| Granted Jeff Gordon hasn't always been one of the | | | | Foundation in 1999. Jeff was driven to start his |
| fans favorite drivers. He has passed the late | | | | organization when he watched his former crew chief |
| legendary Dale Earnhardt Sr. in wins and he is still | | | | and friend, Ray Evernham, go through many years of |
| racing, much to the dismay of diehard Dale Sr. fans. | | | | treatment of cancer on his young son, Ray J. That |
| Who knows how many races the man may end up | | | | experience helped convince Jeff Gordon to make it |
| winning before he decides to retire from Nascar | | | | his personal mission to provide support for children |
| Sprint Cup Racing. He just turned 38 this month | | | | facing cancer. Over the years his foundation has |
| (August 4th, 2009). | | | | raised over $7 million for charities benefiting children. |
| The man has won 82 Cup races in his career and 4 | | | | All of this started because of one child. |
| Championships in the Nascar Series. He has had 257 | | | | Since then Jeff and his wife Ingrid have had a |
| top fives and 351 top ten finishes in his career so far. | | | | daughter of their own, Ella Sophia. She has come to |
| So far. Including a second place finish today in the | | | | the racetrack numerous times and has even been to |
| race at Michigan International Speedway. Not bad for | | | | Victory Lane with her dad. Jeff Gordon is also slated |
| a 38 year old man. He was the first driver to win | | | | to receive this year The Silver Buffalo Award, the |
| over $1 million dollars in race winnings. That does not | | | | Boy Scouts highest award for his work as a Boy |
| include his salary or his sponsor deals. When a Nascar | | | | Scout Recruiter and for his humanitarian work. Jeff's |
| driver wins a race, he personally does not get to | | | | foundation lends support to The Jeff Gordon |
| keep all of the purse winnings. He gets a percentage | | | | Children's Hospital which is located in Concord, North |
| depending on his contract with his team owner. The | | | | Carolina. |
| purse money is split between the driver, the team, | | | | Even though I don't cheer for Jeff Gordon on race |
| and the owner. I have heard that some of the top | | | | day, I still admire the man for all that he has |
| named drivers receive up to 35% of the purse. But in | | | | accomplished and continues to do for kids. Plus, he is |
| racing, it really is all about the trophy and not so | | | | a pretty darn good racecar driver, smart, precise and |
| much the money, at least not in the Cup Series. | | | | fast. OK, maybe I do root for him sometimes, after |
| Jeff started his foundations; The Jeff Gordon | | | | all he does do a lot for childrens charities. |