Rick Hendrick expects Jeff Gordon to drive several more years
By SceneDaily Staff
Friday, November 20, 2009
Hendrick Motorsports' Jeff Gordon hasn't won at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Sam Cranston
NASCAR Scene
Related story: Jeff Gordon has no regrets about discovering Jimmie Johnson
HOMESTEAD, Fla. - Hendrick Motorsports team owner Rick Hendrick said that he expects driver Jeff Gordon to compete several more years in NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series.
“Jeff and I have an agreement [that] as long as he drives in Cup, he’s going to drive our car, and I’m hoping that he’s going to drive a bunch more years," Hendrick said Friday morning at Homestead-Miami Speedway. "We know it’s going to be at least three or four, so we’re excited about that.”
The four-time series champion, riding the wave of a strong season, says that he doesn't want to put a number on his remaining years of competition, but he didn't dispute that number.
Gordon said that seasons like the one he has enjoyed this year make it easier to think about racing for more years.
Gordon, 38, is third in the standings heading into Sunday's Ford 400. While he will be eliminated from championship contention when teammate and points leader Jimmie Johnson takes the green flag, Gordon has found a lot to be proud of this year. He has one win and 24 top-10 finishes, 16 of them top-fives.
That's a strong improvement on his 2008 season, in which he finished seventh in the standings but went without a victory. He tallied 19 top-10 finishes that year.
This season, he and crew chief Steve Letarte have fared much better, and Gordon seems to be recovering from the back problems that dogged him at times earlier this year.
That, says the driver who ran his first full Cup season in 1993, makes him more optimistic about a longer career.
"My conversations with him are pretty much the same as anybody else," he said of talks with Hendrick. "As long as I'm healthy and competitive and we have sponsorship and we're out there enjoying ourselves, we're going to keep doing it. I don' t like to put a number on that. Things can happen in a hurry, and right now things are going well. My back is better, and we were having a good year.
"Things are going well. To me, seasons like this add years to my career, and seasons like last year take away from it. Last year I was frustrated and not feeling good, and it was like, ‘Give me a couple of more years.’ Now I'm like, ‘Four or five, who knows?'"
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12 responses to "Rick Hendrick expects Jeff Gordon to drive several more years". Post a Comment.
daviclar38 said:
Nov 20, 2009 at 2:21 PMMight as well make that 10 million dollars a year while you can Jeff.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportPhoenix987 said:
Nov 20, 2009 at 4:31 PMHe just re-upped with Hendrick till 2013 and possibly 2014, right? No surprise for Gordon to stick around.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportnascarfan247 said:
Nov 20, 2009 at 5:40 PMglad to see your staying jeff make it 10 more years
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» Confirm Abuse Reportrae said:
Nov 20, 2009 at 5:40 PMKeep going, Jeff! After your "slump year" you've really improved. I think your pit crew needs a refresher course in order to improve their timing and someone needs to make your car better not worse during your pit stops.
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» Confirm Abuse Report4EVER3 said:
Nov 20, 2009 at 5:55 PMMore power to him.DRIVE ON!!
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» Confirm Abuse Reportctjeepinguy said:
Nov 20, 2009 at 6:48 PMJeff is still young enough to race alot more years. In every interview, he says how much fun he is having on the track. Soon he has to train Ella into racing if he so wishes! Like Oprah, only he will know when it's time to step down. I think the Hall of Fame is saving a whole building for him. Jeff, win at Homestead and complete the circuit of wins!
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» Confirm Abuse ReportWerner said:
Nov 20, 2009 at 6:52 PMGordon has said he wants out by the time he gets to 40...of course we know that can change...isn't this the last year for DuPont?...
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» Confirm Abuse Reportgojeffgo said:
Nov 20, 2009 at 8:10 PMHope Jeff can find a second wind like Martin and drive till he can't drive no more. Please, Jeff, keep racing-you're the reason I became a fan of Nascar and watched each week it was on antenna TV, just to cheer you on. Bummed you didn't make it to Eldora this year, so I just got Satellite this summer and now I get to watch every race!
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» Confirm Abuse ReportSS396Chevelle said:
Nov 20, 2009 at 8:48 PMKeep going Jeff your fans are behind you. Great year this year, but room to improve next. Dupont is signed through 2010, but I don't think they will bail on him if Jeff continues.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportb48orr said:
Nov 20, 2009 at 10:29 PMJeff Gordon is such a part of my nascar now I dont Know what I would do without him racing! Not a big fan of him in the beginning but I sure hope he finishes second to my guy Jimmie every week now! Keep it up Jeff we love ya man!!
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» Confirm Abuse Reportmom1159 said:
Nov 20, 2009 at 11:05 PMWas never a Jeff fan but this year really appreciate him and the person he has become. It must be very difficult for him with JJ getting so much glory and still wonder if he is part owner of JJs car- why isn't he mentioned. All I hear is JJ is a Hendrick driver.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportjdxenterprises said:
Nov 21, 2009 at 3:27 PMWerner, I thought I remembered something about that too and no announcemant has been made regarding sponsorship that I am aware of?!
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