By Sarah Handy, Staff Writer
In this week’s edition of Flashback Friday, Kickin’ The Tires relives when NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon won his record fifth Brickyard 400 from Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 27, 2014 in the No. 24 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports.
It was a day for the record books for four-time series Champion and future Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Gordon, became the first five-time NASCAR winner at Indy, winning the 21st running of the Brickyard 400 on a late race restart.
The veteran driver took the lead from teammate Kasey Kahne with 17 laps remaining in the event to capture his 90th win of his Cup career and second of the Sprint Cup season up to that point.
“I cannot believe this just happened. I was trying so hard with 10 to go not to focus on the crowd, trying not to let it get to me. It’s such a big race, such an important victory. You can’t help it; your emotions take over.”, said Gordon post-race.
(Photo: Matt Sullivan/NASCAR via Getty Images)
Career Update:
Jeff Gordon would go on to win two more times during the 2014 season at both Michigan and Dover. He would finish the season with four wins, 14 Top-5s, 23 Top-10s and lead 1083 laps.
In 2015, Gordon announced it would be his last full-time season but didn’t rule ever racing again. In Gordon’s final full-time season, he would find victory lane at Martinsville and go on to earn five Top-5s, and 21 Top-10 finishes.
He did return in 2016, running eight races for a sidelined Dale Earnhardt Jr., in the No. 88 for Hendrick Motorsports, earning two Top-10s in that time span.
Overall over a MENCS career spanning 25 years, Gordon amassed 93 wins in 805 starts, 325 Top-5s, 477 Top-10s and 81 pole awards.
Gordon is currently an announcer for Fox NASCAR and still remains very active within the Hendrick Motorsports organization and remains a co-owner with Rick Hendrick of the No. 48 Chevrolet driven by seven-time NASCAR Champion, Jimmie Johnson.
In 2018, Gordon was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America and in 2019 was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
