Tina Gordon
NASCAR racing // Cedar Bluff, Alabama
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Tina Gordon dominated powder puff dirt track races in Alabama before climbing NASCAR’s ranks, earning 11 ARCA top-10 finishes and a breakthrough Busch Series top-10 at Talladega.
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FULL BIO: Tina Gordon
Tina Gordon carved out her place in motorsports by starting with powder puff dirt track races in Alabama and working her way up to NASCAR’s national touring series. After retiring from professional racing, she channeled her drive into founding a therapeutic ranch for disabled children and adults.
EARLY YEARS
Born March 14, 1969, in Cedar Bluff, Alabama, Tina didn’t discover racing until she was 26 years old. Her entry into motorsports came through her husband’s dirt track car in 1995, when she decided to try her hand at “powder puff” events—those women-only races that were often treated as novelty entertainment at local tracks. What happened next wasn’t exactly novelty material: she won all five events she entered.
OTHER INTERESTS
Beyond the track, Gordon co-founded Tina’s Dream Ranch with her husband, creating a therapeutic camp for disabled children and adults. She also tested the political waters in 2008, running for the Cherokee County, Alabama Commission District 3 seat in the Democratic primary, though she narrowly missed making the runoff.
EARLY SUCCESS
Those early dirt track victories were just the beginning. In 1998, Gordon made the leap to asphalt racing, purchasing a Pontiac Grand Prix super late-model car and competing at Birmingham International Speedway. By 1999, she was running full-time in the NASCAR All-Pro Series, hitting tracks across Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri, and Florida, including the prestigious Homestead-Miami Speedway. She finished 20th in points in both 1999 and 2000, proving she belonged on the bigger stage. Her ARCA series performance in the early 2000s was even more impressive, racking up 11 top-10 finishes and landing 10th overall in points.
NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS
- 1995: Won all five powder puff dirt track events entered in debut racing season.
- 1999-2000: Finished 20th in NASCAR All-Pro Series points standings both seasons.
- 2001: Made NASCAR Busch Series debut at Darlington Raceway’s South Carolina 200.
- 2001-2002: Achieved 11 top-10 finishes and 10th place overall in ARCA series points.
- 2003: Scored first NASCAR Busch Series top-10 finish with 10th place at Talladega Superspeedway driving the #22 Bost Motorsports Chevrolet.
INSPIRATIONS
The research doesn’t reveal specific drivers or figures who inspired Gordon’s racing journey, though her husband’s involvement in dirt track racing clearly provided the initial gateway to her motorsports career.
REPUTATION
Gordon earned respect as a competent driver who could deliver when it mattered, particularly evidenced by her top-10 finish at the intimidating Talladega Superspeedway. She was recognized as one of the few female drivers successfully progressing through NASCAR’s ranks in the early 2000s, securing sponsorships from companies like Colby Furniture, Sticks ‘N’ Stuff furniture chain, Vassarette, and Microtel. Her career earnings of approximately $214,725 reflected solid performance in a highly competitive field. After struggling with qualifying in 2004-2005 and being released from Jay Robinson Racing, she made the decision to step away from professional racing.
FUTURE GOALS/PLANS
Gordon remains retired from professional racing and continues living in Cedar Bluff, Alabama, with her husband and son. Her focus appears to be on the continued operation of Tina’s Dream Ranch and her family life, with no documented plans to return to competitive motorsports.
References:
En-academic Racing Reference
All-American Speakers Profile
Wikipedia Entry
Women in Racing Statistics
Thunder Valley Racing History
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