Jeff Gordon Opens Up About Physical Struggles That Led to His NASCAR Retirement
Jeff Gordon, a 4-time Cup champion and one of NASCAR’s most iconic figures, achieved numerous milestones during his legendary career. Among his lesser-known but impressive records is his streak of starting every race from April 1992 until his retirement. However, toward the end of his career, Gordon faced significant physical challenges that ultimately led to his decision to step away from racing after the 2015 season.
In an interview with Youth Inc., conducted nine months ago, Gordon revealed the toll racing took on his body and how it influenced his retirement. He candidly described his struggles with chronic back pain that began in the mid-2000s and worsened over time.
“I started having some back issues, some lower back pain and spasms, and pain in the car probably around … goes back to 2005 or 2006, but it really started getting bad around 2010,” Gordon shared. “I started working on it—physical therapy and different things—and I went to Rick Hendrick and I said, ‘Rick, I don’t know how much longer I’m going to be able to do this. My body is just not doing well. I’m in a lot of pain throughout the race and every time I get out of the car.’”
Gordon added that he was content with his decision to retire, particularly since he had a solid post-racing plan in place with FOX Sports and Hendrick Motorsports (HMS). Reflecting on his final season, he said he was “ready to go” and hoped for a memorable conclusion to his storied career.
The Beginning of Jeff Gordon’s Legendary Career with HMS
Earlier this year, Gordon recalled how Rick Hendrick first discovered him and brought him to Hendrick Motorsports. Hendrick had noticed Gordon’s potential after watching him race in Atlanta during a Busch Series event. At the time, Gordon competed in Thursday Night and Saturday Night Thunder and delivered an impressive performance that left a lasting impression on Hendrick.
Following the race, Hendrick inquired about Gordon through Andy Graves, Gordon’s roommate who worked in HMS’s R&D and engineering department. Initially, Hendrick assumed that Gordon was tied to a long-term deal with Ford, but Graves clarified that this was not the case.
“I think the next day I was at Rick’s office, and we were talking about how to get me to Hendrick Motorsports. At that time, there wasn’t even a third team,” Gordon recalled. “It was a two-car operation with Ken Schrader and Ricky Rudd as the drivers. I want to say that was March or April in 1992, and by the end of that year, I was driving in my first race as a rookie and starting my (full-time career) in 1993 with Hendrick Motorsports. From that point, the rest is history.”
Gordon’s Legacy in NASCAR
Throughout his career, Gordon exclusively raced for Hendrick Motorsports, earning four Cup Series championships and achieving 93 wins, placing him third on NASCAR’s all-time wins list. Today, Gordon continues to play a pivotal role in HMS as its Vice Chairman, contributing to the sport he helped revolutionize.
