BiographY

Gordon, who earned his first career series victory in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte in May of 1994 and won the inaugural Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis in August of 1994, is in his eighth year with Hendrick Motorsports in 2000 as driver of the No. 24 DuPont Automotive Refinishes Chevrolet. Gordon is teamed with drivers Terry Labonte and Jerry Nadeau in a three-team effort.

Despite his age, there is no denying Gordon can easily be labeled a veteran when it comes to racing. Born in Vallejo, Calif., but raised in Pittsboro, Ind., Gordon began his racing career at age 5 and by age 20, with numerous victories and achievements, was named, for the second straight year, to the 1991 All-American Team by the American Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association, joining such notables as Dale Earnhardt, Harry Gant, Michael Andretti and Gordon's racing hero, Rick Mears.

Gordon joined with car owner Bill Davis in 1991 and began competing on the NASCAR Busch Series Grand National Division, finishing second three times and third once. He had five top-5s and 10 top-10s, notched one pole and placed 11th overall in the standings. Those successes in his inaugural season earned him the Vortex Comics Rookie-of-the-Year honors. Gordon continued to excel in the 1992 season by capturing his first series victory at Atlanta from the pole. Gordon set the series record for pole positions in a single season, capturing 11.

Before his successes, Gordon logged more than 600 victories in 15 years of driving in open-wheeled competition. During the 1970s and early 1980s, Gordon won three national quarter-midget championships and four national go-cart class championships. He became USAC's youngest-ever driver when he was granted his race driver's license for that circuit on his 16th birthday. In four different USAC divisions in more than four years, he recorded 22 victories, 21 fast times, 55 top-5s and 66 top-10s in just 93 starts.

Rick Hendrick, a keen judge of racing excellence, was so impressed with the talents and unlimited potential of the young racing phenom, that he signed Gordon in early May 1992 to a NASCAR Winston Cup Series contract for the 1993 season and beyond.

Gordon is married to former Miss Winston Brooke Sealy.