Gordon honored for body of work

Four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Jeff Gordon was named the recipient of the National Motorsports Press Association's Myers Brothers Award on Thursday. Voted on each year by members of the NMPA, the Myers Brothers Award recognizes individuals and/or groups who have provided outstanding contributions to the sport of stock car racing. Gordon was presented with the award, named after former NASCAR competitors Billy and Bobby Myers, at the NASCAR NMPA Myers Brothers Awards event at the Wynn hotel's Encore Theater in Las Vegas. Gordon began his full-time Cup racing career in 1993, winning the championship in 1995, 1997, 1998 and 2001. He has 87 career wins in his 20-year career, all with Hendrick Motorsports. His contributions to the sport, though, go beyond on-track accomplishments. He formed the Jeff Gordon Foundation in 1999 to aid children battling cancer. Through the foundation, he supports the Jeff Gordon's Children's Hospital in Concord, N.C., and has committed to help children fight cancer in Africa. He also, with sponsor AARP's Drive to End Hunger program, works to raise awareness on the hunger issue affecting Americans 50 years old and older.