Jeff Gordon revealed the health issue that played a major role in his decision to retire from NASCAR
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Jeff Gordon (Via IMAGO)
Four times Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon has detailed the health issue that made him retire from NASCAR racing. He pointed out that he was suffering from severe back pain, and it eventually became severe, and he had to say goodbye to the sport he loved. Gordon retired in 2015 and went on to work as a broadcaster for Fox before coming back to a leadership role at HMS.
Jeff Gordon raced all his career at Hendrick Motorsports. He debuted in the 1992 Cup finale in Atlanta and started racing full-time from the next season. In his 24-year-long career in the Cup series, he started 805 races and won 93 of them. He won Cup titles with HMS in 1995, 1997,1998, and 2001 with the Chevy team. Gordon has also won five Xfinity races from 73 starts.
The Hall of Famer, when asked about his decision to retire in 2016, by Joe Buck in 2018, explained that lower back pain, which he started experiencing in 2005-06, prompted his retirement. He sought medical attention and physical therapy in 2010 as the pain increased, but he wasn’t able to put an end to it.
I started having some back issues, some lower back pain and spasms, and pain in the car probably around; I mean, it probably even goes back to 2005 or 2006. But it really started getting bad around 2010, and I started working on it, physical therapy and things.Gordon said via Undeniable with Joe Buck.
Gordon recalled him approaching Rick Hendrick to break the news in the early 2010s and telling him he may not be able to continue racing for long because of the pain intensifying.
I went to Rick Hendrick, and I said Rick, I don’t know how much longer I’m going to be able to be able to do this, my body is just not doing well. I’m in a lot of pain throughout the race, and every time I get out of the car.
Jeff Gordon raced a handful of races after retirement due to Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Gordon returned to racing after announcing his retirement in 2015 as a substitute for Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the No:88 Chevy. He replaced fellow Hall of Famer after he got sidelined for multiple races over a crash and concussion.
He made eight starts that season and was able to do so since the appearances came in the second half of the season when NBC took over the live Broadcasting duties from Fox. Jordon finished inside the top-20 In all but one race and scored in the top 10 at Dover and Martinsville.
Gordon has since evolved into one of the leading voices of NASCAR. His vice-chairman role at Hendrick Motorsports, the most dominant team in NASCAR, makes him an authoritative figure. He still has a lot to give to the sport as an ex-driver and a team executive.
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