Eulogy Of Jeff Gordon: Former NASCAR Champion
JEFF GORDON FOUNDATION
Jeff Gordon, the famous philanthropist, has been a former NASCAR champion. In addition, he has dedicated his time and effort to the children for his foundation. He formerly drove the No. 24 Chevrolet for Hendrik motors in 23 full-time NASCAR sprint season seasons between 1993 and 2015, and served as a substitute driver for Dalen Ernest Jr. in the No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet in select races during the 2016 season.
But portraying Gordon solely in terms of his driving ability as the face of NASCAR fans' adulation and as a four-time champion at the sport's highest level sells the man short. Nowhere is that pointing more evident than when he taught 7-year-old daughter Ella Sofia one …show more content…
"I had to tell my daughter this morning when I was explaining to her that I was going to be telling the team and people this and talking about it, and she saw me get very emotional when I was telling her. And I saw a look that I'd never seen in her eye before where she had never seen me like that, and I had to explain to her. Because most kids see when tears are flowing, it's sadness, and it wasn't for me. It was pride."
Gordon was in a reflective mood on what turned out to be a whirlwind offseason day, one that gave the sports world a brief respite from the finer points of football inflation. He talked about how his illustrious NASCAR career elevated him from a short-track upstart to a household name. But there are many more opportunities that racing has afforded him, and their reach extends beyond the racetrack.
On Thursday, Gordon recalled a visit he made during the 1990s to Brenner Children's Hospital in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and how lost he felt upon meeting a family whose child was undergoing treatment for cancer. From that experience, early on in his career, Gordon found the inspiration and purpose for helping the cause, and he was determined that his higher calling would entail more than just breezing in for autographs and photo …show more content…
His car owner, Rick Hendrick, has also helped support those good works; he sits on the governing board of directors for Gordon's foundation.
"It's given me something also to be very proud of beyond just driving a race car," Gordon said, "but also I know there is so much more that needs to be done for pediatric cancer that I want to be a part of in the future."
While Gordon said he welcomed how his impending career change would free up more time for his philanthropic pursuits, he told the Associated Press in a Thursday interview that he also looked forward to spending more time with his family -- wife Ingrid Vandebosch, daughter Ella Sofia and his 4-year-old son, Leo.
The family of four was a frequent visitor to Victory Lane in 2014 as the patriarch enjoyed one of his most rejuvenating seasons to date. And just last spring, his daughter suited up for a test run in a Quarter Midget racer, sparking speculation that the advent of the next generation of drivers named Gordon wasn't far
Jeff Gordon, the famous philanthropist, has been a former NASCAR champion. In addition, he has dedicated his time and effort to the children for his foundation. He formerly drove the No. 24 Chevrolet for Hendrik motors in 23 full-time NASCAR sprint season seasons between 1993 and 2015, and served as a substitute driver for Dalen Ernest Jr. in the No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet in select races during the 2016 season.
But portraying Gordon solely in terms of his driving ability as the face of NASCAR fans' adulation and as a four-time champion at the sport's highest level sells the man short. Nowhere is that pointing more evident than when he taught 7-year-old daughter Ella Sofia one …show more content…
"I had to tell my daughter this morning when I was explaining to her that I was going to be telling the team and people this and talking about it, and she saw me get very emotional when I was telling her. And I saw a look that I'd never seen in her eye before where she had never seen me like that, and I had to explain to her. Because most kids see when tears are flowing, it's sadness, and it wasn't for me. It was pride."
Gordon was in a reflective mood on what turned out to be a whirlwind offseason day, one that gave the sports world a brief respite from the finer points of football inflation. He talked about how his illustrious NASCAR career elevated him from a short-track upstart to a household name. But there are many more opportunities that racing has afforded him, and their reach extends beyond the racetrack.
On Thursday, Gordon recalled a visit he made during the 1990s to Brenner Children's Hospital in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and how lost he felt upon meeting a family whose child was undergoing treatment for cancer. From that experience, early on in his career, Gordon found the inspiration and purpose for helping the cause, and he was determined that his higher calling would entail more than just breezing in for autographs and photo …show more content…
His car owner, Rick Hendrick, has also helped support those good works; he sits on the governing board of directors for Gordon's foundation.
"It's given me something also to be very proud of beyond just driving a race car," Gordon said, "but also I know there is so much more that needs to be done for pediatric cancer that I want to be a part of in the future."
While Gordon said he welcomed how his impending career change would free up more time for his philanthropic pursuits, he told the Associated Press in a Thursday interview that he also looked forward to spending more time with his family -- wife Ingrid Vandebosch, daughter Ella Sofia and his 4-year-old son, Leo.
The family of four was a frequent visitor to Victory Lane in 2014 as the patriarch enjoyed one of his most rejuvenating seasons to date. And just last spring, his daughter suited up for a test run in a Quarter Midget racer, sparking speculation that the advent of the next generation of drivers named Gordon wasn't far