Jeff Gordon Retirement: Sweeps Front in Daytona 500 Qualifying After Quiting Sprint Cup Series in 2015

Since the 90s, Jeff Gordon has been a force to be reckoned with in NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series. He has about as many haters as he does devout fans. In recent news, Gordon did well in Daytona 500 qualifying; he was able to sweep the front row. This is an important victory for Gordon, who announced earlier this year that this will be his last season behind the iconic #24 Chevy.

Racing is in Gordon's blood, and he got his start at a very early age. When he was four-years-old, Jeff rode a BMX bike that his stepfather bought for him. He started racing quarter midgets one year later at Hayer Memorial Race Track.

Gordon started his racing career in the Busch Series and Bill Davis Racing. In 1993, after winning a handful of races, he started racing full-time in the Cup Series for Hendrick Motorsports.

Since then, he has won numerous awards and set several all-time records. Unfortunately, according to Fox Sports, this is going to be Jeff's last year:

"Four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon announced...that 2015 will be his final full-time season behind the wheel of the iconic No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet. Gordon, 43, ranks third in all-time Sprint Cup points race victories with 92 and third in poles with 77. The Vallejo, Calif., native ran his first Sprint Cup race at Atlanta Motor Speedway in 1992, the season-ending event that was also Petty's final career race."

Nevertheless, Gordon has proven that he hasn't lost his touch. Reported on by ESPN, Jeff is looking good for this year's Daytona 500:

"The qualifying session for NASCAR's biggest race of the year was lambasted by Tony Stewart as "a complete embarrassment" and called a "cute show" by Clint Boyer...The frenetic knockout format ended with Jeff Gordon on the pole for the final Daytona 500 of his career. Gordon had no qualms with qualifying after he and Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jimmie Johnson outsmarted the field Sunday to sweep the front row for the Daytona 500... They were among only a handful of drivers who were pleased with the format..."

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