CONCORD, N.C. – Last week, Jeff Gordon was announced as one of 20 nominees for the NASCAR Hall of Fame class of 2019.
While the first-time nominee will have to wait to find out if he’ll be inducted, he was named a member of another Hall of Fame this week.
Gordon was one of seven 2018 inductees into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America, and he was officially welcomed into the Hall of Fame during its 30th annual induction ceremony Tuesday evening.
The four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion joined a class that includes drag racing car builder John Buttera, Indianapolis Motor Speedway founder Carl G. Fisher, record-setting pilot Howard Hughes, motorcycle great Fred Merkel, three-time Indianapolis 500 champion owner U.E. “Pat” Patrick, and sports car legend Bob Tullius.
The Motorsports Hall of Fame – located in Daytona Beach, Florida – encompasses motorcycles, stock cars, sports cars, open-wheel, drag racing, land speed records, powerboating, off-road and aviation racing.
Gordon was the final inductee honored, bookending a night that began with a keynote speech by fellow Motorsports Hall of Fame of America inductee Mario Andretti.
“When you consider this year’s class of inductees and then factor in the appearance of Mario Andretti, it’s easy to understand our excitement about this year’s induction ceremony,” said Ron Watson, Motorsports Hall of Fame of America president.