Jeff Gordon Retireing?! 

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Jeff Gordon to step away from full-time NASCAR racing after 2015 season

Jeff Gordon will step away from full-time NASCAR racing after the 2015 season, Hendrick Motorsports announced Thursday morning. Gordon will compete in his 23rd and final season and then step out of the No. 24

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Jeff Gluck, USA TODAY Sports 6:06 p.m. EST January 22, 2015

Sprint Cup NASCAR Evernote NASCAR season cup series races Saturday Night Live

USA Today Sports' Jeff Gluck discusses four-time NASCAR champion's decision.

Automatically Generated Transcript (may not be 100% accurate)

00:03 The 23 NASCAR season Jeff Gordon's career will be his

00:06 last Gordon announced Thursday he will step away from racing. At

00:10 least not full time basis at the conclusion of the 2015.

00:13 Season. The decision is somewhat surprising because court is still top

00:18 his game. He won four races last year was a strong

00:21 championship contender that is a key factor heir apparent first number

00:24 24 car. Like please put it this decision making process. For

00:28 many people Gordon's legacy will go far beyond what he accomplished

00:31 on the track. That's no small thing since he won four

00:34 championships in 92 races third on the all time list. But

00:39 Gordon's clean cut image and boyish good looks ushered in a

00:42 new era NASCAR drivers and help the sport grow beyond southern

00:46 roots. For example. He was the first and only driver. To

00:50 host Saturday Night Live. It's hard to imagine NASCAR Jeff Gordon

00:54 he's the longest tenured full time driver and it's competed at

00:56 every cup series races in 1992 season finale. For anyone who

01:01 became a fan of NASCAR the last twenty years. Seeing gore

01:05 race every Sunday solid Evernote expect ticket sales the boom for

01:08 NASCAR's final visits each track. As fans come out to see

01:11 a race for perhaps the last time. It would be a

01:14 major surprise anyone that case Elliott took over the number 24

01:17 car next year Elliott the son of former NASCAR champion bill.

01:22 Has already made plans to raise one more season in the

01:24 lower tier ex that he series before moving full time Sprint

01:27 Cup in 2016. It was hard and vision which car Elliott

01:31 might drive for but that seems much clearer now.

Jeff Gordon announced Thursday that 2015 will be his last season racing full-time in NASCAR's Sprint Cup series.

Jeff Gordon will step away from full-time NASCAR racing after the 2015 season, Hendrick Motorsports announced Thursday morning.

Gordon, 43, will compete in his 23rd and final season and then step out of the No. 24 car he has driven since November 1992. No replacement was named, but speculation will fall heavily on rising star Chase Elliott, a Hendrick development driver who the team has already said will be in Sprint Cup next year.

Jeff Gordon's move clears Sprint Cup path for Chase Elliott

A four-time series champion, Gordon is third on the all-time wins list with 92 behind only Richard Petty (200) and David Pearson (105).

But his impact on NASCAR goes far beyond the numbers. Gordon\'s clean-cut, corporate image and youthful good looks helped stock car racing expand out of the Southeast in the late 1990s and 2000s, taking the sport to new heights and ushering in a wave of drivers who grew up wanting to be like him.

Gordon said he "thought long and hard about my future this past year and during the offseason" before making his decision.

"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," he said. "I don\'t foresee a day when I\'ll ever step away from racing."

Reaction began to pour in quickly from around the NASCAR world, including from teammates Jimmie Johnson ("Crazy...you\'re the man!" he tweeted) and Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Hard to imagine this is @JeffGordonWeb last full season. Tons of respect for him and what he's accomplished thus far. A total professional.

— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) January 22, 2015

Three-time Sprint Cup champion Tony Stewart also weighed in, crediting Gordon for "paving the way" for him in racing.

Can't imagine being at the track without @JeffGordonWeb. I don't think I would have ever had my opportunity without Jeff paving the way.

— Tony Stewart (@TonyStewart) January 22, 2015

NASCAR chairman and CEO Brian France said Gordon "transcends NASCAR" and "will be celebrated as one of the greatest drivers to ever race."

"We have all enjoyed watching his legend grow for more than two decades, and will continue to do so during his final full-time season," France said. "His prolonged excellence and unmatched class continue to earn him the admiration of fans across the globe. Today\'s announcement is a bittersweet one. I\'ll miss his competitive fire on a weekly basis, but I am also happy for Jeff and his family as they start a new chapter."

Gordon\'s first Sprint Cup race of 2015 will be the Sprint Unlimited exhibition, Feb. 14 at Daytona International Speedway. Pole qualifying for the Daytona 500 takes place the following day, with the "Great American Race" set for Feb. 22. Gordon won NASCAR\'s biggest race three times in his career and also won the July race Daytona three times.

International Speedway Corporation CEO Lesa France Kennedy said "Gordon\'s significance to our sport cannot be overstated."

"(Gordon is an incredible competitor, and a favorite of millions of fans. His contributions throughout his career to NASCAR have elevated our sport\'s popularity worldwide. On behalf of the France family and ISC, I thank him for those contributions and wish him the best as he embarks on this next chapter of his career — and his life. We all look forward to watching him take the green flag for his last full-time season, beginning with the Daytona 500."

Letting team know this will be my final year competing for a championship. pic.twitter.com/s7aH8OpGQZ

— Jeff Gordon (@JeffGordonWeb) January 22, 2015

Gordon said he\'ll remain heavily involved with Hendrick, where he is an equity owner of Johnson\'s No. 48 car, will put much of his focus into his charitable efforts such as pediatric cancer research.

"I\'ll explore opportunities for the next phase of my career, but my primary focus now and throughout 2015 will be my performance in the No. 24 Chevrolet," Gordon said. "I\'m going to pour everything I have into this season and look forward to the challenge of competing for one last championship.

"To everyone at NASCAR, my teammates, sponsors, competitors, friends, family, members of the media and especially our incredible fans, all I can say is thank you."

Though Gordon\'s achy back has bothered him in recent years, the news is surprising since the California native seemed to be in the midst of a career renaissance.

Appreciation: Jeff Gordon ushered in new generation of NASCAR

Last year, Gordon won four races — his most since 2007 — and finished sixth in points but was one point away from competing for the championship at Homestead-Miami Speedway. He\'s expected to be one of the favorites heading into this year as well.

Team owner Rick Hendrick said there was no way to quantify Gordon\'s impact on the sport.

"He\'s one of the biggest sports stars of a generation, and his contributions to the success and growth of NASCAR are unsurpassed," he said. "There\'s been no better ambassador for stock car racing and no greater representation of what a champion should be."

Jeff Gordon, born Aug. 4, 1971, is a four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion. Gordon has won more than 80 times since his Cup debut in 1993. 

Jeff Gordon drinks champagne in victory lane after winning the AAA 400 at Dover International Speedway On Sept. 28, 2014. 

Gordon kisses his wife Ingrid Vandebosch after winning the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 27, 2014. 

Gordon kisses the bricks with son Leo Benjamin Gordon and daughter Ella Sofia Gordon after winning the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 27, 2014. 

Gordon celebrates with a Pepsi in victory lane after winning the 5-Hour Energy 400 at Kansas Speedway on May 10, 2014. 

Gordon does a burnout after winning the Goody\'s Fast Relief 500 on Oct. 27, 2013. It marked his eighth career win at Martinsville Speedway, his most at any track. 

Gordon, second from right, poses with daughter Ella Sofia, crew chief Alan Gustafson and the rest of his crew after finishing second in qualifying for the 2013 Daytona 500 on Feb 17. 

Gordon won two races in 2012, including the Sprint Cup season finale at Homestead on Nov 18. Gordon finished 10th in the Sprint Cup standings, his lowest finish since 2005. 

Gordon celebrates with a burnout after winning the Sprint Cup race at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Sept. 6, 2011. Gordon won three races and finished 11th in the standings. 

Gordon talks to his daughter Ella Sophia before an April 10, 2010 race at Phoenix. Gordon failed to win a race for the third time since his rookie year in 1993 and finished ninth in the standings. 

Gordon and Joanna Garcia present the Vocal Duo of the Year Award to Sugarland during the 44th Annual CMA Awards on Nov. 9, 2010. 

Gordon celebrates in victory lane with a pair of pistols after winning the Samsung 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on April 5, 2009. It was Gordon\'s lone victory of the season. He finished third in the Sprint Cup standings. 

Gordon, shown here with a blown tire at the race at Michigan on Aug. 17, 2008, failed to win a Cup race for the first time since his rookie year in 1993. Gordon finished seventh in the standings. 

Gordon plays with daughter Ella Sofia, born June 20, 2007, before the Auto Club 500 at Fontana, Calif., on Feb. 24, 2008. 

Gordon won six times in 2007 and finished second in the points standings to Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jimmie Johnson. 

Gordon shakes hands with actor Vince Vaughn before the Dickies 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on Nov. 4, 2007. 

Gordon, shown here on Aug. 12, 2006 at Watkins Glen, won twice that year and finished sixth in the final points standings. 

Gordon and girlfriend Ingrid Vandebosch arrive for the premiere of the Disney/Pixar animated film "Cars" at Lowe\'s Motor Speedway on May 26, 2006. The pair would get married in a private ceremony later in the year. 

Gordon won four races in 2005, including the Subway 500 at Martinsville on Oct. 23. Gordon finished 11th in the final standings. 

Gordon poses with Storm Troopers from the movie "Star Wars" at Talladega Superspeedway on April 29, 2005. 

Gordon celebrates with his crew in victory lane after winning the Daytona 500 for the third time on Feb. 20, 2005. 

Jff Gordon, right, with team owner Rick Hendrick, won five races in 2004 and finished third in the points standings. 

Fans toss beverage containers at Gordon after he beat Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the Aaron\'s 499 at Talladega Superspeedway under caution on April 25, 2004. 

Gordon celebrates after winning the Brickyard 400 on Aug. 8, 2004. It marked the fourth time that Gordon had won the NASCAR race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. 

Gordon won three races in 2003, including the Virginia 500 at Martinsville on April 13. Gordon finished fourth in the standings for the second consecutive year. 

Gordon, center, rehearses for his stint as host of Saturday Night Live on Jan. 9, 2003, with cast member Tracy Morgan, right, and musical guest Avril Lavigne, left. 

Gordon, leading the pack through the road course at Watkins Glen on Aug. 11, 2002, won three races that season and finished fourth in the standings. 

Gordon, left, arrives with his then-wife Brooke Sealey for the 2001 NASCAR Awards in New York on Nov. 30. The pair divorced in 2003. 

Gordon, left, and a crew member spray each other with champagne in victory lane after Gordon won his fourth career Winston Cup Series championship on Nov. 18, 2001. Gordon won six races and had 18 top-5 finishes. 

Gordon poses with singer Britney Spears before the Pepsi 400 at Daytona International Speedway on July 7, 2001. 

Gordon suffered a down year in 2000, winning only three races, his fewest since 1994. He finished ninth in the standings. 

Gordon gets a kiss from his then-wife, Brooke Sealy after winning the Frontier at The Glen on Aug. 15, 1999. Gordon won seven races and finished sixth in the standings. 

Gordon won the Daytona 500 for the second time on Feb. 14, 1999. 

Gordon celebrated his second consecutive Winston Cup Series championship and third overall on Nov. 8, 1998, at Atlanta Motor Speedway. 

Gordon kisses bricks at Indianapolis Motor Speedway after winning the Brickyard 400 for the second time on Aug. 1, 1998. 

Gordon tied Richard Petty\'s NASCAR modern era record for most wins in one season with 13 in 1998, including the Save Mart-Kragen 350k at Sonoma, Calif., on June 28. 

Gordon cools off after winning the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway for the fourth consecutive year on March 29, 1997. 

Gordon won the 1998 ESPY Award for auto racing from ESPN on Feb. 9, 1998. 

Gordon jumps from the roof of his car after winning his second career Winston Cup Championship on Nov. 16, 1997. Gordon won 10 Cup races for the second consecutive year. 

Gordon was a guest on the "Late Show with David Letterman" on Feb. 18, 1997, two days after becoming the youngest Daytona 500 winner in history at 25 years, 6 months. Gordon\'s record was broken by Trevor Bayne in 2011. 

Gordon celebrates after winning the Hanes 500 at Martinsville on Sept. 22, 1996. He finished the year second in the points standings. Gordon had 34 top-10 finishes and 21 top-fives in 31 races. 

Gordon, right, chats with the late Dale Earnhardt before the Cup race at Pocono on June 15, 1996. Gordon won the race for his fifth of 10 victories that year. 

Gordon celebrates his first NASCAR Winston Cup Series championship with a bottle of champagne after the NAPA 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Nov. 12, 1995. 

Gordon won seven Winston Cup races and had 17 top-5 finishes in 31 races in 1995. 

After winning his first career Cup race at Charlotte in May, Gordon collected his second career victory at the inaugural Brickyard 400 in Indianapolis on Aug. 6, 1994. 

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