Rare Photos of Jeff Gordon

Four-time NASCAR champion Jeff Gordon will come out of retirement to replace Dale Earnhardt Jr.—who reported concussion-like symptoms to the Hendrick Motorsports team—for the next two Sprint Cup races. Gordon, 44, raced in the Cup Series from 1992-2015 for Hendrick Motorsports. He won his first championship as a 23-year-old in 1994 and also won titles in 1997, 1998 and 2001. His 93 Cup wins and 81 poles are each No. 3 all-time. Gordon’s an equity partner in Hendrick Motorsports, and been working closely with the team all season, specifically with rookie Chase Elliott, who now helms Gordon's old No. 24 car. Here are 24 rare photos of old No. 24.

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Jan 22, 2015

Rare Photos of Jeff Gordon

1984

Jeff Gordon raced sprint cars on dirt when he was a mere 13 years old.

1992

Jeff Gordon ran the full NASCAR Busch Grand National circuit for car owner Bill Davis in Baby Ruth-sponsored Fords, scoring three wins.

Aug. 1994

Jeff Gordon celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the Brickyard 400 race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

July 1997

Jeff Gordon drives his car during practice at Greenville Pickens Speedway.

Aug. 1997

Jeff Gordon poses in his car before a race in Charlotte, N.C.

Sept. 1997

Dale Earnhardt and Jeff Gordon check out Gordon's car in the garage before a race at Richmond International Raceway.

Nov. 1997

Jeff Gordon jumps from the roof of his car after winning the Winston Cup Championship at the Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Oct. 1998

Jeff Gordon and Mark Martin smile during a photo shoot in Daytona Beach, Fla.

May 2001

Jay Leno and Jeff Gordon talk during a break in a press event on the main straightaway at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Leno, who is driving the Brickyard 400 pace car for the second time, was getting driving tips from Gordon.

July 2001

Jeff Gordon chats with Britney Spears, the grand marshall for the Pepsi 400 NASCAR race at Daytona International Speedway.

Jan. 2002

Jeff Gordon's pit crew practices at Hendrick Motorsports in Charlotte, N.C.

Jan. 2003

Dana Edelson/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images

Jeff Gordon acts alongside Tracy Morgan during the SNL skit "Brian Fellow's Safari Planet."

Jeff Gordon acts alongside Chris Parnell during the SNL skit "The Terry Funck Hour."

Jan. 2003

Jeff Gordon poses during a photo shoot in Charlotte, N.C.

Jan. 2003

Jeff Gordon poses during a photo shoot in Charlotte, N.C.

Sept. 2006

Jeff Gordon rehearses his lines for the Top 10 list before the "Late Show with David Letterman" at the ED Sullivan Theatre in New York City.

Dec. 2006

Jeff Gordon poses with his parents, John and Carol Bickford, during the grand opening ceremony for the Jeff Gordon Children's Hospital in Concord, N.C.

Dec. 2006

Jeff Gordon and his wife Ingrid pose with a dance group that performed during the grand opening ceremony for the Jeff Gordon Children's Hospital in Concord, N.C.