"No need to panic" - $200M-worth Jeff Gordon addresses HMS' finances amid stalled NASCAR charter talks

Jeff Gordon, the vice chairman of Hendrick Motorsports (HMS), recently addressed concerns about the team's financial stability during the ongoing charter negotiations with NASCAR. The Hendrick Motorsports team is preparing for a big weekend race at the Brickyard 400 with its top drivers and a legacy car.

$200M-worth Gordon (according to Celebrity Net Worth) reassured that HMS is prepared for the upcoming season despite the delay in NASCAR charter talks. He said (via NBC Sports):

“I think right now it’s not time to panic or anything else. We do have contracts in place and we have a plan as if we’re going to be running a full schedule next year. That’s where Hendrick Motorsports is at today, still very optimistic.”

This year's NASCAR Cup Series is halfway through and there is no deal to extend the charter agreement with its teams. The charter system, introduced in 2016, guarantees a spot in each race and prize money.

Unfortunately, negotiations are moving slowly and a deal doesn’t look likely. Teams want permanent charters and a larger revenue share. NASCAR, however, is reluctant to change.

Sharing his perspective on the negotiations, Gordon said:

“I’ve had a lot of optimism through this whole process. It’s been a long process, much longer than I anticipated. There were times that I thought we were making great progress and times where I thought we were going backwards. I’m in that optimistic mode right now.”

Gordon also highlighted that the latest proposal from the teams is fair for the teams and NASCAR.

“We’ve put something back in their hands that is very fair and makes sense,” he explained. “It’s hard to get all the teams to agree ... but we know that this is what we think is very acceptable and has compromises, not only for the different teams and what they’re trying to achieve and also for NASCAR.”

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Jeff Gordon’s return to the Indianapolis speedway this weekend

A top performer in NASCAR during the 1990s and early 2000s, Jeff Gordon is known for his bold driving style and for making stock-car racing popular in the US.

Gordon has set many records during his career and is considered one of NASCAR's greatest drivers. His 1994 Brickyard 400 win was a pivotal moment in his career. It transformed him from a promising driver to a NASCAR superstar.

Recalling his first Brickyard 400 win in 1994, Gordon said (via NBC Sports):

"At that time, we didn’t know is this a one-and-done thing? It was just kind of bigger than life. It was just awesome to be a part of it. Certainly changed my life forever and set the whole 24 team at Hendrick Motorsports on this kind of amazing journey.”