DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Jeff Gordon was calling NASCAR races for Fox when his old boss came over for a visit and left a note. Rick Hendrick had good-naturedly posted hours of his 12-hour workdays for his former star driver. Those are the grueling demands of the job when you own more than 100 auto dealerships and have your name on the most winning organization in stock car history.
“I knew I could never make that happen,” Gordon said with a laugh.
Look at Gordon now.
For the first time in his 50 years, Gordon jokes that he finally has a real job (minus the TPS reports). Yes, he has an office and desk, and if he has to strike a clock, Gordon can start with one of the nine grandfather clocks he won in Martinsville.
And his day begins as soon as the working father drops his two children off at school.
Gordon has taken over his day-to-day role at Hendrick Motorsports as 72-year-old Hendrick’s new vice chairman and second team officer. The move ensured that Gordon would one day succeed Hendrick and run the operation. The real performance for the four-time champion came with an early performance review from Hendrick.
“He shows up on time with his competition face on,” Hendrick said.
Wow! Next stop, employee of the month.
Few drivers have ever appeared in the big moments like Gordon. He won 93 races – third on the career list – and four cup titles before retiring in 2015. He won the Daytona 500 in 1997, 1999 and 2005.
Gordon now has a hand in all aspects of Hendrick, from competition meetings and marketing to sponsoring and social media ideas. He is something of a mentor to Hendrick’s four Cup drivers – defending champion Kyle Larson, 2020 champion Chase Elliott, William Byron and Alex Bowman. And why not? Gordon mixed wild success with off-track celebrity like no other driver before him (and maybe after). Gordon has encouraged drivers to step out of their professional comfort zone and find new ways to promote themselves and the sport.
Gordon should know how to go beyond racing. He hosted “Saturday Night Live”, voiced several cartoon characters and appeared in several TV shows, movies and commercials.
“If the drivers increase their following, the sport will probably also benefit,” Elliott said. “I think he’s just trying to help everyone win.”
Winning is still what Hendrick does best.
Hendrick swept the front row for Sunday’s Daytona 500 with Larson on the pole and Bowman starting outside. It was Hendrick’s seventh pole in the last eight Daytona 500s.
The team’s dominance was launched by Gordon, handed over to seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson, and could seemingly last for decades. Hendrick said he was about to sign Byron and Elliott for contract extensions and hoped both drivers – like Gordon – would end their careers with the organisation.
Gordon, the face of NASCAR as it exploded in popularity in the 1990s, had an equity stake in Hendrick Motorsports since 1999, and his interest in the business side of the sport only grew, even as he mentioned races on the Fox Sports booth. So was his realization that he wasn’t done making a difference with Hendrick.
“I always thought that if I’m not the one driving the car, the championships or wins won’t mean so much,” Gordon said. “I don’t agree. I think it’s just as rewarding in some ways, even more rewarding in other ways, because I’m connecting with Rick.”
Gordon wanted more than a seat at the table. He needed more seats in the pit box after being knocked out in the championship race last season.
Did he get anything?
“Oh yes,” he said.
Of course he did.
For a driver who has mastered the Bricks at Indy – he is a five-time Brickyard 400 winner – Gordon will soon be showing off his skills with Lego bricks. Gordon and Byron are guests this season on an episode of ‘Lego Masters’. Byron is a master builder – he flashed his handiwork Manchester United’s Old Trafford Stadium — while Gordon insisted he’s much more of a novice.
“I can only take the instructions out of the box,” he burst out.
He already helped design the blueprint to build a dynasty at Hendrick
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