Writting 2

Race car driver “King of the Track” Jeff Gordon was born on August 4, 1971 in Vallejo, California. He was not an overnight phenomenon in the world of auto racing, but his direction, if not his destiny, was determined early. As a child he was encouraged by his stepfather John Bickford where he started racing go-carts and quarter- midgets when he was just only five years old. He won often on the midget and open wheel racing circuit as a teen. He loved to compete and just got a kick out of going fast. By the age of twenty Jeff made a natural transition to National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR). Then by 1986, he and his family moved to Pittsboro, Indiana, to be closer to the racing centers and Jeff’s destiny.

Jeff Gordon became the youngest driver ever to obtain a United States Auto Club license. He gained much experience by driving every kind of competitive vehicle, from dirt cars in Indiana to sprint cars in Australia. In the year 1990 he became the youngest Midget Series champion in USAC history. He also earned the Busch Grand National Rookie of the Year honors in 1991, winning the poles position eleven times. Jeff accomplished a lot of things in the minor league. He would soon leave the minor league of motorsports and aim a bit higher.

In the year of 1992, Jeff would sign a deal to drive a car for Hendricks Motorsports. He would then have his introduction to the Winston Cup circuit and the Hooters 500, the same race in which Richard Petty’s career ended. He was also a terrific NASCAR driver someone who Gordon looked up to. That season Jeff won Rookie of the Year on the Winston Cup circuit. In 1993 Gordon finished fifth at Daytona and second in the Coca-Cola 600 with capturing eight top ten finishes. I bet that year was a taste of fame and fortune for him. He won his first NASCAR race, the Coca-Cola 600, and the inaugural Brickyard 400 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1994. Through out the years he continued to work harder and harder and would soon achieve more and more.

During the year 1998, Jeff would become the youngest driver to win Daytona 500 and was the first to win three consecutive Southern 500s, winning his fourth straight in 98. He tied the modern-era record with this win, by winning eight out of ten races for four months straight (June- September). NASCAR selected him as “Driver of the 90s,” edging out Dale Earnhardt. At one point of time Earnhardt was the focus of the NASCAR racing until Gordon showed him up. Due to the help of his determination and good driving team assistance built this major success.
Jeff Gordon is one of the greatest NASCAR drivers there will ever be. He achieved mostly all of his goals. Always having faith and giving determination to something that he really loves.

I researched Jeff Gordon because I’m also a person who has faith and determination to try my hardest and always give my best effort to strive for something I want to do and enjoy. That’s what kinder makes him one of my role models, because he never gave up and what ever he wanted to accomplish he gave a hundred/ten percent to get him there.