Jeff Gordon Looking To Make A Difference After NASCAR Driving Career Ends

At 40 years old, Jeff Gordon is no longer the ‘wonder boy’ of the early 1990s. Gray hairs and back problems have led to questions of retirement over the past few years, but Gordon has remained competitive in the car and focused on winning races and championships.

Yet as the four-time champion moves into the next stage, his work outside the car is becoming a larger part of his life. Involvement with the Jeff Gordon Foundation, a trip to Congo with the Clinton Global Initiative and numerous other public awareness campaigns have proven Gordon is as much a champion off the track as he has been on.

Saying he “doesn’t believe in retirement,” Gordon expects his legacy after racing to be defined by the charitable work he has become so passionate about over the years.

“It’s going to be hard to top what I’ve done in racing, but I’ll certainly try,” he said Friday in Michigan while promoting awareness for pertussis (also known as whooping cough).

“When I get behind something, I do it 100 percent and I want to be successful at it and I want to make a difference,” Gordon added. “Right now, it’s hard for me to really do the things I want to do with the children’s charities because I am so limited on time.”

Nearing the end of his career, Gordon says he is only “scratching the surface” when it comes to his work with children’s charities and believes he could make a bigger impact when he can devote his full attention.

That being said, don’t expect Gordon to step away from racing entirely.

“Racing will always be a part of my life,” he said. “Whatever I do within racing after driving, I certainly want to be as successful as I can at it.”

Using the wealth of knowledge acquired through the years as a successful driver and member of Hendrick Motorsports, Gordon hopes to play a role in making the organization a continued success, but admits there is no guarantee that will happen.

One thing he can guarantee, though, is his philanthropic involvement will continue to evolve and grow.

“Certainly I know my work with (the Jeff Gordon Foundation) will increase in a big way when I’m not driving, I know that for a fact,” he said.