"I was playing cool": $200M-worth Jeff Gordon once recalled to wife Ingrid Vandebosch their first encounter

NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon once shared his first experience of meeting his wife Ingrid Vandebosch. The 4x Cup Series champion recalled the encounter during an interview for The Insider.

Regarded as one of the most winningest racers in NASCAR's history, Gordon is currently third on the all-time Cup Series win list with 93 wins, behind Richard Petty (200) and David Pearson (105). The Californian driver also holds the record for most victories on road courses (nine times) and with restrictor plate (12 times). The 3x Daytona winner became a part of the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2019 and is currently the Vice Chairman of Hendrick Motorsports.

On the personal front, Gordon has been married twice. First with Brooke Sealey (1994 - 2003) and later with Ingrid Vandebosch (2006 - till date). He has two children with Vandebosch, Ella Sofia (daughter, 2007) and Leo Benjamin (son, 2010).

During an interview with The Insider in 2016, the $200 million-worth (as per Celebrity Net Worth) Jeff Gordon opened up about several of his fond memories, including about his first meeting with Vandebosch, a former model and actress from Belgium.

"Oh yes, yes I noticed you... Yeah, I was playing cool. I had to, you know, put that game face on. I was like, who's that? Is she coming with us? And as soon as I heard you talk about coming out to the Hamptons, I was like, oh this changed my whole Hamptons trip," he said, recalling the meeting (0:47 onwards).

Here's a look at the video from YouTube:

Apart from their first meeting, Gordon also shared about Vandebosch's white bikini moment.

"Of course, the infamous, famous, you know, white bikini. Yeah, that was a moment that I'll never forget. It blew me away. I was just like, boom, right straight in the pool as soon as you got in," Gordon added (1:13 onwards).

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"I realized I could be doing more" - Jeff Gordon's response on why he started the Jeff Gordon Children's Foundation for pediatric cancer cure research

Apart from being a 4x Cup Series champion, Jeff Gordon is also known for his philanthropic endeavours. The Californian star started the Jeff Gordon Children's Foundation in 1999 to aid young kids suffering from pediatric cancer.

The 93x race winner spoke about his up close and personal exposure to the ailment, when his crew chief Ray Everham's son was diagnosed with leukemia, which eventually led him to create the foundation.

"His (Everham's) son was diagnosed with leukemia. And that was the first time that someone close to me or somebody that I knew was going through something like this. Once that sort of hit home with me, I realized I could be doing more. And that led to me starting my own foundation, focusing on pediatric cancer," Gordon said. (0:44 onwards).

Here's a look at the video from YouTube:

"It's given me enough hope to know that I can, through my own foundation, generate enough dollars and research to support those that are doing incredibly important work and truly save lives," he added (1:14 onwards).

Gordon has also been running the 'Corvette for a Cure' program to generate funds for the foundation. Since its inception in 2006, the program alone has helped raise over $16 million for the cause.

As for NASCAR, Jeff Gordon is currently the co-owner and Vice Chairman of Hendrick Motorsports, focusing on the competition and marketing aspect of the team. He also serves as a key member of NASCAR's diversity, equity, and inclusion committee.