"Dale Earnhardt is a true competitor" - When Jeff Gordon offered a toast to Intimidator's relentless championship pursuit

A story from 1995 that never gets old!

Jeff Gordon shared the NASCAR spotlight with seven-time Cup Series champion Dale Earnhardt Sr. for eight years. Recently, Gordon reflected on a speech where he expressed deep gratitude for Dale Sr.'s influence, acknowledging the profound impact the racing legend had on his career, while also following through with an inside joke.

Four-time Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon accumulated 93 Cup race victories in his career spanning 25 years, piloting the #24 entry for Hendrick Motorsports. Gordon achieved his first victory in the sport at the 1994 Coca-Cola 600 and started his career with a Crown Jewel victory. Moreover, he holds multiple records that have not been broken thus far, including the maximum number of race wins in a season, which he achieved in the 1998 Cup Series.

Gordon was in his early years in the Cup Series when he met "The Intimidator" Dale Earnhardt. The pair fought hard on the track but they were also close friends. Dale Sr. had once teased Gordon that he should celebrate his title win with a glass of milk: playful banter on Gordon's age.

However, Gordon made sure that he followed through with that idea. After winning the 1995 Cup Series, Gordon was at the NASCAR awards ceremony where he was slated to give a speech. In his remarks, he said:

“Before I go any further, I’d like to recognize a man who never let up on his efforts to win his eighth championship, Dale Earnhardt is a true competitor and a great champion, and, at this time, I would like to offer a toast to the man.”

As he spoke, a waiter arrived on stage with an ice bucket, holding what appeared to be a bottle of champagne. However, the bottle was filled with milk. The waiter poured the milk into a glass, which Gordon then raised in a toast to Dale Sr. before taking a drink.

Here's a look at the iconic moment(via @nascaronpod on Instagram)

After stepping away from racing, Gordon joined Fox Sports as a NASCAR analyst. His journey came a full circle after he returned to Hendrick Motorsports, the team where he made history, to serve as Vice Chairman.

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Jeff Gordon set the record straight on fan-favorite questions

Gordon has had a celebrated career and he is considered one of the best NASCAR has witnessed. In addition to a record for most wins in a season, he holds the record for 23 consecutive pole positions.

In a recent interview, the former Cup series champion answered a few questions about himself. Fans online have tried to find the answers to these many times. On being asked about how many career wins Gordon has, he responded with some light-hearted banter (via Axalta Racing on Youtube):

“If we’re meaning Cup wins, I’m pretty sure the first thing that’s gonna pop up would be 93 wins because it’s how many I have in the Cup Series. But honestly, with quarter midgets, go-kart sprint cars, and midgets—all the different series I’ve raced in—I don’t know. You answer that question. Google doesn’t even know the answer to that,” [01:54]