Jeff Gordon is a true gentleman. Several years ago my girlfriend (I am a widower and this all occurred before we started seeing each other) had recently tragically lost her husband of many many years. She had a friend who had worked in public relations for NASCAR and knew all the drivers. There was a race up at the Michigan Speedway and this friend invited Jana to go up and hang out the night before race for a bit. Jana was around 60, her friend was in her early 30’s. She was reluctant to go but decided to get out of the house and go. Once there, her friend found Jeff and explained the tragic loss Jana had suffered. Jana did not know any of this was going on. When Jeff met Jana he spent several hours taking Jana around on his golf cart introducing her to other drivers and making sure she had a great time. He was an absolute gentleman and fantastic human being. He did not have to this, he was not looking for any recognition, he was doing it because he wanted to help a grieving widow through a difficult time. He is a fantastic person and I wish him all the happiness in the world, thank you Jeff.

NASCAR has never been the same since Jeff, Tony, Dale Jr, Kurt, and all those guys from the early 2000's retired. What a great era the late 90''s and 2000's was! Great racing, awesome cars... and so many big personalities! They have not replicated this in the new era and likely never will. All the young guys are just robots more or less. NASCAR needs more personality that's what it's really missing. Well that and the rules suck... there's that too. Stage racing is terrible and nobody understands the point system. I was fortunate enough to be at this race in Martinsville. So cool to see Jeff's last win as a die hard Gordon fan!

I retired nascar when Jeff did. I couldn’t go on without him.

Win #93 was the most epic that I saw and the crowd were cheering him hard that day in Martinsville.

If his body allows it, I’d love to see Gordon at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Franchitti, Jimmie Johnson, Jenson Button, Gordon, on the same track at the same time. It would be epic vintage racing.

I really miss seeing him out there every week, I didn't appreciate him until late in his career. He's definitely on the Mount Rushmore of nascar drivers in my book.

I’m a long time NASCAR fan, and there has never been any racing that compares to the racing that Jeff Gordon and the late Dale Earnhardt gave us to appreciate. Whether Jeff was on Dale’s rear bumper, or vise versa, that was two incredibly talented drivers battling each other like nothing that we’ve ever seen before. They made each other better. I am glad that I was able to watch those intense moments. Great entertainment! Thank you Jeff, and God bless you Dale! ❤

Our family was in Indianapolis to see Jeff win the first Brickyard 400, that was a great day. Thanks Jeff.

I still remember the 06 Pocono wreck, the 08 Las Vegas wreck, and the 09 Watkins Glen wreck. What could have been

I've personally met Jeff Gordon and had drinks with him, and didn't appreciate him until then. I even told him that and we chuckled about how many times he's heard that.... great guy, and have good memories with him

I am a semi driver. I know what it's like to spend hours in a seat, and I can understand his pain. Most people don't realize that every time you hit a bump, it pile drives your spine. That's not factoring in the accidents he has had that most people don't experience.

I miss Jeff, but Byron is making Rick proud in the #24 just picked up his first 500 as of this writing!

I was an Earnhardt fan and honestly I wasn't a gordon fan but the Earnhardt and Gordon rivalry was awesome it was the greatest thing for nascar and to find out that Earnhardt tought him alot of things is awsome

This interview is so wholesome, I hope he does get an opportunity to comeback someday, my hero! ❤❤❤

He's my FOREVER Champ and #24♥️♥️♥️ I miss him but glad he chose his health over more racing years. Love you Jeff! This Gordon gal is your forever fan.

Great driver. I was at Atlanta for his first and Patty's last race. He took some hard hits over his career. He races before the safer barriers and the Hans device.

I was at Charlotte and witnessed his 1st win ever. I had no idea till later on how lucky I was to be there and witness that. He had a great career.

Gosh , i remember his younger years. I would watch him and some of those amazing races. I was mostly an F1 fan but always respected and would watch when i could , nascar. Seems different now, not the same as it was back then. Time moves on. I See him now and still is that young guy but father time always wins.

Jeff went down swinging. 2014 was a championship season til Texas, he won in his final season. Not all retired nascar drivers can say they went out while winning races. Had the old points system stuck around, he’d be a 7 time champion.

That wreck at Vegas in 07 really did some damage to him and I don’t think he ever fully recovered from that

I thought so! I remember when Jeff Gordon had back surgery. After that, it seemed like a little bit of his sharp edge was gone. If you can't feel the car, you can't drive it as well. I road raced for 30 years, and drove a truck commercially for 4 years and 400,000 miles. I have over a million miles on my back, and I'm sore every day. I talked to many truckers when I was in it, and they had back problems also. I imagine that Jimmy Johnson didn't win in his last few seasons for the same reason.

I think the old school guys were just tougher. They worked regular jobs, raced short tracks on the weekends and hopefully got a lucky break to make it to the big leagues. Somehow now these kids are getting top notch rides at 19 years old straight out of high school and wanting to retire by 40.

Even though I was a huge Dale Earnhardt fan since his passing I really like and respect Jeff Gordon everything he did on the track in the 24 and still being a great recognizable figure in the sport present day.

I Boo'ed this man unmercifully for years, he was so damn good that he stunk up the show. I realize now that I was sitting on the front row witnessing greatness. Jeff Gordon was a generational talent and a great ambassador for the sport. I didn't appreciate it at the time but I sure do now.

I "loved to hate" Jeff Gordon. I always respected his talent and ability, though. An absolute icon of his sport. I'm glad he got out before his aches and pains disabled him.

I have been an F1 guy my whole life, I watched little bit of Nascar and Indycar, but Nascar drew me in because of Jeff Gordon.

I met Jeff in the Dupont tent many years ago, back when people in the industry gave out hospitality tickets like crazy. We had shrimp cocktail and took pictures together and nobody cared. It was cool back then.

That is a shame too. I think he can relate to Larry Bird on his Back. Or Bobby Orr and Joe Namath with his knees. I can imagine if he tried the World Rally Championship. Or Sports Car racing. If he did not have the back problems. And he chose health over racing.

Hendrick withheld the in-car footage from his Las Vegas wreck because of “his bodies unnatural movement in the accident” if that tells you just how bad and violent it was. Hearing that is frightening, we may have been closer to losing Jeff than we imagined watching that race live.

They call me Jeff Gordon, with the black SS and the navigation. My favorite Nascar driver. Hasn't been the same since. Also, shout out to all the other drivers. They all are great!

It was fun hearing all the southern good 'ole boys rooting against Gordon! Hooting and hollerin throwing cowboy hats! Good times!

Enjoyed watching Gordon race, man those were the days.......

Coming from a Tony Steward fan, I can honestly say Jeff Gordon has the best two commercials ever. Scared the 💩 out of those two guys.😂😂

I think the should bring back the old racers that retired they can sit down and talk about what track how many laps I think that would be a great idea and I bet the stands would be packed 1 race a year maybe?

His back issues made him retire , JG is the GOAT !!

I think a combination of the 2006 Pocono and 2008 Vegas wreck are what really messed up his back. I was at Vegas in 08 and that was a hard hit, we all held our breath. He was definitely slow getting out, had my binoculars on him and that net didn't come down for a minute or two.

Good to see him healthy. Especially those bad crashes in late of his career. Kept finding himself crash in bad spot in the track that nascar had to add safer barriers like in Las Vegas and Atlanta.

I’m not sure what year it was but there was a race I believe at Martinsville that JG ran all or most of the race without power steering.

That wteck at Vegas in 08 was a bad one it almost took him out of the car early but the kid is a tough one and was able to push through it and go on to have more success on the track for a few more years

Racing is a young mans sport. It seems like every pro driver that I talk to, there is another story of a broken back and multiple surgeries. Brutal stuff.

I was at the '94 Coca-Cola 600 for his first Cup Series win and at Martinsville in 2015 for his last. I doubt I'm the only person that can honestly say that but it has to be a very small group. I'm so grateful I got to enjoy his entire career. Jeff retired at age 44 and raced 22 years in NASCAR. Even in perfect health would he have really continued much longer?

I started watching in the early nineties and he was my man. It was so awesome watching his great career. Sad to see him go but understand why. Now I get to pull for the 5 and watch his unique talent.

Jeff was an amazing driver and by far my favorite all time. Nascar lost its appeal after Dale passed. And I dont think Ive watched a hand full of races since Jeff retired as I just cant stand watching the product that they put out these days. I wish we could go back to the old days when our heros were on the track.

Jeff was my favorite racer, besides being one of the best ever, he had the class and respect of Mark Martin, etc., plus his last name and my last name our clans were allies in old Scotland, but I was not happy when he quit before he had a 100 wins. But you do what you have to do. But his legacy will continue on as he recognizes other great talent and brings them up.

The boys in Crawfordsville, Indiana still talk about you Jeff.

He’s the reason I love NASCAR. Love you Jeff ❤

The last piece of NASCAR that really made it worth watching. IMO, After watching the Daytona 500 yesterday, for me, it's lost the apeal.

I watched his footwork during a road course race, I think it was Watkins glen , fucking incredible there had to be 2-3 hundred clutch pumps each lap!

And still he was on top of his game, incredible 2014 season, and a good 2015 season even though he only won once he was still pretty good. Easily the greatest driver NASCAR has ever had!

I feel like if it wasn’t for that 2008 Las Vegas crash he could’ve gone a few years more and retired around 2020-2021

You could close your eyes and hear Gordon's car above all others! It sounded like a Lion!

Jeff Gordon is the man! Almost got Kyle Larson a championship last year at Phoenix but he’ll try again to make any of his four Hendrick drivers to contend in 2024.

What a great winner Jeff is! Miss him.

That Vegas wreck where his car just happened to find that place where there was a hole in the wall and he T-boned that wall was the beginning of the end. Imagine going 500 miles and those seats are not for comfort those cars aren't for comfort. Imagine if from 2007 till 20?? if he wasn't hurting how many more wins and years he had left in him..I am glad he never cameback full-time after 4 or 5 years a way and be remembered for that. No driver that great who retires and returns could ever live up to his status. I would have loved to see him race in the Tony Stewart/Ray Evernham series. Which Tony can continue to Lie about it wasn't making money it was on Network TV. Short track Saturday night. He put that series to the side to drive his wifes Top Fuel Dragster!

Jeff Gordon will always be my favorite nascar driver .

I left nascar when Jeff Gordon left the drivers seat. He was the only reason I watched. I have since switched to F1 and haven’t looked back.

Met Jeff when I was thirteen, and we had Sport Allen at thirteen they were running at the Bay. Both were equally good for kids. But Jeff took them hard hits in that cup car. And a dirt car doesn't help your back any.

Knowing his back was starting to get bad in 2005 but was way worse by 2010 actually makes a bit of sense considering his drop in performance. 2005 and 2006 were pretty off years despite the wins and even though he bounced back in 07, 08 was the first winless season since 1993, and 2010 was abysmal by Jeff Gordon standards. I'm glad he was able to have a late career resurgence and go out on top.

These drivers get their bodies beat to death for decades. The suspensions are sprung so hard ,its like they are sitting directly on the asphalt, as the car slam over the bumps. The inevitable crashes make the long term damage even worse. When Dale Earnhardt senior passed away in his crash, alot of drivers said, one of the toughest drivers ever, got taken out on track, and people wanted to know why. It turned out that Dale Senior had been driving with profoundly painful body damage for many years. He had even had blackouts where he drove races he could'nt remember. Dales loss of his life may well have saved his son's life, because Dale Jr. saw the warning signs, and he got out of the car. People were so ugly to Dale Jr. when he did it but it was time. Like Jeff Gordon said, your body can only take so much damage and then you are simply not competitive. But even worse, it can be deadly. Some people have said that Dale Senior used to leave his harnesses loose because his back and neck hurt so bad. I remember when Cale Yarbourough was at Talledega and CBS had a camera with sound in the car while he was qualifying. He moaned all around the high banks from pain. At some point, you gotta stop. We all wished Dale Senior had stopped but, for him, there was a huge company and a family to support and bills to pay. Rest in Peace, Great One and we hope that bill never has to be paid like that ever again.

"I had a good plan in place..." and $250 million in the bank. What a great driver.... 93 wins... and a reputation as a clean driver.

this is an old interview. i rem this came out a yr later after he retired.

That las vegas crash did a number on jeff

720p in 2024? Wow

When Jeff retired, I began losing interest in Nascar! The big personalities are missed - Remember the WINSTON CUP! Appreciate all you have done for Nascar Jeff and enjoyed watching your career!

Ooo much sympathy it's no joke dealing with constant back pain,,,, but you had a good run and still have a lot to offer in other ways Jeff

Stage racing is got to be the worst idea

Jeff Gordon has always been my favorite driver he'll always be a 5 time NASCAR championship in my book 😊.

Jeff was and still is my idol in Nascar

Racing one of these cars is not easy by any means. Just the heat is stifling. The noise is deafening. The vibration running through the car for hours drains your strength, and this car is not made to be comfortable. Your body takes a physical beating from rigid suspension. We haven't gotten near talking on a radio while focusing on a 200 mph vehicle in traffic.

I retired NASCAR when my driver crashed at Daytona in 2001 and died. ( 3 ✝️ )

Jeff Gordon was one of the few American drivers in the last 40 years who could have been a great Formula 1 driver. But we appreciated him when he raced.

One of the greatest ever.

Probably that wreck at Pocono.

I really enjoy racing and will tune in for the 500 and select races here and there, but it’s just not the same without Jeff. I’m like Jimmie Johnson, I run a limited schedule and only pop in every know and again.

Severe back pain is the worst! It will completely control you until it lets up and that can take awhile in many cases. Although Jeff didn't seem to be hurting after the M-ville win!

He should race the spring race at Martinsville that race is always so dead. Needs him there.

for me Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt are the greatest rivals I have ever seen in NASCAR ever

I’m not a NASCAR fan thus I never knew that racing was so hard on the body. Makes sense once I thought about it. All that sitting and being jostled around.

Just like an NFL player, most careers are relatively short because the body can only endure for a short time. Players like Barry Sanders are smart as they choose to retire earlier and can still get out of bed in the morning.

#3 fan here but I came to like Gordon

He retired because he was smart. He won championships and a ton of races, so he had nothing left to prove.

NASCAR lost me when we lost Plymouth, dodge and Pontiac from the mix. Adding Toyota who isn’t even an American car manufacturer was a smack to many nascar fans. Nothing better than those traditional ford Chevy mopar rivalries that would spill over into the coffee shops across the country all week long. Good natured fun and lots of laughs over the years. Just a memory now.

Richard Petty has 13 of those clocks

Why is Joe Buck interviewing Jeff Gordon and not Randy Moss

Smooth Does it Response respect One❤😂🎉 He the man❤😂🎉titis babe

Yes we knew about back pain but we all knew hendrick wanted chase in the car he was forced out I've asked a lot crew guys at hms

Smartest thing to do

So no burning Tyres ❤😂🎉❤😂I was there when one❤😂🎉❤

I always liked Jeff. Burton.

Not bad last season gets one final race and to do it at martinsville

He was exciting in Nascar. Honestly wish in a parallel universe what he would have done in F1

Most of today’s drivers are retiring earlier. They make so much money now that they can retire whenever they choose to. A lot of them get into broadcasting after retirement. Very few will drive past 50 anymore. They just don’t have to. The last driver to really extend his Career and drive on was Mark Martin. Nobody since him has driven full time at that age.

Has anyone else ever looked at Jeff Gordon and thought that he looks like a cross between Tobey McGuire and Michael J. Fox?

Jeff Gordon was ok. I loved watching him get torched by Ricky Bobby. If you're not first, you're last! 😂

Havent watched one iota of nascar when Dale Sr. died.

Nascar isn't the same without guys like Jeff,Dale Jr, JJ, and all the guys from the 2000's does anyone even watch Nascar anymore?

A good year. But 2014 was a great year. But WHY WOULD YOU RESTART ON THE OUTSIDE AT TEXAS? You Had that championship won. Damn it man!

I started watching nascar about the time he started driving. I picked a winner to be my hero. Thanks Jeff. Stopped watching when he left.

sry Johnson, Jeff is the goat

Run Martinsville!