Jeff Gordon saw firsthand the strain and heartache childhood illnesses bring early in his career when Ray Evernham’s young son was diagnosed with leukemia. Watching his crew chief battle to find top-notch care for Ray J. stuck with Gordon, who made children’s charities a top priority of his foundation. His largest contribution yet came to fruition Saturday when the ribbon was cut at the Jeff Gordon Children’s Hospital, a 28-bed pediatric unit at Northeast Medical Center [in Concord, NC]. Located not far from Lowe’s Motor Speedway and many of NASCAR’s race shops, the hospital will serve six counties and eliminate the need to travel to Charlotte for specialized pediatric care.(ESPN/AP)(12-17-2006)
UPDATE: Gordon, 35, hopes to compete on NASCAR’s premier circuit well past his current contract with Hendrick Motorsports, which expires in 2010. He might go 10 years beyond that, perhaps longer if he can work out a limited schedule the way Mark Martin has for next season. “I want to do it as long as I can,” Gordon said Saturday before the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Jeff Gordon Children’s Hospital. “I’ve always said as long as I’m competitive and healthy and enjoying being out there [I want to do this], and right now I definitely am. Who knows? Things change. Life changes.”(ESPN.com)(12-18-2006)
