Motorsports community reacts to Jeff Gordon's announcement that 2015 will be final season

Some of the reaction to four-time champion Jeff Gordon's announcement that 2015 will be his last season as a full-time NASCAR driver:

"Jeff's accomplishments off the track are impressive, but his numbers on the track are unbelievable. I call him the 'GOAT' - the Greatest of All Time. I believe he is the greatest NASCAR driver there has ever been. What he has done outside the sport has grown the sport's popularity immensely. I give Jeff a tremendous amount of credit for the youth movement in NASCAR. A lot of people think NASCAR started in 1992 because that's when he came on the scene and brought in a new, young audience because he appealed to the 18- to 35-year-old demographic. We didn't really have a driver at the time who could do that." — Hall of Fame driver and current FOX analyst Darrel Waltrip.

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"Jeff Gordon transcends NASCAR and will be celebrated as one of the greatest drivers to ever race. We have all enjoyed watching his legend grow for more than two decades, and will continue to do so during his final full-time season. His prolonged excellence and unmatched class continue to earn him the admiration of fans across the globe. Today's announcement is a bittersweet one. I'll miss his competitive fire on a weekly basis, but I am also happy for Jeff and his family as they start a new chapter. On behalf of the entire NASCAR family, I thank Jeff for his years of dedication and genuine love for this sport, and wish him the very best in his final season." — NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France.

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"Jeff changed the personality and perception of a race car driver in NASCAR. Before he came along, the perception was more about the good old Southeastern boy wearing blue jeans, big belt buckles and boots. But he created a new buzz in our sport because he looked like he stepped off the cover of a GQ magazine." — retired NASCAR crew chief and current FOX analyst Larry McReynolds.

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"Hard to imagine this is @JeffGordonWeb last full season. Tons of respect for him and what he's accomplished thus far. A total professional." — Hendrick Motorsports teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) via Twitter.

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"Crazy to hear that @JeffGordonWeb is retiring! What an amazing career! Glad I got to race with him!" — NASCAR driver Danica Patrick (@DanicaPatrick) via Twitter.

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"Crazy... You're the man!" — Six-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson (@JimmieJohnson) via Twitter.

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"Very few have done as much for our sport as @JeffGordonWeb. Nothing but respect for one of the greatest that's ever raced." — NASCAR driver Regan Smith (@ReganSmith) via Twitter.

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"Congrats bud @JeffGordonWeb, looking forward to seeing you kick butt one more time. Looking forward to 2015." — Former Gordon crew chief Ray Evernham (@RayEvernham) via Twitter.

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