Jeff Gordon through the years

Jeff Gordon retired from full-time racing at the end of the 2015 season. Here, he sits on the pit box of fellow Hendrick Motorsports driver Chase Elliott (not pictured) during a race at Dover International Speedway in October 2017.

Gordon made his final race at Martinsville Speedway a memorable one on Nov. 1, 2015, claiming his ninth career victory at NASCAR's shortest track.

Gordon leads the pack on his way to winning the Goody's Headache Relief Shot 500 at Martinsville Speedway on Nov. 1, 2015.

Gordon drives through a turn during his final race at Sonoma Raceway on June 28, 2015.

Gordon and his son Leo shared a moment with IndyCar legend Mario Andretti at the 2015 Indianapolis 500.

Jeff Gordon drives through a turn during the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway on April 19, 2015.

Gordon navigates the crowd before the Sprint Cup race at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif., on March 22, 2015.

Jeff Gordon celebrates winning the pole for the 2015 Daytona 500.

Jeff Gordon drinks champagne in victory lane after winning the AAA 400 at Dover International Speedway On Sept. 28, 2014.

Gordon kisses his wife Ingrid Vandebosch after winning the Crown Royal Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, July 27.

Gordon kisses the bricks with his son Leo Benjamin Gordon and daughter Ella Sofia Gordon after winning the Crown Royal Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, July 27.

Jeff Gordon celebrates with a Pepsi in victory lane after winning the 5-Hour Energy 400 at Kansas Speedway on May 10, 2014.

Jeff Gordon burns out after winning the Goody's Fast Relief 500 on Oct. 27, 2013, for his eighth career win at Martinsville Speedway, his most at any track.

Gordon, second from right, poses with daughter Ella Sofia, crew chief Alan Gustafson and the rest of his crew after finishing second in qualifying for the 2013 Daytona 500 on Feb 17.

Gordon won two races in 2012, including the Sprint Cup season finale at Homestead on Nov 18. Gordon finished 10th in the Sprint Cup standings, his lowest finish since 2005.

Gordon celebrates with a burnout after winning the Sprint Cup race at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Sept. 6, 2011. Gordon won three races and finished 11th in the standings.

Gordon talks to his daughter Ella Sophia before an April 10, 2010 race at Phoenix. Gordon failed to win a race for the third time since his rookie year in 1993 and finished ninth in the standings.

Gordon and Joanna Garcia present the Vocal Duo of the Year Award to Sugarland during the 44th Annual CMA Awards on Nov. 9, 2010.

Gordon celebrates in victory lane with a pair of pistols after winning the Samsung 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on April 5, 2009. It was Gordon's lone victory of the season. He finished third in the Sprint Cup standings.

Gordon, shown here with a blown tire at the race at Michigan on Aug. 17, 2008, failed to win a Cup race for the first time since his rookie year in 1993. Gordon finished seventh in the standings.

Gordon plays with daughter Ella Sofia, born June 20, 2007, before the Auto Club 500 at Fontana, Calif., on Feb. 24, 2008.

Gordon won six times in 2007 and finished second in the points standings to Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jimmie Johnson.

Gordon shakes hands with actor Vince Vaughn before the Dickies 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on Nov. 4, 2007.

Gordon, shown here on Aug. 12, 2006 at Watkins Glen, won twice that year and finished sixth in the final points standings.

Gordon and girlfriend Ingrid Vandebosch arrive for the premiere of the Disney/Pixar animated film "Cars" at Lowe's Motor Speedway on May 26, 2006. The pair would get married in a private ceremony later in the year.

Gordon won four races in 2005, including the Subway 500 at Martinsville on Oct. 23. Gordon finished 11th in the final standings.

Gordon celebrates with his crew in victory lane after winning the Daytona 500 for the third time on Feb. 20, 2005.

Jff Gordon, right, with team owner Rick Hendrick, won five races in 2004 and finished third in the points standings.

Fans toss beverage containers at Gordon after he beat Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the Aaron's 499 at Talladega Superspeedway under caution on April 25, 2004.

Gordon celebrates after winning the Brickyard 400 on Aug. 8, 2004. It marked the fourth time that Gordon had won the NASCAR race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Gordon won three races in 2003, including the Virginia 500 at Martinsville on April 13. Gordon finished fourth in the standings for the second consecutive year.

Gordon, center, rehearses for his stint as host of Saturday Night Live on Jan. 9, 2003, with cast member Tracy Morgan, right, and musical guest Avril Lavigne, left.

Gordon, leading the pack through the road course at Watkins Glen on Aug. 11, 2002, won three races that season and finished fourth in the standings.

Gordon, left, arrives with his then-wife Brooke Sealey for the 2001 NASCAR Awards in New York on Nov. 30. The pair divorced in 2003.

Gordon, left, and a crew member spray each other with champagne in victory lane after Gordon won his fourth career Winston Cup Series championship on Nov. 18, 2001. Gordon won six races and had 18 top-5 finishes.

Gordon poses with singer Britney Spears before the Pepsi 400 at Daytona International Speedway on July 7, 2001.

Gordon suffered a down year in 2000, winning only three races, his fewest since 1994. He finished ninth in the standings.

Gordon gets a kiss from his then-wife, Brooke Sealy after winning the Frontier at The Glen on Aug. 15, 1999. Gordon won seven races and finished sixth in the standings.

Gordon won the Daytona 500 for the second time on Feb. 14, 1999.

Gordon celebrated his second consecutive Winston Cup Series championship and third overall on Nov. 8, 1998, at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Gordon kisses bricks at Indianapolis Motor Speedway after winning the Brickyard 400 for the second time on Aug. 1, 1998.

Gordon tied Richard Petty's NASCAR modern era record for most wins in one season with 13 in 1998, including the Save Mart-Kragen 350k at Sonoma, Calif., on June 28.

Gordon cools off after winning the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway for the fourth consecutive year on March 29, 1997.

Gordon won the 1998 ESPY Award for auto racing from ESPN on Feb. 9, 1998.

Gordon jumps from the roof of his car after winning his second career Winston Cup Championship on Nov. 16, 1997. Gordon won 10 Cup races for the second consecutive year.

Gordon was a guest on the "Late Show with David Letterman" on Feb. 18, 1997, two days after becoming the youngest Daytona 500 winner in history at 25 years, 6 months. Gordon's record was broken by Trevor Bayne in 2011.

Gordon celebrates after winning the Hanes 500 at Martinsville on Sept. 22, 1996. He finished the year second in the points standings. Gordon had 34 top-10 finishes and 21 top-fives in 31 races.

Gordon, right, chats with the late Dale Earnhardt before the Cup race at Pocono on June 15, 1996. Gordon won the race for his fifth of 10 victories that year.

Gordon celebrates his first NASCAR Winston Cup Series championship with a bottle of champagne after the NAPA 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Nov. 12, 1995.

Gordon won seven Winston Cup races and had 17 top-5 finishes in 31 races in 1995.