| Jeff Gordon is a famous American race car | | | | begin competing in Nascar. |
| driver who was born in 1971 in Vallejo, | | | | |
| California. He has won the Nascar Winston Cup | | | | Many critics felt that Gordon was not ready |
| four times, and he drives car #24 for | | | | to compete at the professional level because |
| Hendrick Motorsports. As of this writing, one | | | | of his habit of racing cars so hard that he |
| of his most prominent sponsors is DuPont. | | | | crashed them. However, Gordon proved them all |
| Jeff Gordon began racing when he was only | | | | wrong during the 1994 season, were he emerged |
| five years of age. He loved to race cars, and | | | | victorious in the Lowe's Motor Speedway, |
| his family was supportive of him. His family | | | | which was a long and difficult race. Gordon |
| actually relocated primarily because they | | | | would also go on to win at the Indianapolis |
| wanted Jeff to be in a location where he | | | | Motor Speedway for the Brickyard 400. In 1995 |
| could better harness his racing skills. While | | | | he won what would become the first of four |
| he was still a minor, Jeff had already won a | | | | Winston Cup Championships. Jeff Gordon is |
| number of races and was given the USAC Midget | | | | also famous for rising up against the |
| Car Racing Rookie of the Year award. | | | | legendary Dale Earnhardt, and he has become a |
| | | | fan favorite. |
| After this, Gordon went on to win the USAC | | | | |
| Midget title, and by 1991, he had gained the | | | | Many people consider Jeff Gordon to be one of |
| USAC Silver Crown. He broke a record by being | | | | the greatest drivers in Nascar because he |
| the youngest person to ever capture the | | | | achieved so much at a very young age. Even at |
| title. He went to the Busch Series after | | | | 35 years of age, Jeff Gordon has successfully |
| this, and had a large number of victories. | | | | won 75 races, which is just one victory |
| Gordon crashed his car during the the Hooters | | | | behind Dale Earnhardt. Jeff Gordon is also |
| 500 race in Atlanta in 1992, and this caused | | | | notable for making Nascar a popular sport |
| him to be placed in the 31st position. Jeff | | | | with mainstream audiences. For a long time, |
| Gordon was one of many young racers who would | | | | the sport was only regulated to the south, |
| be placed on high quality teams early in | | | | but Jeff Gordon has allowed it to reach a |
| their careers. The success of Jeff Gordon | | | | high level of popularity due to advertising |
| allowed a younger generation of racers to | | | | and his skills with the media. |