During his final season before retirement, tracks have showered Jeff Gordon with gifts as a way to honor the driver, regarded as one of NASCAR’s all-time greats.
Jeff Gordon presented with a ‘horsepower’ boost by Texas NASCAR track
What do you give as a retirement gift to the NASCAR driver who has everything? In Jeff Gordon’s case, it was a pair of ponies for his young children.
Tom Pennington/Getty Images
In many cases the presents bestowed upon Gordon have had some direct correlation to that particular track -- a large bottle of signature wine at Sonoma, cases of bourbon at Kentucky, or Dover giving him and the No. 24 team miniature trophies of its mascot, Miles the Monster.
Texas Motor Speedway, the site of Sunday’s Sprint Cup race, continued that theme Friday with track president Eddie Gossage presenting Gordon with custom black cowboy boots adorned with a No. 24. But it was a pair of Shetland ponies Gossage earmarked more for the enjoyment of Gordon’s two small children, Ella and Leo, that left the four-time Cup Series champion nearly speechless.
“Eddie, you have no idea what you’ve done to me,” Gordon said. “I’m mad at you, but at the same time I’m honored. My kids are going flip out.”
Gossage, considered one of NASCAR’s top promoters, was expected to pay homage to Gordon, who is in the final three races of a 23-year career, with something spectacular. But few thought live animals would be involved. And just in case Gordon had any thoughts of declining the gift, Gossage took it upon himself to inform Ella and Leo of the new Gordon family pets named Smokey and Scout.
“You have no idea the thoughts that are going through my head right now,” Gordon said. “I don’t have the property to have these things, but I have a feeling I’m going to have to start looking.”
See More:
