LONG POND, PA - AUGUST 01: Jeff Gordon, driver of the #88 Nationwide Chevrolet, stands on the grid prior to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Pennsylvania 400 at Pocono Raceway on August 1, 2016 in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. The race was delayed due to inclement weather on Sunday, July 31. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/NASCAR via Getty Images)
August 4th is a big day in NASCAR, because it marks the birthday of two active Premier Series champions: four-time title holder Jeff Gordon, who turned 45 today, and 2004 champ Kurt Busch, who is now 38.
While the two came up through very different paths -- Gordon in sprint cars in the Midwest and Busch in Legends cars in his hometown of Las Vegas -- they both have had stellar NASCAR careers with plenty of highlight reel moments.
And they both made history at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
There, Gordon won a record five Brickyard 400s, while Busch won Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year honors in 2014, with a remarkable sixth-place finish in his very first open-wheel race. Gordon also test Juan Pablo Montoya's Formula One car at the Brickyard in 2003.
Happy Birthday to both Gordon and Busch, who will be on track this weekend at Watkins Glen.
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