Visit the Jeff Gordon Tribute Page to learn how you can help celebrate Jeff's commitment to our courageous wish kids.

PHOENIX (April 11, 2008)– In 1995, a young driver named Jeff Gordon won his first NASCAR Cup Series championship. That same year, he also granted his first wish to a child with a life-threatening medical condition in partnership with the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Now 13 years later, Gordon is still collecting wins and still bringing smiles to Make-A-Wish^® kids through his strong commitment to wish granting – he passed the 200-wish mark earlier this season. The Make-A-Wish Foundation will celebrate his efforts when Joshua, 15, of Poughkeepsie, N.Y., meets Gordon at Phoenix International Raceway for his wish before Saturday’s Subway Fresh Fit 500.

Joshuawill receive VIP treatment during the race weekend: In addition to his wish meeting Friday, he will take part in some of the pre-race activities with his favorite driver Saturday and then watch Gordon race for the checkered flag in the No. 24 car. Gordon will also present Joshua with special mementos of his wish.

While he has fulfilled so many wishes, Gordon says that the number doesn’t matter. He works with the Make-A-Wish Foundation to grant kids’ heartfelt wishes nearly every weekend during the race season because of the profound effect these kids have on his life.

“It’s humbling to know that these kids choose to spend time with me,” Gordon says. “They face tremendous challenges every day because of their conditions, and the strength and determination they show is really inspiring to me. It’s just heartwarming to see their smiles and know they are enjoying themselves at a difficult time in their lives.”

“The Make-A-Wish Foundation is truly grateful to Jeff Gordon for his ongoing support of our work and our wish kids,” says David Williams, Make-A-Wish Foundation of America president and chief executive officer. “Two hundred wishes is a phenomenal milestone for a celebrity wish granter. Instead of dwelling on the hardships of medical treatments and hospital stays, all of these kids – and more to come, I’m sure – experienced the joy of having their wishes come true thanks to Jeff’s kindness and generosity. ”

Those who would like to support these efforts may donate in honor of Gordon’s 200-plus wishes by visiting The Jeff Gordon Foundation Web site at www.jeffgordonfoundation.orgor the Make-A-Wish Foundation Web site at www.wish.org. The NASCAR Foundation is also recognizing Gordon’s wish-granting commitment by designating proceeds from the online sale of NASCAR Day pins this weekend to help fulfill future wishes granted through the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Visit www.NASCAR.com/NASCARDay to learn more.

About the Make-A-Wish Foundation: The Make-A-Wish Foundation^® grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. Born in 1980 when a group of caring volunteers helped a young boy fulfill his dream of becoming a police officer, the Foundation is now the largest wish-granting charity in the world, with 67 chapters in the United States and its territories. With the help of generous donors and more than 25,000 volunteers, the Make-A-Wish Foundation grants a wish every 40 minutes and has granted more than 161,000 wishes in the U.S. since inception. For more information about the Make-A-Wish Foundation, visit www.wish.org and discover how you can share the power of a wish^® .

About The Jeff Gordon Foundation: The Jeff Gordon Foundation was established in 1999 by the four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion. The mission of the Foundation is to improve the lives of children facing life-threatening and chronic diseases by supporting pediatric medical care and initiatives that address the emotional needs of these special children. The Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that benefits The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Riley Hospital for Children, The Marrow Foundation in partnership with the Hendrick Marrow Program and the Jeff Gordon Children’s Hospital. For more information, visit www.jeffgordonfoundation.org.