SPEEDWAY, Ind. — Four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon took to the podium during Sunday’s drivers’ meeting at Indianapolis Motor Speedway to offer a heartfelt thank-you to fellow driver and series champion Tony Stewart .
“I think it’s only fitting — and Tony, I know that you don’t want to be recognized — you’ve been doing an amazing job this year and I know you want to kind of keep it on the lowdown, but I’m sorry buddy. We’re in your home state. Born and raised in Indiana,” Gordon said after being introduced.
“I know as we got to know one another as friends and competitors over the years what this place means to you,” Gordon continued. “And I think that this is not a year about saying goodbye, it’s a year about celebrating what you’ve done on the track and off the track. And I think it’s only fitting that all of us in this room — along with all the millions of fans around the world — recognize what you’ve brought to the sport, congratulate you on all you’ve done, again on and off the track. You’re a great person but a heck of a race car driver, and say thank-you.”
Drivers, owners, crew chiefs and dignitaries in the room then gave Stewart a lengthy, loud standing ovation.
Gordon retired at the end of the 2015 season to move into the FOX broadcast booth, but was asked to fill in for the injured Dale Earnhardt Jr. for races at Indianapolis and next week at Pocono.
Stewart, a three-time champion and twice a winner at the Brickyard, is making his final start at the track today from the No. 3 starting spot. He will retire from competition in the Sprint Cup Series at season’s end.