By Al Stilley, Editor

“This is a walk down memory lane.”

After shaking hands at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum, that was five-time Brickyard 500 winner Jeff Gordon’s initial comment about the massive display of his illustrious motorsports career.
Gordon, who grew up in nearby Pittsboro, was on hand for the first time to go through the display Thursday. Oh, how he treasured each step.

“It’s more than a dream come true,” Gordon, 55, said. “You just hope as a young kid who becomes a racecar driver that you can have success doing it professionally and do it as long as possible and stay healthy doing it.”

Gordon’s entire career from quarter-midgets to his two NASCAR Cup championships as a team owner, is on display. His story is familiar. As a 13-year-old, he was too young to race in California so he and step-father John Bickford moved to Indiana where he could race midget and sprint cars at that age. The rest is history: 1990 USAC national midget champion, 1991 USAC Silver Crown champion, inaugural NASCAR Cup Brickyard 400 winner (his first of five wins), four-time NASCAR Cup champion, and now vice chair of Hendrick Motorsports.

Gordon knew several months ago that a major display was a possibility but had very little in the planning.
“I was not overly involved because I wanted to walk in here and be surprised and I am,” Gordon said of his first display walkabout.

Most of the memorabilia - rings, uniforms, race cars and phenomenal 70-plus helmet display - is from Hoosier sprint car and midget car owner Rollie Helmling, Bickford, and Hendrick Motorsports.
Gordon’s sprint cars are on display as well as many of his iconic winning No. 24 DuPont Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolets.

“When I walk through this room, and walk trough the timeline, I see all the dreams and hard work paid off,” Gordon reflected. “Being a partner with Rick Hendrick and have the family and the life we get to live, never in a million years.”

Gordon continued, “Just being here in Indianapolis and how important this track was for me -wanting to be a racecar driver – to see how it all started and go back years and years … it makes me step back and go, ‘Wow,’ I did all that.”

He admitted that his most joy in walking through the display with his son was showing him photos of his early racing days with a mustache and mullet.

He also explained that his greatest emotions were sharing each win with his team.
The Hendrick Motorsports team in the NASCAR Cup series consists of Kyle Larson, William Byron, Chase Elliott, and Alex Bowman, who will retire at the end of the 2027 season.

Looking at the Hendrick Motorsports Cup teams, Gordon said, “We’re on the climb right now; let’s see how we can climb and get back on top.”
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The Jeff Gordon tribute display will be at the IMS Museum through January 2027.

(IMS FILE PHOTO)
This is one of the many iconic photos of Jeff Gordon’s victory in the inaugural 1994 NASCAR Cup Brickyard 400.

(SOUTHSIDER VOICE PHOTOS BY AL STILLEY)
Jurassic Park is prominent on Jeff Gordon’s winning Southern 500 Chevrolet that is on display in IMS Museum.

Stock car and many sports fans recognize iconic No. 24 Dupont Chevrolet driven by Jeff Gordon.

 IMS Museum vice president of curation and education Jason Vansickle is interviewed during opening of Jeff Gordon display at IMS Museum.

​By Al Stilley, Editor

 “Always a Hit!” is the unique home run and hometown theme of the 168th Indiana State Fair that opens Friday, August 7, and runs through August 23.

Fair officials want all Hoosiers and out-of-state visitors to enjoy the blend of Indiana traditions and big hits at the State Fairgrounds, 1202 E. 38th Street.

Opening day begins with opening ceremonies at the train depot at 8:30 a.m., Friday that features the new Indiana State Fair train, see the crowd-pleasing Band Day in front of the main grandstand and the Motown sounds of the Four Tops and the Spinners at the free stage.

And there’s more to choose from with 4-H and open class showmanship activities, animal town, CANstruction exhibit, FFA country market, Indiana History Train, live cheese carving, tortoise feeding, Big Top Circus and plenty of activities coupled with always popular State Fair food.

Everywhere fair-goers journey on the grounds, they will find a baseball theme because the fair’s presenting sponsor is the Indianapolis Indians. It’s a unique pairing of the historic fair and longtime Indianapolis professional baseball team established in 1902. Fans can enjoy playing on the new wiffle ball mini-Victory Field.

“The Indiana State Fair has always celebrated the best our state has to offer,” said Ray Allison, Indiana State Fair executive director. “Nothing celebrates America and Indiana quite like baseball and the State Fair. We are excited to partner with the Indianapolis Indians to celebrate America’s pastime and our nation’s 250th birthday at the 2026 Indiana State Fair.”

Indianapolis Indians president and CEO Randy Lewandowski stated, “Two of central Indiana’s longest-standing summer traditions are working together to make this one especially memorable.”

The Hoosier Lottery main grandstand is the site of the hot air balloon race and cheerleading competition, Saturday, Aug. 8; tractor pull, Sunday, Aug. 9; Grand Circuit harness racing, Aug. 12 and Aug. 19.

Special foods are always tasty treats for fairgoers. Interesting specialties are elephant ears, bacon jalapeno honey bun burgers, blue raspberry milkshakes, bananas foster cold brew floats, cookie butter Biscoff funnel cakes, Corn Dog Beer by Sun King Brewery, hot Cheeto fried Oreos, junkyard SPAM dogs, Nashville hot fried pickles, vegan home run sliders, and more.

The full lineup of performers at the newly renovated Hoosier Lottery Free Stage: Aug. 7, Four Tops and The Spinners; Aug. 8: Tusk – The Classic Fleetwood Mac Tribute; Aug. 9, Josiah Queen; Aug. 11, Clayton Anderson; Aug. 12, Vixen and Warrant, Aug. 13, Busta Rhymes; Aug. 14: Grand Funk Railroad; Aug. 15, DJ Golden Hour – A Tribute to Demon Hunters; Aug, 16, Trace Adkins; Aug. 18, Los Sementales De Nuevo Leon; Aug. 19, Happy Together Tour; Aug. 20, Gene Simmons; Aug. 21, Sammy Kershaw and Craig Morgan; Aug. 22, Don McLean, and Aug. 23, Tasha Cobbs Leonard.

Hours are Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Wednesdays, Thursdays, Sundays, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., closed on Mondays.
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The midway opens at noon on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Sunday, 11 a.m. on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sunday, Aug. 23 (for the last Sunday of the fair).