Neither did Loomis, who gives his driver all the credit for keeping the team from coming apart at the seams during the low points of 2002.
"We all know what a winner is and he's the one all along who kept us calm," Loomis says. "A lot of drivers have asked me what the difference is between Jeff Gordon and other drivers. I think that having won four championships, Jeff has confidence that runs way deep."
As Gordon continues to mature (remember, he's only 31, with four championships under his belt in only 10 seasons), he will continue to exhibit even more leadership, especially as a team co-owner.
"I'm at the shop more now because I'm a bigger part of the organization than I used to be," Gordon says. "I have more of a say in things now and a hand in what's going on, but to be honest with you, my role really hasn't changed all that much. I'm the driver of the No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet, and other than having four Winston Cup championships and 61 wins, nothing's changed.
"That's all the role I want right now. I love being involved from the ownership side of things and I try to be as much of a teammate as I can to the other drivers here, but they know my involvement in getting Jimmie's team going. When I want to step away from driving, that's when my role around here will change significantly."
Gordon is many years from hanging up his helmet. He knows that his role as one of the sport's giants has opened many doors for him, including guest host stints on Live with Regis and Kelly and Saturday Night Live.
Even at his young age, Gordon is already seventh on the list of all-time Winston Cup race winners, and only 23 victories away from tying Bobby Allison and Darrell Waltrip for third place. David Pearson's second-best mark of 105 wins is a possibility, though probably a tougher mountain to climb than tying, or surpassing, the record of seven Winston Cup crowns shared by Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt.
"The competition is stiffer now than ever before," team founder and owner Rick Hendrick says. "But if we can control the failures and finish every race, we can leave the rest of it up to Jeff Gordon."
Opening The BooksJeff Gordon's divorce proceedings forced him to give the public a personal look into his finances. In court papers, Gordon says he earns $1.87 million per month, and estimates his worth at $48.8 million.
Gordon says in the court documents that his gross monthly income includes $29,683 in base salary, $800,000 in bonuses, $579,564 in income from corporations and partnerships, $11,582 in interest, $434,540 in income from royalties or trusts, $10,263 in personal expenses reimbursed by his corporations or given in lieu of income, and $991 from retirement plans.
Gordon says he is building a $1 million condominium, and pays $4,500 a month to rent a condominium in Charlotte. He lists monthly charitable donations of $8,900.