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Rewatch legendary actor Tom Cruise introduce Jeff Gordon back in 2015 for his retirement speech ahead of Friday's award ceremony.
Transcript
00:00A global cultural icon who has made an immeasurable impact on cinema by creating some of the most
00:07memorable characters of all time in films such as Top Gun, Days of Thunder, the Mission
00:13Impossible franchise, Edge of Tomorrow, among so many others.
00:18Tonight, he helps say goodbye to a NASCAR legend.
00:23Please welcome, Tom Cruise.
00:25How are you all?
00:26How you doing, man?
00:27Hey, Jeff.
00:28How's it going?
00:29Hey, guys.
00:43Good evening.
00:57So look, I'm honored to present a legend, one who has meant so much to the sport over
01:02the last two decades, and will continue to do so even outside of a race car.
01:07Now, I remember seeing the photo.
01:10His back to the camera, his team's eyes were glued to him, and they were learning then
01:14what the rest of us would soon know.
01:17This was it.
01:18And 2015 would be the end.
01:21We were happy for him, but sad to see him go.
01:24When you're treated to excellence every week for 23 years, well, that's not something that
01:29you let go of easily.
01:31And when news leaked out, well, there was a reaction from everywhere.
01:38But with a beautiful wife waiting, and two adorable children, and a back that's howling,
01:44everyone knew the word would come eventually.
01:47In his statement to the world, Brian France called him transcendent, and that set the
01:52foundation for his farewell, a victory lap that played out on stages throughout the world,
01:58Daytona International Speedway, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, Rwanda, the Waldorf Astoria, the White
02:05House, and now the Wynn.
02:08So he felt as comfortable discussing a championship with George Bush as breaking down Homestead
02:13with Kyle Busch, at ease with discussing SNL skits with Jimmy Fallon as racing door-to-door
02:19with Jimmy Johnson.
02:20And with that, he brought joy to millions, used his immense and deserved popularity for
02:26the betterment of the world, both at home and abroad.
02:30Transcendence.
02:31A few reach it, he did.
02:34And although many of us want to say we'll miss you, what we really mean is we thank
02:39you.
02:40My stepdad and my mom, they brought home a quarter midget, and I saw that checkered
02:51flag wave, and I was the first one to cross the line after I ran a couple races, and I
02:55was like, I like this.
02:57This is cool.
02:58And the go-karts, they really help you out on the dirt because, you know, you're sideways.
03:04I think I could really be competitive in a Winston Cup car.
03:20That race was, you know, an amazing event to just be a part of, and then to go out there
03:26and win it was unbelievable.
03:27You and Earnhardt are tied for the points lead right now.
03:30That's a lot of pressure.
03:31Jeff Gordon is, in fact, going to be the 1995 Winston Cup champion.
03:3595, I think, you know, competing against Dale Earnhardt Sr. for the championship, I think
03:40that was when we really showed what we were capable of as a team, as an organization.
03:46For the 93rd time in his career, Jeff Gordon is going to victory lane.
03:56I love what I do.
03:57I was somewhat naturally good at it from the beginning and had to work a lot harder at
04:02it over the years, but I do enjoy it.
04:04I love getting out there and competing like that.
04:06Great day.
04:07I couldn't ask for a better team to go out in my final race.
04:12I appreciate you guys.
04:13Yeah, buddy.
04:14We appreciate you, man.
04:15You're the best.
04:16Thanks for everything.
04:17Oh, my gosh, boss.
04:18I can't thank you enough, buddy.
04:19It's been a dream come true.
04:20Thanks to you.
04:28So it's now my pleasure to welcome my friend, the four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion,
04:35the legend, Jeff Gordon.
04:44Jeff piloted the number 24 Chevrolet to 93 career victories, third most on NASCAR's all-time list.
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