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Jeff Gordon's Hall of Fame eligibility unaffected by substitute stint in 2016
Jeff Gordon won’t have to wait a year to get into the NASCAR Hall of Fame because he subbed for Dale Earnhardt Jr. in 2016.
Because he retired after the 2015 season, Gordon was slated to be eligible for the NASCAR Hall of Fame in May 2018. Under the Hall of Fame’s current criteria, drivers have to be retired for three years to be considered for inclusion.
But Gordon came back for eight races in 2016 after Earnhardt Jr. suffered a concussion over the summer and missed the second half of the season. A NASCAR spokesperson said Tuesday that Gordon’s substitute stint wouldn’t impact his eligibility.
“Jeff’s eligibility status for the NASCAR Hall of Fame remains unchanged,” NASCAR spokesman Kurt Culbert said. “The unique situation in which he drove last year was as a substitute. As it stands, Jeff can be nominated in 2018 for the class of 2019.”
Gordon, a four-time Cup Series champion, has 93 career wins. He’ll undoubtedly be a first-ballot selection into the Hall and now we know he’ll be inducted in January 2019. Because no one is voting for five people for the HOF and not including Jeff Gordon. Right?
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Nick Bromberg is the editor of Dr. Saturday and From The Marbles on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com
