Jeff Gordon recalls emotional win at Martinsville during his final season

As Jeff Gordon’s illustrious NASCAR Cup Series career was coming to a close in the autumn of 2015, he was searching for one final win.

Martinsville was on the docket, and the four-time champion recognized that his latest and greatest chance to find Victory Lane was in Virginia. Well, Gordon got the job done, and although he didn’t win the championship a few short weeks later, the moment lives on in NASCAR history.

“It couldn’t have been any better for me,” Gordon reminisced, speaking with FOX’s Bob Pockrass. “It’s funny because when I think of the first time I went there as an Xfinity driver, I thought, ‘What is this place? Oh my goodness, I’ll never figure this place out.’ But it was a big challenge. And then it became my best track. And then to end my career — one of the very first tracks I ever saw in NASCAR was Charlotte Motor Speedway and it also quickly became one of my favorites.

“To get my first one there and then Martinsville be my favorite and to win my last race there, I don’t know how you bookend a career any better than that from my perspective.”

Not only is Martinsville important to Gordon’s career, but it’s been a place near and dear to the hearts of Hendrick Motorsports, which made the moment all the sweeter.

“You love the history of the racetrack in general and the role that it’s played in the history of the sport and just great short-track racing. I think we all agree that more short tracks, just like we’re going to Iowa next year, is important. Mainly when I think of Martinsville, I just think of the success that we’ve had as an organization,” Gordon added. “Our history was built on that track. We’re going to celebrate that next year [with Hendrick Motorsports’] 40th anniversary, and it all got started with Geoff Bodine winning at Martinsville. And I think Rick would tell you it’s been a special place. 

“It’s also been a place of heartache when we think of this time of year [with the anniversary of the 2004 Hendrick plane crash, which killed 10 people, including four members of Rick’s family]. But [there’s also] great memories that we have on track and the wins. There’s a lot of — I don’t want to say a lot of pressure — but I think within our organization with the history we’ve had at Martinsville, there’s a little bit of added pressure to go there and keep that tradition or that streak alive.”

As the NASCAR Cup Series returns to Martinsville this weekend, the memories Jeff Gordon has at the track are fresh in his mind. Perhaps we’ll see another tremendous moment for Hendrick Motorsports on Sunday.