Jeff Gordon named Vice Chairman of Hendrick Motorsports

credit: Debbie Ross for Skirts and Scuffs

On Wednesday, Hendrick Motorsports confirmed the rumor that had been floating around for a few weeks: four-time NASCAR Cup Champion, Hall of Famer, and FOX Sports broadcaster Jeff Gordon will not return to the booth next season. Instead, on January 1, 2022, Gordon will become Vice Chairman of Hendrick Motorsports, making him Rick Hendrick’s second-in-command at HMS. 

Gordon, who will be 50 in July, has been an equity owner at the team since 1999, when he and Hendrick inked a “lifetime agreement” giving Gordon a stake in the No. 24 team and assured he would be driving the car for as long as he wanted to do so. 

 

In the press release announcing Gordon’s promotion, Hendrick stated, “Jeff and I have talked about this for many years, and I feel it’s a natural evolution for him and our company. I've always been impressed with his business instincts. On some level, he’s been involved in every major decision we’ve made over the last two decades, and his influence has continued to grow since he stopped driving. He understands our culture, our values, and the importance we place on our people and our partnerships.” 

Hendrick added, “I love racing and competing, and Jeff is the only person I know who hates to lose as much as I do. I feel great physically and have no plans to go anywhere anytime soon, which is exactly why it’s the right time. In the years to come, I couldn’t be more energized about working arm-in-arm with him and cementing the future of Hendrick Motorsports together.”

In addition to thanking FOX Sports for the opportunity they afforded him, Gordon described Hendrick Motorsports as his home and the people as his family and emphasized his love of competition. 

“I’ve never lost my passion for the organization, for our sport, and for the sheer challenge of racing and winning at the highest level,” Gordon said. “Being part of the competition is where I’m happiest and feel I can make the biggest contribution to the continued, long-term success of the team. Rick and I have a shared vision, which is based on the values he’s instilled, the culture he’s built and our desire to be the very best in all categories, on and off the track.”