"I was very caught off guard" - When Jeff Gordon recalled his first meeting with Tom Cruise during an emotional NASCAR banquet moment

Jeff Gordon got emotional when Tom Cruise introduced him at the NASCAR Awards Banquet in 2015. The former professional driver recalled the first time he met the actor and his emotional moment before giving his farewell speech at the event.

Gordon is a 53-year-old driver who spent his entire NASCAR Cup Series career with Hendrick Motorsports. He had a strong run in the premier series in the late 90s, winning the championship in 1995, 1997, 1998, and 2001. In 2015, the driver announced his retirement from the sport.

During an interview with his wife Ingrid Vandebosch, Gordon was asked how he met Tom Cruise, who wrote the foreword to his first-ever authorized biography.

“I met Tom many years ago in the late 90s,” Gordon said. “And when he came to the banquet last December and introduced me […] I was very caught off guard and emotional.”

His emotions poured out after Tom Cruise introduced him at the 2015 NASCAR Banquet. He welcomed the retiring driver on stage calling him his friend and 4-time NASCAR Cup Series champion.

“We are happy for him but sad to see him go,” Cruise said. “Although many of us want to say we’ll miss you, what we really mean is we thank you.”

During his two-decade run in the Cup Series, Jeff Gordon amassed 93 wins, which is the all-time third-most behind Richard Petty (200) and David Pearson (105). Among those wins were three victories at the Daytona 500 in 1997, 1999, and 2005.

Gordon was hailed the Rookie of the Year in 1993 and was named one of NASCAR’s 50 greatest drivers just five years later.

The driver’s final career victory came at Martinsville Speedway in 2015 where he qualified for the Championship 4. The final race of the season at Homestead-Miami saw him finishing in sixth, with Kyle Busch winning his first Cup Series championship.

Overall, the four-time NASCAR champ scored 93 wins, 81 poles, 325 top-5s, and 475 top-10s in his 805 starts.

In 2019, Jeff Gordon was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

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Jeff Gordon once offered a toast to Dale Earnhardt Sr. with a glass of milk

When Jeff Gordon won his first championship title in 1995, rival Dale Earnhardt Sr. told him to celebrate the win with a glass of milk considering he was only 23 years old at that time.

The Hendrick Motorsports No. 24 driver did so during the 1995 NASCAR Awards Ceremony. He was on stage delivering a speech when a waiter poured milk on his glass and offered a toast to The Intimidator.

Gordon commended Earnhardt Sr.’s drive to win another championship, which would’ve made him an 8-time champ had he won that season.

“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,” Gordon said.

Today, Jeff Gordon is the vice chairman of Hendrick Motorsports.