Jeff Gordon emotional prior to final Sonoma start

Throughout this his final full season, Jeff Gordon has remarked often how he tries to block out thinking about his pending retirement. And with the exception of a couple of moments, he’s been largely successful.

But as the Sprint Cup Series pays its annual visit to Sonoma Raceway located in California’s wine country and roughly 20 miles from where he grew up in in Vallejo, Calif., Gordon admits he’s realizing the significance of what this weekend signifies.

“It is staring to sink in,” Gordon said Friday. “It was hard at Atlanta (the second race of the season and only race there), but it was so early in the season. We had so much racing left to go and even still there is a lot left to go.”

Sonoma represents the 16th of 36 races on the Cup schedule, with every track from here on out marking Gordon’s final appearance as driver. (The exception is New Hampshire Motor Speedway, which hosts a race next month and another in September.)

To commemorate Gordon’s final race Sonoma president Steve Page presented him with an 18-liter wine bottle adorned with Gordon’s No. 24 car and the years of his track-record five victories. That gesture only adds to the emotion heading into Sunday’s race.

“I think because of what Steve and all the folks at Sonoma have done and just family and friends that I have out here, it does feel different,” Gordon said. “It feels a little more emotional and I think that will ramp up through Sunday. “This has been a very special place for me and always will be.

“I love coming out here. Not just because it’s home. It is just so many things; the weather, the wine country, family and I love this racetrack.”

Gordon will retire holding a plethora of Sonoma records. In addition to his five wins, he is the all-time leader in top-fives, top-10s, laps led and average finish. He says his success is due to Sonoma undergoing very little change despite an abundance of changes.

And unlike Watkins Glen, the Cup Series’ other road course that features more high-speed corners, Sonoma is more technical making it imperative for a driver to be consistent and hit their braking marks. Characteristics that plays to Gordon’s strength.

“Because it’s a faster track at Watkins Glen, aerodynamics plays a bigger role,” Gordon said. “But here it’s about finesse. It’s about being aggressive, but not too aggressive. Finding grip in the tires and trying to maintain that grip. The speed falls off abruptly over a run so there is tire management and just being smooth and consistent that really pays off.”