Monday 20 April 2015

Jeff Gordon’s Rise to Stardom

You certainly must know Jeff Gordon as the professional, American, stock car racing driver. It can be said that his passion for racing was manifest from a young age and he duly worked hard to achieve this. At the age of four years, Jeff Gordon would begin to be passionate about the BMX bike that his stepfather bought for him. A year later, he would begin racing quarter midgets.

Gordon made his racing debut at the Roy Hayer Memorial Race Track in California. By the time he was six, Jeff had bagged thirty five main events and set a couple of records as well. 1971 was a rather prolific year in the growing career of the racer; winning 51 quarter midget races.

Jeff Gordon's Racing Video >>



At slightly more than one decade of age, he would win all of the 25 karting races that he took part in. as can be expected in a child as young as Gordon, he soon got bored of cars and decided to venture out into water-skiing. His passion for cars would see him going back to driving barely a year later.

Gordon would begin to race in sprint cars in 1986; he actually won three races. He would be awarded a USAC license in the following year; and this made him the youngest driver, at 16 years of age, to achieve this feat.

Gordon's family was very supportive of his racing career and they actually moved from California to Indiana where there were greater opportunities to young racers.

Even before gaining the majority age of 18 years, Gordon won three track races and went ahead to bag the USAC Midget Car Racing Rookie of the Year in 1989.

His passion for racing would see him going to countries like Australia and New Zealand on racing sprees over the next decade. The USAC Silver Crown was Gordon's in 1991 and he won the season championship; being the youngest driver to do so. On top of this, he also bagged 4 Crown Nationals.

1992 was a very successful season for Gordon; he bagged 11 poles all in one season, thereby setting a NASCAR record.

His racing career, though, has not been all smooth. In 1995 for example, his attempt at the Daytona 500 was not very successful. He finished a paltry 22nd after beginning in fourth position. In Rockingham, the following week, he would bounce back with a bang! He won the pole with an amazing speed; even breaking the record formerly set by Ricky Rudd. He would go ahead to win the race altogether!

One thing that you may have not known, though, is the fact that Jeff Gordon is a born again Christian! In the 90's, he curiously followed some drivers who were headed to the chapel. He credits this as the occurrence that ultimately gave birth to his desire to know God.

His first marriage failed though, and ended in divorce. However, he is currently married to Ingrid Vandebosch and they actually have two children.

Reference: http://celebrityabc.com