Jeff Gordon is not only one of the greatest drivers to ever strap into a NASCAR Sprint Cup car, he is also an international celebrity known on every continent throughout the world.

Once the names Mario Andretti or A.J. Foyt were synonymous with someone driving too fast or using their car like a race car. now the phrase is, “Who do you think you are, Jeff Gordon?”

Gordon transcends the sport that was once dominated by southerners. Now, as Gordon wraps up his career, he is still as competitive as ever. He is now third in NASCAR history with 85 wins and his seat in the NASCAR Hall of Fame awaits the California native.

Gordon’s path to NASCAR was not the path many NASCAR veterans took to arrive in the most elite series in the country. Gordon cut his teeth racing sprint cars and midgets on the dirt bull rings across the country. He raced legendary tracks such as Ascot Park, Terre Haute and Eldora.

Along the way Gordon learned exceptional car control and he also learned to race hard on every lap. The quality of giving everything he had on every lap, did not go over well with the NASCAR establishment and Gordon quickly learned he would have to tone it down to survive in NASCAR.

Fortunately for NASCAR fans, Gordon didn’t dial it down too much and he put together one of the greatest seasons in NASCAR history, winning 13 races in 1998. Gordon won four titles in nine seasons but despite some close calls, he has never held a NASCAR Sprint Cup trophy over his head since the NASCAR Chase began.