Jeff Gordon

March 7, 2008 - Born on August 4, 1971 in Vallejo, California, Jeff Gordon was raised in Pittsboro, Indiana. Since the age of 5, Jeff Gordon had been racing in quarter midgets and his first competition was in Rio Linda, California at the Roy Hayer Memorial Race Track (earlier known as the CrackerJack Track).

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Early Years

March 7, 2008 - Gordon knew at an early age that he wanted to race the rest of his life, so his family decided to move to Pittsboro, where there was a number of opportunities for younger racers, to encourage his career. At six, he won 35 main events and set 5 records. Prior to turning 18, Jeff Gordon won three short-track races, and took home the USAC Midget Car Racing Rookie of the Year award in 1989. A year later he won the USAC Midget Title and shortly thereafter, in 1991, he raced in the USAC Silver Crown and became the youngest racer to win the title. It was an early indication that Jeff Gordon would go far in his racing career.

Gordon was introduced to the Buck Baker Driving School in North Carolina. Here he drove his first laps in a stock car, and told his parents that this was his calling and he wanted to do it ther est of his life.

In 1991 and 1992 Jeff Gordon raced in the Busch Series driving for Bill Davis Racing. His sponsor for the races was Carolina Ford Dealers in '91 and Baby Ruth in '92.

NASCAR Years

March 7, 2008 - After a number of wins in his early career, he was deemed fit to race with NASCAR in 1993. Although he didn't win a race until 1994, he has gone on to win more than 80 races since 1994, and finishing in the top 5 more than 230 times in his career. His winnings have averaged to more than $63 million. Jeff Gordon has won the Daytona 500 three times.

March 7, 2008 - Jeff Gordon is just one great aspect of the Daytona 500, so head out to Daytona Beach, Florida with Daytona 500 tickets.