I'm trying to figure out where the time has gone. I mean, isn't Jeff Gordon supposed to still be a kid; Boy Wonder as Dale Earnhardt used to call him?
In the span of a week, Charlotte Motor Speedway helped Gordon celebrate the 20th Anniversary of his first win and, then, Gordon went out at Kansas and won for the 89th time in NASCAR's top series.
Has it really been 20 years since he won the 1994 Coca Cola 600? Will he really be 43 in August?
The "slap in the face" moment for me was at Texas in April. It doesn't seem like we've been going there that long (it's been since 1997), and yet, Jeff Gordon is now the only driver to have started every Cup race there.
Times have changed, but deep down, Gordon really hasn't. It's unlikely now that he'll get to 7 titles or catch David Pearson for 2nd on the all-time wins list. But, he is still just as competitive and determined as he's ever been. And, that's the mark of the most elite of athletes. It's not about money, it's about trophies and titles.
You doubt me? Gordon is quick to tell you that he's not a four-time Sprint Cup Champion; he's a four-time Winston Cup Champion. While it may seem trivial to you, it's not to him. And, Gordon remains focused on remedying that.