FORT WORTH - In the middle of the Texas Motor Speedway media center, Jeff Gordon leaned over, hands on his knees and stared at the floor.
He was avoiding having to look at the latest gift he had been given in his farewell tour as it was led through the building’s doors.
After a list of gifts this season that included having Phoenix International Raceway named after him, 24 jars of whiskey and 90 replicas of the Dover International Speedway trophy for his team, TMS president Eddie Gossage brought the four-time Sprint Cup champion to his knees with two Shetland ponies.
“Eddie, you have no idea what you’ve done to me,” Gordon said smiling. “I’m mad at you, but at the same time I’m overwhelmed. Because my kids are going flip out.”
Gossage gifted Gordon with Scout and Smokey, to be given to Gordon’s children, Ella and Leo.
“That’s the coolest thing ever, honestly,” said Gordon, who was also honored with a commemorative painting, a light display on the back of the Big Hoss video board and a “Jeff Gordon Road” street sign from the TMS grounds.
“I don’t have property to have these things, but I have a feeling I’m going to start looking,” Gordon said.
Gordon will be making his final start at Texas Sunday in the AAA Texas 500. Gordon’s only win at the 1.5-mile track came in 2009.
