Jeff Gordon 24 Dupont News Rumors Page 2

Gordon donates more to children's hospital: Three years ago, Jeff Gordon's foundation gave $10,000 to a NorthEast Medical Center building campaign. The Concord hospital's fundraising foundation came calling on the driver again this year, looking for help on a new $9.4 million children's hospital. NorthEast officials hoped for a little bigger donation from the NASCAR star. Maybe $25,000, maybe more. The Jeff Gordon Foundation donated $1 million. It's one of the largest donations the hospital has received and the largest single contribution from Gordon's foundation. (Charlotte Observer)

J. Gordon and Stewart on F1 debacle: Tony Stewart didn't mince words, but does he ever? So it was when he was asked this week about what happened last Sunday at the U.S. Grand Prix of Formula One. "When you look at what happened there, it was a disgrace," Stewart said while preparing for Sunday's Dodge/Save Mart 350 on the Nextel Cup circuit. "If Michelin can't provide a safe tire for a race, then Bernie Ecclestone (the head of the FIA governing body for F-1) should ban them from the series for the rest of the season." Stewart and Jeff Gordon said they were certain nothing like that could happen in NASCAR. "Yes, we are going to put on a show," Gordon said. "There's going to be 43 cars out there on Sunday. Whether I'm driving it or if someone else is driving it, there's going to be a show." (Inside Bay Area)

NASCAR TV Guides on Newsstands: This week, the June 26th issue of TV Guide is featuring four pairs of teammates: #38-Elliott Sadler and #88-Dale Jarrett from Robert Yates Racing; #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr. and #15-Michale Waltrip of DEI; #48-Jimmie Johnson and #24-Jeff Gordon of Hendrick Motorsports; and #99-Carl Edwards and #6-Mark Martin of Roush Racing.

Gordon Frustrated: Jeff Gordon has said many times he enjoys racing at Michigan because the wide, 2-mile oval allows for high speeds and lots of passing. But he couldn't take advantage, finishing 32nd and continuing a midseason slump. Gordon said tires on the right side of his car were worn down to the cords early in the race, and he was concerned about tire trouble the rest of the race. "It's beyond frustrating," Gordon said. "I don't know what was going on out there." Gordon finished ninth last week at Pocono, and has now finished 30th or worse in four of his last five races. He has dropped to 12th in the Cup points standings. (News-Journal)

Dupont Extends sponsorship with Gordon: DuPont and Hendrick Motorsports today announced the extension of DuPont's longstanding sponsorship of the #24 Chevrolet Monte Carlo in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series. The new pact builds on an association launched 13 years ago with a flashy "rainbow" paint scheme and a 21-year-old rookie driver named Jeff Gordon. Under the new contract, DuPont continues as the primary sponsor for three years, through the 2008 racing season, with the option to extend for an additional two years. Financial terms were not disclosed. "We're proud to have Jeff Gordon represent DuPont," said Edward J. Donnelly, group vice president, DuPont Coatings & Color Technologies. "We believe he represents the future growth of NASCAR's fan base because he can communicate with a wide range of people, regardless of where they live or what they do for a living." (Yahoo!)

Jeff Gordon Donates, Gets Hospital Named After him: NorthEast Medical Center will announce Friday that its new children’s hospital will be named after Jeff Gordon. The Jeff Gordon Foundation will make a significant contribution to the medical center. The children’s hospital will come at a cost of $9.4 million, $5.9 million of which will be raised by the NEMC Foundation in the next three years. Details on Gordon’s contribution will be announced Friday at a news conference. According to a release sent out Wednesday afternoon, “NorthEast Medical Center and The Jeff Gordon Foundation will announce a significant financial gift directed toward a project focusing on children’s causes.” The announcement will be made at 1 p.m. on Friday to the media at Hendrick Motorsports in Harrisburg. (Independent Tribune)

Gordon's Take on Wrigley Embarrassment: Jeff Gordon is used to getting television exposure, but he could have done without this. On Tuesday, the four-time Cup champ sang ``Take Me Out To the Ball Game'' at Wrigley Field, and he butchered the lyrics pretty badly. His effort was played over and over on ESPN and other outlets, and he tried to explain himself after practice for the Coca-Cola 600. ``It was pretty awful, I admit that,'' he said. ``It really just had everything to do with being in a booth and it's a lot harder to do than it looks, because the fans are singing and it's delayed. I just got off of the words and was trying to catch back up and looked like an idiot.'' Gordon's trouble began before he actually started singing, when he mistakenly said ``Wrigley Stadium.'' It got worse from there. (Yahoo!)

Gordon Booed at Wrigley Field: NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon was booed by the crowd of 38,805 for strangling "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" during the seventh-inning stretch yesterday at Wrigley Field. (Chicago Sports)

Gordon and Andretti Driving School: Jeff Gordon isn't close to retirement, but he already has plans for his future. The four-time Cup champ announced plans for a racing school Thursday that will team with a similar one for open-wheel cars started by Mario Andretti last year. The Jeff Gordon Racing School debuts in August at Lowe's Motor Speedway with several cars that Gordon and others drove in the past. Next year, people who attend the schools will be able to drive IndyCars at Andretti's school and stock cars at Gordon's in the same day. Retired driver Darrell Waltrip, now a television analyst for Fox Sports' NASCAR coverage, served as host at the news conference. "Two totally different race cars on the same track, in the same day,'' Waltrip said. "I can't think of anything that would be more fun.''(ESPN)

Wheeler Picks Gordon for All-Star Race: Jeff Gordon became the favorite to win NASCAR's All-Star race when the president of Lowe's Motor Speedway predicted he would win the event. Humpy Wheeler picked Gordon to win the Nextel All-Star Challenge on Monday during his annual selection ceremony. Wheeler has correctly chosen the winner nine times in the last 16 years, but hasn't gotten one right since predicting Dale Earnhardt Jr. would win in 2001. Gordon, who has won NASCAR's All-Star race three times in his career, was picked by Wheeler because of a successful test session he had earlier this month at the speedway. Wheeler used a grinder on the track surface to smooth it out and Gordon quickly adapted to it. (Herald-Sun)

Gordon Billboard in Times Square: Talladega Aaron's 499 winner Jeff Gordon hurried back after his win yesterday. Gordon and watchmaker Tag Heuer unveiled several new large billboards in Times Square in New York City. (Yahoo! Photos) (More on Tag Hueuer)

Hendrick and Jeff Gordon to Toyota? This one sounds good because Rick Hendrick is one of the largest Toyota dealers in the country, but it won't happen. Unless, of course, Toyota buys GM in the next couple of years. (Yahoo!)

Loomis Wins Wypall Award: #24-Jeff Gordon recorded one of the most stellar comebacks in NASCAR history this weekend at Martinsville Speedway. Along with crew chief Robbie Loomis, Gordon turned a three-lap deficit into a win for the Rainbow Warriors. For leading his team to victory lane, Loomis won Wypall Wipers Crew Chief of the Race honors. Most people counted Gordon out after a wheel vibration forced Gordon to make an unscheduled green flag pit stop on lap 46. The #24 Chevrolet was scored three laps down to the leaders, but through solid pit stops, the right chassis adjustments and an amazing driving display, Gordon collected his second win of the season. "When we ran into trouble, my first thought was that we had 450 laps to get into victory lane," said Loomis following the race. "I knew we had a great car. We all believed in each other and I knew that Jeff (Gordon) could get the job done." The panel of voters selecting the Crew Chief of the Race; including Mike Mulhern of the Winston-Salem Journal, a Wypall Wipers representative and Robbie Reiser; all agreed that Loomis' come from behind victory earned him top accolades. Loomis won $1,000 for winning the Wypall Wipers Crew Chief of the Race award. He joins Scott Miller, Bob Osborne, Alan Gustafson, Pete Rondeau and Doug Richert in a tie for the Crew Chief of the Year award. (PR)

DuPont looking for extension: DuPont is close to extending its sponsorship of Jeff Gordon's team. DuPont's contract expires after this season. ... Gordon's victory was his sixth at Martinsville. (NewsRecord)

Gordon Rallies From 3 Laps Down, Wins Martinsville: Jeff Gordon showed that he might be the new king of short-track racing Sunday, coming from four laps down early on to win his sixth NASCAR Nextel Cup race at Martinsville Speedway. Fourth on a restart with 46 laps to go, Gordon wasted no time. He followed Mark Martin past Ryan Newman on the 461st lap, went underneath Martin to move into second place three laps later and passed Sterling Marlin for the lead with 34 laps remaining. From then on, it was smooth sailing to his 71st career victory and second in six races this year. It was his sixth victory at 0.526-mile Martinsville, the shortest and trickiest track in the premier series. Only Rusty Wallace, with seven, has more among active drivers. ABC NEWS (Results - Points)

Gordon Turned down Mexico Race, Wants to see NASCAR Canadian Oval: Some NASCAR Cup team sponsors, particularly those with corporate ties in Mexico, are interested in sponsoring their teams in the Mexico City race. DuPont was reported to be willing to sponsor Jeff Gordon in a Mexico City Busch car, but Gordon declined. Gordon, though, says he's looking forward to Montreal: "I'm a big fan of Formula One, so I know the course. I'd love to see us in Canada. "Staying in North America is extremely important. Canada seems like the next natural place for us to go. Obviously Mexico went well for the Busch cars; that might be a good option (for a Cup race) as well. But I want to see us on an oval. I don't want to see us on a road course in Canada. We can put on such a better show for the fans. And I know there are a lot of fans in Canada who follow NASCAR. I wish we had an oval track up there. "If we're going to go there, we need to start that process." (Winston-Salem)

5Pepsi Gordon Can: Pepsi is producing one million ''Drive for Five'' cans in tribute to Jeff Gordon's bid for a fifth Cup championship this season. Pepsi is an associate sponsor of Gordon's cars. The collector's edition cans will be available exclusively at Wal-Mart.

#24 Inducted into DAYTONA USA, Then Gordon TV Blitz: For the third time in his career, Jeff Gordon's #24 DuPont Automotive Finishes Chevrolet will spend a year inside DAYTONA USA, the official attraction of NASCAR. Following his third Daytona 500 victory on Sunday at historic Daytona International Speedway, Gordon's winning #24 Chevrolet was inducted into the attraction on Monday morning in the Eckrich Champion's Breakfast. The car will rest inside Gatorade Victory Lane at DAYTONA USA for the next 364 days and will be returned to the team before the start of the 48th annual Daytona 500 on Feb. 19, 2006. Gordon and his crew chief Robbie Loomis participated in a fan forum as enthusiastic race fans huddled together in the motorsports attraction. Gordon and Loomis also received their winning Daytona 500 leather jackets from Speedway President Robin Braig and Gatorade presented the 2005 Daytona 500 champ with a framed photo from the Victory Lane celebration. Another Daytona 500 tradition continued with the signing of the car by Gordon and his crew. But the Hendrick Motorsports crew added a new twist. Last week, Hendrick Motorsports mechanics who worked on the #24 car back at the shop in North Carolina signed a white paneled sticker just in case the car won the Daytona 500. That sticker now rests on bumper of the car. Following his induction ceremonies, Gordon will handle media obligations that come with a Daytona 500 victory in both New York City and in California. Included in the many appearances he's expected to make are Live with Regis and Kelly and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. In addition, to stops at ESPN headquarters in CT. (DIS PR)

Feb. 17, 2005 - Gordon Talks of Retirement and Over Exposure: Jeff Gordon, NASCAR's leading statesman at 33, says he may retire at 40. "Then you'll start seeing guys go to maybe 35 ... It will get younger and younger and younger." Dale Earnhardt Jr., racing's rock star at 30, admits he thinks about the issue often, and "every day is different." Reigning Nextel Cup champion Kurt Busch, 26, says "five years have been knocked off already" from his career plan, just by the grueling crucible of last fall's new Chase for the Championship. This, in a realm where Richard Petty raced through age 54, Bobby Allison had his career cut short at 52 by injury and Dale Earnhardt was about to turn 50, with no set plan to retire, when he was killed. Only now have Rusty Wallace, 48, and Mark Martin, 46, declared this their final full season, and Terry Labonte, 48, drastically cut his schedule. What has changed for the new generation of drivers? (SunSentinel)

Feb. 7, 2005 - Gordon the ambassador: TAG Heuer, the LVMH prestigious watchmaking company, announces NASCAR icon Jeff Gordon as its new brand ambassador with an active role in new product development, advertising, public relations and visual marketing. Gordon will be portrayed by world-renowned fashion photographer Patrick Demarchelier in the TAG Heuer "What Are You Made Of?" advertising campaign. He joins the ranks of other TAG Heuer brand ambassadors, including film superstar Uma Thurman, golfing champion Tiger Woods, Wimbledon tennis champion Maria Sharapova, and Formula 1 race car driver Juan-Pablo Montoya. (WhoWon)

January 18, 2005 - Jeff Gordon to Co-Host Regis and Kelly: Jeff Gordon, driver of the No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet, is scheduled to co-host with Kelly Ripa on the popular daytime talk show "Live with Regis and Kelly" on January 26 - 27. Although the four-time NASCAR Cup champion has co-hosted the show five times, this will mark the first time he has co-hosted on consecutive days. Following the show on January 27, Gordon will fly to Concord, N.C., to participate in the annual media tour stop at Hendrick Motorsports. (Jeff Gordon PR)

January 16, 2005 - Kanaan Wins Award; Earnhardt, Gordon and France's up for Half Century Award: Indy Racing League champion Tony Kanaan is the winner of the 2004 Jerry Titus award, the top driving award by the American Automobile Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association. Longtime NHRA star Kenny Bernstein, a six-time season champion, was given the AARWBA's Pioneer in Racing award and was among the 11 nominees announced for the Newsmaker of the Half-Century Award. The other nominees included Mario Andretti, Dale Earnhardt, John Force, Jeff Gordon, Dan Gurney and Richard Petty, NASCAR's founding France family, the Hulman-George family of Indianapolis fame, NHRA founder Wally Parks and racing entrepreneur Roger Penske. The Newsmaker of the Half-Century will be announced May 29 at the Indianapolis 500. (Kentucky.com)

January 5, 2005 - Jeff Gordon on Jay Leno TONIGHT: Jeff Gordon will appear on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" on Wednesday, January 5th [11:35pm/et on NBC]. Gordon will discuss the upcoming NASCAR season as well as the premiere of the Racing Stripes movie. A portion of the opening weekend proceeds from the movie will benefit the Jeff Gordon Foundation. (Gordonline.com)

December 8, 2004 - The Jeff Gordon Collection Of Wines: Jeff Gordon will market a series of upscale wines under a label bearing his own name, the championship race car driver announced today. Gordon, a celebrity who often appears as co-host on "Live With Regis and Kelly" as well as making frequent appearances on other network and cable television shows, said the first wine, a 2004 Carneros Chardonnay, will be available in October, 2005. Two red wines, a Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and a Napa Valley Merlot, also of the 2004 vintage, will be released after proper aging, in January, 2007. From that point, Chardonnay will be released each October and the Cabernet and Merlot each January. The wines, labeled Jeff Gordon Collection, are being made by August "Joe" Briggs, owner of Briggs & Sons Winemaking Co., of Calistoga at the north end of the world-famous Napa Valley. - (Catchfence)

December 5 2004 - Dorton Honored: The late Randy Dorton, the chief engine builder for Hendrick Motorsports, who was killed in an October plane crash, was honored as Clevite Engine Builder of the Year. The award was accepted by his widow, Diane Dorton. (ESPN/AP)

December 3, 2004 - Mears Replaces Gordon in France: Mears will join fellow Nextel Cup star Jimmie Johnson in representing the United States in the all-star race, an event matching drivers from around the world. Gordon, a four-time Cup champion, was scheduled to race in Paris, but had to withdraw after coming down with a severe case of the flu. Gordon became dehydrated and spent Wednesday night receiving intravenous fluids. He was released from the hospital Thursday but was still ailing, spokesman Jon Edwards said. Robbie Loomis, the crew chief on Gordon's No. 24 Cup car, flew to New York to fill in for the driver at a breakfast Friday morning, but Gordon still hoped to be well enough attend to the NASCAR awards ceremony Friday night. (FoxSports)

Hendrick Wins Award: Team owner Rick Hendrick is the latest winner of the Buddy Shuman Award. Shuman was a popular NASCAR driver in the early 1950s who died in a hotel fire in 1955. The award has been given annually since 1957, honoring someone from the NASCAR community for contributions to the sport. Hendrick, a popular figure in the garage area, lost his son, his brother, two nieces and two key team officials among the 10 persons who died in an Oct. 24 crash of a team plane on the way to a race in Virginia. Hendrick's team has won five Cup championships and fields cars in both the Cup and Busch Series. (FoxSports)

Gordon in Hospital; to Miss Race: NASCAR superstar Jeff Gordon spent Wednesday night in the hospital because of flu-like symptoms that will keep him from racing in a dream head-to-head matchup with Formula One ace Michael Schumacher on Saturday in Paris, a team spokesman said Thursday night. Gordon and Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jimmie Johnson were scheduled to represent the USA in the Race of Champions Nations Cup, an international all-star event. "He's definitely under the weather," Johnson said earlier Thursday. "And being as dehydrated as he is with the flu symptoms, being on an airplane for eight hours is probably not a good move." (USA Today)

November 26, 2004 - Odds for 2005: Nextel Cup odds have already been established for the 2005 season. Jimmie Johnson is a 9-2 favorite of one Internet site, with Earnhardt and Jeff Gordon second at 6-1. Kasey Kahne was the No. 5 favorite with the same odds as 2004 champion Kurt Busch -- 8-1 -- and lower odds than former series champions Stewart (10-1), Matt Kenseth (10-1), Bobby Labonte (30-1), Dale Jarrett (40-1) and Rusty Wallace (50-1).(Indianapolis Star)

November 22, 2004 - Crew Chief Changes Coming To Hendrick Motorsports:? Although Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon finished second and third in the points standings, expect musical chairs among other crew chiefs at Hendrick Motorsports. After a lackluster rookie year in the No. 25 car, Brian Vickers will be reunited with his Busch Series crew chief, Lance McGrew. They won the Busch title in 2003, and some were surprised when McGrew didn't join Vickers during his rookie year in Cup. Vickers' current chief, Peter Sospenzo, will join Terry Labonte's limited run in 2005, and Jim Long, who was crew chief for Labonte's No. 5, will work on the NBS program with rookies Boston Reid and Blake Feese and possibly a driver or two from the Cup stable. Alan Gustafson, who previously was the team engineer for the No. 25, will be Kyle Busch's crew chief on the No. 5 (Fox Sports)

Hendrick honored by NASCAR: Car owner Rick Hendrick was honored by NASCAR drivers and officials Sunday afternoon, one day after he returned to the track for the first time since four family members and several employees were killed in a plane crash. NASCAR president Mike Helton stopped the pre-race meeting to welcome Hendrick, who received a standing ovation from drivers, pit crew members and others. "We love you, it's great to have you back," Helton said. (USA Today/AP)

November 19, 2004 - Randy Dorton/Hendrick Engine Builder Showdown Event: The event began with a moment of silence, but the roar of 600-horsepower engines soon filled the room as Hendrick Motorsports and Hendrick Automotive Group employees gathered this week for the third annual Randy Dorton/Hendrick Engine Builder Showdown. Sponsored by Dana Corp., the two-day contest teamed Hendrick Motorsports engine builders with Hendrick Automotive Group certified master technicians for head-to-head competition. Twelve pairs were clocked until their respective powerplant established a one-minute run after complete assembly, with the shortest elapsed time taking home first-place honors. Monday's qualifying round set the grid for Tuesday's finals, with the team of Jon Young and Mike Maiwald posting a build of 20 minutes, 52 seconds to tie the event record and earn the victory. Young is a Hendrick certified master tech from Gwinnett Place Honda in Atlanta, while Maiwald, of Hendrick Motorsports, is NASCAR's defending Engine Builder of the Year. For his efforts, Young was presented with an all-expenses-paid trip to the February 2005 events at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway. Runner-up Vince Bonfiglio, who teamed with Larry Zentmeyer, was also presented with a Daytona vacation package. Bonfiglio represented Hendrick BMW of Charlotte." This is a wonderful event that recognizes the > '> best of the best> '> in our industry," said Jim Perkins, Hendrick Automotive Group CEO. "It gives us the opportunity to bring the two companies together and acknowledge the contributions of our top-level staff." The brainchild of Rick Hendrick and the late Randy Dorton, the Showdown draws from more than 800 Automotive Group technicians, taking the 12 that are deemed most qualified by a one-of-a-kind Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) exam created specifically for Hendrick employees. Those 12 are then paired with Hendrick Motorsports engine builders. Hendrick is owner of NASCAR operation Hendrick Motorsports, and chairman of the Hendrick Automotive Group, an organization comprised of 64 car dealerships across the United States, from the Carolinas to California. Dorton, recognized as one of the most gifted engine builders in NASCAR history, won nine championships during his two-decade tenure as head of Hendrick Motorsports' engine department before tragically losing his life Oct. 24. The Showdown was officially renamed in his honor shortly afterward. A silent moment of remembrance opened the competition at the Hendrick Motorsports Museum in Charlotte, and many of the participants wore red -- Dorton' s favorite color -- throughout the two-day experience.(HMS PR)

Nextel Drivers testing at Homestead: NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series testing continues at Homestead-Miami Speedway with a two-day session on Tuesday, November 9 and Wednesday, November 10 featuring seven out of the top-10 drivers competing in the inaugural Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup. A total of 28 drivers are scheduled to test in preparation for the upcoming Ford Championship Weekend, the season-finales for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup, Busch and Craftsman Truck Series, Nov. 18-21 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Drivers scheduled to participate on Nov. 9-10 include Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup contenders Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jimmie Johnson, Mark Martin, Tony Stewart, Elliott Sadler, and Jeremy Mayfield. (WhoWon) UPDATE Jeff Gordon fastest in Homestead testing: Four-time series champion Jeff Gordon set the fastest lap of the day Tuesday as a total of 35 racecars took laps in preparation for Ford Championship Weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway Nov 18-21. Eight NASCAR Busch Series drivers also took laps in preparation for the Ford 300 NASCAR Busch Series finale Nov. 20. NASCAR Busch Series points-leader Martin Truex Jr. was quickest among the Busch Series drivers with a lap of 171.320mph. Testing continues Wednesday with all 35 drivers that participated Tuesday expected to again turn laps. Testing is open to the public free of charge.
Unofficial times and speeds for selected drivers during NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Testing and NASCAR Busch Series testing November 9 at the Homestead-Miami Speedway:
NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series:
1. 24-Jeff Gordon- 31.00 sec, 174.194mph
2. 8- Dale Earnhardt Jr- 31.01 sec, 174.137 mph
3. 6- Mark Martin- 31.09 sec, 173.689 mph
4. 48- Jimmie Johnson- 31.26 sec, 172.745 mph
4. 42- Jamie McMurray- 31.31 sec, 172.467 mph
6. 30- Jeff Burton- 31.38 sec, 172.084 mph
7. 21- Ricky Rudd- 31.40 sec, 171.975 mph
8. 18- Bobby Labonte- 31.42 sec, 171.865 mph
9. 20- Tony Stewart- 31.47 sec, 171.592 mph
10. 38- Elliott Sadler- 31.58 sec, 170.994 mph.

Jeff Gordon leads contenders at Talladega : Joe Nemechek wasn't surprised to be back at the front of the field, just that it took so long to get there. ... (MLive.com, MI)

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