Cecil Gordon (June 21, 1941 – September 19, 2012) was an American stock car racing driver. A competitor in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series between 1968 and 1985, he competed in 449 events without winning a race.

Cecil Gordon
BornCecil Owen Gordon
(1941-06-21)June 21, 1941
Horse Shoe, North Carolina, U.S.
DiedSeptember 19, 2012(2012-09-19) (aged 71)
Lexington, North Carolina, U.S.
NASCAR Cup Series career
449 races run over 17 years
Best finish3rd (1971, 1973)
First race1968 Pickens 200 (Greenville-Pickens Speedway)
Last race1985 Miller High Life 400 (Richmond)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 111 0
NASCAR Grand National East Series career
29 races run over 2 years
Best finish29th (1973)
First race1972 Greenville 200 (Greenville-Pickens Speedway)
Last race1973 Tar Heel 200 (Fayetteville)
Wins Top tens Poles
2 21 0

NASCAR

edit
 
Gordon's 1983 Winston Cup car

Career as driver

edit

Gordon drove in the NASCAR Grand National and Winston Cup Series for 17 years and drove in a total of 449 races. He never won and never got a pole, he did not even finish a race on the lead lap, but got 29 top fives and 111 top tens.[1] He finished third in points in 1971 and 1973.[1] He completed 112,908 laps and only led 23 of them.[1] By the end of his career, he had earned $940,000.[1] His average finish for his entire career was 17.3.[1] Racing Champions released a replica of 1969 Mercury Cyclone in 1992 and later in 1998 in honor of NASCAR's 50th anniversary.

Career as owner

edit

He started racing in Henley Gray and Bill Seifert cars. He generally raced in his own car beginning in 1970.[2] He had a few other racers make an occasional start for him.[2] He raced GM products (mostly Chevrolet vehicles) until the end of 1982 when he crashed out his Buick Regal.[2] He purchased a Chrysler Imperial at the beginning of 1983 from the defunct Negre Bros. Racing team and managed to qualify for eight races during that season, though he only finished five of them.[2] His best finish was 15th that year in the Imperial. He also had Jim VanDiver drive the car in two races.[2] At the end of that year he sold the Imperial to Buddy Arrington. Gordon returned for one more race in 1985 for the family-owned team of Greg Sacks.

Career as crewman

edit

Following the end of his career as a driver and owner, Gordon worked for other racing teams as a crewman, first for Richard Childress Racing, and then later for Travis Carter Enterprises.[3]

Personal life

edit

Gordon is not related to four-time NASCAR champion Jeff Gordon,[4] yet, coincidentally, they both drove the 24 car.

Gordon, who was married with four children, Charlene (who died in 2006), Douglas, Stefanie and Jonathon. Gordon died on September 19, 2012, in Lexington, North Carolina.[3]

Motorsports career results

edit

NASCAR

edit

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

Grand National Series

edit
NASCAR Grand National Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 NGNC Pts Ref
1968 Gray Racing 95 Ford MGR MGY RSD DAY BRI RCH ATL HCY GPS CLB NWS MAR AUG AWS DAR BLV LGY CLT ASH MGR SMR BIR CAR GPS
19
DAY ISP OXF FDA TRN BRI SMR NSV ATL CLB BGS AWS SBO LGY DAR 55th - [5]
19 HCY
19
RCH
17
BLV
13
HBO
20
Seifert Racing 47 Ford MAR
38
NWS
27
AUG
45 CLT
28
CAR JFC
19
1969 MGR
11
DAY
11
10th 3002 [6]
47 MGY
9
RSD DAY DAY
27
CAR
32
AUG
18
BRI
DNQ
ATL
18
CLB
22
HCY
15
GPS
14
RCH
21
MAR
35
AWS
12
DAR
18
BLV
17
LGY
24
CLT
21
MGR
21
SMR
18
MCH
16
KPT
17
GPS
18
NCF
21
DAY
38
DOV
10
TPN
15
TRN
17
BLV
11
BRI
5
NSV
16
SMR
6
ATL
16
MCH
26
SBO
11
BGS
21
AWS
9
DAR
18
HCY
14
RCH
7
TAL
DNQ
CLB
9
MAR
13
NWS
15
CLT
19
SVH
19
AUG
11
CAR
14
JFC
12
MGR
7
TWS
11
Larry Wehrs 00 Chevy BRI
25
Wayne Smith 33 Chevy NWS
17
1970 Gordon Racing 24 Ford RSD DAY DAY
15
DAY
40
RCH
19
CAR
12
SVH
12
ATL
35
BRI
8
TAL
21
NWS
9
CLB
27
DAR
29
BLV
17
LGY
18
CLT
37
SMR
8
MAR
10
MCH
32
RSD HCY
22
KPT
12
GPS
26
DAY
19
AST
13
TPN
17
TRN
35
BRI
10
SMR
10
NSV
4
ATL
37
CLB
24
ONA
6
MCH
40
TAL
21
BGS
18
SBO
11
DAR
22
HCY RCH
13
DOV
10
NWS
14
CLT
17
MAR
26
MGR
10
CAR
21
LGY
24
11th 2514 [7]
97 NCF
5
1971 24 RSD
10
ONT
19
RCH
9
3rd 3677 [8]
Mercury DAY
10
DAY DAY
17
CAR
13
HCY
11
BRI
14
ATL
17
CLB
11
GPS
12
SMR
9
NWS
10
MAR
7
DAR
15
SBO
5
TAL
13
ASH
3
KPT
4
CLT
17
DOV
28
MCH
19
RSD
3
HOU
6
GPS
9
DAY
17
BRI
4
AST
8
ISP
8
TRN
11
NSV
16
ATL
12
BGS
24
ONA
5
MCH
6
TAL
38
CLB
13
HCY
12
DAR
9
MAR
12
CLT
15
DOV
11
CAR
11
MGR RCH
9
NWS
9
TWS
7

Winston Cup Series

edit
NASCAR Winston Cup Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 NWCC Pts Ref
1972 Gordon Racing 24 Mercury RSD
10
DAY
39
RCH
9
ONT
36
ATL
17
BRI
5
DAR
10
NWS
18
MAR
4
TAL
14
CLT
8
DOV
8
MCH
11
RSD
8
TWS
15
DAY
11
BRI
8
TRN
5
ATL
9
TAL
43
MCH
15
NSV
6
DAR
28
RCH
20
DOV
5
MAR
10
NWS
7
CLT
17
CAR
20
TWS
8
4th 7326.05 [9]
Ford CAR
26
1973 Chevy RSD
20
DAY
21
RCH
8
CAR
22
BRI
29
ATL
8
NWS
5
DAR
21
MAR
5
TAL
5
NSV
4
CLT
8
DOV
5
TWS
5
RSD
5
MCH
8
DAY
13
BRI
3
ATL
24
TAL
8
NSV
8
DAR
11
RCH
7
DOV
27
NWS
9
MAR
7
CLT
9
CAR
11
3rd 7046.8 [10]
1974 RSD
8
DAY
13
RCH
11
CAR
29
BRI
6
ATL
34
DAR
11
NWS
11
MAR
15
TAL
21
NSV
25
DOV
27
CLT
28
RSD
4
MCH
10
DAY
10
BRI
6
NSV
20
ATL
10
POC
7
TAL
15
MCH
12
DAR
19
RCH
9
DOV
7
NWS
27
MAR
26
CLT
15
CAR
21
ONT
29
9th 1000.65 [11]
1975 RSD
3
DAY
15
RCH
7
CAR
20
BRI
4
ATL
8
NWS
9
DAR
21
MAR
23
TAL
21
NSV
5
DOV
2
CLT
37
RSD
18
MCH
33
DAY
29
NSV
5
POC
10
TAL
10
MCH
13
DAR
6
DOV
29
NWS
16
MAR
9
CLT
5
RCH
4
CAR
30
BRI
8
ATL
9
ONT
19
6th 3702 [12]
1976 RSD
23
DAY
18
CAR
34
RCH
7
BRI
28
ATL
16
NWS
12
DAR
11
MAR
10
TAL
6
NSV
14
DOV
36
RSD
12
MCH
10
DAY
34
POC
6
TAL
29
MCH
26
BRI
21
DAR
12
RCH
13
DOV
35
MAR
15
NWS
13
CLT
28
CAR
15
ATL
23
ONT
16
15th 3247 [13]
Gray Racing 19 Chevy CLT
20
Dalton Racing 7 Chevy NSV
15
1977 Gordon Racing 24 Chevy RSD
11
DAY
17
RCH
13
CAR
10
ATL
16
NWS
13
DAR
12
BRI
17
MAR
13
TAL
16
NSV
13
DOV
12
CLT
22
RSD
9
MCH
21
DAY
11
NSV
20
POC
21
TAL
16
MCH
19
BRI
29
DAR
19
RCH
17
DOV
21
MAR
18
NWS
15
CLT
37
CAR
23
ATL
20
ONT
32
10th 3294 [14]
1978 RSD
25
DAY
21
RCH
17
CAR
22
ATL
17
BRI
18
DAR
33
NWS
17
MAR
9
TAL
25
DOV
25
CLT NSV
19
RSD
12
MCH
17
DAY
32
NSV
19
POC
40
TAL MCH
17
BRI
13
DAR RCH
17
DOV
14
MAR
30
CAR
15
ATL
18
ONT
15
19th 2641 [15]
Hollar Racing 29 Chevy NWS
26
CLT
1979 Gordon Racing 24 Olds RSD
25
DAY
DNQ
CAR
11
RCH
25
ATL
23
NWS
22
BRI
15
DAR
31
MAR
17
TAL
11
NSV DOV
23
CLT
17
TWS
21
RSD
11
MCH DAY
35
NSV
11
POC
18
TAL
40
MCH
18
BRI
22
DAR
26
RCH
18
DOV
20
MAR
24
CAR
13
ATL
38
ONT
24
19th 2737 [16]
Gray Racing 19 Chevy CLT
32
NWS
18
1980 Gordon Racing 24 Olds RSD DAY
21
RCH
8
CAR
33
ATL
24
BRI
22
MAR
17
TAL
23
NSV
19
DOV
9
CLT
37
TWS
14
RSD
10
MCH
20
DAY
29
POC
16
TAL
23
MCH
21
BRI
19
DAR
19
RCH
18
DOV
15
NWS
14
MAR
13
CLT
24
CAR
15
ATL
DNQ
ONT
17
15th 2993 [17]
Negre Racing 82 Chrysler DAR
34
NWS
Oswald Racing 09 Buick NSV
21
Gray Racing 19 Chevy ATL
25
1981 Gordon Racing 24 Olds RSD
36
23rd 2320 [18]
Buick DAY
37
RCH
19
CAR
23
ATL
37
BRI
21
DAR
21
MAR
24
TAL
15
DOV
15
CLT TWS
18
RSD
13
DAY
25
POC
21
TAL
17
MCH
24
CAR
15
ATL RSD
Jimmy Means Racing 53 Buick NWS
31
Gordon Racing 24 Pontiac NSV
19
Gray Racing 19 Buick MCH
27
Wawak Racing 94 Buick NSV
29
Ulrich Racing 40 Buick BRI
30
DAR RCH
23
NWS
19
CLT
Newsom Racing 20 Chevy DOV
26
MAR
1982 Gordon Racing 24 Buick DAY RCH BRI
DNQ
ATL CAR DAR NWS MAR TAL NSV DOV CLT POC RSD MCH DAY NSV POC
14
TAL MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV
16
NWS
18
CLT MAR CAR ATL
DNQ
RSD
17
82nd - [19]
1983 Chrysler DAY RCH
DNQ
CAR ATL DAR NWS
DNQ
MAR TAL
16
NSV DOV
21
BRI CLT RSD POC
23
MCH DAY
22
NSV POC
23
TAL
33
MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV
15
MAR NWS CLT CAR ATL RSD 40th 649 [20]
1985 Sacks & Sons 51 Chevy DAY RCH
30
CAR ATL BRI DAR NWS MAR TAL DOV CLT RSD POC MCH DAY POC TAL MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR ATL RSD NA 0 [21]
Daytona 500
edit
Year Team Manufacturer Start Finish
1969 Seifert Racing Ford 34 27
1970 Gordon Racing Ford 30 40
1971 Mercury 19 17
1972 11 39
1973 Chevrolet 31 21
1974 32 13
1975 15 15
1976 17 18
1977 41 17
1978 41 21
1979 Oldsmobile DNQ
1980 19 21
1981 Buick 42 37

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c d e Cecil Gordon's Driver's Statistics at racing-reference.info
  2. ^ a b c d e Cecil Gordon's Owner's Statistics at racing-reference.info
  3. ^ a b "Cecil O. Gordon, 71". Times-News. Hendersonville, NC. Retrieved 2012-09-20.
  4. ^ "Your Turn: Letters from our readers". Portsmouth Daily Times. Portsmouth, OH. July 9, 1999. p. B4. Retrieved 2012-09-20.
  5. ^ "Cecil Gordon – 1968 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 19, 2017.
  6. ^ "Cecil Gordon – 1969 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 19, 2017.
  7. ^ "Cecil Gordon – 1970 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 19, 2017.
  8. ^ "Cecil Gordon – 1971 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 19, 2017.
  9. ^ "Cecil Gordon – 1972 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 19, 2017.
  10. ^ "Cecil Gordon – 1973 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 19, 2017.
  11. ^ "Cecil Gordon – 1974 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 19, 2017.
  12. ^ "Cecil Gordon – 1975 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 19, 2017.
  13. ^ "Cecil Gordon – 1976 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 19, 2017.
  14. ^ "Cecil Gordon – 1977 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 19, 2017.
  15. ^ "Cecil Gordon – 1978 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 19, 2017.
  16. ^ "Cecil Gordon – 1979 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 19, 2017.
  17. ^ "Cecil Gordon – 1980 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 19, 2017.
  18. ^ "Cecil Gordon – 1981 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 19, 2017.
  19. ^ "Cecil Gordon – 1982 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 19, 2017.
  20. ^ "Cecil Gordon – 1983 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 19, 2017.
  21. ^ "Cecil Gordon – 1985 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 19, 2017.
edit