It’s been a while since Jeff Gordon last attended elementary school, but on Thursday he got an old lesson from the students at Patrick Henry Elementary School in Martinsville.
Surprise Surprise, I Don’t Believe My Eyes
In town to help promote the March 28th Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 NASCAR race at Martinsville Speedway, Jeff spent some time the kids at Patrick Henry Elementary School. It was a big change!
“Things have changed a lot, a whole lot since I was in school,” said Jeff, who has a four-year-old daughter and another baby on the way. “Especially now that I’m a parent it’s an education for me to see what I’ll be going through in a few years, seeing what the kids are learning these days. It’s been a while since I’ve visited a school…don’t think I have since I’ve been a parent and I see it in a whole different perspective now.”
Journey for Jeff
Patrick Henry principal Dr. Joan Montgomery led Jeff and a large media crew on a tour of the school, making stops along the way in classes outfitted with electronic and computer-learning gizmos that would compare to the electronics in Jeff’s race shop. Patrick Henry Elementary School is a School of Excellence, according to the Virginia Board of Education.
In one class, students had prepared a racing version of Jeopardy with a Smart Board projected on a wall. Jeff selected the topic and money amount and the answer appeared on the wall awaiting Gordon to come up with the question, just like the TV version. But there was a little trick. The students had come up with math problems that all had the same answer: 24 … the number of Jeff’s car.
“Are all the answers 24?” Jeff asked with a laugh. “I think I’m going to like this game.”
Jeff’s tour took him through several more classrooms, including one where he appeared to be stumped on a question involving the metric system and another class where he was serenaded in Spanish by a fourth-grade Spanish class.
Why we like Jeff Gordon!
The tour ended in the school’s library where students who had written essays with “Why I Like Jeff Gordon” as the topic had gathered for the chance to meet the four-time Spring Cup champion. Several were selected to read their essays.
“He’s my favorite, favorite of all drivers,” read Aidan Hart. “He’s my favorite even on my video game.”
“I think it’s important to meet him because he is a delightful gentleman,” Anasia Flood read as she stood beside Jeff in front of her classmates.
Chad Monday praised Jeff’s concern for others. “He has raised and donated millions of dollars to his foundation.”
And then Chad admitted that Jeff really wasn’t his favorite NASCAR driver, which doubled Jeff over with laughter.
“Jeff Gordon is my second favorite race car driver. My favorite race car driver is Kyle Busch… but I like them both better than Jimmie Johnson.”
Tickets for Tots
Tickets for the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 on Sunday, March 28, the Kroger 250 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race on Saturday, March 27 and the Duracell Battery Kroger Pole Day on Friday, March 26 are on sale and can be purchased by calling 1-877-RACE-TIX. Tickets may also be purchased online at racetickets.com. Tickets for the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 begin at just $25.
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