Four months after Jeff Gordon rode off into the Miami sunset toward his retirement from NASCAR racing, another sports icon in Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning has done the same after 18 years in the NFL.
Gordon was one of a handful of NASCAR stars to tweet their well wishes to Manning.
Huge congrats on an amazing 18 year career Peyton Manning! What a way to go out. On top!
— Jeff Gordon (@JeffGordonWeb) March 7, 2016
Manning has never been a grand marshal or anything similar for a NASCAR race, but he did wave the green flag for the 91st Indianapolis 500. Held in 2007, one of the 33 drivers in the field was Danica Patrick.
What an amazing career you have had Peyton!!!!!!! Congratulations! I will miss watching your laser arm!
— Danica Patrick (@DanicaPatrick) March 7, 2016
Also showing his gratitude in a brief video was Washington Redskin fan and fellow Nationwide spokesman, Dale Earnhardt Jr.
#ThankYouPeytonhttps://t.co/5oGAtE0kyV
— Nationwide Sports (@NW_Sports) March 7, 2016
Then there was Kyle Busch and Regan Smith, the Sprint Cup drivers who identify as fans of the Denver Broncos, the team Manning spent four seasons with and led to two Super Bowls, winning one last month in Super Bowl 50.
Thank u Peyton Manning for all the memories! I’ll keep the 18 going strong on my end. #GodBlessFootball 🏈
— Kyle Busch (@KyleBusch) March 7, 2016
Peyton Manning = class. Looking forward to seeing him inducted into Canton #ThankYouPeyton
— Regan Smith (@ReganSmith) March 7, 2016