Four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion is leaving his analyst role at FOX Sports at the end of the calendar year to assume a full-time role as vice chairman of Hendrick Motorsports, the organization announced Wednesday.Gordon, a 93-time Cup Series winner for Rick Hendrick will assume the appointed strategic executive management role effective Jan. 1, 2022, and will report to Hendrick
As vice-chairman and co-owner of HMS, Gordon, 49, will maintain a daily presence at Hendrick Motorsports with a focus on the organization’s competition and marketing groups.
The Vallejo, Calif. native will work alongside president Marshall Carlson and general manager Jeff Andrews. In addition, he will join Hendrick on NASCAR’s team owner council and assume Hendrick Motorsports’ seat on the sanctioning body’s diversity, equity and inclusion committee.
“I cannot put into words what Hendrick Motorsports means to me,” Gordon said. “In many ways, it’s my home and the people here are my family. 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.
“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.”
During the height of his career, Gordon became a co-owner at Hendrick Motorsports in 1999. He remains Hendrick’s only partner in the 13-time NASCAR Cup Series championship-winning organization and spent his entire Cup career with the Concord, N.C.-based powerhouse from 1992 until his retirement from full-time racing in 2015.
“Jeff and I have talked about this for many years, and I feel it’s a natural evolution for him and our company,” said Hendrick, 71, who is also chairman and CEO of Hendrick Automotive Group. “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.
“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.”
Gordon’s focus on the future of Hendrick Motorsports leaves a role to be filled at FOX Sports where Gordon joined in 2016 where he has been a mainstay of its NASCAR Cup Series race telecasts and other programming.
In 2021, Gordon was joined by former Cup Series driver Clint Bowyer who replaced Darrell Waltrip to complete the FOX broadcast booth team alongside motorsports television icon Mike Joy.
“I cannot thank the entire FOX Sports family enough for the incredible opportunity I’ve had over the past six seasons,” Gordon said. “I’ve come to truly appreciate the responsibility of bringing the sport to our fans and the tremendous work that goes into our broadcasts each and every week.
“I’m certainly going to miss it, but I will forever be grateful to FOX for the experience and for the trust they’ve placed in me. It’s been a privilege to work with such a talented group of people.”
Eric Shanks, CEO and Executive Producer at FOX Sports offered, “Just like he did on the track, Jeff distinguished himself as an all-time winner on our FOX Sports team. While we are sad to see him go, everyone at FOX Sports wishes Jeff nothing but continued success.”
No timetable has been set to name a replacement for Gordon at FOX which begins its coverage of the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series with the Daytona 500 on Feb. 20, 2022.
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01.
