Gordon took the stage at his last NASCAR function as an active driver and again thanked the colleagues and competitors who have been a part of his illustrious career.
"I knew that it was going to be a rough night, but that made it tougher." The four-time champion was teary-eyed as he addressed a room full of fellow drivers, team members and media.
As he made his final statements about an "absolutely amazing" career, he conceded, "Am I going to miss it? There's no doubt."
He will join Fox Sports next season as a new part of their NASCAR commentary team, calling races instead of driving in them. As he thanked the audience on Friday, he received a standing ovation.