“I Didn’t Want to Host ‘Saturday Night Live’ – Jeff Gordon Encourages NASCAR Drivers Like Chase Elliott to Take the Next Step With His Own Example

What is the one thing that racecar drivers want to do? Win. But that’s a resulted oriented answer. The thing which all racecar drivers want to do, is drive, race. Anything beyond that is just extra, something that falls under the umbrella of choice. However, Jeff Gordon isn’t from that school of thought.

His image and popularity in pop culture as well as in motorsports, right from the inception of his stock car career led to an increase in the popularity of the sport itself. And now that he is the Vice President of Hendrick Motorsports, he wants his current breed of drivers to also open their doors to the world outside of racetracks.

One driver in particular, who Gordon and HMS would want to become more well-known is their most well-known driver, Chase Elliott. Even though he has been NASCAR’s most popular driver for many years now, he’s still someone who comes off as reserved and “stoic.”

“I want our drivers to be organic and don’t want them to be anyone they’re not, but whatever you’re comfortable with, I want to see you go just outside that comfort zone,” Gordon said.

“If you’re willing to put yourself in places people don’t expect you and you want to be there — the traditional sporting events and country music concerts are great, but let’s take that a step further — that’s what I’m trying to encourage our guys to do,” he added.

“I didn’t want to host ‘Saturday Night Live’ [at first] — I was scared to death.”

Jan 30, 2021; Daytona Beach, FL, USA; IMSA driver Chase Elliott talks with Fox Sports announcer Jeff Gordon before the Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Jeff Gordon hints at Hendrick spreading wings beyond NASCAR

Gordon also revealed that HMS is considering entering other forms of racing along with maintaining their presence in NASCAR.

“We have to be prepared where motorsports and NASCAR is headed. It’s our bread and butter and what we love, but at the same time we love cars and we’re a company that has a culture of performance, cars and racing,” Gordon said.

“And if the right opportunity comes along to do something with [ General Motors] in addition to NASCAR, we would absolutely be open minded.”

Jeff Gordon has always been more than a driver, an icon. And now he is in the perfect position to guide and trim his successor, undoubtedly Chase Elliott, at not just Hendrick, but in NASCAR.

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