Riding high and leading the point standings, things are going great for Jeff Gordon – especially since he announced recently that AARP and Drive to End Hunger renewed their sponsorship.
“I’m really excited,” he commented. “It’s been so rewarding working with AARP and Drive To End Hunger battling senior hunger over the past several years. To get a chance to do that next year again is fantastic. We are very happy about that news.”
In working with the AARP and Drive to End Hunger, Gordon says the most rewarding part has been getting out there and volunteering with fundraising efforts.
” This is really encouraged me to get out there and get with other volunteers and make a difference in how you spend your time doing that,” Gordon explained. “It’s been phenomenal. I really do enjoy it. Whether we are delivering meals or whether we are sorting through can goods or dry foods. This program is amazing and it really makes a big difference in so many people’s lives. I look forward to doing some more of that.”
Gordon’s volunteer efforts led to being invited to a dinner at the White House this past weekend, where Gordon got to meet the president of Rwanda.
“I got an opportunity to shake hands and meet the president of Rwanda President Kagame. That was a first for me and it was important,” he commented. “What an incredible event just to be a part of Ingrid and I felt very fortunate to be there. It was great to see the President and Mrs. Obama for a short period of time. We even danced next to them on the dance floor which was probably one of the coolest things I think Ingrid and I have ever had the opportunity to do at the White House. That was pretty neat. It was really special.”
Gordon has been doing fundraising for children in Africa and Rwanda, in looking to help improve their health care resources to give the kids a chance. It’s been rewarding so far and Gordon notes that helping with the building of the Guyra Hospital, children and adults are both getting quality cancer care.
“That is something I’m really proud of and we want to do more of it, “he expressed. “It’s a great country to do that kind of work in. Hopefully it can expand to other countries within Africa.”
Now with his effort forced on track, Gordon hopes for another trip to victory lane in repeating past Watkins Glen success. The past couple of years haven’t gone according to that plan, but that was due to lack of speed. However, Gordon says that the speed is there this weekend by what he saw in practice.
“That is where we have probably struggled more than anything is getting the car right for qualifying,” Gordon said. “I was extremely happy and encouraged with how our practice went this morning.”
The rule changes in regards to the spoiler height and overall height of the car have helped make a difference, notably, as Gordon says it has changed the brake zones.
“You can really get into the braking zones deep,” he said. “We are going to see some fast times for qualifying for sure. To me there was just a little bit of added grip, but it goes away fast and you are slipping and sliding around bouncing over the curves. From that standpoint it’s going to be for the most part business as usual here at Watkins Glen. I think you are definitely getting a sense of the extra grip that the car has.”
If he’s able to pull off the victory on Sunday, Gordon says that it’d be a “real true sign of how good this team is” in following up what they were able to do at Kansas and the Brickyard so far thus year.
