WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. — Four-time NASCAR champion Jeff Gordon officially made his 800th NASCAR premier series start Sunday, taking the green flag at Watkins Glen International.
Gordon made his 24th start at the 2.45-mile road course in Sunday’s Cheez-It 355 at The Glen (USA, MRN, SiriusXM), substituting for the third consecutive week in the Hendrick Motorsports No. 88 Chevrolet as Dale Earnhardt Jr. recovers from concussion-related symptoms.
The green flag also marked big milestones from two other drivers. Matt Kenseth, driver of the Joe Gibbs Racing No. 20 Toyota, made his 600th start in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Michael McDowell, in the Circle Sport-Leavine Family Racing, made his 200th premier-series appearance.
Gordon, who turned 45 on Thursday, becomes the ninth driver in NASCAR history to hit the 800-start plateau in stock-car racing’s top division. Of the eight drivers ahead of him on the all-time list, five are inductees to the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
Kenseth becomes the second driver to cross the 600-start barrier this season. The retiring Tony Stewart also achieved the milestone, making start No. 600 at Kentucky Speedway on July 9.