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Live From...
Interview With Jeff Gordon
Aired October 24, 2003 - 14:49 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: When people talk about stock car racing, two names immediately come to mind: Dale Earnhardt and Richard Petty. One other driver, though, may soon reach that very same level. OK, so we kept you in suspension long enough, don't you think? Time to head out to the track with Kyra and her special guest. Actually, not at the track. Where are you guys, Kyra?
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, Heidi, first of all, I think you recognize this face, don't you? You mentioned Petty and Earnhardt. You forgot Gordon.
COLLINS: Oh, no, I didn't. Hi, Jeff.
PHILLIPS: Heidi's saying Hi, Jeff. You want to say hello?
JEFF GORDON, RACER: Hi. Hi, Heidi.
It's so funny, I say hi to a lens on a camera.
(CROSSTALK)
PHILLIPS: She says she knows how that is. I guess we're all kind of used to that.
Jeff, a lot to talk about with you. I guess, specifically, NASCAR. Everybody saw it as such a Southern sport for a long time. You're a California boy. We both have surfed in the same places. You've really drawn in all types of people, all types of colors, economic standing. Why has it become so popular?
GORDON: I mean, I -- I don't know if there's any one reason or one thing. I've been fortunate, been a part of it, had a lot of success at a time when the growth is really going.
And I think a lot of it just racetracks around the country, we're in Southern California, Las Vegas, in the Northeast, Texas. I mean, we're hitting a lot of big markets that a lot of fans actually have been in for a long time but weren't able to go to a race.
So that's one way sponsors and NASCAR are marketing the sport tremendously. That draws attention.
But it's just great racing. I grew up, a kid from California loved -- I loved to drive race cars, but I always wanted to be in the most competitive sport out there and that's the most exciting racing. And that's NASCAR. PHILLIPS: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) we talked to a lot of these guys like Schrader and Petty and they're like, Hey, I did go carts when I was 7- years-old out in the dirt track in the Georgia mountains. But in California, you were on the beach.
GORDON: No, I mean I'm from Northern California, so there weren't a lot of beaches out there. It's just what my parents got me to. It's typically a South Beach-type thing where most people are introduced to racing. But in the Midwest it's big, on the West Coast it's big. There's so much to do out there, maybe you don't hear about racing as much, but you certainly are now. It's getting really big everywhere.
PHILLIPS: All right, this is your home away from home. We'll try, as William kind of backs up, explain what we got going in here. I don't know how you do this, so many days on the road.
GORDON: This is the race team's home. This is where we bring, basically, our race shop, which is in Charlotte, North Carolina. And we bring it to every racetrack. Behind all these doors are parts we need to rebuild these cars, whatever we need do to make them go faster on the weekend. Nut, bolt, springs, shots, you name it.
This is a kitchen area for the guys. You got to be able to feed these guys and keep the energy in them.
PHILLIPS: Have that coffee 24/7.
GORDON: Have that coffee. Up in front is a lounge where the team can be briefed. A lot of computers on board, we can look at a lot of different data.
The real living quarters are just outside this area where we have our buses.
PHILLIPS: The NASCAR Ritz-Carlton.
GORDON: Exactly. Well, I tell you, my bus is not much below Ritz-Carlton, other than maybe the service.
PHILLIPS: You've had a lot going on, personally and professionally. Are you happy?
GORDON: I'm great. I just came off a win in Martinsville. You know, I've got a great girlfriend. I got an awesome family. A lot of friends. And a heck of a race team. So things couldn't be much better for me now.
PHILLIPS: What would you say the most important thing to you is?
GORDON: Family and friends. You know. And just really being -- being true with yourself and others.
PHILLIPS: Got to ask you about Formula 1. What's this about you hopping out of the NASCAR and stepping into a Formula 1 car? GORDON: Well, I always wanted the opportunity to get behind the wheel of a Formula 1 car. Because Rick Hendrick, BMW, Juan Montoya and those guys, we were able to swap cars. I'm pretty sure I got the better end of the deal. That was one awesome experience behind the wheel of a race car I'll never forget.
PHILLIPS: Can we swap cars? Do you mind?
GORDON: What do you drive, like a...
PHILLIPS: Hyundai.
GORDON: Yes, I was going to say...
PHILLIPS: Souped up.
GORDON: ... a Beetle and hopping in my car might not be a good deal. That's when I'll be Juan get the bad end of the stick.
PHILLIPS: Look at this, Jeff, this is constant. You got the fans out there. They're always taking pictures. I mean, does this keep you going?
GORDON: Oh, yes, keep us hopping, that's for sure. That's the neat thing about NASCAR, is that there's a lot of accessibility, a lot of people get to come, be in the garage area, see what the teams are doing, meet and get autographs from the drivers.
And then we go to work, get in those cars to make them go as fast as we can, put on a good show. It's a tough balance some days, but it's certainly been a payoff for the whole sport.
PHILLIPS: Thanks for your time. You've done "Saturday Night Live." Will you come anchor a newscast with me some time?
GORDON: Only if you let me wear my Ricky Funk hair-do.
PHILLIPS: Absolutely. And if you could just say "This is CNN."
GORDON: This is CNN.
PHILLIPS: Jeff Gordon, thank you. Good luck this week.
All right, Heidi, it looks like I got a new co-anchor. I think Miles is going to be a little upset when I get back.
CO-HOST: No, I don't think he'll be upset at all actually. All right, Kyra, thanks so very much. We'll check back a little later. I think you're talking to Ken Schrader. We thank Jeff for his time. I got a whole clan of cousins in southern Maryland that would love to talk to him.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired October 24, 2003 - 14:49 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: When people talk about stock car racing, two names immediately come to mind: Dale Earnhardt and Richard Petty. One other driver, though, may soon reach that very same level. OK, so we kept you in suspension long enough, don't you think? Time to head out to the track with Kyra and her special guest. Actually, not at the track. Where are you guys, Kyra?
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, Heidi, first of all, I think you recognize this face, don't you? You mentioned Petty and Earnhardt. You forgot Gordon.
COLLINS: Oh, no, I didn't. Hi, Jeff.
PHILLIPS: Heidi's saying Hi, Jeff. You want to say hello?
JEFF GORDON, RACER: Hi. Hi, Heidi.
It's so funny, I say hi to a lens on a camera.
(CROSSTALK)
PHILLIPS: She says she knows how that is. I guess we're all kind of used to that.
Jeff, a lot to talk about with you. I guess, specifically, NASCAR. Everybody saw it as such a Southern sport for a long time. You're a California boy. We both have surfed in the same places. You've really drawn in all types of people, all types of colors, economic standing. Why has it become so popular?
GORDON: I mean, I -- I don't know if there's any one reason or one thing. I've been fortunate, been a part of it, had a lot of success at a time when the growth is really going.
And I think a lot of it just racetracks around the country, we're in Southern California, Las Vegas, in the Northeast, Texas. I mean, we're hitting a lot of big markets that a lot of fans actually have been in for a long time but weren't able to go to a race.
So that's one way sponsors and NASCAR are marketing the sport tremendously. That draws attention.
But it's just great racing. I grew up, a kid from California loved -- I loved to drive race cars, but I always wanted to be in the most competitive sport out there and that's the most exciting racing. And that's NASCAR. PHILLIPS: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) we talked to a lot of these guys like Schrader and Petty and they're like, Hey, I did go carts when I was 7- years-old out in the dirt track in the Georgia mountains. But in California, you were on the beach.
GORDON: No, I mean I'm from Northern California, so there weren't a lot of beaches out there. It's just what my parents got me to. It's typically a South Beach-type thing where most people are introduced to racing. But in the Midwest it's big, on the West Coast it's big. There's so much to do out there, maybe you don't hear about racing as much, but you certainly are now. It's getting really big everywhere.
PHILLIPS: All right, this is your home away from home. We'll try, as William kind of backs up, explain what we got going in here. I don't know how you do this, so many days on the road.
GORDON: This is the race team's home. This is where we bring, basically, our race shop, which is in Charlotte, North Carolina. And we bring it to every racetrack. Behind all these doors are parts we need to rebuild these cars, whatever we need do to make them go faster on the weekend. Nut, bolt, springs, shots, you name it.
This is a kitchen area for the guys. You got to be able to feed these guys and keep the energy in them.
PHILLIPS: Have that coffee 24/7.
GORDON: Have that coffee. Up in front is a lounge where the team can be briefed. A lot of computers on board, we can look at a lot of different data.
The real living quarters are just outside this area where we have our buses.
PHILLIPS: The NASCAR Ritz-Carlton.
GORDON: Exactly. Well, I tell you, my bus is not much below Ritz-Carlton, other than maybe the service.
PHILLIPS: You've had a lot going on, personally and professionally. Are you happy?
GORDON: I'm great. I just came off a win in Martinsville. You know, I've got a great girlfriend. I got an awesome family. A lot of friends. And a heck of a race team. So things couldn't be much better for me now.
PHILLIPS: What would you say the most important thing to you is?
GORDON: Family and friends. You know. And just really being -- being true with yourself and others.
PHILLIPS: Got to ask you about Formula 1. What's this about you hopping out of the NASCAR and stepping into a Formula 1 car? GORDON: Well, I always wanted the opportunity to get behind the wheel of a Formula 1 car. Because Rick Hendrick, BMW, Juan Montoya and those guys, we were able to swap cars. I'm pretty sure I got the better end of the deal. That was one awesome experience behind the wheel of a race car I'll never forget.
PHILLIPS: Can we swap cars? Do you mind?
GORDON: What do you drive, like a...
PHILLIPS: Hyundai.
GORDON: Yes, I was going to say...
PHILLIPS: Souped up.
GORDON: ... a Beetle and hopping in my car might not be a good deal. That's when I'll be Juan get the bad end of the stick.
PHILLIPS: Look at this, Jeff, this is constant. You got the fans out there. They're always taking pictures. I mean, does this keep you going?
GORDON: Oh, yes, keep us hopping, that's for sure. That's the neat thing about NASCAR, is that there's a lot of accessibility, a lot of people get to come, be in the garage area, see what the teams are doing, meet and get autographs from the drivers.
And then we go to work, get in those cars to make them go as fast as we can, put on a good show. It's a tough balance some days, but it's certainly been a payoff for the whole sport.
PHILLIPS: Thanks for your time. You've done "Saturday Night Live." Will you come anchor a newscast with me some time?
GORDON: Only if you let me wear my Ricky Funk hair-do.
PHILLIPS: Absolutely. And if you could just say "This is CNN."
GORDON: This is CNN.
PHILLIPS: Jeff Gordon, thank you. Good luck this week.
All right, Heidi, it looks like I got a new co-anchor. I think Miles is going to be a little upset when I get back.
CO-HOST: No, I don't think he'll be upset at all actually. All right, Kyra, thanks so very much. We'll check back a little later. I think you're talking to Ken Schrader. We thank Jeff for his time. I got a whole clan of cousins in southern Maryland that would love to talk to him.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
