At the NASCAR Awards ceremony in Nashville, several drivers gave interviews in the buildup to the event. One of them was former NASCAR Cup champion, Jeff Gordon. In 2022, the legendary driver will take on a new role at Hendrick Motorsports. To do this, he will be leaving his role as a commentator for Fox Sports. Jeff Gordon [https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/20210216102801/GettyImages-957836152.jpg]KANSAS CITY, KS – MAY 12: Television commentator and NASCAR champion Jeff Gordon is seen on the grid prior to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series KC Masterpiece 400 at Kansas Speedway on May 12, 2018 in Kansas City, Kansas. (Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images) Speaking about the career change, he said [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9kC7Q-8QW8], “Life is good, I’m enjoying getting myself into this new role. I’m going to miss TV next year, I really enjoyed, especially this year. Working with Clint Bowyer was a lot of fun, but I love being part of the competition. Part of a team that built my career.” WHAT ROLE IS JEFF GORDON ASSUMING AT HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS? Earlier this year, reports emerged that Gordon would take on the role of vice-chairman of Hendrick Motorsports. In other words, he will pretty much be the organization’s second-in-command after owner Rick Hendrick. Owing to his new responsibilities, the former Cup champion will be a constant presence at the outfit. However, he will be focusing on building up the team’s competition and marketing groups. As per reports, the California native will work in tandem with president Marshall Carlson and general manager Jeff Andrews. In addition to that, he will also be given numerous other responsibilities. It is worth mentioning that Gordon’s involvement has been steadily evolving over the years. To be precise, in 1999, Gordon became an equity owner of Hendrick Motorsports. When he drove for them, the four-time Cup Series champion amassed 93 race wins, 477 Top 10 finishes, and 81 poles. Suffice to say, he has enjoyed a very long and fruitful career at Hendrick Motorsports. Now, he will be looking forward to the next phase of his life with the team. Who knows, maybe he can steer them to glory once again. READ MORE: Kyle Larson Pays Emotional Tribute to Rick Hendrick and Jeff Gordon at the NASCAR Annual Awards [https://www.essentiallysports.com/nascar-news-kyle-larson-pays-emotional-tribute-to-rick-hendrick-and-jeff-gordon-at-the-nascar-annual-awards/] 

Ahead of the NASCAR Awards ceremony, Jeff Gordon spoke about leaving his
commentary role and taking on his new job as Hendrick vice chairman

Dhruv George is a Senior NASCAR Author at EssentiallySports, with an impressive record of over 14K articles. From F1 driver Pierre Gasly to Moto2 rider Tony Arbolino, Dhruv has interviewed several racers, establishing himself as an authoritative voice in the world of motorsports. He not only writes engaging content but helps connect readers with some of the biggest racing names thanks to his ability to churn out exclusive interviews.

Dhruv's ambition extends beyond writing, as he aspires to host a successful motorsports podcast with some of the biggest stars in the industry, like Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin. When he's not writing about Stock Car Racing, he can be found reading and writing fan fiction.

Dhruv George

Dhruv George is a Senior NASCAR Author at EssentiallySports, with an impressive record of over 14K articles. From F1 driver Pierre Gasly to Moto2 rider Tony Arbolino, Dhruv has interviewed several racers, establishing himself as an authoritative voice in the world of motorsports. Dhruv's ambition extends beyond writing, as he aspires to host a successful motorsports podcast with some of the biggest stars in the industry, like Kyle Busch.

Dhruv George | Senior NASCAR Author at EssentiallySports

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Dhruv George is a Senior NASCAR Author at EssentiallySports, with an impressive record of over 14K articles. From F1 driver Pierre Gasly to Moto2 rider Tony Arbolino, Dhruv has interviewed several racers, establishing himself as an authoritative voice in the world of motorsports. He not only writes engaging content but helps connect readers with some of the biggest racing names thanks to his ability to churn out exclusive interviews. Dhruv's ambition extends beyond writing, as he aspires to host a successful motorsports podcast with some of the biggest stars in the industry, like Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin. When he's not writing about Stock Car Racing, he can be found reading and writing fan fiction.

https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/Dhruv-George-1-96x96.png

Dhruv George is a senior Motorsports author for EssentiallySports, having
authored nearly 12000 articles spanning different sports like F1, NASCAR,
Tennis, NFL, and eSports. He graduated with a PG Diploma in Journalism from the
Xavier Institute of Communications. Dhruv has also conducted interviews with F1
driver Pierre Gasly and Moto2 rider Tony Arbolino. He has been an ardent
follower of motorsports sport since 2001, holding Carlos Sainz Jr. and McLaren
in high regard.

https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/Dhruv_George.png

Kyle Larson Pays Emotional Tribute to Rick Hendrick and Jeff Gordon at the
NASCAR Annual Awards

Banquet 400 Practice

KANSAS CITY, KS - SEPTEMBER 30:  Jeff Gordon, driver of the #24 DuPont Chevrolet, looks on in the garag, during practice for the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Banquet 400 on September 30 at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)

Banquet 400 Practice - EssentiallySports

Starting off as a tennis author in 2018, Varun Khanna has gone on to contribute to EssentiallySports in various capacities. After setting up interviews with the likes of Serena Williams? coach Patrick Mouratoglou, Aliz? Cornet, and Noah Rubin, Varun is now part of all major ATP and WTA press conferences and has gone on to pen more than 1300 articles for EssentiallySports. He now heads the tennis and NBA division of the organization. While writing remains a passion for him, Varun has branched out into the marketing and communications department of EssentiallySports as well. When he wants to relax, Varun doesn?t have to venture away from tennis and NBA; he simply tunes in to Rafael Nadal and Michael Jordan?s exploits in their respective sports, past and present.

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Varun Khanna

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Jeff Gordon Reveals the Biggest Thing He’d ‘Miss’ Following His New Role at
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<h1 style="text-align: center"><b>NASCAR Cup Series: Origin, Teams and More</b></h1>
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>What is the NASCAR Cup Series?</strong></h2>
NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing) is the authorizing body for stock-vehicle racing in North America. It was established in 1948 in Daytona Beach, Florida. Currently, the organization fields four types of tracks: Intermediate tracks, Superspeedways, Short Tracks and Road Courses.

[caption id="attachment_2675743" align="alignnone" width="5162"]<img class="wp-image-2675743 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/2024-02-20T005209Z_1919194866_MT1USATODAY22564783_RTRMADP_3_NASCAR-DAYTONA-500.jpg" alt="NASCAR" width="5162" height="3322" /> Feb 19, 2024; Daytona Beach, Florida, USA; NASCAR Cup Series drivers Corey LaJoie (7), Kyle Busch (8) and A.J. Allmendinger (16) race three wide for the lead during the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports[/caption]
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>NASCAR Cup Series Origin</strong></h2>
The first-ever NASCAR race was held at Charlotte Fairgrounds Speedway on June 19, 1949 and Christian David "Jim" Roper was the victor after racer Glen Dunaway was disqualified for making illegal adjustments to his car.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">On this day in 1949, NASCAR held its first-ever "Strictly Stock" race.</p>
Thirty-three drivers raced at Charlotte Speedway, six of which were future NASCAR Hall of Famers. Jim Roper was declared the winner following a disqualification to Glenn Dunaway. <a href="https://t.co/yBUDRcRxVo">pic.twitter.com/yBUDRcRxVo</a>

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) <a href="https://twitter.com/NASCAR/status/1670832065690972160?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 19, 2023</a></blockquote>

<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>Why is it named Cup Series? </strong></h2>
The NASCAR Cup Series is the pinnacle of the racing arrangement in the NASCAR classification. The arrangement started in 1949 and was called the Strictly Stock Division. The series was subsequently known as the Grand National Division from 1950 to 1970.

Then, in 1971, it started renting its naming rights to the R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company and was alluded to as the NASCAR Winston Cup Series till 2003. From the next year onwards, the series came to be known as the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series till 2007 after a partnership with Nextel.

Sprint obtained Nextel in 2005 and 2008 saw the arrangement being renamed as the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Sprint remained the sponsor of the NASCAR Cup from 2008 to 2016. It was reported in December 2016 that Monster Energy would be the sponsor; therefore, the arrangement was renamed the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series from 2017 to 2019.

However, after decades of name changes, in 2017, the organization finally decided to shed off its old image and simply be named as the NASCAR Cup Series, with series sponsors being called 'Premier Partners'.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>What is the format of the Cup Series?</strong></h2>
The NASCAR points system has been a complicated affair to say the least. Over the years, the organization has tried several iterations, namely the Latford system, the Chase and the current elimination playoffs format among others, to discern one that would be fair to each driver.

While the earlier system saw drivers being awarded points on the basis of prize money in a particular race, in 1972 a new format was introduced. This time the points were awarded on the basis of laps completed. However, even that came with its own flaws and just two years later, in 1974, the organization introduced point calculation based on a mathematical formula. However, given the complexity of the equation, Bill France Jr, the former CEO of NASCAR decided to step in and call upon his close friend Bob Latford, to come up with an efficient way, which later came to be known as Boot Hill Format or the Latford Model.

With equal points awarded in all races, as New York Times aptly put it: <em>"Mr. Latford set up his points scale to reward consistency rather than flashes of brilliance, and drivers seem to like it that way."</em>

This system was perhaps the longest-running one during that time, being replaced in 2003, by The Chase format. Currently, the NASCAR Cup Series operates on the Playoff Format. The schedule consists of 31 oval races, 4 road course races, one street track race, and 4 non-championship races to be held on ovals. This also includes 16 playoff races, with four elimination rounds, namely, Round of 16, Round of 12, Round of 4 and Championship 4.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>NASCAR Cup Series Teams</strong></h2>
As of 2024, the NASCAR Cup Series has 16 full-time teams participating and three manufacturers, namely Toyota, Chevrolet and Ford. As for the team with the most number of victories and championship, Hendrick Motorsports has has an undebatable upper hand, with 305 Cup Series wins and 14 drivers championships.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>NASCAR Cup Series Venue</strong></h2>
The first championship race was reportedly held at Martinsville Speedway, a half-mile oval, on October 16, 1949. Currently, the final race of a Cup season is held at the Phoenix Raceway, which is a one-mile, low-banked tri-oval race track located in Avondale, Arizona, near Phoenix.

[caption id="attachment_1351857" align="alignnone" width="1920"]<img class="wp-image-1351857 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/2022-11-07T003206Z_1075855806_MT1USATODAY19376372_RTRMADP_3_NASCAR-CUP-CHAMPIONSHIP.jpg" alt="Joey Logano NASCAR" width="1920" height="1289" /> Nov 6, 2022; Avondale, Arizona, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Joey Logano (22) races in the final laps of the Cup championship at Phoenix Raceway. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports[/caption]
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>NASCAR Cup Series Championship</strong></h2>
The NASCAR Cup Series hosts three different championship under one name: The Driver's Championship, the Owner's Championship and the Manufacturer's Championship. The driver's championship as the name suggests is the award given to the driver that has emerged as the winner at the end of a season. On the other hand, the Owner's Championship aims to reward the team at the top of the points standings. The driver with the most championship wins are Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt and Jimmie Johnson. Additionally, Rick Hendrick-owned Hendrick Motorsports has won a record-breaking 14 championships till date.

<img class="alignnone wp-image-1195372 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/ezgif.com-gif-maker-3-78.jpg" alt="Richard Petty Dale Earnhardt NASCAR" width="1850" height="1253" />

On a similar note, the Manufacturer's Championship sees Original Equipment Manufacturers(OEMs) being awarded a championship based on how races their cars managed to dominate and the points accumulated. In this regard, US-based manufacturer Chevrolet has racked up the most Cup Series wins at 42, followed by Ford at 17, and Toyota at 3.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>NASCAR Cup Series Track Types</strong></h2>
As mentioned earlier, the NASCAR Cup series organizes its races on four different types of tracks, namely, Intermediate tracks, Superspeedways, Short Tracks and Road Courses.

When it comes to Intermediate tracks, it simply means <em>"any track greater than one mile in length, with the exception of both Daytona and Talladega" </em>according to the official NASCAR website and currently the Cup Series drivers compete on the following Intermediate tracks/Speedways :
<ul>
 	<li>Atlanta Motor Speedway (1.540-mile, Quad-Oval)</li>
 	<li>Charlotte Motor Speedway (1.500-mile Quad-Oval, including a 2.280 miles Road Course)</li>
 	<li>Darlington Raceway (1.366-mile, Egg-Shaped Oval)</li>
 	<li>Dover Motor Speedway (1.000-mile, Concrete Oval)</li>
 	<li>Homestead-Miami Speedway (1.500-mile, Oval)</li>
 	<li>Kansas Speedway (1.500-mile, Tri-Oval)</li>
 	<li>Las Vegas Motor Speedway (1.500-mile, Tri-Oval)</li>
 	<li>Michigan International Speedway (2.000-mile, D-Shaped Oval)</li>
 	<li>Nashville Superspeedway (1.333-mile, Tri-Oval)</li>
 	<li>New Hampshire Motor Speedway (1.058-mile, Paperclip Oval)</li>
 	<li>Phoenix Raceway (1.000-mile, Dogleg Oval)</li>
 	<li>Texas Motor Speedway (1.500-mile, Quad-Oval)</li>
 	<li>World Wide Technology Raceway (1.250-mile, Egg-Shaped Oval)</li>
</ul>
On the other hand, Superspeedways ae oval road courses of two miles or longer. Currently, the NASCAR Cup Series has the following Superspeedways:
<ul>
 	<li>Auto Club Speedway (2.000-mile, D-Shaped Oval; Currently not in use)</li>
 	<li>Chicagoland Speedway (1.500-mile, D-Shaped Oval; Currently not in use)</li>
 	<li>Daytona International Speedway (2.500-mile, Tri-Oval)</li>
 	<li>Kentucky Speedway (1.500-mile, D-Shaped Oval)</li>
 	<li>Pocono Raceway (2.500-mile, Triangular Oval)</li>
 	<li>Talladega Superspeedway (2.660-mile, Tri-Oval)</li>
</ul>
The short tracks (less than 1 mile in length) that are part of NASCAR are:
<ul>
 	<li>Bristol Motor Speedway (0.533-mile, Oval)</li>
 	<li>Eldora Speedway (0.500-mile, Oval; Currently not in use)</li>
 	<li>Iowa Speedway (0.875-mile, Oval)</li>
 	<li>Knoxville Raceway (0.500-mile, Oval</li>
 	<li>Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum)</li>
 	<li>Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park (0.686-mile, Oval)</li>
 	<li>Martinsville Speedway (0.526-mile, Paperclip Oval)</li>
 	<li>Milwaukee Mile Speedway (1.015-mile, Oval)</li>
 	<li>North Wilkesboro Speedway (0.625-mile, Oval)</li>
 	<li>Richmond Raceway (0.750-mile, D-shaped Oval)</li>
</ul>
As for Road Courses, NASCAR makes use of the following race tracks:
<ul>
 	<li>Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (2.459-mile, Currently not in use)</li>
 	<li>Chicago Street Race (2.14 miles)</li>
 	<li>Circuit of the Americas (3.426-mile)</li>
 	<li>DAYTONA Road Course (4.170-mile, Currently not in use)</li>
 	<li>Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course (2.400-mile, Currently not in use)</li>
 	<li>Portland International Raceway (1.967-mile, Currently not in use)</li>
 	<li>Road America(4.048-mile, Currently not in use)</li>
 	<li>Sebring Raceway (3.741 mi, Currently not in use)</li>
 	<li>Sonoma Raceway (1.99-mile)</li>
 	<li>Watkins Glen International (2.45-mile)</li>
</ul>
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>NASCAR Cup Series Crown Jewel Races</strong></h2>
While NASCAR has several racetracks that it competes on, there are a couple venues that are held in high regards. Currently there are four such venues/races, namely the Daytona 500 held at the Daytona International Speedway, the Coca-Cola 500 held at the Charlotte Motor Speedway , the Brickyard 400/Verizon 200 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Southern 500 at the Darlington Raceway.

Till date, Hendrick Motorsports vice chairman and retired NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon has the most number of Crown Jewel race wins (21), followed by Legacy Motor Club team owner Jimmie Johnson (14) and retired NASCAR driver Bobby Allison (13).

[caption id="attachment_1691261" align="alignnone" width="1920"]<img class="wp-image-1691261 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/Jimmie-Johnson-Jeff-Gordon.jpg" alt="Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon" width="1920" height="1280" /> January 20, 2017 - Charlotte, North Carolina, USA - Jimmy Johnson and Jeff Gordon introduce Rick Hendrick at the NASCAR Motorsport USA Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Friday, January 20, 2017, in Charlotte, N.C. Rick Hendrick was inducted into the Hall of Fame with Richard Childress, Mark Martin, Raymond Parks, and Benny Parsons. 2017 NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony - ZUMAw123 20170120_zap_w123_024[/caption]
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>NASCAR Cup Series Cars</strong></h2>
NASCAR is an ever-evolving sport and till date, there have been several iterations of the cars used during races. If we go back to the very inception of the sport, the first kind of vehicle that was used used to be called Generation - 1 (1948-1966), followed by Generation - 2 (1967-1980) and Generation - 3 (1981-1991). Later the Generation - 4 (1992 to 2007) was introduced , and then Generation - 5 (2007 -2012) and Generation - 6 (2013-2021) came into play. And currently, NASCAR features the Generation - 7 car that is also known as the Next-Gen.

Anothe notable model was the Generation - 5. Dubbed as the<em> "Car of Tomorrow"</em>, this model featured flaunted prominent front splitters under the bumpers and larger rear wings. Apart from that, according to NASCAR, the car also had <em>"significant safety advancements and a return to symmetrical bodies". </em>

[caption id="attachment_2651610" align="alignnone" width="3461"]<img class="wp-image-2651610 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/2024-02-16T030626Z_974940649_MT1USATODAY22533198_RTRMADP_3_NASCAR-BLUEGREEN-VACATIONS-DUEL-1-AT-DAYTONA.jpg" alt="" width="3461" height="2307" /> Feb 15, 2024; Daytona Beach, Florida, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Martin Truex Jr. (19) during the Bluegreen Vacations Duel 1 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports[/caption]
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>NASCAR Cup Series debut at the Street Course</strong></h2>
The NASCAR Cup Series has come a long way since its initial days. The organization has always been open to developments and one of the most exciting ones came in 2023,when the tourney made its Street Course debut at Chicago.

In a bid to turn make the schedule even more exciting, NASCAR officials were reportedly in talks with Chicago authorities for a number of years, with one attempt of a Chicago street race even dating back to the 1980s. However, owing to political pressure, that plan failed to materialize. Now, fast forward to four decades later and authorities were finally geared up to host an exciting, first-of-its-kind race in downtown Chicago.

[caption id="attachment_1911252" align="alignnone" width="1920"]<img class="wp-image-1911252 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/2023-07-03T052154Z_1117738559_MT1USATODAY20983749_RTRMADP_3_NASCAR-GRANT-PARK-220.jpg" alt="NASCAR" width="1920" height="1280" /> Jul 2, 2023; Chicago, Illinois, USA; A general view as cars race along Grant Park during the Grant Park 220 of the Chicago Street Race viewed from the NEMA Chicago buliding. Mandatory Credit: Jon Durr-USA TODAY Sports[/caption]

Designed by race simulation video game developer iRacing, the race aimed to showcase the city's major landmarks such as the Buckingham Fountain, the Grant Park and the Soldier Field Stadium, among others.

The first iteration of the race came in July of 2023, with New Zealand born driver Shane van Gisbergen clinching victory in his first-ever NASCAR race. If that's not iconic, what is?

<img class="alignnone wp-image-2804674 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/F0HhwcqXoAI3_zb.jpeg" alt="" width="2048" height="1365" />
<table style="width: 75.2357%;height: 264px">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 42.239%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Full Name</span></td>
<td style="width: 237.884%;height: 24px">NASCAR Cup Series</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 42.239%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Place of Origin</span></td>
<td style="width: 237.884%;height: 24px">Charlotte Fairgrounds Speedway</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 42.239%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Year of Origin</span></td>
<td style="width: 237.884%;height: 24px">1949</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 42.239%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">First Race</span></td>
<td style="width: 237.884%;height: 24px">NASCAR "Strictly Stock" Race, Charlotte Fairgrounds Speedway</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 42.239%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Last Race</span></td>
<td style="width: 237.884%;height: 24px">NASCAR Cup Series Spring Race at Martinsville Speedway, 2024</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 42.239%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Crown Jewel Race</span></td>
<td style="width: 237.884%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Daytona 500, Coca Cola 600, Brickyard 400/ Verizon 200, Southern 500</span></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 42.239%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Drivers with the most Championships</span></td>
<td style="width: 237.884%;height: 24px">Richard Petty (7), Dale Earnhardt (7) and Jimmie Johnson(7)</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 42.239%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Team with the most Championships</span></td>
<td style="width: 237.884%;height: 24px">Hendrick Motorsports (14)</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 42.239%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">First Champion</span></td>
<td style="width: 237.884%;height: 24px">Red Byron</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 42.239%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Defending Champion</span></td>
<td style="width: 237.884%;height: 24px">Ryan Blaney (2023)</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 42.239%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Defending Team</span></td>
<td style="width: 237.884%;height: 24px">Team Penske</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
&nbsp;

NASCAR Cup Series

Here's everything you need to know about the NASCAR Cup Series, its Origin, Teams, History, Venues, Crown Jewel Races and more!

NASCAR Cup Series: Origin, Teams and More

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Hendrick Motorsports Archives - EssentiallySports

[caption id="attachment_434599" align="alignnone" width="1920"]<img class="size-full wp-image-434599" src="https://www.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/GettyImages-2042337.jpg" alt="Jeff Gordon at the Darlington Raceway in 2003" width="1920" height="1274" /> DARLINGTON, SC - MARCH 15: Jeff Gordon, driver of the #24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Monte Carlo, waits in the garage during practice for the NASCAR Carolina Dodge Dealers 400 on March 15, 2003 at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)[/caption]
<h2><strong>Jeff Gordon 2021: Net Worth, Salary, and Endorsement</strong></h2>
Jeff Gordon is a former American NASCAR racing driver. He serves FOX NASCAR in the capacity of a commentator and holds an executive position in Hendrick Motorsports.

He was the youngest driver to win a NASCAR title, being 24 years of age before the end of the 1995 season. In addition, he has a successful record at the Daytona 500, having won the coveted event three times in 1997, 1999, and 2005. Gordon has finished three career Grand Slams and has won a sum of sixteen Crown Jewel races (three Daytona 500s, four Talladega 500s, three Coca-Cola 600s, and six Southern 500s), the two of which are record-breaking finishes.
<h2>Jeff Gordon: Stats and Championships</h2>
Gordon began his hustling profession in the Busch Series with Hugh Connerty Racing, followed by Bill Davis Racing, winning three races. He started racing full time in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series for Hendrick Motorsports in 1993.

[caption id="attachment_434559" align="alignnone" width="1920"]<img class="size-full wp-image-434559" src="https://www.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/GettyImages-498080916.jpg" alt="Jeff Gordon with his NASCAR Cup Series championship trophy" width="1920" height="1280" /> HOLLYWOOD, FL - NOVEMBER 19: Jeff Gordon, driver of the #24 Axalta Chevrolet, poses for a photo with the NASCAR Sprint Cup Trophy during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship 4 Media Day at Westin Diplomat on November 19, 2015 in Hollywood, Florida. (Photo by Chris Trotman/NASCAR via Getty Images)[/caption]

He is third on the all-time Cup wins list with 93 wins. He also holds the record for the most successes in NASCAR's modern era (1972?present) and the most successes in a single season, 13 during the 1998 NASCAR Winston Cup Series.

Jeff has won the Winston Cup, currently known as Sprint Cup Series, on 4 different occasions. Jeff has more than 90 victories and in excess of 450 Top-10 finishes.

He was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2019. In 2016, Gordon was viewed as the highest-paid NASCAR driver ever and the eighteenth highest-paid athlete ever with $515 million in career income, as per <a href="https://www.forbes.com/pictures/mli45fgmmj/18-jeff-gordon/#76f18f697cc6">Forbes</a>.

He has been named one of NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers ever and by <a href="https://www.espn.in/nfl/story/_/id/29709911/cowboys-mike-mccarthy-winning-super-bowl-always-goal">ESPN</a> as #10 in the 25 Greatest Drivers ever.
<h2>Jeff Gordon: Net Worth 2021</h2>
As per <a href="https://www.celebritynetworth.com/richest-athletes/race-car-drivers/jeff-gordon-net-worth/">Celebrity net worth</a>, Jeff Gordon's total assets are $200 million dollars.

He is one of the highest-paid NASCAR drivers ever, having earned over $500 million in rewards and endorsements. During his career, Jeff Gordon has earned over $140 million from racing.
<h2>Best Moments of Jeff Gordon</h2>
<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CElfpHsTmJU" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
<h2>Jeff Gordon: Foundations and Charities</h2>
In 1999, Gordon established the Jeff Gordon Children's Foundation to help support children facing life-threatening and chronic illnesses. On December 16, 2006, Gordon opened the Jeff Gordon Children's Hospital at the NorthEast Medical Center.

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-349368" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/20200821205609/jg-7.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="550" />

In 2007, Gordon, along with Andre Agassi, Muhammad Ali, Lance Armstrong, Warrick Dunn, Mia Hamm, Tony Hawk, Andrea Jaeger, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Mario Lemieux, Alonzo Mourning, and Cal Ripken Jr. founded Athletes for Hope, a charitable organization which helps professional athletes get involved in charitable causes and inspires millions of non-athletes to volunteer and support the community.
<h2><b>Jeff Gordon: Sponsors</b></h2>
Gordon, alongside Rick Hendrick, co-owns the No. 48 Chevrolet. The ride features Jimmie Johnson, who won seven Cup titles from 2006 to 2010, 2013, and in 2016, behind the wheel. Gordon additionally has an equity stake in the No. 24 group. Gordon signed a <a href="https://www.motorsport.com/nascar-cup/news/jeff-gordon-signs-lifetime-agreement-with-henrick-motorsports/34135/">lifetime contract</a> with Hendrick Motorsports starting in 2000, which allowed him to become an equity owner in his No. 24 team.

Gordon has also been sponsored by Kellogg Company, Frito-Lay, Edy's, and Ray-Ban. Since 2012, Gordon has been sponsored by DVX Sun and Safety Sunglass, which are constructed with elastomer from DuPont.

Prior to his sponsorship with Pepsi, Gordon had been sponsored by Coca-Cola, but eventually chose Pepsi due to more visibility, along with Coca-Cola wanting Gordon to be a regional sponsor in the southeastern United States.

In 2007, PepsiCo introduced Jeff Gordon 24 Energy, an orange tangerine-flavored energy drink, which has since been discontinued.
<h2>Jeff Gordon: Lifestyle</h2>
Jeff Gordon has one of the best collection of cars in NASCAR. Some of the cars from his lot are:

1933 Ford Three-Window Coupe

1952 Oldsmobile Super 88 Convertible

Jaguar XK8

Chevy Corvette C7 (Auctioned to raise money for Jeff Gordon Children?s Foundation)

<img class="alignnone wp-image-349314 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/20200821201536/jg-2.jpg" alt="" width="740" height="492" />

Camaro ZL1 (Auctioned to raise money for Jeff Gordon Children?s Foundation)

332-horsepower Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid

<strong>READ MORE-</strong> <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/nascar-news-what-drives-nascar-legend-jeff-gordon-around-his-top-5-cars/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-wpel-link="internal">What Does NASCAR Driver Jeff Gordon Drive? A List of His Top 5 Cars</a>
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<div class="thb-post-title-inline-author">

Jeff Gordon, his wife, and kids live in the South Park neighborhood of Charlotte, <a href="https://pursuitist.com/take-look-inside-nascar-superstar-jeff-gordons-north-carolina-home/">North Carolina</a>. The home features a billiards room, a bar, a wine cellar, and a pool. There's even a nearly life-sized playhouse for Gordon's daughter. In 2013, Gordon sold his 3,454-square-foot?New York City apartment overlooking Central Park for $30 million.
<h2>Jeff Gordon: Family</h2>
In 1992 Gorden met Brooke Sealey, a Miss Winston Cup model, at the Daytona Speedway after he won two qualifying races for the Daytona 500 that year. They were forced to date in secret owing to the sanctions against drivers dating the models. Sealey completed her tenure as Miss Winston Cup towards the end of the 1993 season.

<img class="alignnone wp-image-349336 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/20200821203003/jg-3.jpg" alt="" width="780" height="472" />

The couple at that point opened up to the world about their relationship. A year to the day from their meeting, Gordon proposed to her. They were wed on November 26, 1994. Sealey eventually filed for divorce, claiming that Gordon had indulged in marital misconduct, explicitly referring to his relationship with another model named Deanna Merryman. Gordon and Sealey separated in June 2003.

As a settlement, Jeff reportedly paid Brooke over $100 million worth of cash, property, and assets. Brooke was given exclusive rights to the couple's oceanfront home, which is valued at $9 million. She will also receive alimony and has unlimited access to Jeff's private jets and boats for many years to come.

In 2004, he began dating <a href="https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1537040-jeff-gordons-wife-pictures-of-beautiful-model-ingrid-vandebosch">Ingrid Vandebosch</a>. They were engaged with June 2006 and married in a private function in Mexico on November 7, 2006. Vandebosch gave birth to their first child, a little girl named Ella Sofia in June 2007. In August 2010, she gave birth to the couple's second child, <a href="https://fanbuzz.com/nascar/jeff-gordon-son-race-career/">Leo Benjamin</a>.

<img class="wp-image-349341 size-full aligncenter" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/20200821203101/jg-4.jpg" alt="" width="396" height="594" />

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<h2>Jeff Gordon: Car Scheme</h2>
Since debuting in NASCAR full time in 1993, Gordon has sported a variety of looks on his No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet as well as appearing in vehicles in other series. For instance, a classic DuPont scheme in 1995.

In 1999, Gordon's car sported a variation on the brilliantly colored scheme that it featured, in various forms, throughout his early career.

<img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-349357" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/20200821204841/jg-5-560x315.jpg" alt="" width="560" height="315" />

Jeff was quite vocal about his partnership with Pepsi and DuPont throughout his career. The driver drove a Blue Pepsi inspired livery car in 1999.

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-349385" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/20200821210423/jg-9.jpg" alt="" width="1000" height="667" />
<h2>How to contact Jeff Gordon</h2>
Jeff Gordon is very active and highly popular on social media. As a result, it's the most accessible and easiest method to keep in touch with the 4-time Cup Series Champion.

Jeff Gordon is on all the popular social media platforms such as <a href="https://www.instagram.com/jeffgordonweb/">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx8Mhm7ILELQQRO4vx-HVMw">YouTube</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/jeffgordonweb">Twitter</a>, and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/jeffgordon/">Facebook</a>. While these serve as an excellent platform for fan requests and interactions, Gordon also has his own official website and management team to keep track of proposals and requests.

Interested parties can reach out to Jeff Gordon through his <a href="https://jeffgordon.com/contact/#:~:text=General%20Questions%3A%20If%20you%20have,to%20newsletter%40jeffgordon.com.">contact page</a> or write an email to his management team at <a href="mailto:newsletter@jeffgordon.com">newsletter@jeffgordon.com</a>

Alternatively, one could also write a letter to his mailing address at :

Jeff Gordon Inc
4345 Papa Joe Hendrick Blvd
Charlotte, NC 28262 US
<table style="height: 379px;" width="527">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Age</td>
<td>49</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Marital Status</td>
<td>Married</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Residence</td>
<td>Charlotte, North Carolina</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nationality</td>
<td>American</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Team</td>
<td>Hendrick Motorsport</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Endorsements</td>
<td>Gillette, Pepsi, DuPont, Sunoco, Kellogg Company, Frito-Lay, Edy's, and Ray-Ban.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Championships</td>
<td>4</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Annual Salary</td>
<td>$20 ? $30 million</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Net Worth</td>
<td>$200 million</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Endorsements</td>
<td>$20 million</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Birthday</td>
<td>Aug 4, 1971</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Height</td>
<td>5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Cars</td>
<td>1933 Ford Three-Window Coupe

1952 Oldsmobile Super 88 Convertible

Jaguar XK8

Chevy Corvette C7 (Auctioned to raise money for Jeff Gordon Children?s Foundation)

Camaro ZL1 (Auctioned to raise money for Jeff Gordon Children?s Foundation)

332-horsepower Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

Jeff Gordon

DARLINGTON, SC &#8211; MARCH 15: Jeff Gordon, driver of the #24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Monte Carlo, waits in the garage during practice for the NASCAR Carolina Dodge Dealers 400 on March 15, 2003 at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) Jeff Gordon 2021: Net Worth, Salary, and Endorsement Jeff Gordon is a former American NASCAR racing driver. He serves FOX NASCAR in the capacity of a commentator and holds an executive position in Hendrick Motorsports. He was the youngest driver to win a NASCAR title, being 24 years of age before the end of the 1995 season. In addition, he has a successful record at the Daytona 500, having won the coveted event three times in 1997, 1999, and 2005. Gordon has finished three career Grand Slams and has won a sum of sixteen Crown Jewel races (three Daytona 500s, four Talladega 500s, three Coca-Cola 600s, and six Southern 500s), the two of which are record-breaking finishes. Jeff Gordon: Stats and Championships Gordon began his hustling profession in the Busch Series with Hugh Connerty Racing, followed by Bill Davis Racing, winning three races. He started racing full time in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series for Hendrick Motorsports in 1993. HOLLYWOOD, FL &#8211; NOVEMBER 19: Jeff Gordon, driver of the #24 Axalta Chevrolet, poses for a photo with the NASCAR Sprint Cup Trophy during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship 4 Media Day at Westin Diplomat on November 19, 2015 in Hollywood, Florida. (Photo by Chris Trotman/NASCAR via Getty Images) He is third on the all-time Cup wins list with 93 wins. He also holds the record for the most successes in NASCAR&#8217;s modern era (1972?present) and the most successes in a single season, 13 during the 1998 NASCAR Winston Cup Series. Jeff has won the Winston Cup, currently known as Sprint Cup Series, on 4 different occasions. Jeff has more than 90 victories and in excess of 450 Top-10 finishes. He was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2019. In 2016, Gordon was viewed as the highest-paid NASCAR driver ever and the eighteenth highest-paid athlete ever with $515 million in career income, as per Forbes. He has been named one of NASCAR&#8217;s 50 Greatest Drivers ever and by ESPN as #10 in the 25 Greatest Drivers ever. Jeff Gordon: Net Worth 2021 As per Celebrity net worth, Jeff Gordon&#8217;s total assets are $200 million dollars. He is one of the highest-paid NASCAR drivers ever, having earned over $500 million in rewards and endorsements. During his career, Jeff Gordon has earned over $140 million from racing. Best Moments of Jeff Gordon Jeff Gordon: Foundations and Charities In 1999, Gordon established the Jeff Gordon Children&#8217;s Foundation to help support children facing life-threatening and chronic illnesses. On December 16, 2006, Gordon opened the Jeff Gordon Children&#8217;s Hospital at the NorthEast Medical Center. In 2007, Gordon, along with Andre Agassi, Muhammad Ali, Lance Armstrong, Warrick Dunn, Mia Hamm, Tony Hawk, Andrea Jaeger, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Mario Lemieux, Alonzo Mourning, and Cal Ripken Jr. founded Athletes for Hope, a charitable organization which helps professional athletes get involved in charitable causes and inspires millions of non-athletes to volunteer and support the community. Jeff Gordon: Sponsors Gordon, alongside Rick Hendrick, co-owns the No. 48 Chevrolet. The ride features Jimmie Johnson, who won seven Cup titles from 2006 to 2010, 2013, and in 2016, behind the wheel. Gordon additionally has an equity stake in the No. 24 group. Gordon signed a lifetime contract with Hendrick Motorsports starting in 2000, which allowed him to become an equity owner in his No. 24 team. Gordon has also been sponsored by Kellogg Company, Frito-Lay, Edy&#8217;s, and Ray-Ban. Since 2012, Gordon has been sponsored by DVX Sun and Safety Sunglass, which are constructed with elastomer from DuPont. Prior to his sponsorship with Pepsi, Gordon had been sponsored by Coca-Cola, but eventually chose Pepsi due to more visibility, along with Coca-Cola wanting Gordon to be a regional sponsor in the southeastern United States. In 2007, PepsiCo introduced Jeff Gordon 24 Energy, an orange tangerine-flavored energy drink, which has since been discontinued. Jeff Gordon: Lifestyle Jeff Gordon has one of the best collection of cars in NASCAR. Some of the cars from his lot are: 1933 Ford Three-Window Coupe 1952 Oldsmobile Super 88 Convertible Jaguar XK8 Chevy Corvette C7 (Auctioned to raise money for Jeff Gordon Children?s Foundation) Camaro ZL1 (Auctioned to raise money for Jeff Gordon Children?s Foundation) 332-horsepower Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid READ MORE- What Does NASCAR Driver Jeff Gordon Drive? A List of His Top 5 Cars  Jeff Gordon, his wife, and kids live in the South Park neighborhood of Charlotte, North Carolina. The home features a billiards room, a bar, a wine cellar, and a pool. There&#8217;s even a nearly life-sized playhouse for Gordon&#8217;s daughter. In 2013, Gordon sold his 3,454-square-foot?New York City apartment overlooking Central Park for $30 million. Jeff Gordon: Family In 1992 Gorden met Brooke Sealey, a Miss Winston Cup model, at the Daytona Speedway after he won two qualifying races for the Daytona 500 that year. They were forced to date in secret owing to the sanctions against drivers dating the models. Sealey completed her tenure as Miss Winston Cup towards the end of the 1993 season. The couple at that point opened up to the world about their relationship. A year to the day from their meeting, Gordon proposed to her. They were wed on November 26, 1994. Sealey eventually filed for divorce, claiming that Gordon had indulged in marital misconduct, explicitly referring to his relationship with another model named Deanna Merryman. Gordon and Sealey separated in June 2003. As a settlement, Jeff reportedly paid Brooke over $100 million worth of cash, property, and assets. Brooke was given exclusive rights to the couple&#8217;s oceanfront home, which is valued at $9 million. She will also receive alimony and has unlimited access to Jeff&#8217;s private jets and boats for many years to come. In 2004, he began dating Ingrid Vandebosch. They were engaged with June 2006 and married in a private function in Mexico on November 7, 2006. Vandebosch gave birth to their first child, a little girl named Ella Sofia in June 2007. In August 2010, she gave birth to the couple&#8217;s second child, Leo Benjamin.  Jeff Gordon: Car Scheme Since debuting in NASCAR full time in 1993, Gordon has sported a variety of looks on his No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet as well as appearing in vehicles in other series. For instance, a classic DuPont scheme in 1995. In 1999, Gordon&#8217;s car sported a variation on the brilliantly colored scheme that it featured, in various forms, throughout his early career. Jeff was quite vocal about his partnership with Pepsi and DuPont throughout his career. The driver drove a Blue Pepsi inspired livery car in 1999. How to contact Jeff Gordon Jeff Gordon is very active and highly popular on social media. As a result, it&#8217;s the most accessible and easiest method to keep in touch with the 4-time Cup Series Champion. Jeff Gordon is on all the popular social media platforms such as Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook. While these serve as an excellent platform for fan requests and interactions, Gordon also has his own official website and management team to keep track of proposals and requests. Interested parties can reach out to Jeff Gordon through his contact page or write an email to his management team at newsletter@jeffgordon.com Alternatively, one could also write a letter to his mailing address at : Jeff Gordon Inc 4345 Papa Joe Hendrick Blvd Charlotte, NC 28262 US  Age 49  Marital Status Married  Residence Charlotte, North Carolina  Nationality American  Team Hendrick Motorsport  Endorsements Gillette, Pepsi, DuPont, Sunoco, Kellogg Company, Frito-Lay, Edy&#8217;s, and Ray-Ban.  Championships 4  Annual Salary $20 ? $30 million  Net Worth $200 million  Endorsements $20 million  Birthday Aug 4, 1971  Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)  Cars 1933 Ford Three-Window Coupe 1952 Oldsmobile Super 88 Convertible Jaguar XK8 Chevy Corvette C7 (Auctioned to raise money for Jeff Gordon Children?s Foundation) Camaro ZL1 (Auctioned to raise money for Jeff Gordon Children?s Foundation) 332-horsepower Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid

Jeff Gordon Reveals the Biggest Thing He’d ‘Miss’ Following His New Role at Hendrick Motorsports

What role is Jeff Gordon assuming at Hendrick Motorsports?