“Didn’t even have to think twice”: When Jeff Gordon came out of retirement to help HMS & Dale Earnhardt Jr.

NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon is the third-most winningest driver in Cup Series history. Although he retired at the end of the 2015 season, Gordon came out of retirement to help Hendrick Motorsports and Dale Earnhardt Jr. in 2016.

Gordon began his racing career in NASCAR in 1992. The Californian racer was offered a full-time role for the next season by HMS' Rick Hendrick. As a driver of the now-iconic #24 race car, Gordon's rivalry with Dale Earnhardt Sr. helped the sport gain popularity. This intense on-track rivalry created a bond between the two Cup Series legends, which continued with Dale Jr.

As a result, when Hendrick requested Gordon to step in for Dale Jr. in the #88 car for the 2016 season, the $200 million-worth (via Celebrity Net Worth) driver came out of retirement without a second thought. In an interview with SBNation in 2016, Gordon expressed his feelings about returning to help Hendrick and Dale Jr.

"I'm certainly a little overwhelmed over everything that has happened over the last week. But, most of all, I'm proud to be here and help his team out. This is (Earnhardt's) team. What we want most is to have him healthy and strong for the long term," Gordon said.

"I didn't even have to think twice about it. When Rick calls, he has that confidence in me and asks me to step up and do something for the organization, whether it was driver or other responsibilities, the way he has been there for me, the way this team and organization has been there for me over the years. Really, this is just me helping out the organization," he added.

In a career spanning over two decades, Gordon amassed 93 wins, 352 top-fives, and 475 top-10 finishes.

"You’re a big part of helping me, both on and off the track" - Rick Hendrick praised NASCAR legend Jeff Gordon for elevating Hendrick Motorsports

After competing for over 20 years with Hendrick Motorsports in NASCAR, Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon eventually put away his racing suit in 2016. HMS owner Rick Hendrick praised the driver-turned-management executive for helping both him and his team grow in the right direction.

"I want to thank you (Gordon) for building this place. You’re a big part of helping me, both on and off the track. You and Axalta (Sponsor for William Byron's #24 team), you’re a part of everything that’s happened around here, so I appreciate that," Hendrick said, in a heartfelt message.

The collaboration between Hendrick and Gordon (vice chairman of HMS) has allowed the team to grow multifold in NASCAR. With drivers like Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, William Byron, and Alex Bowman, HMS is a force to be reckoned with on the Cup Series grid.

About the author

With a diploma in Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering, Pradnesh started his career as a Network & Security Engineer. After gaining valuable experience in the industry for over five years, he shifted his focus to Journalism.

With a deep passion for automobiles and Formula 1, he worked as a Sub-editor for Automobile at Newsbytes for two years. He has been hooked on watching F1 since 2000, and his love for racing has become an integral part of his life, further fueling his commitment to automotive excellence. Pradnesh also runs a captivating blog focused on news and personal experiences within the automobile sector.

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Edited by Tushar Bahl