motor sports, but particularly NASCAR. We have a tremendous product, and I'm passionate about the business and its future success. As an equity owner in Hendrick Motorsports, I'm a partner with [Rick Hendrick] and will remain heavily involved with the company for many years to come. It means so much to have the chance to continue working with the owner who took a chance on me and the incredible team that's stood behind me every step of the way."
The driver scored four victories in last season's campaign, bringing his career victory total to 92.
Gordon, who has two children with his wife, Ingrid Vandebosch, joined the Hendrick Motorsports family at the end of the 1992 season. Seven years later, he signed a lifetime contract with the stock-car league.
"There's simply no way to quantify Jeff's impact. He's one of the biggest sports stars of a generation, and his contributions to the success and growth of NASCAR are unsurpassed," Hendrick said in a statement. "There's been no better ambassador for stock car racing and no greater representation of what a champion should be. I will never be able to properly express the respect and admiration I have for Jeff and how meaningful our relationship is to me. I'm so grateful for everything he's done for our company and my family, and I look forward to many more years together as friends and business partners."
His replacement has not been named, but rising star Chase Elliott is a rumored candidate.
Several racers reacted to Gordon's announcement via Twitter Thursday:
Crazy... You're the man!
?@JeffGordonWeb: Letting team know this will be my final year competing for a championship. pic.twitter.com/arqgDMfTni?
? Jimmie Johnson (@JimmieJohnson) January 22, 2015Hard to imagine this is @JeffGordonWeb last full season. Tons of respect for him and what he's accomplished thus far. A total professional.
? Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) January 22, 2015Crazy to hear that @JeffGordonWeb is retiring! What an amazing career! Glad I got to race with him!
? Danica Patrick (@DanicaPatrick) January 22, 2015