Jeff Gordon leaves mark on Pittsboro
PITTSBORO, Ind. (WISH) – Jeff Gordon announced he is on the verge of taking his final lap of his championship career.
The NASCAR champion is a five-time winner of the Brickyard 400, a four-time series champion, and he’s third on the all-time wins list.
“I won’t use the ‘R-word’ because I plan to stay extremely busy in the years ahead,” said Gordon in a statement.
Some residents in Gordon’s hometown of Pittsboro had no clue the town’s favorite son is calling it quits.
“He is an icon around here,” said Carla McCullough, a barber at Family Cuts.
Just 17 miles east inside the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum, the shock of Gordon’s announcement started to settle in.
“I was just flabbergasted. I figured he’d run another five or 10 years,” said track historian Donald Davidson.
Gordon has made his mark in Indianapolis – some of his victories line the walls inside the Speedway Hall of Fame.
In Pittsboro, Jeff Gordon Blvd. runs through his former town, as a constant reminder of the style and talent of the town’s favorite son.
Late last year, Gordon’s drivers ed teacher passed away in an accident. Gordon sent flowers to his former teacher’s funeral.
Just another example that he hasn’t forgotten where it all started.