Jeff Gordon

Jeff Michael Gordon is an American race car driver born in 1971, in Vallejo, California. Gordon is a four- time NASCAR Winston Cup (NEXTEL Cup) Series champion and driver of the # 24 Chevrolet Monte Carlo.

He began racing at the age of five, before 18, Gordon had already won three short-track races and was awarded USAC Midget car Racing Rookie of the Year in 1989. The next year Gordon won the USAC Midget title and in 1991 he moved up to the USAC Silver Crown, title that he won at the age of 20 becoming the youngest driver to win it.

Gordon then went on to spend two successful years in the NASCAR Busch Series in 1991 and 1992, driving for Bill Davis Racing (with whom he set a NASCAR record by capturing 11 poles in one season). By 1993, Gordon raced his first full season in Winston cup for Hendrick Motorsports, in which he won a Twin 125 Daytona 500 qualifying race, the Rookie of the Year award and finished 14th in points.

Jeff Gordon collected his first career victory at the Lowe’s Motor Speedway in the Coca Cola 600, NASCAR’s longest and most demanding race. Additionally, Gordon scored a popular hometown victory at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the inaugural Brickyard 400. Finally, in 1995, at the age of 24, Gordon won the first of four NASCAR Winston Cup Championships. He also became the first NASCAR driver with four Brickyard 400 victories at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and one of the only four drivers to have four victories at the historic track.

He is regarded as one of NASCAR's best drivers because he achieved so much at such a young age. At thirty five, midway through the 2006 Nextel Cup season, Gordon has accumulated 75 Nextel Cup victories and is currently seventh on the all-time list.