Jeff Gordon said a year ago that if he won a fifth NASCAR championship in 2014, hed call it quits on his illustrious career. Authentic Dustin Colquitt Jersey .He fell just short of another title, but acknowledged Thursday he never would have done it anyway.Instead, this year, his 23rd in NASCARs elite Cup series, will be his last. He made the decision midway through last year, when he was invigorated by his on-track performance and a very strong title shot.When Gordon finally steps out of the famed and sometimes feared No. 24 Chevrolet, hell close the books on one of the most successful careers in auto racing history. He goes into this final season with 92 wins, trailing only Hall of Fame drivers Richard Petty (200) and David Pearson (105).He won all the big races, collected four championships in just seven years and had 58 victories before his 30th birthday. The 43-year-old driver also has three Daytona 500 victories and a record five Brickyard 400 wins.But there are many who believe Gordon would have broken the record of seven championships shared by Petty and the late Dale Earnhardt if not for NASCARs adoption of the Chase for the championship format in 2004. He went down to the wire in the title race that year, lost an epic battle to teammate Jimmie Johnson in 2007 and was denied a shot at the winner-take-all finale last season by just one point.Coming so close but falling short a year ago stung tremendously, and Gordon said Thursday in an interview with The Associated Press that it spilled over to pit road at Texas, where he and his crew brawled with Brad Keselowski and his crew.I knew it was going to be my final year. And to be that close, and to have one of the best years of your career and a championship right there within reach — it was tough to handle, he said. I think that contributed to my reaction to what happened at Texas. How upset I was on the track, with the incident, it wasnt just this new Chase format that creates more intensity, I was looking slightly ahead at what could be my final year.Gordon said last season, a four-win campaign in which he led the point standings for much of the year, only fueled him to go out on top this year.Im motivated by that. As good as we ran last year, I dont see any reason why we cant do that one more time, he said.Here are some other interesting things Gordon told AP about his career:___ON DALE EARNHARDT: Gordon had an early rivalry with the blue-collar Earnhardt, who ribbed the Wonder Boy when he first broke into NASCAR. They had a rivalry on the track, but an appreciation for one another off it that developed into a friendship.Gordon said he was reminded of some of his early days with Earnhardt this week in a discussion with one of the late champions confidants.I was always so confused as to why he and I spent the amount of time together at the track that we did, Gordon said. I never understood it, and this person told me, Well, he had so much respect for you. I thought, Thats funny. Why would he have respect for me? I was just some punk kid.But I had tremendous respect for him and looked up to him. And even though we had our run-ins on the race track, and our fans were complete opposites, there definitely was a common respect there.Gordon credits Earnhardt for showing him what he could accomplish through NASCAR, both with on-track success and off-track opportunities.ON HIS CAREER HIGHLIGHT: Of his 92 wins and four championships, Gordon believes his victory in the inaugural race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway was the best moment of his career.Although he was born in California, he moved as a young driver to Indiana for more racing opportunities, and the relocation gave him a profound respect for Indianapolis. But he was never able to move up the ladder in Indy cars, and instead made a move to NASCAR that initially shut the door on his chances to race at the Brickyard.But when NASCAR made its debut there in 1994, he finally got his chance.Driving into that race track as a kid, picking up Valvoline oil, watching Indy cars there ... I hate that I was never there in an Indy car, he said. But to go there and do that in a stock car in their inaugural race was amazing.He believes to this day that the Brickyard win propelled him into superstar status.All the things that I could dream of, if I could have scripted what it was like to be a professional race car driver, that would be it, he said. To have that moment transcend you, and maybe even your sport to another level to where you become a household name — all of a sudden your face is on billboards and you are signing autographs and getting your picture taken and people are recognizing you and you are making more money than you ever knew you could possibly make and you are part of a team that you are going to every race with a shot at winning — that, to me, that all changed after that day.ON WHAT HELL MISS MOST: Gordon didnt use the word retire because he doesnt want to rule out racing again.He said hell remain with Hendrick Motorsports in a role that hasnt been revealed yet, but was confident the weekly competition will be a tough void to fill.Im going to miss going out there and getting behind the wheel of the car and knowing that your input, verbally as well as physically, it makes a difference, he said. Its about experiencing what its like to pull into victory lane at Daytona, or Indianapolis, or winning a championship. Thats just an amazing feeling.Even though you lose a lot more than you win, its those moments of being proud of what role you played in it. Thats going to be tough to fulfil. Unless Im in a competitive environment, I am going to yearn for that.ON HIS FINAL SEASON: Gordon didnt want to be a driver who goes out with a sappy farewell tour in which he receives parting gifts from every track. But he had to announce his decision, and it made for a very emotional day filled with tears that he insisted were out of happiness.Still, he acknowledges theres some uneasiness about life outside the No. 24.Of course Im nervous. I dont know what its going to be like when I take that last lap, he said.But, for now, hes focused on one final season.Im pumped up and excited about this year and keeping the momentum from last year and go out on top, he said. Authentic Demetrius Harris Jersey ., will experience this week. A year in which the Canadian curling championship has been pushed forward a week to accommodate the Winter Olympics was deemed the perfect chance to stage the event in Montreal for the first time since 1979. Authentic Marcus Allen Jersey . -- Craig Anderson has quite a record against his former team, the Florida Panthers. http://www.cheapchiefsjerseysauthentic.com/ . In mens doubles, Vancouvers Vasek Pospisil and American Jack Sock reached the quarter-finals with a 7-6 (3), 7-6 (3), 6-4 win over Croatian Mate Pavic and Andre Sa of Brazil.KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. -- Roger Federer made a victorious return Friday to the Sony Open after skipping last years tournament, and then was treated to a tribute on the stadium video screen. "It looks like a farewell video," Federer told the crowd with a laugh. "I miss one year, and you make me feel guilty." Federers back, as he showed by beating big-serving Ivo Karlovic 6-4, 7-6 (4). The Swiss star lost just three points on his serve to his 6-foot-11 (2.11-meter) opponent, and in a match with few rallies, he committed only three unforced errors. Three-time champion Novak Djokovic followed Federer onto the stadium court and into the third round, defeating Jeremy Chardy 6-4, 6-3. Defending champion Andy Murray, playing for the first time since he parted with coach Ivan Lendl, rallied to beat Matthew Ebden 3-6, 6-0, 6-1. Another three-time champ, Venus Williams, defeated Anna Schmiedlova 6-3, 6-3. Williams, the oldest player remaining in the womens draw at 33, is competing at Key Biscayne for the 15th time. "Its good to be here still as an oldster," Williams said. At 32, Federer has looked rejuvenated recently, and was the runner-up to Djokovic last week at Indian Wells. The 17-time Grand Slam champion says his new racket gives him more power, and hes moving as he did in the old days. After falling out of the top five last year for the first time since 2002, Federer returned to No. 5 this week. He led from the start against Karlovic, making the surprising choice to receive after winning the toss and earning the lone break of the match in the opening game. "I just felt like, you know, let him go first and see how it goes," Federer said. "It worked well today because I got the early break right away. That relaxed me for the rest of the first set clearly, but still he hung around." While Federer had trouble with serves from Karlovic that peaked at 138 mph (222 kph), the Croat had no cchance when returning. Authentic Tanoh Kpassagnon Jersey. Federer won 49 of his 52 service points. Federer improved to 11-1 in their head-to-head -- or, in this case, head-to-shoulder. He said playing Karlovic presents unique challenges that he enjoys. "Physically its super easy. There are no long rallies," Federer said. "Its just more like a penalty shootout in soccer." The longest point was the last one, and when Karlovic pushed a backhand into the net on the 10th stroke, Federer hopped happily in celebration and threw a fist. The show of exuberance might be a hint hes keen to do well in a tournament he hasnt won since 2006. "Im very relieved and happy to be through," he said. Djokovic converted all three of his break-point chances against Chardy, who was hobbled after hurting his right ankle in the penultimate game. "When I was supposed to play my best and come up with some good serves and good shots, thats what I did in both sets," Djokovic said. On the womens side, No. 2-seeded Li Na reached the third round when Alisa Kleybanova withdrew because of a viral illness. Kleybanova, who won in doubles Thursday, is a former top 20-player mounting a career comeback from Hodgkins lymphoma. No. 3 Agnieszka Radwanska, the tournament champion in 2012, defeated Romina Oprandi 6-0, 6-4. The Pole was hampered by a knee injury in her loss to Flavia Pennetta in the final at Indian Wells on Sunday, but showed no ill effects in her match Friday. "I feel much better now, obviously," she said. "Its not perfect yet, but I think those few days I had of rest in between Indian Wells and Miami really helped me." No. 6 Simona Halep, who lost to Radwanska in the semifinals at Indian Wells, withdrew because of a right toe injury. Former world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki advanced with a 6-1, 1-6, 6-3 win over Monica Puig, but No. 7-seeded Jelena Jankovic was upset by American Varvara Lepchenko. Cheap Diamondbacks Jerseys Cheap Braves Jerseys Cheap Orioles Jerseys Cheap Red Sox Jerseys Cheap Cubs Jerseys Cheap White Sox Jerseys Cheap Reds Jerseys Cheap Indians Jerseys Cheap Rockies Jerseys Cheap Tigers Jerseys Cheap Astros Jerseys Cheap Royals Jerseys Cheap Angels Jerseys Cheap Dodgers Jerseys Cheap Marlins Jerseys ' ' '