- Contract Status: Sponsor: 2010; Driver: Lifetime
2009 Races [8] that National Guard is scheduled to be the primary sponsor:
Atlanta - 3/8
Texas - 4/5, GED Plus
Darlington - 5/9, ESGR - Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve
Michigan - 6/14, Year of the NCO
Chicago - 7/11
Richmond - 9/12
New Hampshire - 9/20
Martinsville - 10/25
Races [2] that Pepsi is scheduled to be the primary sponsor:
Talladega [4/26] retro Pepsi
California [10/11] new Pepsi logo
- ONE Race Track Jeff Gordon has never won a Sprint Cup race at:
There is only ONE current race tracks the Sprint Cup Series runs on that #24-Jeff Gordon has not won at [a Sprint Cup race]:
Homestead 0 for 9 with a best finish of 3rd 2004
Gordon has won at 23 [21 active] of 24 tracks he has raced on including two not on the circuit any longer, North Wilkesboro and Rockingham.(4-5-2009)
- Jeff Gordon vs. Dale Earnhardt Atlanta 1992 - Daytona 2001, 258 races:
Gordon vs. Earnhardt
Wins: 52, 23
Top 5's: 129, 101
Top 10's: 166, 160
Ave Finish: 11.8, 10.8
Championships: 3, 2
- 150 starts - Jeff Gordon vs. Jimmie Johnson:
#24-Jeff Gordon, stats after 150 careers starts, Dover in Sept 1997
Wins: 29
Top fives: 71
Top tens: 92
Poles: 16
Championship 1995, 2nd in 1996
#48-Jimmie Johnson, stats after 150 career starts, Las Vegas in March 2006
Wins: 20
Top Fives: 56
Top Tens: 89
Poles: 9
2nd drivers points in 2003 and 2004.(3-15-2006)
- Gordon breaks top-10 record: #24-Jeff Gordon finished the 2007 Cup season with 30 top-10 finishes - which breaks Dale Jarrett modern season record of 29 top-10 finishes during his 1999 championship run.[Since the schedule was reduced by NASCAR in 1972 - called the modern era](11-18-2007)
- Gordon hits 300...top-10's: #24-Jeff Gordon scored the 300th [and 301 at Sonoma) top-10 finish of his Cup career in Michigan on June 17, 2007. With 489 starts in the Cup series, the finish puts him in line with other legends of the sport in collecting 300 top-10's in fewer than 500 starts. Richard Petty accomplished the task in 1969 in his 439th career start; David Pearson picked up his 300th top-10 in 1976 in his 449th start; Dale Earnhardt's 300th came in 1994 in his 463rd start; Darrell Waltrip scored #300 in 1989 in his 470th start, while Bobby Allison accomplished the feat in 1980 in his 475th start. With competition as close as it is today, it remains to be seen whether another driver can get to 300 top-10's in fewer than 500 career starts. The most likely candidates would be Tony Stewart who has 179 top-10's in 300 races, and Jimmie Johnson who has accumulated 120 top-10 finishes in 199 races.(6-26-2007)
- Schwan’s Home Service Delivers Jeff Gordon’s Signature Ice Cream: Schwan's Home Service has partnered with The Jeff Gordon Foundation for a great cause! $1.00 from the sale of each "Jeff Gordon's Wide Open Mint Chip Swirl" ice cream tin will go towards the Foundation's support of pediatric cancer and the Jeff Gordon Children's Hospital. 1 in every 1000 tins is autographed. Enjoy Jeff Gordon's all-time favorite ice cream flavor in your home today! To learn more about Jeff's Foundation please visit schwans.com. Pre-order now for your chance to get a limited edition Jeff Gordon Ice Cream Tin, but only while supplies last. Expected delivery of the Jeff Gordon Ice Cream Tin begins around 6/28/2009.
- Latest on Gordon's back: #24-Jeff Gordon met with members of the media at New Hampshire Motor Speedway and discussed many things, among them, how his back is doing, transcript in part:
HAS YOUR BACK PLAYED ANY ROLE IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS?
Gordon: "No, no. The thing with my back is it's almost a blessing in disguise because I've always been fairly fit without having to do much. And I think that because of that, my core had gotten a little bit weak and I think over the last few years, especially with some wrecks, it's contributed to my back problems. And now, I'm getting much stronger so I'm actually in better physical shape than I've been in a long time and still have a ways to go. But I think it's actually going to help me be more prepared for the end of the year and the Chase than anything else. So far, I think Bristol, maybe Richmond, those tracks have been the toughest on me. And they're not in the Chase. So we'll be in good shape."(GM Racing)(6-27-2009)
- Sponsor search for 2010: We've been hearing for months that sponsors, including those at top teams such as Hendrick Motorsports, won't fully commit past this season. Team owner Rick Hendrick made that clearer on Sunday when he indicated that Kellogg's and Carquest may not return in their full capacity in 2010. "Our sponsors are coming back," Hendrick said after Martin won at Michigan. "We don't know to what extent. That's the question. As you go along with this economy companies are taking longer to get their budgets in line. They're not a year out, or not even eight months like they have been in the past. We're in good shape. We have a lot of sponsors inside our company that we're talking about, you know, splitting up the car. So look for the guys that are on it to be back, but there will probably be someone new along there with them." That not only goes for the #5, but the #24 of Jeff Gordon and #88 of Dale Earnhardt Jr. also could have more partners next season. Jimmie Johnson and Lowe's appear solid on the #48. The same sort of restructuring is going on at other organizations such as Roush, which is trying to find multiple partners to lessen the load of DeWalt [of #17 Matt Kenseth].(ESPN Insider)(6-18-2009) Comment here
- Year of the NCO scheme for Gordon at MIS: This weekend at Michigan, the National Guard's "Year of the Non-Commissioned Officers (NCO)" program will be showcased on the hood of the #24 DuPont/National Guard Chevy of Jeff Gordon. The Secretary of the Army established 2009 as the Year of the NCO in recognition of these soldiers' commitment to service and willingness to make great sacrifices on behalf of our nation. Referred to as the "Backbone of the Army," NCOs will be recognized throughout 2009. Visit nationalguard.com/JeffGordon to learn more about the program. On Oct. 6, 2008, Staff Sgt. Michael Noyce Merino, a Montana National Guard combat veteran and cattle rancher, was named the Army's 2009 "Best Warrior" and "Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year" at the Association of the U.S. Army's annual meeting and exposition in Washington, D.C. As the first National Guardsman to achieve the title of NCO of the Year, Merino will represent the Army and National Guard at pre-eminent soldier events throughout 2009 and will be a guest at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race this Sunday at Michigan International Speedway.(HMS), see image of the hood on my #24 Team Schemes page.(6-12-2009)
- Gordon discusses his back, no surgery planned: #24-Jeff Gordon met with media about his back, the transcript:
HOW IS YOUR BACK AND HOW WILL IT HOLD UP HERE AT POCONO VERSUS A TRACK LIKE DOVER?: “I think this track is probably one of the easier tracks. You get a lot of resting period on those long straightaways. About the only place that it might be an issue will be under braking getting into turn one. I had to do a test at Road Atlanta this week – that was one of the real tests and I was surprised that we got through it pretty good. Especially after the wreck last Friday during qualifying. I was pretty sore from that. I think the road courses and Martinsville, Bristol – those are the toughest tracks on it. This one should be pretty easy.”
HOW IS YOUR BACK FEELING?: “Right now I’m feeling pretty good. It’s always nice to have an extra day of rest – kind of got that today. I know there’s a lot of people that this didn’t work out so well for. For us, it worked out well – we got an extra day of rest, got a great starting position, great pit stall and now we can go focus for the race on Sunday. We’ll get out there tomorrow with the car in race conditions.”
DO YOU KNOW WHETHER YOU WILL HAVE TO HAVE SURGERY ON YOUR BACK?: “Surgery really hasn’t been an option looking at my condition and the options of surgery is really too invasive. I don’t necessarily think it’s necessary. I might do another treatment of what I did a couple weeks ago. We have to wait four to six weeks. They say the second treatment you usually have a lot better results than the first one. I really haven’t seen any big effects from the first one so I wasn’t really thrilled about doing a second one. Anytime they talk about sticking needles in your back it’s not something I’m looking forward to. It wasn’t so bad though and I’m certainly willing to give it a shot so we’ll do that when the time’s right and it fits in the schedule. Until then, my focus is on the training and just stretching. It’s strengthening the area, my whole core area and that’s been great for me in a lot of ways because it’s got me in better physical shape. From a cardio standpoint especially, when I’m in the car everything feels better. I don’t feel as hot in the car, I don’t feel as winded and it’s just dealing with the spasms – just the muscles getting really tight and causing some pain there. Other than that, we’re getting through it.”
DO YOU HAVE A ROUTINE BEFORE EVERY RACE?: “One thing we started this year was just incorporating an individual that comes to the track – it takes usually about an hour a day. They do ultrasound, massage and then some stretching. Then usually after the day is over I do
some ice on my back. It’s just a routine. It doesn’t happen overnight or just flip a switch – just gradually getting used to the stuff going on in the car and getting stronger and getting better. I try to get in some stuff with my doctors when I’m at home that is a little more intense than that and then training as well. Being a Dad too – all those are great training.”(Chevy Racing)(6-6-2009) Comment here
- #24 car to honor police at Dover: The TV panel on the #24 DuPont Chevy of Jeff Gordon will feature www.PoliceMuseum.org at Dover International Speedway, and visitors to the site are encouraged to donate to the National Law Enforcement Museum that will be built in Washington, D.C. “Dover International Speedway offered special race-day ticket packages for law enforcement officers and their families with a portion of the proceeds donated to the museum,” said Gordon. “And DuPont has done a lot to raise awareness and money for this project. “A very worthwhile project that I’m glad to be a part of.”(HMS)(5-28-2009) Comment here
- Race for Television Exposure Goes Gordon’s Way: With seven top-10 finishes and a win to his credit through the first 10 races of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season, Jeff Gordon is easily winning the battle for television exposure on behalf of his corporate sponsors. Gordon’s brands have appeared for 12.5 hours during TV coverage devoted to the races, nearly 1.5 hours more than sponsors received from the second-most exposure prolific driver, Jimmy Johnson. According to research conducted by Joyce Julius & Associates, Inc. — which specializes in measuring the scope of sponsorships across all forms of media — 70 brands appearing on locations such as Gordon’s car, uniform and support crew’s uniforms have appeared clear and in-focus for a total of 12 hours, 27 minutes, 10 seconds (12:27:10) during television coverage of NASCAR’s first 10 official points races. Additionally, those sponsors have been mentioned by Gordon or the announcers 103 times. In comparison, 54 brands have been monitored with Johnson thus far in 2009, amassing a cumulative on-screen time of 10:42:03, while also being mentioned verbally on 100 occasions.
Other exposure findings from the first 10 race telecasts:
Most exposure for Series sponsor Sprint from a driver: 00:15:08 (Gordon)
Most verbal mentions for a primary team sponsor: 35 (Home Depot-J. Logano)
Most exposure for tire provider Goodyear from a driver: 00:12:24 (Johnson)
Most exposure for an auto manufacturer from a driver: 01:17:37 (Chevrolet-Gordon)
Most exposure from identity on a hood: 02:01:43 (Lowe’s-Johnson)
Top Exposure Producing Drivers (After 10 Races):
Driver, Points Standing, Total Brands, Exposure Time, Verbal Mentions
1) Gordon, J., 1, 70, 12:27:10, 103
2) Johnson, J., 6, 54, 10:42:03, 34
3) Busch, Ky., 5, 69, 10:01:00, 100
4) Kenseth, M., 12, 56, 08:22:09, 50
5) Busch, Ku., 2, 33, 07:53:00, 56
6) Earnhardt, D. Jr., 18, 45, 07:35:44, 32
7) Edwards, C., 9, 57, 07:24:10, 61
8) Stewart, T., 3, 46, 06:30:11, 58
9) Martin, M., 15, 56, 06:20:56, 34
10) Hamlin, D., 4, 46, 05:26:05, 58
(Joyce Julius & Assoc)(5-21-2009) Comment here
- After back procedure, Gordon ready to go 600 miles: UPDATE: For #24-Jeff Gordon, the 600- mile race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway provides a test for his back after a recent procedure to ease pain. Gordon, who has experienced progressively worse back pain over the past few years, had treatment on Monday. The driver of the #24 DuPont Chevy hopes the procedure will alleviate much – if not all – of the pain. “I had a facet block procedure done on my back on Monday and it went well,” said Gordon. “I was a little sore after the procedure, but I’ll definitely take that brief bit of soreness if it stops the recurring back pain I’ve had. “I hope that will end the back issues I’ve been having, but it’s too early to tell if that fixed the problem.” Never mind 600 miles on Sunday, Gordon may have a better understanding of the results of the procedure by midweek. He is scheduled to participate in “Ultimate Speed” on Wednesday – a karting event that will raise money for the Jeff Gordon Foundation and the Jeff Gordon Children’s Hospital in Concord.(Performance Plus)(5-19-2009)
UPDATE: Sprint Cup points leader Jeff Gordon underwent a facet block procedure on his back on Monday that he hopes will alleviate the pain that has gotten progressively worse. A facet block injection is performed to confirm that a facet joint is the source of pain and decrease the pain and inflammation in a facet joint or joints. The injection is typically recommended for those who fail to respond to other conservative treatments. In some cases the next step if the problem is not corrected surgery may be necessary.(ESPN.com)(5-20-2009) Comment here
- Hendrick to appear on Oprah: Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports and chairman of Hendrick Automotive Group, will make an appearance on the Tuesday, May 19 edition of "The Oprah Winfrey Show." The episode is entitled "Heroes in Hard Times."
"The Oprah Winfrey Show" is produced in Chicago by Harpo Productions Inc. and syndicated to 214 domestic stations by CBS Television Distribution Group and to 143 countries by CBS Paramount International Television. It has been the No. 1-rated talk show for 22 consecutive seasons. Visit www.oprah.com for local listings.(HMS)(5-18-2009)
- Hendrick set to return from illness: Sidelined the past several weeks by a fast-spreading sinus infection, NASCAR team owner Rick Hendrick plans to return to the track this weekend after a five-race absence. Hendrick has not been to the track since Jimmie Johnson helped his boss celebrate his 25th anniversary in NASCAR with a March 29th victory at Martinsville Speedway. He skipped the next two events, races in Texas and Phoenix, for personal and business reasons. Then he was stricken with a sinus infection that spread to both his chest and ears, keeping him away from the track another three races. He needed tubes inserted in both ears to fight the infection. "They say the tubes are for kids, so I guess I'm a 59-year-old kid with ear infections," he said Tuesday. "I've got a weak immune system, and this infection just jumped on me. I was a sick puppy there for about three weeks. But I am much better, feeling more like myself." Hendrick's immune system was weakened by a long, but successful, fight with leukemia 12 years ago. "If I am not careful, I get knocked on my butt," said Hendrick, who spent more than four hours with employees Tuesday passing out the championship rings from Johnson's third title. The illness kept Hendrick away from wins by Jeff Gordon at Texas, and Mark Martin in Phoenix and Darlington, S.C. Hendrick watched all the races he missed on TV, admittedly screaming at his set and often second-guessing strategy through text messages to team vice president Doug Duchardt. He then called his drivers in Victory Lane, a scene often caught on live television that drew attention to his absence. Hendrick said he'll ease back into at-track activities with the All-Star race this weekend at Lowe's Motor Speedway, where he traditionally celebrates Charlotte Speedweeks by treating employees from both his motorsports and automotive programs to weekends at the track.(ESPN/AP)
AND: The Hendrick Motorsports Museum and Team Store has updated its exhibits and extended its hours for fans visiting during the upcoming race weeks. More info at hendrickmotorsports.com.(5-13-2009) Comment here
- Gordon to have treatment on his back: #24-Jeff Gordon said that he will have some treatment on his back on May 18, two days after the all-star race. Here's what he said about his back and how it's impacted him.
"(The treatment) is nothing invasive. it's just some injections that are going to do deal with the pain. They say it's sort of like an arthritis and it's excessive because of some of the trauma that my back has gone through, maybe through some wrecks or something. So that's what we're going to do. That's the plan.''
Q: What is the back pain you've been feeling?
GORDON: "I can't stand up for long periods of time. I can't sit. It's not like an excruciating pain. People have disc problems. I'm not one of those people. Mine is more nerves and muscular that when I'm in the car and really pulling Gs and using the steering wheel a lot and using the brake pedal a lot, it just really aggrevates the muscle. There are a couple of tracks, like Martinsville and Bristol that have been really tough. I was actually pretty good last week. So far it's been good here this week. It's there but the things that I'm doing, the training, the massage, the stretching, those things right now are starting to pay off for me and right now I'm not having as much issues as I had at Bristol.
Q: With your treatment is this still something you're going to have to live with for the rest of your life or will the treatment eliminate it?
GORDON: "They say sometimes it eliminates it and sometimes it lasts six months. Everybody is different, so I won't really know.
Q: How long have you been feeling this pain?
GORDON: "I think I ignored it over the last couple of years. It's been building and getting worse. Last year, it really started aggravating me and I just didn't get on it soon enough. I tried differnet things but they just weren't working. It needed a whole routine, a whole different lifestyle for me. So I started to go to work on that over the offseason because I felt it was affecting me in the car late in the season and I didn't want to have any excuses, so I went to work on it. I was surprised over the offseason not doing any driving how bad it was just starting the season off at Daytona. That's when I really knew that I've got to get something done.''(Virginia Pilot)(5-9-2009) Comment here
- National Guard scheme returns on the #24: This weekend at Darlington Raceway, the National Guard's ESGR program will be showcased on the hood of the #24 DuPont/National Guard Chevy that Jeff Gordon drives. Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) is a Department of Defense initiative that seeks to develop and promote a culture in which all American employers support and value the military service of their employees. It does so by recognizing outstanding employer support, increasing awareness of the law, and resolving conflicts through mediation. For more information on the ESGR program, please visit nationalguard.com. In addition to this weekend at Darlington, Gordon will partner with the National Guard at five other venues: Michigan in June, Chicago in July, Richmond in Sept., New Hampshire in Sept. 20, and Martinsville in Oct.(HMS PR) see images of the scheme on the #24 Team Schemes page.(5-7-2009)
- Gordon's back still hurtin': from a GM Racing Jeff Gordon Press Conference Transcript:
LAST WEEK YOU WEREN’T FEELING THAT GREAT AND YOUR BACK WAS HURTING YOU, IS IT BETTER NOW? “There are certainly tracks that are definitely harder on my back and Phoenix is one of them. Richmond coming up will be another one. Martinsville, Bristol and road courses. The pain has not subsided any, the way that the muscle reacts and spasms is not getting any better but I’m getting stronger and I don’t expect it to happen overnight and go away. It’s going to take time. Last week my back wasn’t what was preventing us from being more competitive, I think it was a combination of things. I was sick. I didn’t feel like I gave good feedback to the team throughout the whole weekend. We qualified good and we picked the number two pit stall and it didn’t seem to work out as good for us as it had. We had some trouble there. All the way around it seemed like we under-performed and it’s a good wake-up call for us. I mean this is a totally different type of race this weekend but I expect us to be strong and have fun this weekend especially with the Pepsi throw back paint scheme. We’re looking forward to going to Richmond next weekend and getting our short-track program where it can be.”(GM Racing PR)(4-25-2009)
UPDATE: from Friday's press conference: ""I had another MRI, one that was more detailed this week and I've got some information that I'm just not ready to release yet or admit to yeah we found some things and have a better diagnosis of it. When I know how I'm going to treat it I'll let you guys know. I don't believe it's anything serious. It's just something that's causing the pain. There's a little bit of arthritis which is not totally unnatural but there's also some other things that come from what they can understand from trauma or a crash or maybe just years of beating it up. Heck I don't know I might have picked up my luggage or something and then tore something up in there. So I don't know, but we have a better diagnosis of it and I've got some experts that are giving me all the best scenarios."(GM Racing PR)(5-2-2009)
- Gordon wins 1st Qtr Award: #24-Jeff Gordon's fast start, and return to victory lane, turned the tide as he was voted first quarter Driver of the Year 2009. Gordon, a four-time NASCAR champion and the only four-time winner of the Driver of the Year AWARD led the Sprint Cup standings as of the date of this year's first ballot. Although he won a single event, the Samsung 500 at the Texas Motor Speedway, his early performance impressed the elite panel of voters as he narrowly beat #18-Kyle Busch 111-107 in the vote. In the voting Gordon took eight first-place ballots and he was on every ballot. But still Kyle Busch, who drives the #18 M & M's Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing, was a close second-place only four points behind Gordon. He received seven first-place votes. Ron Capps, who drives for Don Schumacher in the NHRA PowerAde drag racing series, scored one first place vote and was third in the voting with 66 points. Donnie Schatz and Mark Martin each scored one first-place vote. A total of 17 drivers scored points in the first quarter voting. Gordon will receive a trophy and a Tissot wristwatch to be presented at a later date.(DOTY PR)(4-29-2009) Comment here
- Retro Pepsi image at 'Dega for Gordon UPDATE 2: The year was 1983 when Darrell Waltrip took to the track in the Pepsi Challenger Chevy. Waltrip had won back-to-back titles and was trying for three in a row when PepsiCo changed the primary sponsor on his car from Mountain Dew to its signature brand before the season. Waltrip failed to win the title that year. At Talladega, Jeff Gordon will go retro with Waltrip's 1983 paint scheme on his car.(gordonline.com), see an image there or on my #24 Team Schemes page.(3-10-2009)
UPDATE: #24-Jeff Gordon will drive a special retro “Pepsi Challenger” #24 paint scheme Chevy in Talladega on April 26, 2009. Inspired by Darrell Waltrip’s Pepsi Challenger of the 1980’s this car will feature retro Pepsi logos and a white and yellow scheme.(JeffGordon.com), see images of the scheme on my #24 Team Schemes page.(3-30-2009)
UPDATE 2: Jeff Gordon will give fans a blast from the past at Talladega this weekend when he drives a retro Pepsi Throwback paint- scheme on his #24 DuPont/ Pepsi Throwback Challenger Chevrolet on April 26 at Talladega Superspeedway. The last time fans
saw this memorable yellow paint scheme was over 25 years ago, when Darrell Waltrip drove the #11 Pepsi Challenger to victory lane six
times in the race for the 1983 Cup Championship. Gordon's latest paint scheme celebrates Pepsi Throwback, a new limited time only product sweetened with natural sugar in a retro-look package, offering consumers a taste of the past. The cola began appearing in
stores on April 20 and will be available for eight weeks. Gordon, who is Pepsi's longest standing spokesperson, will be sporting a memorable Pepsi Throwback racing suit, similar to the one worn by Waltrip in 1983. As part of the Throwback celebration, Pepsi is launching a number of in-store promotions. Tear pads located in retail outlets will give fans the chance to win cool throwback prizes- five fans will win a trip to DW Motorsports in Charlotte for a barbecue with Darrell Waltrip; 20 winners will receive a Darrell Waltrip autographed retro die-cast car; one lucky fan will win the retro racing suit Jeff Gordon wears during race week at Talladega; and 600 other fans will win a Jeff Gordon/Darrell Waltrip Throwback tee-shirt. Additionally, there will be a new Throwback look for PepsiRacing.com, where each race fans have the chance to win the same cash prize as the winning driver. A free desktop wallpaper featuring Jeff Gordon will be available for download on PepsiRacing.com.(Pepsi Racing PR)(4-24-2009) Comment here
- Current longest-tenured driver/crew chief pairings:
After the Aaron's 499 at Talladega Saturday, Richard Childress Racing will swap crews and crew chiefs on the #07 & #29 teams, bringing and end to the second longest current driver/crew chief combination.
Driver / Crew Chief: Start Date
#48-Jimmie Johnson / Chad Knaus: October 2001
#29-Kevin Harvick / Todd Berrier*: March 2003*
#24-Jeff Gordon / Steve Letarte: September 2005
#88-Dale Earnhardt, Jr. / Tony Eury, Jr.: September 2005
#11-Denny Hamlin / Mike Ford: October 2005
#31-Jeff Burton / Scott Miller: November 2005
* - Ending after Sunday's race at Talladega
(Sports Illustrated)(4-24-2009) Comment here
- Hendrick drivers win three in a row: #5-Mark Martin's win last week at Phoenix International Raceway came on the heels of two other Hendrick Motorsports wins -- #48-Jimmie Johnson at Martinsville and #24-Jeff Gordon at Texas -- and marked the third time Hendrick Motorsports has won three consecutive Cup events with three different drivers. Hendrick, the only team in NASCAR's modern era to have three different drivers win in three straight races, accomplished the feat in 2007 -- with Johnson, Gordon and Casey Mears -- and in 1989 -- with Darrell Waltrip, Ken Schrader and Geoff Bodine. In 1956, Carl Kiekhaefer's drivers won three in a row twice. Buck Baker, Speedy Thompson and Herb Thomas contributed to the first streak, while Baker, Jack Smith and Thompson were part of the other.(HMS PR)(4-23-2009) Comment here
- Hendrick to swap #5 and #88 crew chiefs? UPDATE no truth to it? Sources within Hendrick Motorsports confirmed to Captain Thunder that discussions were held over the Easter break regarding the possible switching of crew chiefs between the #5 and #88 teams. Mark Martin's crew chief Alan Gustafson was said to be on the block and was willing to move to the #88 team and Martin was willing to support the move. The discussions over Easter ended with an agreement between the two teams and Mr. Hendrick to keep their current teams in tact for at least three more weeks to see if both teams could improve on the slow start they have endured through the first part of the 2009 Sprint Cup season. Sources said Tony Eury Jr., Dale Earnhardt Jr., Martin, and Gustafson all agreed that if Mr. Hendrick wanted a change, they would be willing to swap Gustafson for Eury Jr. However, with Martin's win Saturday night in the Subway Fresh Fit 500 at Phoenix, any switch is now out of the question for the foreseeable future. Hendrick and Martin have no desire to take Gustafson away from the #5 team after the way they dominated the Phoenix race. Now, the timetable is set for the All-Star race at Charlotte on May 16th. If both teams continue to perform poorly, expect a change the week of the All-Star race. However, if Martin's team continues to gain momentum following their Phoenix win, and the #88 team continues to struggle, sources said Eury Jr. could be replaced by car chiefs Ron Malec of the #48 team or Jason Burdett of the #24 team.(CaptainThunderRacing.com and reported on the Bubba the Love Sponge radio show by Capt Thunder)(4-22-2009)
UPDATE: Will rumors of a Hendrick Motorsports separation of Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Tony Eury Jr. ever end? Ever? Ever?
Never, as long as there are upstart, cottage-industry Web-sites churning this stuff out, and others linking to it. "There's absolutely nothing to this," came an e-mail reply from high-up inside Hendrick, when the latest one was checked. The latest report appears on Jayski.com, picked up from CaptainThunderRacing.com, that meetings were held over the Easter break at Hendrick. Supposedly there was discussion of swapping crew chiefs, with Eury going to Mark Martin, and Alan Gustafson going to Earnhardt, if the two teams' performances didn't improve within three races. Here's how screwy this stuff can get. Right in the middle of the CaptainThunder report, there's a line, "However, with Martin's win Saturday night in the Subway Fresh Fit 500 at Phoenix, any switch is now out of the question for the foreseeable future."
Then the report goes right on to say that new deadlines have been set for a possible switch: "If both teams continue to perform poorly, expect a change the week of the All-Star race." The wackiness warranted a double-check high-up at Hendrick, which brought the firm reply, "Not a shred of truth to any of it."(ESPN Insider)(4-22-2009) Comment here
- Gordon, Johnson going for records at Phoenix: Hendrick Motorsports drivers have won four straight races at Phoenix International Raceway, with #48-Jimmie Johnson visiting Victory Lane during the last three events. #24-Jeff Gordon won the April 21, 2007, contest after starting from the pole position. During the last eight races at the track, Hendrick Motorsports drivers have claimed five victories and five pole positions. Last November, Jimmie Johnson made track history by becoming the first driver to win three consecutive races at Phoenix International Raceway. On Saturday, the three-time and defending NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion will attempt to extend that history with a fourth consecutive Phoenix victory - this time in the SUBWAY Fresh Fit 500. Gordon, who ended a 47-race winless streak on April 5 with his first victory at Texas Motor Speedway, now has 82 in his career. He stands one behind fifth-place Cale Yarborough on the all-time victories list and only two away from tying Bobby Allison and Darrell Waltrip for third.(Hendrick Motorsports PR)(4-15-2009)
- Could Gordon catch Pearson in wins? Now that Jeff Gordon has proved he still has some victories left in him, fans will start to ask whether he can catch David Pearson for #2 on NASCAR's list for career victories. #24-Jeff Gordon has won 82 times, but he has another 24 burnouts ahead of him if he's going to pass David Pearson for the second most Cup victories. It's a virtual certainty that Gordon will blow by the three drivers between him and Pearson -- Cale Yarborough (83 wins), Bobby Allison and Darrell Waltrip (84 wins each). But catching Pearson is a much tougher task for Gordon, who turns 38 on Aug. 4. Gordon would need to average almost five victories a season over the next five years. We could say he needs to average only 2.4 wins a season over the next 10 years, but Gordon has said repeatedly that he has no intention of racing into his late 40s. Gordon averaged three wins a year over the previous four seasons. If he keeps that pace, a reasonable expectation, he would tie Pearson in the 2016 season, when Gordon would be 45. Find one more victory somewhere along the way and he would own the #2 spot all alone.(ESPN.com)(4-11-2009) Comment here
- Jeff Gordon involved in Niagra Race Track: New details surrounding a proposed $200-million, 65,000-seat international motor speedway in Fort Erie [Ontario, Canada] have surfaced. An article published in the inaugural edition of Professional Motorsport Circuit, an international trade journal, says NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon is involved with the project. Gordon's name has been tagged with a signature speedway and a driving school that's part of the proposal. The article was written by Azhar Mohammad - executive director of Emirates Consulting, a Toronto-based subsidiary of Kuwaiti-based investment bank Bayt Al Mal Investment Co., that is financially backing the project. Mohammad could not be reached for comment Tuesday. "After carefully studying the pitfalls and successes of motor-sport initiatives in the North American market for almost two years, (Bayt Al Mal Investment Co.) assembled a high-profile team," the article states. "The team was spearheaded by multi-NASCAR champion Jeff Gordon, flanked by Paxton Waters Architecture, Derek Daly Design, and Philips Engineering, and supported by a host of local and international strategic partners." Last October, plans were announced for a motor speedway on lands near the QEW, between Gilmore Road and Bowen Road. Bayt Al Mal, which has been assembling more than 600 acres of land for the project, has done numerous environmental, planning and engineering studies to support its application and has invested several million dollars. The proposal is working its way through the Town of Fort Erie's planning department. Fort Erie Mayor Doug Martin confirmed there has been talks with Gordon's representatives. "We have met with them at the region, they have been here," Martin said Tuesday. "Through the proposal that's obviously coming on, we were aware that (Bayt Al Mal) were in talks with Jeff Gordon's (people)."(Niagara Falls Review)(4-8-2009) Comment here
- Gordon down to one track with no win: #24-Jeff Gordon's win at Texas means there's only one track on the Sprint Cup circuit at which he has yet to win, that being Homestead-Miami Speedway, where the series runs only once a year, the season finale. Gordon has won on 23 of the 24 tracks he has raced at in the Cup Series, including two tracks that are no longer active, North Wilkesboro and Rockingham. He also draws just one win shy of Cale Yarborough for the fifth-most wins in Cup history, and a pair shy of tying Bobby Allison and Darrell Waltrip for third. But how do those drivers shape up as far as number of tracks won at? Let's check out the numbers:
Driver -- Wins -- Tracks won at
Richard Petty -- 200 -- 51 of 84
David Pearson -- 105 -- 38 of 65
Bobby Allison -- 84 -- 28 of 47
Darrell Waltrip -- 84 -- 16 of 26
Cale Yarborough -- 83 -- 18 of 46
Jeff Gordon -- 82 -- 23 of 24
Of course, a disclaimer here is that in the old days of NASCAR, many tracks were raced at once or just a handful of times, but that's still pretty impressive.(ESPN.com)
Current Drivers: the active leaders with the most wins at the 22 different tracks currently on the NSCS schedule:
Rank, Driver, Number of Tracks
1. #24-Jeff Gordon, 21
2. #14-Tony Stewart, 19
3. #48-Jimmie Johnson, 16
4. #5-Mark Martin, 16
5. #18-Kyle Busch, 13
(NASCAR PR)(4-8-2009) Comment here
- Gordon's Crew Scores Back-to-Back Tissot Pit Road Wins: It was a double victory for the #24 team Sunday at Texas Motor Speedway in Forth Worth. Along with driver Jeff Gordon winning the 500-mile NASCAR Sprint Cup race, the #24 over-the-wall crew won the Tissot Pit Road Precision Award. Gordon's crew also won the pit road competition the previous week in Martinsville. The #24 crew claimed the Tissot win in Texas due to Gordon's DuPont/National Guard Chevy spending the least amount of time on pit road -- 217.453 seconds. Gordon's pit crew consists of: Clay Robinson (front-tire changer), Mike Houston (front tire carrier), Tim Ladyga (rear-tire changer), Jeff Knight (rear-tire carrier), Jeff Cook (jackman), Caleb Hurd (gasman), Jamie Frady (catch can) and Andy Kruep (eighth man). The pit crew coach is Greg Morin. For winning the Tissot Pit Road Precision Award, the #24 team will receive $5,000. The team with the most pit road wins at the completion of the 36-race schedule will earn a $100,000 bonus plus Tissot watches for the driver and over-the-wall crew members.(Tissot PR)(4-8-2009)
- Letarte Named Wypall Wipers Crew Chief of the Race at Texas: Steve Letarte, crew chief for the #24 DuPont/National Guard GED Plus Chevy driven by Jeff Gordon, has been named the Wypall Wipers Crew Chief of the Race in Sunday's Samsung 500 at Texas Motor Speedway. In addition to the $1,000 check, the winning crew chief will receive signage to announce the win on their pit box the following week. The crew chief with the most weekly wins will be honored as the Wypall Wipers Crew Chief of the Year and will be presented a $20,000 check at the season finale in Homestead. The Wypall Wipers Crew Chief Challenge will continue throughout the 2009 season and spotlight the men behind the machines.(Wypall PR)(4-8-2009)
- Jeff Gordon finally wins at Texas: #24-Jeff Gordon won the Samsung 500 at Texas Motor Speedway for his first win at Texas [Homestead is the lone track Gordon has not won a race in Sprint Cup], his 1st win of 2009, his first win in 47 races [his last points win was at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Oct 2007] and 82nd win of his career. #48-Johnson finished 2nd, followed by #16-Biffle, #14-Stewart, #17-Kenseth, #5-Martin, #42-Montoya, #2-Busch, #31-Burton and #99-Edwards. Pole sitter #00-Reutimann finished 11th and #88-Earnhardt Jr. finished 20th, a lap down. There were 6 cautions for 30 laps and there were 28 lead changes among 14 drivers.
For race results, awards and more on the Texas Race Results Page.
For drivers and owners points standings, see the Drivers/Owners Points Standings.(4-5-2009)
- Gordon has good record at Texas, but no wins: #24-Jeff Gordon has more top-five and top-10 finishes than any other Sprint Cup driver at Texas Motor Speedway. He ranks sixth on the all-time Sprint Cup win list with 81 victories and out of the 22 tracks on the Cup circuit, Gordon is lacking wins on two - Homestead and Texas. In Gordon's last appearance at TMS, the Dickies 500, he sat on the pole and finished runner-up to Carl Edwards. Gordon went winless last season for the first time since 1993, his first full Cup season, but the #24 team has started 2009 on a better note. Gordon is situated among the points leaders and has posted second-places finishes at Daytona and Atlanta.(TMS PR)(4-3-2009) Comment here
- National Guard returns on the #24: #24-Jeff Gordon and his Hendrick Motorsports team have a chance to share their patriotism publicly this season by featuring National Guard community-related initiatives on the hood of the #24 Chevy in eight Sprint Cup Series events. The National Guard's mission is to use the #24 car as a platform to help create awareness on some of the special programs it has to offer. These programs provide such incentives like job opportunities, valuable career training, college tuition, salary and benefits and the guidance needed to excel in life. This weekend at Texas Motor Speedway, Gordon's car will spotlight the National Guard's GED Plus program. The GED Plus program courses take only three weeks and has a success rate of more than 93 percent. Soldiers enlisted under the program earn a monthly paycheck and have the opportunity to select from more than 200 Military Occupational Specialties in which they can become skilled. For more information, visit www.nationalguard.com/JeffGordon.(NASCAR.com)(4-1-2009) Comment here
- Back problems for Jeff Gordon? Okay, what's the deal with Jeff Gordon's back? He's talked for three weeks now about chronic back pain. And that sounds suspiciously like the type of pain that Ricky Rudd and Mark Martin have endured. Martin himself had major back surgery a few years ago to alleviate his pain. Gordon has made no mention of any possible surgery, but his repeated complaints are raising eyebrows. At the moment he's been doing some heavy-duty workouts to try to relieve the pain.(mikemulhern.net)(3-29-2009) Comment here
- 25th anniversary of Hendrick's 1st win: On Sunday at Martinsville Speedway, Hendrick Motorsports will mark the 25th anniversary of its first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victory. Since the organization began competing as All-Star Racing in 1984, it has grown from five employees and 5,000 square feet of rented work space to more than 500 employees and more than 100 acres straddling Cabarrus and Mecklenburg counties in North Carolina. It was the eighth race of the 1984 Cup Series season, and Geoff Bodine lined up sixth at Martinsville Speedway in the #5 Chevy for Rick Hendrick's fledgling All-Star Racing team. On that day -- April 29, 1984 -- Bodine led 55 laps en route to capturing the organization's first win. Reaching Victory Lane wasn't easy, though. Bodine had to pass then-defending Cup champion Bobby Allison with 48 laps to go to take the lead. Hendrick wasn't at Martinsville to experience the first of his 17 Cup wins at the .526-mile oval. The car owner was attending church with his wife, Linda, in Greensboro, N.C., during the race. He received a phone call with the news and headed straight for Bodine's home in Pleasant Garden, N.C., to celebrate. Frank Edwards, 72, was one of the five original employees at Hendrick Motorsports. Initially a setup specialist, Edwards moved from his home in Danville, Va., when Hendrick told him about his plans to start the race team. Edwards has held many roles within the team and currently works in the company's show-car department as a fabricator and mechanic.(Hendrick Motorsports PR)(3-27-2009)
- Boy Scouts honor Jeff Gordon: #24-Jeff Gordon has something in common with 13 presidents, Charles Lindbergh, Walt Disney, Hank Aaron and Colin Powell. He's a Silver Buffalo. Or at least he received the Silver Buffalo award, Boy Scouts of America's highest honor given to volunteers. Gordon got the award Tuesday during the annual BSA Mecklenburg County Council's Friends of Scouting Leadership Dinner at the Charlotte Convention Center. He was recognized for his work recruiting boys to Cub Scouts and other humanitarian ventures involving children. Gordon, whose stepfather is an Eagle Scout, has been the honorary chairman and spokesman for the "Race Into Cub Scouting," a national campaign to recruit boys into Cub Scouts. He made PSAs and personal appearances for Cub Scouts. The foundation he started in 1999 has raised million to help children facing life-threatening and chronic illnesses. "Jeff has been a great supporter of scouting the last three years; he's been very instrumental in the successful campaign to recruit kids into Boy Scouts," Bob Mazzuca, BSA's chief scout executive, told the Observer before the dinner. "He's been very generous with his time. Just his stature has been a huge help for us to recruit kids."(JeffGordon.com)(3-25-2009) Comment here
- 250 top 5's for Gordon: #24-Jeff Gordon made his 550th career start at Bristol Motor Speedway in the Food City 500, with his 4th place finish, Gordon now has 250 top-five finishes, which is 7th best all time. Next up is Cale Yarborough at 255. Richard Petty has the most with 555.(3-23-2009)
- Retro Pepsi image at 'Dega for Gordon: The year was 1983 when Darrell Waltrip took to the track in the Pepsi Challenger Chevy. Waltrip had won back-to-back titles and was trying for three in a row when PepsiCo changed the primary sponsor on his car from Mountain Dew to its signature brand before the season. Waltrip failed to win the title that year. At Talladega, Jeff Gordon will go retro with Waltrip's 1983 paint scheme on his car.(gordonline.com), see an image there or on my #24 Team Schemes page.(3-10-2009) Comment here
- Jeff Gordon to Receive Boy Scouting's Highest Award: #24-Jeff Gordon has been selected to receive Boy Scouts of America's (BSA) highest honor for his efforts in Scouting's national recruiting program as well as his personal humanitarian work. The commendation, known as the Silver Buffalo award, will be presented at the annual Boy Scout Leadership Dinner at the Charlotte Convention Center, March 24, 2009. Gordon is being recognized for his work as honorary chairman and spokesperson for the "Race into Cub Scouting" national recruiting program. He will also be honored for his personal humanitarian efforts, including the work of The Jeff Gordon Foundation that he formed in 1999. Since its inception, the foundation has raised more than $7 million for children's charities. The award will be presented by dignitaries including Rick Cronk, retired president, Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream and volunteer past president, BSA; and Robert Mazzuca, current chief Scout executive of BSA. Duke Energy's group executive and chief legal officer Marc E. Manly is serving as the dinner's chairman. The featured speaker will be Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports and chairman of Hendrick Automotive Group. The Silver Buffalo award, Scouting's highest commendation, recognizes the invaluable contributions that outstanding American men and women render to youth on a national level. Past recipients of the award include Charles Lindbergh, Walt Disney, Hank Aaron, General Colin Powell, and 13 Presidents of the United States.(prnewswire.com)(3-7-2009) Comment here
- #24 to spotlight National Guard program at Atlanta: This weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Jeff Gordon will trade in the bold orange, yellow and black hues that have adorned the hood of his #24 Chevy so far this season for the opportunity to spotlight one of the National Guard's community programs. Gordon will bring awareness to the National Guard's community-related initiatives this season during eight Sprint Cup Series races, starting with Sunday's Kobalt Tools 500. This weekend, the hood of his #24 DuPont/National Guard Chevy will feature the National Guard Youth Challenge program. The voluntary, 17-month program, which is funded by federal and state partnerships, is available at no cost to participants who are at-risk teens between the ages of 16-18. The program provides them with job training, life skills and the confidence to tackle life successfully, as well as a glimpse into the life of National Guard soldier. Visit ngyouthfoundation.org for more information. In addition to this weekend's Sprint Cup Series event at Atlanta, Gordon will partner with the National Guard in seven other races this season and help bring awareness to some of its special programs and benefits. These races include Texas on April 5; Darlington on May 9; Michigan on June 14; Chicagoland on July 11; Richmond Raceway on Sept. 12; New Hampshire on Sept. 20; and Martinsville on Oct. 25. "I'm really excited about having the National Guard on board this season," Gordon said. "They've been a great addition to Hendrick Motorsports, having them on the #88 team and seeing what they've done there. Obviously, we've gotten an introduction. The people are great to work with. I think it really ties to our fans. Obviously, (Dale Earnhardt) Jr. has a different fan base than I have, but I think both of us really have a connection with our fans and that connection can transfer over to the National Guard and be fantastic. With our sport being as patriotic as it is and all-American, I think it makes perfect sense."(HMS PR), see an image of the National Guard scheme on the #24 Team Schemes page [not sure if this will be the one run at Atlanta].(3-5-2009) Comment here
- Gordon feels SAFER at Vegas: #24-Jeff Gordon feels secure on the track at Las Vegas a year after one of the worst wrecks of his career. Gordon spun coming out of Turn 2 in last year's race and slammed into the inside retaining wall. The hit, at a portion of the track where energy-absorbing barriers had not been installed, was so hard it knocked the radiator out of his car. Gordon was extremely critical of the track after the accident, and speedway officials responded by installing SAFER barriers around the 1.5-mile facility. "I'm confident in Las Vegas Motor Speedway, and in the comments that were made last year and the conversations I had with them last year and this year of what their plans were," he said. "I feel good about what they've done and seeing it at a slower pace without hitting it." Gordon said he's never seen footage of the accident.(Associated Press)(3-1-2009) Comment here
- DuPont slashes NASCAR tab: DuPont, long recognized as the leader in hospitality among NASCAR sponsors, is drastically reducing its program this year as part of its companywide cost cutting. Instead of entertaining the 17,000 guests it had at 37 races last year, DuPont will buy hospitality packages at just six races this season and will host fewer than 2,000 guests. “The economy has had a huge impact on us,” said Larry Deas, DuPont’s motorsports manager. “The current environment along with the high cost of hospitality have forced us to make significant cuts.” Whether DuPont’s cuts signal the beginning of the end for its sponsorship of Jeff Gordon’s #24 Chevrolet remains to be seen. DuPont, which has been on the car since 1993, has been the only primary sponsor Gordon has known at Hendrick Motorsports and together they own the longest driver-sponsor-owner streak in the sport. DuPont’s current contract with Hendrick Motorsports runs through the end of the 2010 season. Deas would not speculate on how DuPont’s team deal might be affected in the future, but industry experts say it’s a bad sign that an iconic sponsor has made such deep cuts, which could represent a savings well into the seven figures, analysts say. Most high-end team sponsorships cost $20 million or more a year before activation. DuPont’s six races this season will be the two Daytona events, two at Dover, one at Las Vegas and one at Kansas Speedway. Those venues were selected because they are among the tracks where DuPont is committed to buying tickets as part of long-term deals. DuPont’s Wilmington, Del., headquarters also make Dover a natural. DuPont entertained 225 guests for the Daytona 500 earlier this month, down from 1,000 a year ago. Charlotte-based Performance PR Plus handles DuPont’s hospitality and public relations. Deas said DuPont is evaluating how it will work with Gordon this year.(see full article at the Sports Business Journal)(2-25-2009) Comment here
- Hendrick engine problems caused by bad parts: Hendrick Motorsports officials say a bad batch of parts led to engine failures by #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. and #5-Mark Martin in Sunday's Sprint Cup race at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, CA. "Both cars had valve train failures that were related to a specific batch of parts from a vendor," said Doug Duchardt, HMS' vice president of development. Duchardt said the parts were not restricted to use by Earnhardt and Martin, whose cars are prepared out of the same building. He said they also were used by Hendrick drivers #24-Jeff Gordon and #48-Jimmie Johnson, as well as lease programs such as Stewart-Haas Racing. Earnhardt finished 39th and Martin 40th after both lost their engines within 25 laps of each other. Gordon finished second and Johnson was ninth, combining to lead 138 of 250 laps. #14-Tony Stewart was eighth and led three laps. "So we're glad it wasn't more widespread," Duchardt said.(ESPN)(2-24-2009) Comment here
- Jeff Gordon and Mom on “Rachael Ray”: #24-Jeff Gordon and his mother, Carol Bickford, will appear on the “Rachael Ray” show on Tuesday, February 10, 2009. Bickford, who co-authored Pit Stop in a Southern Kitchen: Two Moms of Racing Legends Serve Up Stories and Recipes with Martha Earnhardt, will demonstrate how to prepare her chicken casserole, a recipe found in the new hard-cover cookbook which was released on February 1, 2009. Gordon will be seen “chatting” with Ray about his career, then assisting Bickford and the renown cook and talk-show host with the casserole.(Performance PR Plus)(2-9-2009)
- Gordon-Evernham Reunion? #24-Jeff Gordon opened the door this week to the idea of a reunion with Ray Evernham but it wouldn't be as a crew chief if it ever happened. "We've always stayed great friends, and I admire him and he's a sharp guy and he's done a lot, obviously, in this sport,'' Gordon said. "We're always looking to find ways to make ourselves better. If (an Evernham reunion) was ever the case, it wouldn't be in a crew chief role. If it's an engineer, if it's a team manager, whatever options are out there for anybody we always take them serious. With my experience with Ray being so positive in the past, I certainly wouldn't throw it out. It's not something that is happening, but it's not something that I would ever say never would.'' Asked about a possibility of Evernham returning to Hendrick Motorsports in some fashion, car owner Rick Hendrick didn't say #Instead, he said that he remains close to Evernham. "We consult with each other all the time,'' Hendrick said. "That hasn't changed since he left. He calls me, and I talk to him. We share information. We talked about the fact that the manufacturers were not going to be around as strong as they are three or four years ago. We think a lot alike, and I respect his knowledge a ton. We talk almost every week. We've been consultants to each other.''(Roanoke Times)(2-9-2009)
- Gordon hopes to stay at Hendrick after retirement: #24-Jeff Gordon plans to continue in some capacity with Hendrick Motorsports after his driving career is over. Whether that's in a managerial role or as a possible replacement for team owner Rick Hendrick, who turns 60 this season, Gordon doesn't know. "I would like to think I have something to offer the organization past driving, and definitely would like to work something out with Rick," Gordon said on Saturday at Daytona International Speedway. "This organization has been so good to me. My life has changed because of Hendrick Motorsports and the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series." Gordon already co-owns with Hendrick the #48 team of three-time defending Cup champion Jimmie Johnson. He made it clear he has no plans to become an owner independent of Hendrick. Gordon has a lifetime contract to drive for HMS, but his contract with primary sponsor DuPont expires after the 2010 season. That has led some to speculate Gordon, 37, may step away from part of the full-time grind after that deal is done. Gordon insists it's premature to discuss retirement other than to say when it does happen he wants to remain an active part of HMS.(ESPN)(2-8-2009) Comment here
- Hendrick presented with first chassis 'Dusty': Before "Blacker," the most successful car in Hendrick Motorsports history, and before "T-Rex," the Chevrolet that prompted NASCAR's sanctioning body to rewrite its chassis rules: There was Dusty. The Chevrolet Lumina was an original, integral piece in the chassis-building history of Hendrick Motorsports. But the rustic car is more than a footnote in the company annals. It represents the innovative approach and optimistic spirit that team owner Rick Hendrick still infuses into his employees. To commemorate the organization's 25th anniversary, the restored Dusty was presented to Hendrick at the company's season kickoff luncheon on Jan. 20. The car was painted silver and bears the single letter "H" in lieu of a number on the side. A small metal plate stamped with "HMS 001 Dusty" sits on the crossbar that goes through the passenger seat. When Dusty first was built in 1989, it didn't have a chassis number anywhere on it. The precise craftsmanship served as the signature mark on Hendrick Motorsports' initial stab at car building. Under the direction of Gary Dehart, the Lumina -- originally identified as "HMS 89-1 test" -- was to be used for testing purposes. See full story at the Hendrick Motorsports site.(1-28-2009) Comment here
- Nicorette back with Gordon in 2009? UPDATE 3 National Guard/images: When Jeff Gordon’s new DuPont paint scheme was revealed recently, Nicorette’s associate sponsorship along the lower rear quarter panels was notably missing.
But that doesn't mean Hendrick Motorsports’ relationship with the smoking cessation product is necessarily over. And even if it is, there appears to be an opportunity for another sponsor to form a marketing relationship with Gordon’s team. “Nicorette has been a valued partner of Hendrick Motorsports, and we are in the process of discussing 2009 options with them,” a Hendrick spokesperson told the [Long Island] Press. In 2008, Gordon’s car will sport Nicorette green six times as primary sponsor, including upcoming races at Atlanta and Texas. Pepsi was the primary sponsor twice in ’08. But the Hendrick rep later added, “The structure of the sponsorship will be similar to what you’ve seen the past few seasons.” Attempts to reach Lutz, Fla.-based Lighthouse Marketing, LLC, which manages Nicorette’s motorsports account, were unsuccessful. National Guard, #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s co-primary sponsor, could pick up Nicorette’s former spot on the lower rear quarter panels.(Long Island Press)(10-15-2008)
UPDATE: during Friday nights 'For Race Fans Only' on QVC, in which Darrell Waltrip was the special guest, the new 2009 'black' DuPont car was in the studio and instead of having Nicorette on the lower rear quarter panels, it had National Guard BUT the diecast being hawked was had Nicorette instead. See images and video at QVC.com. But am hearing Nicorette is out and National Guard is in, NO word how or if this would effect the co-primary sponsorhip of Earnhardt Jr.'s #88 Chevy.(10-18-2008)
UPDATE 2: hearing that Jeff Gordon will be driving a National Guard scheme on the #24 Chevy in eight races in 2009, starting at Atlanta in March, have heard it will NOT effect the National Guard sponsorship of #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr.(11-23-2008)
UPDATE 3: This season, Gordon and the #24 team will help bring awareness to the National Guard's community initiatives, such as the National Guard Youth Challenge, Active First, College First, Path to Honor and Employer Support for the Guard and Reserve (ESGR). The programs will be showcased on the #24 DuPont/National Guard Chevy in eight races this season: March 8 at Atlanta; April 5 at Texas; May 9 at Darlington; June 14 at Michigan; July 11 at Chicagoland; Sept. 12 at Richmond; Sept. 20 at New Hampshire and Oct. 25 at Martinsville.(HMS PR), see images of the scheme on my #24 Team Schemes page.(1-21-2009) Comment here
- Langenstein honored as 2008 Papa Joe Hendrick Award of Excellence: Charlie Langenstein, mechanical director for the Hendrick Motorsports # 24 and # 48 Sprint Cup Chevrolets driven by Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson was awarded the 2008 Papa Joe Hendrick Award of Excellence on December 19, 2008 at the Embassy Suites Hotel and Spa in Concord, North Carolina during the annual Hendrick Motorsports Company Christmas Party. A 40 year motorsports veteran and 9 year employee of Hendrick Motorsports, Charlie was voted by his fellow teammates and company peers as the winner of this very prestigious award. While a select and deserving group of nominees throughout the Hendrick Motorsports complex were considered, Charlie Langenstein was selected as the person who stood out the most among this honored group. The Papa Joe Hendrick Award of Excellence was started in 1995 and each year a Hendrick Motorsports employee is selected. It is awarded annually to the Hendrick Motorsports team member displaying outstanding job performance, leadership, teamwork and contributions above and beyond expectations in order to help the organization succeed.(PR), see more on my Awards page.(1-16-2009)
- Hendrick drivers to pop up on Kellogg's breakfast pastry: Mark Martin, Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr. are coming to a breakfast aisle near you during the 2009 Sprint Cup season. The Hendrick Motorsports drivers will be featured on Brown Sugar Cinnamon flavored Limited Edition NASCAR Printed-Fun Pop-Tarts. In addition to the drivers, the team paint schemes and hauler designs will be printed on the individual Pop-Tarts pastries, which are Kellogg's most popular morning food product. The limited edition Pop-Tarts also will include NASCAR, Hendrick Motorsports and driver trivia questions. The Brown Sugar Cinnamon flavored Limited Edition NASCAR Printed-Fun Pop-Tarts will be available throughout the 2009 Sprint Cup Series season at major retail outlets nationwide.(Hendrick Motorsports PR) Martin is scheduled to run special Pop Tart's paint schemes at Las Vegas, Bristol in Aug, Richmond in Sept and Charlotte in Oct.(1-15-2009) Comment here
- Jeff Gordon sells Colorado property: #24-Jeff Gordon has sold most of nearly 2,000 acres he owned in the high country above Missouri Heights [Colorado] to a development group headed by the man who created the Dallas National Golf Club in Texas a few years ago. And John MacDonald, formerly of the Ernst & Young accounting and consulting firm, said he plans to build much the same kind of project here as he did in Dallas. The course designer is to be golf architect Tom Fazio, who also designed the Dallas National course.
The deal has yet to close, said broker Scott Davidson of the Aspen Associates Realty Group. Gordon, who reportedly bought the land outside of Carbondale in 2006 for $9 million, was not even thinking of selling the land until MacDonald approached him. But over time he became convinced it was the thing to do, according to John Bickford, Gordon’s stepfather and business manager. “I found it by actually driving around and looking for golf property,” MacDonald said of the deal, adding with a hearty laugh, “It took a while, but I wore him down.” Gordon retains a 50-acre parcel of his own, as well as “a couple of memberships in the club,” MacDonald said. Gordon’s parcel overlooks the proposed golf course site but is not near it, MacDonald said, stressing that the 300-acre golf course will not be peppered with homes, as are a number of other golf subdivisions that have sprung up in the Roaring Fork Valley. Bickford and MacDonald both noted that the property butts up against a neighboring development known as High Aspen Ranch and another called The Ranch at Coulter Creek. He said that some of the homeowners in those subdivisions are likely members of his proposed golf club.(in part from the Aspen Times)(1-7-2009)
- HMS Holdings suing DEI over engines UPDATE 2:: HMS Holdings, which operates the Hendrick Motorsports engine shop, is suing Dale Earnhardt Inc. for $1.5 million for the payment of a termination fee stemming from a contract to supply Hendrick engines to Ginn Racing. Ginn Racing, which also is a defendant in the suit filed Friday in North Carolina Superior Court, merged with DEI in July 2007. As part of the merger, DEI and Ginn Racing signed a termination agreement to a contract that was originally signed by Ginn in 2006. The termination agreement required payments to HMS of $1.754 million by July 31, 2007, and $1.5 million by Nov. 15, 2008, according to the suit. The first payment was made on time. The second payment has not been made, according to the suit. The original engine contract and termination agreement are not included in the suit, so it is unclear how much Ginn was paying to use Hendrick engines. HMS is asking for the $1.5 million, 12% interest and an additional $225,000. Hendrick Motorsports spokesman Jesse Essex said the company is looking forward to a swift resolution of the lawsuit. Dale Earnhardt Inc. Vice President John Story said the company has no comment.(SceneDaily)(11-25-2008)
UPDATE - engines cost $12.8M base: If you’re looking to lease engines from Hendrick Motorsports for a NASCAR operation, you’d better be prepared to open up your wallet. A legal battle being played out in North Carolina courts is offering rare insight into the usually secretive world of the sport’s finances as the Hendrick operation seeks compensation from the Ginn Racing team that wound up as part of Dale Earnhardt Inc. in 2007. According to a contract filed as part of the case, the Hendrick engine lease agreement with Ginn Racing called for Ginn to pay a base rent of $12.8 million in 2007 and $13.7 million in 2008 to lease engines for its three Sprint Cup teams and one team in what is now the Nationwide Series. The fee covered Cup engines for 36 race events and up to nine tests or special events and Nationwide engines for 35 events, according to the contract filed as part of a lawsuit by HMS Holdings against Ginn Racing and Dale Earnhardt Inc. over the termination fees resulting from the Ginn-DEI merger in July 2007.(Scene Daily)(12-20-2008)
UPDATE 2: DEI claims that former NASCAR team owner Bobby Ginn is responsible for paying off any termination fees of Ginn Racing’s engine leasing contract with Hendrick Motorsports. Both DEI and Ginn have been sued by Hendrick in North Carolina Superior Court over $1.5 million in fees that Hendrick claims is owed under the termination agreement signed when DEI bought Ginn Racing in July 2007. In its response to the suit filed Dec. 22, DEI claims that DEI and Ginn have a signed agreement that DEI would not be responsible for any claims or payments under the engine lease termination agreement. DEI asks the court to rule that Ginn is responsible for any payments. Ginn has not yet responded to the suit.(SceneDaily)(12-30-2008) Comment here
- Gordon say Letarte will continue as crew chief next year: Should Gordon not crack the win column before the season finale at Homestead, don't expect any wholesale changes to the #24 squad including crew chief Steve Letarte's post. "We're not changing Steve or crew chiefs," Gordon said. "I believe in him. The problems we're having are not Steve. We need to build more depth on the team, and Steve is a big part of organizing that and has really been spearheading a lot of the ideas that are going to be improvements for us for this season and next year."(CBS Sports)(11-1-2008) Comment here
- New look for the #24 in 2009 UPDATE 2 Image posted: Jeff Gordon announced on QVC's shopping show "For Race Fans Only" that the primary paint scheme will change on the #24 DuPont Chevy in 2009. The primary scheme seemingly changes whenever there's a new occupant in The White House. Gordon raced the rainbow-themed DuPont Chevrolet from 1993-2000 while Bill Clinton occupied the highest office in the land. Gordon experienced his greatest career success in the rainbow car. In 2001, he changed to the fire and flames scheme and raced that for the next 8 years while George Bush ran the country. And now, the third -- and likely, final -- incarnation of the DuPoint paint scheme will be raced in 2009 and beyond. The new 2009 DuPont paint scheme is expected to be unveiled during the week leading up to the October 11 race at Lowes Motor Speedway.(Gordonline.com), am hearing the base color will be BLACK.(9-20-2008)
UPDATE: #24-Jeff Gordon and sponsor DuPont are scheduled to unveil his 2009 (and beyond) paint scheme live on the NBC's Today Show Thursday [Oct 2nd] morning at 7:00am/et, Rockefeller Center, New York. It’s his first paint scheme change since 2001 and only the third since 1993.(10-1-2008)
AND Jeff Gordon will be a guest on the Thursday, Oct. 2, edition of ESPN First Take. The news and information program airs at 10am/et on ESPN2. Gordon will tell host Dana Jacobson why his car will have a new look in 2009. Gordon also will discuss the upcoming AMP Energy 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. The race airs live Sunday, Oct. 5, at 1pm/et on ABC.(ESPN PR)(10-1-2008)
UPDATE 2 - Image posted: One of NASCAR's most popular and successful drivers, Jeff Gordon, unveiled his brand new 2009 paint scheme before a national audience live on NBC's "TODAY Show" this morning, marking the first change Gordon has seen on his DuPont Chevrolet since 2001. Designed by popular motorsports artist Sam Bass, the new car features a sleek and stealth black body emblazoned with bold neon red, orange and blue flames. "I'm fired up about our new paint scheme," said Gordon. "I've always loved cars with flames and the current 'Fire and Flames' paint scheme has been one of my favorites. But now I think we've improved upon that with the 'FireStorm' design and hopefully we'll be as fast on the track as the paint scheme makes us look." The four-time Sprint Cup Champion will debut his new colors on-track at the 51st Running of the Daytona 500 in February when he celebrates his 17th season with primary sponsor, DuPont, and the 25th Anniversary of Hendrick Motorsports. "We have such a solid, longstanding relationship with both Jeff and Hendrick Motorsports, so continuing that relationship and debuting Jeff's new DuPont Chevrolet in conjunction with Hendrick's 25th Anniversary is very exciting for us and the sport as a whole," said David Bills, chief marketing and sales officer for DuPont. Motorsports Authentics, through its Action Racing Collectables die-cast brand, will be offering a collectable die-cast version of the #24 DuPont Chevrolet. Pre-orders are being taken on goracing.com, nascar.com and at Motorsports Authentics authorized dealers nationwide. The Racing Collectables Club of America (RCCA) will also offer a version of the die-cast through its RCCA Elite brand.(Motorsports Authentics PR), see an image of the scheme on my 2009 #24 Team Schemes page.(10-2-2008) Comment here
- DuPont extends with Hendrick & Gordon: DuPont, Hendrick Motorsports and Jeff Gordon, driver of the #24 DuPont Chevy, announced that the current longest-running sponsor/driver/team combination in the Sprint Cup Series will continue through the 2010 racing season. At that point, the sponsorship will have been in existence for 18 years.
The contract extension was announced by Gordon and David G. Bills, DuPont chief marketing and sales officer, on DuPont NASCAR Day, an employee appreciation event held annually at the company's headquarters in Wilmignton, DE. "DuPont has a long tradition of excellence in the automotive world and we're proud to be a part of it," Gordon said. "The fact that we're now in our 16th year together speaks volumes about the success of this partnership." DuPont launched its NASCAR involvement in 1992, when it decided to sponsor Gordon, then a rookie 21-year-old driver from California, who had just been hired by Rick Hendrick, founder and CEO of Hendrick Motorsports. Gordon, now 36, is a four-time Cup Series champion. A long roster of DuPont brands and company messages appear with varying frequency on the #24 DuPont Chevrolet. The list includes the DuPont Oval logo, DuPont Tyvek Home Wrap, Pioneer Hi-Bred Seed, DuPont Automotive Finishes, DuPont Corian solid surfaces, DuPont Kevlar high strength material and many others.(PR Newswire)(5-29-2008) Comment here
