After the 2015 season, longtime NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon will no longer be racing full-time.
“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 press release. “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.”
Gordon does, however, still plan to remain active in the racing scene, though he currently doesn’t have any plans to drive for any events, though he was unwilling to rule that out as a possibility in the future.
“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.”
Gordon has raced his way to 92 wins over the years in NASCAR, good enough for 3rd on the all-time wins list, trailing only David Pearson with 105, and Richard Petty with an incredible 200 victories.
In addition to being 3rd all-time in victories, he holds that same distinction with championships, having 4 to his name.
The entire racing world has been reacting all day to the news of Jeff Gordon’s impending slow down. He broke the news in person to his Hendrick Motorsports teammates today and after that point many drivers, including Jimmie Johnson, Danica Patrick, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. took to twitter to address the last full season of Gordon’s career.
Gordon has etched himself into many of the all-time leader lists over the course of his career, and has earned the respect of the entire NASCAR world. Though 2015 will be the last time that Jeff Gordon drives his famous 24 car in pursuit of a championship, the legacy he will leave behind will last for years to come.