Gordon, DuPont re-up through 2010, but he wants to drive longer

JIM UTTER

The Charlotte Observer

Friday, May. 30, 2008

DOVER, Del. - Four-time Sprint Cup champion Jeff Gordon said a contract extension announced Thursday with primary sponsor DuPont is not a signal that he has made any retirement plans.

"I haven't made any decisions about what's going to happen, one way or the other, past 2010," said Gordon. "I've always been the type of driver who doesn't look too far ahead."

The new deal will carry Gordon and his primary sponsor through the 2010 season.

"I wanted to secure my position at Hendrick Motorsports. That's why I worked hard to become an equity owner and do a lifetime contract because I knew that's where I wanted to be as long as I drive a race car."

Gordon said it coould work to a team's disadvantage to make too long of a sponsor commitment.

"If you extend sponsorship too far, sometimes you'll be losing money because we don't know the expense of the sport too far in advance," he said.

DuPont teamed up with Gordon and Hendrick for the final race of the 1992 season with the newly formed No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports race team and have since competed in every NASCAR Cup Series race.

"I started my career with DuPont and I hope to end my career with them as my primary sponsor," Gordon said.

He toured DuPont's global headquarters Thursday in Wilmington, Del., and visited with workers during their annual employee appreciation day. Gordon will drive Sunday in the Cup race at nearby Dover International Speedway.

"We come out here before the spring Dover race each year and spend time with the people who lend their support and make our success possible," Gordon said. "And it was special to be able to announce to the many loyal DuPont employees that we're all going to remain a part of the same team for several more years."

The Associated Press contributed.

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