Eric Gordon (racing driver)

Last updated
Eric Gordon
EricGordonWaving2018MadisonUSACSilverCrown.jpg
Gordon in 2018
Born (1967-11-17) November 17, 1967 (age 55)
Indianapolis, Indiana
Achievements9 time winner of the Little 500 USAC Sprint car race [1]
Awards1989 USAC National Sprint Car Rookie of the Year [2]
2022 National Sprint Car Hall of Fame inductee
NASCAR Xfinity Series career
1 race run over 1 year
Best finish103rd (1993)
First race 1993 Kroger 200 (IRP)
WinsTop tens Poles
000

Eric Gordon (born November 17, 1967) is an American professional race car driver. Gordon raced primarily in the United States Auto Club (USAC) open wheel sprint cars and Silver Crown cars. He finished second in both USAC Sprint and Silver Crown championships in the 1980s and 1990s. Gordon made one NASCAR Busch Series start at Indianapolis Raceway Park. He most recently raced for the full 2021 Silver Crown championship season in the No. 99 car for Brad & Tara Armstrong. [3]

Contents

Racing career

Open wheel

Gordon's 2018 USAC Silver Crown car at Madison USACSilverCrown21EricGordon2018Madison.jpg
Gordon's 2018 USAC Silver Crown car at Madison

Gordon has finished second in the United States Auto Club (USAC) Sprint car points three times (1989, 1990, 1998) [2] and second in the USAC Silver Crown series once (1990). [1] [2] Gordon won the Little 500 Sprint car race at Anderson Speedway a record nine times in 22 starts. [4] Gordon retired from racing and helped his son to do racing. [3] He didn't race Silver Crown cars from 2012 until resuming in 2018. [3] As of the start of the 2022 season, he has won 13 total USAC Sprint car features. [4]

He also has an Indy Lights start. [1]

Stock car

He made one NASCAR Busch Series start at Indianapolis Raceway Park in 1993. [5] He has not attempted another NASCAR race since. [6]

Legacy

He was inducted in the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in 2022. [7]

Motorsports career results

NASCAR

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

Busch Series

NASCAR Busch Series results
YearTeamNo.Make12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728NBSCPtsRef
1993 Ingram Racing 10 Chevy DAY CAR RCH DAR BRI HCY ROU MAR NZH CLT DOV MYB GLN MLW TAL IRP
33
MCH NHA BRI DAR RCH DOV ROU CLT MAR CAR HCY ATL 103rd64 [8]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tony Stewart</span> American racing driver and team owner

Anthony Wayne Stewart, nicknamed "Smoke", is a American semi-retired professional stock car racing driver, current NASCAR team co-owner of Stewart-Haas Racing, and current co-owner of the Superstar Racing Experience. He is a four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, winning two as a driver, one as owner/driver (2011), and one as an owner (2014).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park</span> Motorsport track in the United States

Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park is an auto racing facility in Brownsburg, Indiana, about 10 miles (16 km) northwest of downtown Indianapolis. It includes a 0.686 mi (1.104 km) oval track, a 2.500 mi (4.023 km) road course, and a 4,400-foot (1,300 m) drag strip which is among the premier drag racing venues in the world. The complex receives about 500,000 visitors annually.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States Auto Club</span> Auto racing sanctioning body in the United States

The United States Auto Club (USAC) is one of the sanctioning bodies of auto racing in the United States. From 1956 to 1979, USAC sanctioned the United States National Championship, and from 1956 to 1997 the organization sanctioned the Indianapolis 500. Today, USAC serves as the sanctioning body for a number of racing series, including the Silver Crown Series, National Sprint Cars, National Midgets, Speed2 Midget Series, .25 Midget Series, Stadium Super Trucks, and Pirelli World Challenge. Seven-time USAC champion Levi Jones is USAC's Competition Director.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jason Leffler</span> American racing driver

Jason Charles Leffler was an American professional open-wheel and stock car racing driver. Leffler began racing in the open-wheel ranks, competing in the 2000 Indianapolis 500 before moving to primarily NASCAR competition. He died from injuries sustained in a 410 sprint car race at Bridgeport Speedway in Bridgeport, New Jersey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kenny Irwin Jr.</span> American stock car racing driver

Kenneth Dale Irwin Jr. was an American stock car racing driver. He had driven in all three NASCAR national touring series, and had two total victories, both in the Craftsman Truck Series. Before that, he raced in the United States Auto Club against Tony Stewart, who was one of his fiercest rivals. He died as a result of injuries suffered in a crash during a practice session at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shane Hmiel</span> American racing driver

Shane Riley Hmiel is an American former racecar driver, who competed in all three of NASCAR's national series. Hmiel's controversial stock car career, marred by accidents from his aggressive driving style, ended in 2006 after he failed a third substance abuse test and was banned from competing in NASCAR for life. After rebuilding his career in open wheel racing, primarily in United States Auto Club sanctioned dirt track racing, Hmiel was paralyzed in a near fatal racing accident on October 9, 2010, in Terre Haute, Indiana. Prior to the accident, Hmiel had become the first driver to win the Hoosier Hundred, Rich Vogler Classic, and the Pat O'Connor Memorial, the three premier USAC midget-car races, in the same season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tracy Hines</span> American racing driver

Tracy Lee Hines is an American professional stunt driver. He was the 2000 USAC Silver Crown Champion and 2002 USAC National Sprint Car Champion. He currently does not have a full-time ride in NASCAR as he competes for Tony Stewart Racing in three USAC series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brian Tyler (racing driver)</span> American auto racing driver

Brian Tyler is an American auto racing driver.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">P. J. Jones</span> American racing driver

Parnell Velko "P. J." Jones is an American professional racing driver. He has contested in multiple disciplines, including NASCAR, IndyCar, IMSA GT Championship, the American Le Mans Series, USAC, the Chili Bowl, and the Stadium Super Trucks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A. J. Fike</span> American racing driver

A. J. Fike is an American professional racing driver. He is the older brother of NASCAR driver Aaron Fike. Fike won the 1999 United States Auto Club (USAC) Midget Car rookie of the year title and his younger brother Aaron Fike won the award the following season making them the first brothers to win the award in back to back seasons. He later drove in several NASCAR races.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tyler Walker (racing driver)</span> American racing driver

Timothy Tyler Andrew Walker is an American professional stock car racing driver. Walker is one of many racers who have competed in many inter-disciplinary automotive ranks. His automotive exploits include cycling competition, open-wheeled sprint cars, where has obtained a large majority of his success and notoriety, as well as being a stock car pilot, formerly competing in the prestigious NASCAR ranks. The first fourth-generation driver to compete in NASCAR since the late Adam Petty, Walker is but one member of a racing legacy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rich Vogler</span> American racing driver (1950–1990)

Richard Frank Vogler was an American champion sprint car and midget car driver. He was nicknamed "Rapid Rich". He competed in the Indianapolis 500 five times, and his best finish was eighth in 1989.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pancho Carter</span> American racing driver

Duane C. Carter Jr., nicknamed "Pancho", is a retired American race car driver. He is most famous for his participation in CART Indy car races. He won the pole position for the 1985 Indianapolis 500, finished third in the 1982 race, and won the 1981 Michigan 500.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dave Steele</span> American racing driver

David MacFarland Steele was an American professional racing driver who won numerous sprint car racing championships and also competed in IndyCar and NASCAR races. Steele last drove a winged sprint car in the Southern Sprintcar Shootout Series, where he won the first 5 races in series history. Steele was killed in a crash at Desoto Speedway on March 25, 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chet Fillip</span> American racing driver

Chet Fillip, is an American former racing driver best known for driving in the CART series. Fillip raced stock cars and a modified during his teens and early twenties at Arena Park Raceway in Lubbock, Texas. His father Marvin Fillip also raced at this track. Chet raced in the CART series in the 1982-1985 seasons, with nine career starts, and started in the Indianapolis 500 in 1982 and 1983. His best CART finish was in 10th position in 1985 at Milwaukee. At the end of the 1985 season, he switched to the NASCAR Winston Cup Series, where he continued racing through 1987, making 24 starts with a best finish of 12th. After NASCAR, Fillip raced several years in USAC sprint cars, with eight victories including the prestigious Little 500 in 1999.

Larry Rice was an American racing driver in the USAC and CART Championship Car series. He was the 1973 USAC National midget driver's champion and won the USAC Silver Crown series in 1977 and 1981. He was inducted in the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 1993.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bryan Clauson</span> American racing driver

Bryan Timothy Clauson was an American professional auto racing driver, best known for his achievements in dirt track open-wheel racing, such as USAC Silver Crown, Midget and Sprint cars. Clauson was increasingly seen competing with the World of Outlaws (WoO) sprint cars in his last couple of years. Clauson also competed in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, Indy Lights, and IndyCar Series and was a development driver for Chip Ganassi Racing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dakoda Armstrong</span> American racing driver

Dakoda Armstrong is an American professional stock car racing driver. He last competed part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No. 28 Toyota Camry for JGL Racing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Early life and career of Jeff Gordon</span> NASCAR driver

Jeffery Michael "Jeff" Gordon is an American professional auto racing driver who competed in the NASCAR Cup Series over a 25-year career. He was born in Vallejo, California to Carol Houston and Billy Gordon; the couple separated a few months later. Gordon's mother then married John Bickford, a car builder and parts supplier.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kody Swanson</span> American racing driver

Kody Swanson is an American professional sprint car racing driver. He is a seven-time USAC USAC Silver Crown Series champion in 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2022, plus a three-time Little 500 winner. Swanson is currently the all-time wins leader in Silver Crown with 37.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Eric Gordon To Pursue Little 500 Win #10 With Hoffman Auto Racing". TJSlideways.com. 1 December 2017. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 de la Bastide, Ken (May 23, 2018). "Gordon back to try for 10th Little 500 win". Herald Bulletin . Retrieved March 22, 2020.
  3. 1 2 3 Murray, Richie (24 March 2021). "GORDON TO CHASE USAC SILVER CROWN TITLE WITH THE ARMSTRONGS". TJSlideways.com. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  4. 1 2 "Tony Stewart Headlines National Sprint Car Hall Of Fame Class". Speed Sport . January 12, 2022. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  5. "Driver Eric Gordon Career Statistics". Racing-Reference. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  6. "Driver Statistics". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  7. "2022 Chili Bowl - Tuesday". Chili Bowl Nationals . January 11, 2022. Event occurs at 18:40. FloRacing.
  8. "Eric Gordon – 1993 NASCAR Busch Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved March 21, 2020.