Atlanta track gives Jeff Gordon farewell gift

HAMPTON, Ga. -- Jeff Gordon said he didn't want a retirement tour where racetracks gave him gifts every week.

The gifts are coming anyway.

Atlanta Motor Speedway presented Gordon with a red No. 24 Bandolero car on Friday, the start of what likely will be Gordon's final race weekend at the 1.5-mile track.

Bandolero cars are geared toward young racers, and Atlanta painted the names of Gordon's two children – Ella and Leo – over each door.

"We've got a couple of other Gordons coming along," track president Ed Clark said. "Hopefully we'll see some other Gordons racing here at Atlanta Motor Speedway."

Gordon said Leo, 4, "is going to want to sleep in this thing at night."

"I have a feeling this might end up in his bedroom for a year or two before he can drive it," Gordon said with a chuckle.

Whether Leo or Ella will actually drive the car is yet to be determined. Ella drove a Quarter Midget a couple times last year and was "ready to go," but Gordon said he and wife Ingrid Vandebosch weren't as excited about it.

"Mom and Dad were not ready," Gordon said. "That was terrifying. This (Bandolero) goes a lot faster than a Quarter Midget. As cool as this thing is, it's going to be more on me getting my heart ready for it."

The Bandolero has a "Thanks Jeff!" on the hood with the Atlanta Motor Speedway logo below it. Atlanta, like sister tracks Charlotte Motor Speedway and Texas Motor Speedway, hosts races on its quarter-mile track built into the frontstretch.

Gordon's first career start in 1992 was made at Atlanta, which also was Richard Petty's final start. Atlanta also painted a thank-you message to Gordon in the infield grass.

Gordon said Ella, 7, has gotten comments from classmates about not being famous anymore once her dad stops racing.

"For her, it's more of kids telling her at school, 'Well, you're not going to be on TV anymore after this year,' " Gordon said. "I think that sort of took her aback. But it's been a good life lesson trying to teach her about those situations."

Follow Gluck onTwitter @jeff_gluck