NASCAR: Jeff Gordon to ‘return’ for Talladega race
By Asher Fair
Four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon is set to “return” to action this weekend for the eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series race at Talladega Superspeedway.
Several drivers who otherwise wouldn’t be competing in the NASCAR Cup Series for one reason or another have had the opportunity to compete against the modern stars of the sport over the last few weeks due to the introduction of the eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series.
This virtual racing series was introduced by NASCAR and iRacing in response to real-life action being put on hold by the coronavirus pandemic.
The most recent real-life Cup Series race took place a month and a half ago at Phoenix Raceway on Sunday, March 8, and action is currently not scheduled to resume for several more weeks.
More from NASCAR Cup Series
- NASCAR Cup Series: New team set to compete in 2024
- NASCAR: Surprising name continuously linked to new seat
- NASCAR driver at risk of missing the Daytona 500?
- NASCAR set for rare appearance last seen 13 years ago
- NASCAR team adds third car, names driver for 2024 Daytona 500
The fifth race on what is currently a six-race eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series schedule is scheduled to take place this Sunday, April 26 at virtual Talladega Superspeedway.
Now you can add four-time Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon to the list of drivers who nobody expected to compete in NASCAR this year but is set to do so, thanks to the eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series.
Gordon confirmed on the Wednesday night iRacing telecast on Fox Sports 1 that he is set to compete in this Sunday’s race around the virtual four-turn, 2.66-mile (4.281-kilometer) high-banked oval in Lincoln, Alabama.
Jeff Gordon just said on the Wednesday night iRacing telecast on FS1 that he will race Talladega in the eNASCAR iRacing #ProInvitationalSeries at 1pm Sunday on FOX (check local listings), FS1 and Fox Sports App. #nascar @NASCARONFOX
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) April 22, 2020
In his own words, “Man, I’m going to give it a try. We’ve been trying to get me behind the wheel of one of these sim rigs, and I’m coming out of retirement, boys!”
Jeff Gordon is going iRacing at Talladega
OFFICIAL: Jeff Gordon IS GOING IRACING AT TALLADEGA!
Posted by NASCAR on FOX on Wednesday, April 22, 2020
Gordon, who is currently an announcer for Fox NASCAR and has done the broadcasts for each of the first four races of the eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series, had previously indicated that he had no plans to “come out of retirement” to compete in this series.
Obviously, his plans have changed.
The 48-year-old Pittsboro, Indiana native retired from real-life Cup Series competition after the 2015 season after spending 23 years competing full-time behind the wheel of the #24 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports.
However, he returned for eight races in the 2016 season to replace the injured Dale Earnhardt Jr. behind the #88 Chevrolet at Rick Hendrick’s team. In 805 career starts, he recorded 93 wins, the third highest win total in Cup Series history. His last win came at Martinsville Speedway in November of 2015.
Next. Top 10 NASCAR drivers of all-time. dark
Fox and Fox Sports 1 are set to air this Sunday’s eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series race live from virtual Talladega Superspeedway beginning at 1:00 p.m. ET. A total of 42 drivers have competed in this series thus far.