Former American stock car racing driver Jeff Gordon has become an iconic figure in popular culture. While Gordon became a household name among NASCAR fans for his driving career in the Cup Series, he has introduced the sport to a wider audience, largely through the media of the United States.
Topics Art
Throughout his NASCAR Cup Series career, Gordon had a partnership with artist Sam Bass. They met in 1992, when DuPont chose a rainbow design Bass created to become Gordon's primary paint scheme. Bass designed several paint schemes for Gordon, including fantasy designs used on die-cast. Bass also worked on the designs of the No. 24 team's racing suits and haulers. Bass' first painting of Gordon, Rookie Sensation!, was made in 1993.
Gordon has been featured in several paintings by Garry Hill, notably Brickyard Thunder, based on Gordon's victory in the 1994 Brickyard 400. Gordon is included in some of Hill's All-Star Race painting series, which Hill began in 1987.
Hill has also designed cover art for race programs. Gordon is listed as a collector of Hill's work on the artist's website.
Gordon's colorful No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet Monte Carlo is featured in several paintings by Marc Lacourciere.
Gordon is the subject of a 1998 painting by LeRoy Neiman.
From 1999 to 2012, designer Aaron Decarlo worked with Gordon on special paint schemes and program cars.
In 2007, Daytona International Speedway officials hired a local sand sculptor to create a NASCAR-themed depiction of Mount Rushmore in the fanzone, featuring the faces of Dale Earnhardt Jr.; Gordon; Jimmie Johnson; and Tony Stewart. In 2008, NASCAR Illustrated recruited Brooklyn-based artist Jim Cooke to create a Hendrick Motorsports-themed illustration of Mount Rushmore for the magazine's October issue. The cover art features the faces of HMS' 2009 driver lineup: Gordon; Johnson; Earnhardt Jr.; and Mark Martin.
Bill Patterson, who has been live painting races at Phoenix Raceway since 2006, created two pieces based on Gordon's 2007 victory at the track: his late race pass on Tony Stewart and his victory lap tribute to Dale Earnhardt.
Tuscaloosa, Alabama-based artist Rick Rush created a painting titled Finishing Strong (2008), which was presented to the United States Sports Academy's American Sport Art Museum & Archives in 2017. The piece features the vehicles of Johnson; Gordon; and Earnhardt Jr.
A floral version of Gordon's rainbow No. 24 car–along with Richard Petty's blue No. 43 and Dale Earnhardt's black No. 3–will be featured in a NASCAR-themed float at the 134th Rose Parade on January 2, 2023 in Pasadena, California. Titled "Always Forward", and described as a nod to its parade's theme–"Turning the Corner", the display will be used to celebrate NASCAR's 75th anniversary and promote the 2nd running of the Busch Light Clash at The Coliseum on February 5, 2023.
Filmography Gordon has made cameo appearances as both himself and fictional characters in films and television series.
Film When asked about plans to star in a film in 2001, Gordon responded "Heck no." He was reportedly attached to Race Jam, a cancelled film which would have been a NASCAR-themed spin-off to Space Jam. Gordon ultimately signed with Warner Bros. and made his feature film debut through a cameo appearance in Looney Tunes: Back in Action (2003). He shot his Back in Action scene in Las Vegas a day after his victory at Kansas Speedway in 2002. His #24 Dupont Chevrolet Monte Carlo also makes an appearance in the film where it gets stolen by Yosemite Sam, Nasty Canasta, and Cottontail Smith in an attempt to chase down Damian Drake, Kate Houghton, Bugs Bunny, and Daffy Duck who have recently won a playing card. Gordon made an uncredited cameo appearance in Taxi (2004), in which his girlfriend at the time Ingrid Vandebosch played a bank robber, while he appears in the end of the film, shown challenging the protagonist Belle Williams to a race.
Gordon was interested in a role for the film Talladega Nights (2006), but declined an offer to participate due to concerns from his sponsors. However, Gordon invited actor Will Ferrell, who plays Ricky Bobby in the film, to accept his 11th-place reward at the 2005 Nextel Cup Series banquet at Waldorf Astoria New York, as Gordon was in Paris to compete in that year's Race of Champions.
Gordon voices the Cars character Jeff Gorvette in Cars 2 (2011) and Cars 3 (2017). Based on the Chevrolet Corvette C6.R, Gorvette is a primarily yellow racing car with the stars and stripes of the American flag painted on his sides. Like his voice actor, Gorvette uses the No. 24 in competition. Pixar has called Gordon a major inspiration for Cars 3. Gordon and his former crew chief Ray Evernham also served as story consultants for Cars 3.
Title Year Role Notes Looney Tunes: Back in Action 2003 Himself Cameo Taxi 2004 Himself Uncredited cameo Herbie: Fully Loaded 2005 Himself Cameo Cars 2 2011 Jeff Gorvette Voice role Cars 3 2017 Jeff Gorvette Voice role Logan Lucky 2017 Himself Cameo
Television As a child racer, Gordon was featured in segments on Kids Are People Too and PM Magazine, and was the subject of an episode for a series titled Super Kids. Gordon was featured on ESPN's SpeedWeek in 1985, making his first appearance on the network at age thirteen. He subsequently became a media sensation through the network's Thursday Night Thunder program, using his appearances in Thunder races to establish a national following.
Title Year Role Network Notes A Current Affair 1995 Himself (guest) Syndicated Late Show with David Letterman 1995–2008 Himself (guest) CBS Frequent appearances as guest Good Morning America 1995–2016 Himself (guest) ABC Frequent appearances as guest Jeff Gordon Wide Open 1996 Himself TNN Television special The Rosie O'Donnell Show 1996 Himself (guest) Syndicated The Crier Report 1997 Himself (guest) Fox News Extra 1997–2003 Himself (guest) Syndicated Million Dollar Date with Jeff Gordon 1997 Himself (host) TNN Television special in regards to his attempt to win the small slam bonus for winning three of the sport's four majors. Steel Chariots 1997 Himself FOX Television film The Tonight Show with Jay Leno 1997–2011 Himself (guest) NBC Frequent appearances as guest Charlie Rose 1997 Himself (guest) PBS Episode: "Jeff Gordon; Jim Cramer; Sheryl Crow" Live 1997–2016 Himself (co-host and guest) Syndicated Tiger and Friends 1997 Himself (participant) CBS Golf match featuring Tiger Woods, Gordon, Ken Griffey Jr. and Chris O'Donnell Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel 1998–1999 Himself (guest) HBO The Life and Times of NASCAR's Founding Family, Part II 1998 Himself TNN Documentary about the France family NASCAR: 50 Years on the Fast Track with Brooks & Dunn 1998 Himself CBS Television special about the 50th anniversary of NASCAR; starring Brooks & Dunn Arliss 1998 Himself HBO Episode: "Where Do Clients Come From?" Spin City 1998 Himself ABC Episode: "The Kidney's All Right" Today 1998–2011 Himself (guest) NBC Frequent appearances as guest Entertainment Tonight 1999 Himself (guest) Syndicated Behind Closed Doors 1999 Himself (guest) ABC Joan Lunden follows Gordon around at Atlanta Motor Speedway NASCAR Behind the Scenes 1999 Himself (host) NBC Television special Larry King Live 2001–2005 Himself (guest) CNN 4 episodes Who Wants to Be a Millionaire 2001 Himself (contestant) ABC Episode: "Sports Superstars" The Drew Carey Show 2001 Himself ABC Episode: "Mr. Laffon's Wild Ride" Fox NFL 2002 Himself (guest) FOX In the early years of Fox NASCAR, the reigning Cup champion and lead analyst Darrell Waltrip appeared at the NFC Championship Game, or in years Fox had the Super Bowl, on the studio show to promote the upcoming season. Gordon, as the reigning Cup champion, was at Super Bowl XXXVI in that role. CNN Live Today 2002 Himself (guest) CNN Unscripted with Chris Connelly 2002 Himself (guest) ESPN Inside the NBA 2002–2003 Himself (guest) TNT TNT was a broadcast partner of NASCAR at the time. Wheel of Fortune 2002–2003 Himself (guest) Syndicated Gordon stars in taped appearances for NASCAR week