Intense Facts About Jeff Gordon, The Man Who Made NASCAR Matter
The Wonder Boy Of NASCAR
Jeff Gordon may be one of the fastest drivers to ever hit a racetrack, but his life wasn’t always as golden as it seems. He had to overcome the kind of challenges that would’ve probably stopped anyone in their right mind—both before and after becoming one of the biggest winners in NASCAR history.
1. He Was Born For It
Born within miles of the California Speedway in the early 1970s, Gordon hit the racetrack way earlier than any of his peers. Thanks to his stepdad, he started riding BMX bikes at age four, and made the jump to racing with other kids in quarter midgets at age five. He boasted over 100 career wins by the time he was 11, which makes his next move pretty surprising.
2. He Got Tired Of It
Gordon seemingly made an attempt to retire from racing altogether at 12 years old. Reportedly, he became disinterested in racing, and decided to try his hand (and feet) at waterskiing. It didn’t take too long for him to ditch the water to return to the track, but when he did, he found a racing community that didn’t actually want him there.
Wild West Productions, Undeniable with Joe Buck, Jeff Gordon: Life in the Fast Lane (2017)
3. He Was Too Young
With Gordon set to return to racing, his father searched for opportunities for his son to advance in the sport, which started with getting him a new sprint car. When he contacted former driver Lee Osborne to make Gordon a car, the man flat out refused when he found out the driver was only 13. After some convincing, Osborne complied—but that turned out to be just the beginning of their troubles.
4. They Tried To Stop Him
Age restrictions in California racing kept Gordon from competing in his own state, so he headed to Florida in the mid 1980s to try racing with the big boys—men more than twice his age! Florida technically didn’t have an age limit, but seemingly only because they didn’t think they’d need one. When a teenage Gordon arrived at Speedweek, people started to talk, and they didn’t have good things to say.
