This man saved NASCAR. Its stars were aging rapidly and they desperately needed someone to take the torch from Earnhardt/Petty and they struck gold when he came up.
Kyle Larson may be saving it now. After Jeff, Jimmie, Tony, Matt, Carl etc have retired, every owner is looking for the next Jeff Gordon. Once again Hendrick has 4 young guns that can fill the void. Larson will be a force to be delt with for years to come.
Jeff was my childhood hero. My father was and always has been a Gordon fan from the very beginning and we watched all three practices qualifying and all three series races thursdays through Sunday as a kid. He looks like Rick now haha
Rick knows talent and hires it when he sees it all the way from shop janitor to driver. It’s more about that than the money. He hired the best even when he started with pennies to spend
It’s weird how things work.. I used to hate Jeff Gordon in the 90s but he really grew on me over the years… and now it doesn’t feel the same without him on the grid each Sunday..
Thats how I felt back then too. Now that the old guard are retired, I'm not that invested anymore. Just dont get the same vibe from todays drivers that I did from the 80/90s-2000s drivers.
His rivalry with dale sr was the best rivalry that nascar has ever seen. He’s definitely top 3 all time. Dale sr, Richard petty and Jeff Gordon is my top 3 all time.
This makes my heart feel good that Jeff is going to big part of Hendrick going into the future. Seeing Jeff celebrate with Kyle and the #5 team after the race Sunday made me smile. I've been a Rainbow Warrior since 1997 Southern 500.
does the world know how much in esteem we fans hold JG ?? For us under50 he took Nascar from the "spittin, ceegar smokin, good ol boys" of the 1950's to a 20-30 year old watching Nascar for the first time and feeling there was a place for us; the environmental, "let's change the world" gen. Special guy. Besides great driver, dad, Hall of Famer, intelligent and talented speaker. He changed Nascar.
I was absolutely torn when I heard Jeff was retiring. I grew up a mega fan of him thanks to my grandpa (love you pops) but now seeing the position he’s being put in, has got me just as excited as the 2015 Martinsville win that put him in the Championship 4. I’m blessed to still be young at 21 and knowing I’ll be able to see his career grow even more and see what history he can make with Hendrick in the future. I’ll be a 24 lifer ‘til my last breath. Respect to the legend.
Definitely a class act guy. He always saw the bigger picture beyond the track, even in his early days. Intense competitor, even if he didn’t show it externally. Prototype driver for sure.
Brad is more of a partnership, Tony has a team? Denny has his hands full with racing and owning a team alongside Space Jam Jordan. Junior was originally meant to inherit his late father's business with Michael Waltrip acting as the face and PR of the team and the former's sister Kelly as financial advisor. Alas, the 3 were screwed out of it by she-who-is-always-a-witch to everyone. And Jeff Gordon is no longer the Kid or Wonder Boy, he is Jeff Hendrick Gordon, the VP of Hendrick Motorsports and the eventual successor for when the founder retires. No other racer can fill that role but him. I wish him nothing but the best in his new role and not let anyone drag him down
@@nascarandbowlingfan3888 Dale had one points format his whole career, Jeff gets the 7* based on winston format. Also jeff didn’t need to rough up competition to get wins. Jeff>Dale
Good Luck! Jeff. Met Mr. Hendricks at the campus in 2019. What a Great Experience! Chase was there too! They talked with us like we were old friends, “EVEN LET US RING THE BELL” They really listen to us and made us feel very welcome, can’t wait to go back!
Jeffs always wanted Larson even before chip got him! Hendrick didn't take Larson back then and even he said he screwed up but made sure he get him this year !!
Absolutely love Jeff Gordon i met him in NYC many years ago, what an amazing Man He has always been my favorite driver Just cant say enough about him as an individual !! Miss him on the track and in the announcing booth !! He will truly be an asset in the offices at the new role at HMS !!
Its amazing to see Jeff's evolution. When I became a Nascar fan in the mid 1990's this talented man become one of my heroes. Congratulations Jeff Gordon and may your success continue to inspire 🙏🏿✊🏾
Great interview. Mr. Hendrick has once again "raised the bar" of success as he pretty much turns the reins over to Jeff Gordon to lead Hendrick Motorsports next year. He could not have picked a better person for the job. Excited to see the success continue in the coming years.
@@matthewpaul2324 I mentioned NOTHING about Evernham being an owner. Majority of Jeff Gordon's success is because of Ray Evenham. BTW, Ray Evernham is still a consultant with HMS.
I’ve watched nascar since the late 70s and I was a Jeff Gordon fan since 94. Jeff was going to start his own team and Rick gave him the partnership on the 48 and it has only grown from there, so this is nothing new just the next progression in the Hendricks race team. Jeff has been molded for this position for many years.
@@colbydobbs6399 I grew up in up state NY and watched Geoff race modified class for years. He Brett and Todd are sort of local celebs in Nascar. Geoff also introduced power steering to the sport as well.
@@donaldthomas7753 modifieds will always be my favorite, watching my favorite driver every weekend , NASCAR only 9 time champ , Richie Evans 👍 That finish at Martinsville with Geoff, incredible!
Being an old Dale Sr. fan for many years, Jeff being his nemesis, therefor by extension he was also mine, lol. I have to give Jeff props for doing such a good job over the years, both on and off the track. Hendrick will be around for a long time at the top of the sport with the great folks Rick employs, Jeff Gordon and Chad Knaus will be a huge part of that management team. Chase and Kyle as drivers will definitely be getting it done on the track well into the future. My driver, Kyle Busch and JGR as a team, have plenty of competition and their work cut out for them trying to stay atop the Hendrick crew. Looking forward to 2022 with the new car, however I would like to see 950+ horsepower again eventually, taking the aerodynamic advantage away from the leader. I wish them all God speed and a great (safe) future!
Jeff is my nascar hero bar none...he came in just as I was getting into nascar and I was his fan before he won his first championship...if evernham would have stayed he definitely would have won more than 7 titles. He would be considered the goat period bar none....he is in my book regardless.
I’ve seen Jeff go from a rookie to a four time champion. I was always both a HMS and DEI fan. Of course DEI folded so HMS took over as my all time favorite. Jeff you have great drivers working for you. You’ll win so many more championships over the years.
23Hamlet24 0 seconds ago Jeff is the ultimate champion, it was nice to see him at the track celebrating the championship. Congrats to Kyle, his team and HMS for a stellar season. 24ever 🙌 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆 J. Johnson-7 J. Gordon-4 T. Labonte-1 C. Elliott-1 K. Larson-1
Growing up in Dover in the 60’s & 70’s I was lucky enough to see some of the greatest NASCAR Drivers of the day. I served in the military 1974-94 and sorta fell out of NASCAR. In 1995, I got back into it. I like Dale SR, but didn’t want to be a bad wagon fan. I picked up on Jeff & stuck with him until his retirement. After his retirement, I picked Larson to follow. Good honest interview Jeff; I can see your enthusiasm in Hendricks.
Jeff Gordon is the star of stars besides being the great race car driver that he is and was founding the Jeff Gordon foundation which is a foundation that does so much for kids with cancer Jeff Gordon with 93 wins will be the winningest driver in the modern era
I wouldn't say impossible, but it will be some mighty big shoes to fill...... Mr H. has groomed Jeff all along....including the two of them being co owners of the 48 car!
Here’s the thing though without Jeff Gordon, you don’t get Jimmie Johnson. Jeff was also big in getting Kyle Larson this second time around. Jeff is massive in seeing the talent and getting them to join Hendricks. He’ll continue to do great and the lineup of drivers he has are all pretty talented.
@@carlpark1006 Without Ray Evernham, Jeff Gordon would've been a nobody. Jimmie Johnson was already a successful race car driver BEFORE he ever met Jeff Gordon or Rick Hendrick.
Jeff is a FANTASTIC addition to HMS. He's an absolute WEALTH of talent and information. (I do think quite frankly....that Dale Jr. ad a lit to do with HMS success as well as EVERYONE all the way beck to Tim....Geoff....TERRY... obviously....)Every single associate... not worker.....has had a hand in their industry success.
Yeah... I know. I hate talk to text. I grew up in Wilkes County North Carolina so language or how Google accepts my language is not always the best. Save North wilkesboro speedway please
Can Jeff Gordon bridge the generation gap between the rookies and the old salters? Happy H. said he thought his problems/clashes with youngster Elliot (Chase, not Bill) were generational. I see it being a paradigm shift. But a good shift because it can be captured and used to promote the sport! Mr. Hendrick will age out eventually (yes a huge empire, but the Romans are also gone) - Jeff has all he needs to continue at that great organization esp. if he is the appointed one at HMS. But the focus to make the sport great should be the pass off between "the old/experienced and the young/blazing." I believe that HMS will keep on, Jeff or no Jeff. Let's agree, encouraging competition will keep the sport viable - we need small teams like The Wood Bros - and we need a good portrayal between the great and the rook(ie) to keep the edge spontaneous and edgy and great! BTW, this sport needs to be ota on regular free TV (no for a fee), because it is the regular working guy that supports it - do not feed the chasm!
It has to be intimidating for the other Cup Series teams to know they have to compete with HMS every race. With Jeff Gordon running the business side, Chad Knaus leading the competition side and 4 great driver and crew chief combinations HMS is going to dominate NASCAR for at least another decade.
Rick made Hendrick Motorsports great and long term successful by hiring the best from top to bottom and promoting from within. Other owners like bud moore, junior johnson,, Robert Yates, and RCR had short term success because they only focused on hiring the best drivers at the time
I’m certain that had Ricky lived Geoff would not be in this position. However Rick Sr. I believe would have found a management position for him. Such is the love and respect that Rick and Geoff have for each other
He's right. Not may are. Gordon isn't as talented as Tony Stewart either. But the difference from Gordon/Johnson and Stewart/Larson is that Gordon and Johnson could harness all the raw talent they had, apply it to the vehicle. Being a race car driver takes more than just talent. Is Larson a greater talent that Gordon and Johnson? In a vacuum, sure. Is he a better race car driver? Absolutely not. Gordon, Jimmie were smarter, have a longer body of work executing at a high level. Etc.
@@SirMan48 I see where you’re coming from, I would say that Tony and Kyle are all around better race car drivers, but Jeff is the better Nascar driver (so far) but we are still early in kyles career, and he could end up passing Jeff in certain categories. But we also have to keep in mind that Jeff was doing this type of stuff in 95 when he was 24-25, and winning a total of 40 races between 95-98 when he was 24-27, meanwhile Larson hasn’t really hit a big stride until age 28-29. But we also have to take into account that Jeff started his cup career in premier equipment, while Kyle had to work his way up through Chip Genassi and miss an entire season, so it’s not exactly possible to know if Kyle would have had more early success. But also age isn’t always an indicator of all-star success, as Earnhardt won his first cup at 29 and didn’t win the last ones until he was in his late 30s/early 40s.
@@SirMan48 Honest question, man. How does someone judge talent in a sport like NASCAR? I’m new to the sport and trying to learn more, so I’m intrigued on how we can judge one driver as more talented than another. Is it reflexes, peripheral vision, or is it something else. Honest question.
It's so cool that nascar has a billionaire owner in Mr Hendrick I bought my 2021 tahoe from one of his dealerships. Most rich owners are stick& ball sports. I'm glad I'm a nascar fan jeff is going to be It's next billionaire owner
Never was a huge Jeff fan, I loved Earnhardt, but your being illogical if you don’t recognize he is a champion and knows what it takes. Just like Tom Brady, never a big fan but now I admire him and Jeff.
I really hope that Larson doesn't sign with an F1 team , and leave NASCAR he has a chance to be the best Nascar driver of all time if he will stay there.