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Four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon says he is interested in one day taking over the running of Hendrick Motorsports from owner Rick Hendrick when he retires.
Gordon called time on a NASCAR driving career that included 93 Cup wins in 2015 and transitioned into a role with broadcaster Fox Sports that he has recently extended into a longer-term deal.
He also has an ownership stake in Hendrick and continues to advise the team that has won 16 drivers’ championships so far and has played a key role in Chevrolet’s development of its cars.
Gordon told the National Motorsports Press Association’s Hall of Fame’s Class of 2019 that he would be honoured to take over from Hendrick, should the opportunity arise.
“I love the business side of it,” said Gordon. “If that day ever comes, I would be truly honoured even though I don’t think I could do the job that he’s done.
“That would be the first time other than when my parents made me sweep floors and run the machine shop when I was a kid during summers where I actually had a real job.
“Running a race team or being in that role on a race team, that is a real job.
“That role Rick would have to put me in is one I would have to work at really, really hard.
“I hope one day when that time comes, I would be ready to do that.”
Gordon added that his role with Fox had helped him come to terms with speaking to a large audience, and that he had spoken to Hendrick before extending his current contract with the broadcaster.
The TV analyst added that he feels he owes Hendrick, and that running the team could be a way to payback the squad in which he drove for his entire Cup series career.
“I have so much respect for the organisation in being not just an equity owner, but for what they’ve done for me, what that organisation has done for my career,” said Gordon.
“I feel like I owe that back to them to be respectful and try to give all I can back to continue to see it be successful, even when I stepped away.
“I knew one day when I stepped away that I would play a larger role.”
Gordon also revealed that his decision to retire from Cup competition at the end of 2015 had actually been made three years prior, as Hendrick driver development scheme member Chase Elliott had begun to emerge as a future contender for a Cup race seat.
“That decision was made three years before I actually did it,” said Gordon.
“I went to Rick and told him what I wanted to do and it felt like it was the right time.
“I felt like there were things starting to line up with Chase Elliott, so those things were playing out well, timing-wise, for me and I thought for Hendrick.”