Four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Jeff Gordon announced on Twitter Thursday that this year will be his last as a full-time driver.
“Letting team know this will be my final year competing for a championship,” he tweeted to his 642,000 followers, accompanied by a photo of himself speaking to the No. 24 team at Hendrick Motorsports’ headquarters.
“I’m proud of the career I’ve had & knew this day would come, but I’ll be involved with @TeamHendrick for many years to come,” Gordon added.
Other NASCAR driver immediately took to Twitter to express their support.
“Hard to imagine this is @JeffGordonWeb last full season,” tweeted Dale Earnhardt Jr. “Tons of respect for him and what he’s accomplished thus far. A total professional.”
“Crazy to hear that @JeffGordonWeb is retiring! What an amazing career! Glad I got to race with him!” wrote Danica Patrick.
Gordon later said in a press release that he “thought long and hard” about his decision.
“I won’t use the ’R-word,’ because I plan to stay extremely busy in the years ahead, and there’s always the possibility I’ll compete in selected events, although I currently have no plans to do that,” he said, ESPN reported.
Gordon has 92 career Sprint Cup wins and championships in 1995, 1997, 1998 and 2001. He has spent his entire 23-year career in the No. 24 car with Hendrick Motorsports, ESPN reported.
• Jessica Chasmar can be reached at jchasmar@washingtontimes.com.
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