Jeff Gordon to step down from full-time racing after 2015.

http://www.hendrickmotorsports.com/news/article/2015/01/22/Jeff-Gordon-to-run-final-full-time-NASCAR-season-in-2015

Crazy. I kinda figured he'd just keep going forever.

I know a lot of people in the past predicted his retirement earlier than now, but I honestly didn't see this coming. It will be sad not to see him full-time after this season, considering all the amazing success he's had, but I think this could open the door for Chase Elliott to replace him.

BWardboy88 wrote:I know a lot of people in the past predicted his retirement earlier than now, but I honestly didn't see this coming. It will be sad not to see him full-time after this season, considering all the amazing success he's had, but I think this could open the door for Chase Elliott to replace him.

I was expecting Kyle Larson to be the one to inherit Gordon's seat, but I'm not aware as to how long Larson's current contract with Ganassi is.

So in the ARCA Racing Series we have the driver with the most championships and race victories scaling back to a part-time schedule this year, and in the NASCAR Cup the driver who is third on the all-time race win list will retire from full-time at year's end. Those are certainly some significant happenings.

The article says that he may return for select races in the future. Would Hendrick field a fifth car for him if that were to be the case? I'm honestly not sure what the cars-per-team limit is.

SpeedDemon37 wrote:

BWardboy88 wrote:I know a lot of people in the past predicted his retirement earlier than now, but I honestly didn't see this coming. It will be sad not to see him full-time after this season, considering all the amazing success he's had, but I think this could open the door for Chase Elliott to replace him.

I was expecting Kyle Larson to be the one to inherit Gordon's seat, but I'm not aware as to how long Larson's current contract with Ganassi is.

Larson's contract with Chip Ganassi Racing is signed through to 2017, so I'm not so sure about that. Besides I also believe Chase Elliott could be running a 5th car for Hendrick this year, considering any team with 4 full-time cars can run a 5th car part-time for 7 races. So depending on how he performs this year, he could be in line to take over the #24 for 2016...

or unless Rick Hendrick changes the number on that car out of respect for Gordon stepping down.

Gordon's been my guy since I was 2 years old, I've rooted for him for so long......so many feels right now

BooyakaDragon wrote:Gordon's been my guy since I was 2 years old, I've rooted for him for so long......so many feels right now

Exactly how I feel. Every since I was a toddler I rooted for him. He was one of the young guns then. Hard to believe he's retiring.

Never been a Gordon fan, but respected him a lot, man may have done some questionable things. Still. Gordon is a legend, and should be viewed as that. Chase will likely get the car, but the 5th car thing (It's for rookies only). So Gordon may enter it as his own team or even under JRM (Hendrick does the operation himself, Dale puts his name to make it enter), just like SHR. Larson likely will still join HMS when Junior retires or Kahne leaves.

Gordon's going to have one hell of a farewell tour, and i'll be enjoying the ride

BWardboy88 wrote:Larson's contract with Chip Ganassi Racing is signed through to 2017, so I'm not so sure about that. Besides I also believe Chase Elliott could be running a 5th car for Hendrick this year, considering any team with 4 full-time cars can run a 5th car part-time for 7 races. So depending on how he performs this year, he could be in line to take over the #24 for 2016...

or unless Rick Hendrick changes the number on that car out of respect for Gordon stepping down.

All right, wasn't aware of that information before!

Alpineopossum wrote:

BooyakaDragon wrote:Gordon's been my guy since I was 2 years old, I've rooted for him for so long......so many feels right now

Exactly how I feel. Every since I was a toddler I rooted for him. He was one of the young guns then. Hard to believe he's retiring.

My childhood driver that I've rooted for since I was 5 retired when I was 9! (I know that that doesn't count; he continued to race through 2013).

Anyway, it is really upsetting to have a favorite driver retire. I still haven't rooted for anyone yet like I've ever rooted for Mark Martin.

This is to setup Chase Eillott as the next big guy at Hendrick, guy has been with Rick for almost 10 years and for sure he wouldn't give that up just to get the other current hot guy in the car. Chase is the perfect replacement honestly.

Back to the main story....I can remember the days when Gordon was dominant one in the Cup series...it's crazy to see how the guy i watched rip up the Cup series in the 90's is calling it quits. The man has had a stellar career and is looking to go out on top even after 21 YEARS in the 24 car. Good on Gordon.

It will certainly be difficult to have a NASCAR Cup race without Jeff Gordon. I've been a NASCAR fan since 2007 and I might never get to see him win a title. And as close as he is right now, he's running out of opportunities to win 100 races. At least I hope he does that much.

But on the other hand, Chase Elliott will be taking over that car in 2016, which I'm happy for. I'm so conflicted on how to feel right now.

BooyakaDragon wrote:Gordon's been my guy since I was 2 years old, I've rooted for him for so long......so many feels right now

This

Never been much of a Gordon fan, but I'll be sad to see him go.

Jeff's been one of my favorites since I started watching NASCAR all those years ago. I'm sad to see him retire after this year, but it's been a hell of a career.

SpeedDemon37 wrote:

BWardboy88 wrote:I know a lot of people in the past predicted his retirement earlier than now, but I honestly didn't see this coming. It will be sad not to see him full-time after this season, considering all the amazing success he's had, but I think this could open the door for Chase Elliott to replace him.

I was expecting Kyle Larson to be the one to inherit Gordon's seat, but I'm not aware as to how long Larson's current contract with Ganassi is.

So in the ARCA Racing Series we have the driver with the most championships and race victories scaling back to a part-time schedule this year, and in the NASCAR Cup the driver who is third on the all-time race win list will retire from full-time at year's end. Those are certainly some significant happenings.

The article says that he may return for select races in the future. Would Hendrick field a fifth car for him if that were to be the case? I'm honestly not sure what the cars-per-team limit is.

Hendrick would run a 5th car. It's Jeff Gordon -- he'll find a way around the 4 car limit. How many times have we seen Gordon escape the rules before?

It wouldn't be skirting the rules: teams are allowed four full-time cars and an optional fifth part-time entry. So Hendrick could do it no problem.

The fifth car needs to be driven by a rookie. That's why Chase can run it this year, but Jeff couldn't next year. He said yesterday that he wasn't interested, anyway...

NeverNeutral wrote:The fifth car needs to be driven by a rookie. That's why Chase can run it this year, but Jeff couldn't next year. He said yesterday that he wasn't interested, anyway...

I wonder if he'll run his own car?

Ben Atkins wrote:

NeverNeutral wrote:The fifth car needs to be driven by a rookie. That's why Chase can run it this year, but Jeff couldn't next year. He said yesterday that he wasn't interested, anyway...

I wonder if he'll run his own car?

Maybe, under his name or Dale Junior's name. Maybe he would try trucks for Xfinity for fun, and he would get the sponsorship surely for a part-time run.

The other obstacle is you can't own one team and drive for another. Jeff would have to give up his stake with Hendrick, and he seems pretty dedicated to staying with them in some capacity.

NeverNeutral wrote:The other obstacle is you can't own one team and drive for another. Jeff would have to give up his stake with Hendrick, and he seems pretty dedicated to staying with them in some capacity.

What about Dale Sr. Has the rule been changed?

I believe the rule changed when the team limit went down to 4. Alternatively, I think Teresa may have been the listed owner.

Although I was on the Gordon hating bandwagon when he got big in the mid 90`s, I've learned to really respect the guy. I was hoping he would stick around a few more years to take a shot at the 100 wins mark, but if he feels it's time to retire, he should. He will make a freaking awesome driving coach for Hendrick.

I thought he was good for 3 more years but I guess father time has came to him. Hopefully he'll get to win his 5th title before he retires form fulltime racing.

I love this guy, but there were times that he really pissed me off. One of the greatest to ever do it and hopefully he'll go out with a bang.