“I’ve always said I don’t want to race for the money,” Gordon said. “I really want my family to be able to be a part of it in a way that they can see and experience and be proud of what I’ve done.”
Gordon spoke to the media before last year's Brickyard 400. I was lucky enough to catch him looking away from the cameras.
Jeff Gordon and his wife Ingrid have a 2-year-old daughter Ella, and are expecting another child this summer. Even though Gordon has enjoyed being a father, he wants his children to enjoy the sport in the way that kids like Kyle Petty enjoyed being around his father, back in the day.
Gordon said last season’s run to finish third in the points behind teammates Jimmie Johnson and Mark Martin shows that he’s “still got it.” A fire and a passion that burns within the NASCAR star hasn’t diminished, despite Gordon’s perceived drop off in performance.
“You go through life and find you really care about what you do and how important it is,” he said. “You think about what life would be like without it. I’m enjoying what I do.”
Sound familiar?
On Friday, July 24 of last year, Mark Martin noted to a group of reporters (yours truly included in the group), “I said we’d start with one [win]. Just because we won one didn’t mean I was going to quit and go back and sit at home.” And again in September after signing a contract extension with Hendrick Motorsports, the then 50-year-old said, “That shouldn't come as any big surprise. Who would want to quit?”
Mark Martin seems to have rubbed off on Jeff Gordon
Gordon has taken some notes from his eldest teammate it seems. Gordon also told Ryan, “The reality of it is my passion is racing. I’m a highly competitive person, and whether I’m driving or not I want to be involved in racing. I feel like it’d be pretty crazy for me to step away from that.”
In a book written in 2004 about his career, Martin said, “I’ve always been competitive. Anything I’ve ever done, I’ve gone at it 100 percent. I don’t know any other way.”
I’ve often talked about how I live up to giving it my all. There’s no other way to go than full-throttle, as I mentioned in January when I discussed how Urban Meyer made me think twice about my lifestyle. And, although I’ve never been much of a Jeff Gordon fan, I have to respect his view on this.
Plus, I’ve lightened my harsh stance on Jeff since he’s gotten older, and is now a teammate of the man I consider my hero and role model. The fact that Gordon has become a family man and isn’t necessarily drawing the ire of NASCAR fans every week (although, interesting tangent thought-shouldn’t we all be angry he found Jimmie Johnson and suggested to Mr. Hendrick that the kid be put in an HMS car?) has also made me respect Gordon all the more.
Gordon (farthest right) is at least partially responsible for Johnson's (farthest left) dominance of the sport, at least in theory (Getty Images)
If my dad was in NASCAR, I’d do everything I could to make sure he kept racing until he was Mark Martin’s age. I’d love to hear what 17-year-old Matt Martin, Mark’s son, has to say about growing up around NASCAR. Heck, he practically grew up with Gordon’s rise to the top.
But, that’s another story for another day. Back to the original point; I’m glad Jeff Gordon is willing to let his family share in his passion and joy. I’ve been doing it for years with my family and friends. I also have a great respect for Gordon—something I never thought ten years ago I’d ever say.
I know it should be assumed that every driver is 100 percent passionate about NASCAR and he always wants to win, or he wouldn’t be driving, but it was refreshing to read Gordon’s take on it. Maybe he’ll finally get to celebrate title number five, and this time he’ll celebrate with his whole family in Victory Lane.
Johnson, Gordon and Martin (Getty Images)
Ryan's article can be found here: http://www.usatoday.com/sports/motor/nascar/2010-02-24-jeff-gordon_N.htm
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