Teams » Brad Keselowski Texas Motor Speedway Event Preview
From foe to friend, for Junior, in the number 12 car. I doubt he will give zero bars to the driver of the 12 car again.
Jeff Gordon’s real dad to see him race at Sonoma on Father’s Day
By Kris Johnson - Assistant Managing Editor
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Jeff Gordon will have a healthy rooting section when he returns to compete at Infineon Raceway on Father’s Day. Among those the Vallejo, Calif., native expects to be there is his father, Bill Gordon.
While Gordon was raised by his mother, Carol, and stepfather John Bickford, he maintains a good relationship with his father.
Gordon discussed that relationship as part of an extensive sit-down interview June 12 at Michigan International Speedway. A full transcript of that interview will appear in an upcoming issue of NASCAR Illustrated.
NASCAR Scene: Father’s Day is coming up and it’s only natural to think of your father figure. Did you ever feel like you missed out on not having a real relationship with your blood father when you were young?
Jeff Gordon: “Well, he’s like one of my buddies [now]. He’s somebody I can talk to as a friend. And I’ve explained this to him; to me, because I was in the situation I was in with my stepfather … he’s thankful for my stepfather the way that John stepped in and the job that he did as a dad. But I think he feels like he missed out on a lot. And, you know, that is my dad. Had things been different, I would have been interested to see how that relationship played out over time. Because I see a lot of myself in him, I see the things that we have that are the same, and again, those are good and bad. But I think we would have been obviously a lot closer than we are now because he wasn’t there much. In this situation, I don’t really put blood before the relationship that I have with my stepdad. I know it’s blood, but I’m all about the time and the bond and the relationship of how it’s built over time. With my Mom, I have both. I have that and the blood, so I’m very, very close and tight with her.”
NS: It doesn’t sound like you harbor any bitterness toward your real father. Do you talk to him a lot?
Gordon: “We talk probably once a week, once every couple of weeks. I definitely talk to him and see him from time to time, but it’s not really any different than it was or it has been. It’s always kind of been the same thing. He’s trying to live his life; he knows that my mom and my stepdad did a good job with the kids, so I don’t think he’s had to be there maybe as much as one thinks [he] should.”
NS: Is he somebody that you’ll see in Sonoma this weekend?
Gordon: “Oh, yeah.”
NS: People don’t know a lot about him. Maybe that’s the way you wanted it?
Gordon: “It’s not that I don’t want people to know about him, it’s just that there’s nothing more or less to the relationship than there is. When I’m out in Sonoma, everybody who sees him knows him [among the people I encounter]. He probably comes to three or four races a year. I think he knows that while he’s my dad, and there’s some celebrity that might come along with that, that he knows John is the one that really got me to where I am in racing, and so he respects that. He’s not looking for anything more than to continue the relationship that we have and come to races from time to time.”
NS: So your father is just a regular guy living his life in California. What does he do for a living?
Gordon: “He works for the state. He’s had a couple of different jobs. The job that he has now, and I don’t know all the details of it, but he works for the state of California. I think it’s the Fish & Game [Department], where they preserve [the habitat].”
2009 Sprint Cup Race for the Chase Standings
Driver Standings after the AMP Energy 500
| 1 | Jimmie Johnson | 6248 |
| 2 | Mark Martin | -184 |
| 3 | Jeff Gordon | -192 |
| 4 | Juan Pablo Montoya | -239 |
| 5 | Tony Stewart | -279 |
| 6 | Kurt Busch | -312 |
| 7 | Greg Biffle | -340 |
| 8 | Ryan Newman | -402 |
| 9 | Kasey Kahne | -414 |
| 10 | Carl Edwards | -437 |
| 11 | Denny Hamlin | -448 |
| 12 | Brian Vickers | -556 |
Popular News
-
Hendrick Motorsports' Dale Earnhardt Jr. eager for return to Texas Motor Speedway
Comments (138) -
Richard Petty Motorsports' AJ Allmendinger charged with driving while impaired
Comments (73) -
JR Motorsports continues work on bringing Danica Patrick to NASCAR
Comments (69) -
NASCAR says bump-drafting rules not to blame for single-file Talladega racing
Comments (67) -
Dave Rogers to become Kyle Busch's new Cup crew chief at Joe Gibbs Racing
Comments (64)
Recent Headlines
-
Nationwide penalty likely for opening-day violation by Kyle Busch team
Comments (6) -
Kyle Busch pulls off Texas two-step by winning Nationwide race
Comments (8) -
Oklahoma teacher named Dickies American Worker of the Year
Post Comment -
Roush Fenway Racing's Donnie Wingo set to return to organization for 2010 NASCAR season
Post Comment -
Toyota executive addresses Formula One decision, Earnhardt Ganassi possibility
Comments (4)
Poll PositionView All
Which NASCAR Sprint Cup race winner from the past two seasons is most likely to earn his first victory of 2009 in the next three races?
Promotions
-
Play "WIX Filters' Pick 3" stock car fantasy and win prizes. Season 2 is now in session!
-
Tweet your thoughts about each race and join the conversation with other fans.
-
Drive an authentic NASCAR Sprint Cup car at the NASCAR Racing Experience.
-
Cast your vote for the NASCAR Illustrated 2009 Person of the Year, presented by Old Spice.
-
Make weekly pics for the Chase and be entered to win weekly SPEED Merchandise.
