Who is Jeff Gordon?
If you’re a fan of car racing or stock cars, you’ve probably heard of Jeff Gordon, one of NASCAR’s most influential drivers. He is also a member of the NASCAR Hall of Fame and one of the richest NASCAR drivers.
Gordon is no longer a NASCAR racer. He does, however, continue to work in sports broadcasting with FOX Sports.
Gordon’s career in NASCAR has been mostly successful, with only a few bad years in between. Jeff has successfully claimed his four NASCAR titles with 805 races in the NASCAR Cup series itself.
Now, let’s take a look at the NASCAR driver’s successful yet difficult journey from birth to his current position as a FOX Sports broadcaster.
Relationship Details, Jeff Gordon is Married?
Jeff Gordon married Brooke Sealy, a Miss Winston Cup model he met in the winner’s circle at Daytona International Speedway in 1993.
Brooke’s role as Miss Winston ended in the 1993 season, and the couple made their relationship public in December.
Gordon proposed Sealy during the 1994 Daytona 500 by reserving a banquet hall at a French restaurant in Daytona Beach.
He married on November 26, 1994, but the marriage ended in March 2002, when Sealy filed a lawsuit against Jordon for marital misconduct, citing his relationship with professional model Deanna Merryman.
Gordon then met Ingrid Vandebosch in 2002 through a mutual friend, and they began dating in 2004. They announced their engagement on June 24, 2006, and married on November 7, 2006, in a small, private ceremony in Mexico.
On June 20, 2007, the couple gave birth to their first child, Ella Sofia Gordon, in New York City. Leo Benjamin Gordon, a baby boy, joined the Gordon family on August 9, 2010.
The family is currently residing in Charlotte, North Carolina’s South Park neighborhood.
Quick facts about Jeff Gordon
| Full Name | Jeffery Michael Gordon |
| Birth Date | 1971, August 4 |
| Age | 51 Years Old |
| Birth Place | Vallejo, California |
| Nickname | Rainbow Warrior, Wonder Boy |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Nationality | American |
Jeff Gordon: Early Life, Age, Wiki, Parents, Ethnicity
Jeff Gordon, a NASCAR Hall of Famer, was born on August 4, 1971, in Vallejo, California. Carol Ann Bickford and Willian Grinnel Gordon, of Scotch-Irish ancestry, gave birth to Racer.
They divorced, however, when Jeff was only six months old. Jeff’s mother married John Bickford, a car builder, and parts supplier, in the 1970s.
Gordon began racing in quarter midgets when he was four years old after his stepfather bought him a BMX bike. Gordon was the youngest driver to obtain a USAC license at the age of 16, despite having spent his entire childhood racing.
His family then relocated to Pittsboro, Indiana, to take advantage of more opportunities.
Gordon graduated from high school in 1989 and immediately changed and went to Bloomington to race that night. The former NASCAR driver never attended college.
Jeff spent his childhood racing with his four-year elder sister, Kim, and his younger cousin James Bickford, who currently competes in the K&N Pro Series West.
Education, Schooling, University
There is no information about his education and schooling.
Professional Career, (NASCAR Racer)
Gordon’s first time on track was when he was four years old and his stepfather bought him a BMX bike. A year later, he began competing in local Quarter Midget Racing, where he won 35 main events.
By the age of six, he had set five track records and won a local championship.
Early Years Before NASCAR
Gordon began competing in national Quarter Midget racing in 1979. When he was only eight years old, he won 52 main events and set eight track records that year.
Jeff began kart racing at the age of nine and went on to win over 200 races in Quarter Midgets and go-karts between the ages of nine and twelve. After that, he tried his hand at waterskiing before returning to racing.
Gordon became interested in sprint car racing when he was thirteen years old. In Florida, he competed in his first sprint car races.
Because he couldn’t legally drive a sprint car until he was 16, his family relocated to Pittsboro, Indiana, in 1986.
In November of 1989, Jeff got enough donations to race in Australia, which allowed him to compete in the inaugural World Sprint Car Championship at Claremont Speedway, traveling to Perth.
Jeff, the championship’s youngest driver, finished 12th in the race.
Jeff was invited to compete in New Zealand races by the owner of Kiwi Cars in December 1988. Gordon won fourteen of the fifteen races he competed in two weeks.
Jeff became the youngest driver to obtain a USAC license at the age of 16. He was named the 1989 USAC National Midget Series Rookie of the Year when he was 18 years old, and he won the series championship in 1990.
Gordon became the youngest driver to win the USAC Silver Crown Series championship at the age of 20.
Jeff Gordon dominated the USAC National Midget Series by the end of 1990, winning nine races on his way to the series championship.
Gordon then aspired to a career in open-wheel racing. But he quickly realized that car owners valued foreign drivers who brought in big money and sponsorships.
When he discovered the realistic possibility of Stock Car Racing, he was hooked. Then, during a visit to the Cleaveland Grand Prix, Jedd was attempting to get into Indy Teams. He met Al Unser Jr. and A.J. Foyt, both of whom suggested NASCAR to Gordon.
NASCAR
The Busch Series
Jeff Gordon’s NASCAR career began with the Busch Series. In 1990, Gordon met Hugh Connerty, an Outback Steakhouse partner who had secured sponsorship for a car through Outback.
They then practiced for the remaining Busch Grand National races.
On October 20, 1990, he made his stock car debut at North Carolina Motor Speedway with Ray Evernham.
Although Gordon had the second-fastest qualifying lap and started outside, the front row was wrecked on lap 33, forcing him to finish 39th.
Gordon’s Busch Series introduced Ford Thunderbirds for Bill Davis Racing in 1991 and 1992. Then, in 1991, his career took a remarkable turn when he was named Rookie of the Year.
In 1992, Gordon set a NASCAR record by winning 11 poles in a single season.
Gordon and Rick Hendrick’s son Ricky Hendrick began racing in the Busch Series in 1999 with their team Gordon/Evernham Motorsports (GEM).
Pepsi provided full sponsorship for the team, which competed in six races with Gordon as driver and Evernham as crew chief.
GEM lasted only a year after Evernham left Hendrick Motorsports, effectively ending the most dominant driver/crew chief combination in NASCAR history.
Nonetheless, Gordon remained at Busch for another year. Rick Hendrick purchased Evernham’s half of GEM, which became JG Motorsports.
Jeff won twice in the two seasons, first in 1999 at the Outback Steakhouse 200 and then in 200 at Homestead.
The Cup Series
Early Childhood (1991-1994)
When Roush Racing wanted to hire Gordon in 1992, his stepfather declined because Roush had hired his crew chiefs. Gordon later joined Hendrick Motorsports after Rick Hendrick saw him race in a Busch Series event at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
His Winston Cup debut came at the season-ending Hooters 500 in Atlanta, where he finished 31st following a crash. Gordon made his full-time debut in the Winston Cup series the following year, driving No. 24 for Hendrick Motorsports.
Gordon’s fortunes began to improve after winning the first race in the Gatorade Twin 125’s Race and earning his first-career pole position at the fall Charlotte race.
He also finished the year in 14th place and received the Rookie of the Year award. Many questioned Gordon’s ability to push cars too hard and crash.
Gordon had a successful 1994 season, winning the Busch Clash exhibition race, winning the Coca-Cola 600 pole, and winning the inaugural Brickyard 400.
Season of Champions (1995-2001)
In 1995, Despite a rough start, Gordon ended up winning his first Winston Cup Series. In the 1996 season, Gordon won ten races while defending his championship, including the final official NASCAR race at the track.
But he ended up finishing second to his teammate Terry Labonte losing by 37 points.
Gordon, on the other hand, won the Winston Cup twice in a row in 1997 and 1998. He was the youngest driver to win the Daytona 500 in 1997.
After winning the Southern 500 at Darlington that year, he became the first driver since Bill Elliott in 1985 to win the Winston Million.
Jeff Gordon won his second Winston title with ten victories in 1997, and he won his third title with 13 victories and a 364-point lead over Mark Martin.
The 1999 season began with his second Daytona 500 victory. Gordon signed a lifetime contract with Hendrick Motorsports beginning in 2000, making him the equity owner in his No. 24 teams after Evernham left.
Gordon began the 2000 season with his 50th career victory, finishing ninth. The following year, Gordon became the third driver in NASCAR history to win four Winston Cup championships.
Struggles and Downhill (2002-2010)
Jeff Gordon had his worst crash at Pocono Raceway in 2006 when he lost his brakes.
“I probably hit the wall the hardest I’ve ever hit a wall.” I wasn’t myself, but I wasn’t knocked unconscious.”
-Jeff Gordon recalling his car accident
Jeff Gordon’s fortunes began to deteriorate during the late Winston years. Jeff Gordon’s next win would have been in 2007, which he would have lost due to the Chase system.
Gordon went winless for the first time in his career in 2008. But then he went on to win just one race in three years, from 2008 to 2010. Jeff only won once in 2009, after going winless in 2008 and 2010.
However, during the 2009 season, he became the first driver in NASCAR history to earn more than USD 100 million in career earnings.
Last Years (2011-2016)
After 2011, Gordon hired Martin’s crew chief Alan Gustafson, and he won the second race at Pheonix for the first time in 66 races.
He also tied Bill Elliot for the third-most pole at Aaron’s 499 and the most wins at Pocono’s track. He defeated Johnson once more in Atalanta to earn his 85th career victory.
Gordon’s 2012 started rough, with his first time filliping a stock car. He finished 40th in the Daytona 500 after a blown engine on lap 81. Gordon won his 86th NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Pocono, breaking the record for most wins.
Gordon’s 2013 season began with a crash in the Sprint Unlimited on lap 15. Gordon had a difficult season.
At NASCAR’s Media Day in February 2014, Gordon revealed that he planned to retire after winning his fifth championship.
Gordon had a good year in 2014, finishing in the top ten in every race up until the Bristol race.
Gordon and Austin Dillon were the only drivers in 2014 to complete every race. Gordon finished the season in sixth place, losing the championship for the third time due to Chase Points.
He announced in January that 2015 would be his final season as a full-time driver. During the 2015 season, many tracks paid tribute to Gordon by performing various acts and receiving many people’s gifts.
Gordon won the Goody’s Headache Relief Shot 500 for the 93rd and final time in his career.
In the 2016 season, Gordon was in the reserve role in No. 88. He became the ninth driver in Watkins Glen International history to reach 800 career starts. Gordon has also competed in several other races throughout his career.
Career in Broadcasting
Gordon entered the broadcasting industry after retiring from full-time driving in 2015. Gordon was then hired by Fox Sports to work as a guest analyst for Fox NASCAR broadcasts.
His Fox Sports 1 debut came during the O’Reilly Auto Parts 300 at Texas Motor Speedway.
Gordon announced his decision to join Fox Sports as a full-time analyst for Cup Series events beginning with the 2016 Sprint Cup Series through NASCAR Race Hub in May of 2015. Gordon has been a regular on FOX Sports’ NASCAR coverage.
Foundation
Gordon also founded the Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation. The Foundation’s vision is that one day, no child will face cancer uncertainty and that successful treatments will not have negative long-term consequences.
The foundation raises public awareness and funds critical childhood cancer research.
In addition to funding childhood cancer research, the Jeff Gordon Children’s Hospital in Concord, North Carolina, helps children in the community by providing high-quality primary and specialty pediatric care to all of their patients, regardless of their ability to pay.
Net Worth, Salary, Assets
Jeff Gordon is currently the third richest NASCAR Driver. He is now valued at USD 200 million. In terms of having the most wealth in his industry, Jeff Gordon can be compared to Floyd Mayweather or Cristiano Ronaldo.
Amy Reinmann, the wife of the richest NASCAR driver (Dale Earnhardt Jr), has a biography that you can read here.
Gordon’s salary and endorsements are estimated to be worth USD 20 million to USD 30 million at the peak of his career. Gordon has amassed at least USD 160 million in winnings alone.
When all income sources are considered, it is estimated that Gordon earned more than USD 500 million from NASCAR racing.
Gordon, on the other hand, lost a lot of money through divorce because he had to give his ex-wife a lot of money and assets, including one of his homes.
Gordon earns a living through his broadcasting career and other ventures even though he is no longer racing.
Rumors and Controversy
Talking about his rumors and controversy, he has not been in any part of rumors as well as controversy to date.
What is the Height of Jeff Gordon? Weight, Full Body Status
| Height | 5ft 8 inches(1.73m) |
| Weight | 150lbs (68kgs) |
| Build | Athletic |
| Shoe Size | Not Available |
| Eye Color | Grey |
| Hair Color | Brown |
Social Media Accounts
Jeff Gordon is very active on social media, with over a million followers on Twitter and nearly 400k followers on Instagram.
Gordon began using social media while sponsor hunting in 2011-12. Meanwhile, his perspective on social media shifted after noticing sponsors’ interest in the driver’s social media.
He is currently active on social media, where he shares his life, shows off his cars, and even shares memes. You can find him on Twitter at @JeffGordonWeb and Instagram at @jeffgordonweb.
You May Know: Suzanne McFayden, Lulu Antariksa