NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon says 2015 will be his last season competing for a Cup championship
Four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Jeff Gordon announced Thursday that 2015 will be the last season he competes for a championship in stock car racing’s top series.
Gordon tweeted the news to fans after meeting with the Hendrick Motorsports team and sharing the news with them.
Later Thursday morning, Hendrick Motorsports confirmed Gordon’s decision.
“As a race car driver, much of what I've done throughout my life has been based on following my instincts and trying to make good decisions,” Gordon said in a statement. “I thought long and hard about my future this past year and during the offseason, and I've decided 2015 will be the last time I compete for a championship.
“I won't use the ‘R-word’ because I plan to stay extremely busy in the years ahead, and there's always the possibility I'll compete in selected events, although I currently have no plans to do that.”
Letting team know this will be my final year competing for a championship. pic.twitter.com/s7aH8OpGQZ
— Jeff Gordon (@JeffGordonWeb) January 22, 2015
Gordon’s last Cup championship came in 2001 but last season was his most competitive in NASCAR’s 10-race Chase playoff. He was in contention to win a fifth championship most of the year coming up just short in missing a berth in the four-driver winner-takes-all championship finale at Homestead, Fla.
“I'll explore opportunities for the next phase of my career, but my primary focus now and throughout 2015 will be my performance in the No. 24 Chevrolet,” Gordon said. “I'm going to pour everything I have into this season and look forward to the challenge of competing for one last championship.
"To everyone at NASCAR, my teammates, sponsors, competitors, friends, family, members of the media and especially our incredible fans, all I can say is thank you.”
Gordon, 43, has earned four career Cup championships, 92 points-paying races and 77 pole, all for longtime car owner Rick Hendrick. He is third in all-time victories behind only NASCAR Hall of Fame drivers Richard Petty (200) and David Pearson (105).
This story was originally published January 22, 2015 at 10:26 AM with the headline "NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon says 2015 will be his last season competing for a Cup championship."