Gordon, who like most NASCAR drivers owns his own airplane, has taken to flying commercial this offseason and estimates he's saved more than $100,000 by using US Airways.
"I've always hated spending money on private planes and traveling, that's why I've taken commercial flights and am going to take more of them this year," Gordon said Wednesday during a media visit at Hendrick Motorsports. "You are going to see me on your flight going to some races this year."
Gordon, who spends a good amount of time at his New York City residence, traveled the same LaGuardia Airport to Charlotte route one day before a USAir flight made an emergency landing in the Hudson River.
"That slowed my booking down just a little bit for a couple days," he said. "But the fact they landed safely and everyone got off the plane was an absolute miracle, and that kind of got me right back up again."
His commercial travel has turned a few heads aboard the plane -- Gordon has booked coach tickets, but said he's so far been upgraded to first class on every flight -- and thinks he's made a few new fans by being so common.
Rick Hendrick, his team owner, praised the driver for putting money back into the economy.
"I couldn't believe he did it, but I'm sure it made a lot of people on USAir happy to see him on there," Hendrick said. "I think he really made a statement. That's the mentality you see the whole country in right now: If we can save money, we're going to save money."
Gordon, who will return to chartered flights when traveling on race weekends or with his family, said personal savings weighed heavily in his decision.
"I just don't like wasting money, and I think in these times, it's easy to start looking at where you are spending extravagantly or doing things that are unnecessary," he said.
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WHIPPED INTO SHAPE: Rick Hendrick placed about 1,000 calories in the form of a caramel-coated slice of cheesecake in front of Mark Martin, and the disciplined driver didn't once consider taking a bite.
With a fitness regime likely unrivaled in NASCAR, the 50-year-old Martin has spurred his new team owner to take control of his health.
Hendrick, who successfully beat leukemia in the 1990s, began working with a trainer named "Easy Money" four months ago. Now in the gym three days a week, Hendrick has shed 20 pounds and wants to lose another 20.
"We do a lot of cardio, weights and try to keep me away from the banana pudding, that's the hardest part," Hendrick said. "I fall off the wagon a lot. I'm an ice cream junkie and I like sweets, so I'll dip every now and then and have to work hard. But I feel a ton better."
He credits Martin, who works out between eight and nine hours a week, for spurring the change in lifestyle.
"He came by just to see me one night and he said "I want to talk to you about what you eat and how you work out and how much sleep you get,"' Hendrick recalled. "For about an hour, he was going at me about how I live. So now I try to do better. I had been wanting to do it, but when I was around him and really started listening to him talk about taking care of yourself, I decided as much hell as I've put my body through, I'll try to do better."
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NEW LOOK: Jimmie Johnson, the defending three-time Sprint Cup Series champion, is continuing to show his casual side by sporting a close-cropped beard.
Johnson first debuted the new look last weekend in Daytona, but there was some question as to how long the corporate-minded driver would go before shaving. In addition to his many personal service agreements, Johnson represents conservative Lowe's Home Improvement.
But Jeff Gordon, who debuted a beard during the All-Star race several years ago before shaving it off when he returned to regular competition, said Johnson may be able to pull off the look.
"He's got that thing pretty trimmed up," Gordon said. "There's a way to have a corporate beard. He's got it. You guys always say maybe Jimmie is not showing enough personality. You don't know him away from the track as I do. He's about as relaxed and fun as it gets. It's cool."
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MORE PUNISHMENT: The pair of Joe Gibbs Racing crew chiefs suspended since August will sit out one additional race after NASCAR clears their return.
Dave Rogers, Jason Ratcliff and five other Nationwide Series crewmen were suspended indefinitely when NASCAR discovered magnets under the gas pedals of JGR cars that were designed to manipulate the results of an engine horsepower test.
Joe Gibbs Racing president J.D. Gibbs is hopeful the employees will be cleared to start the season -- the team applied for reinstatement last week -- but Gibbs said they'll still be suspended one additional race by the team.
Ratcliff will be the crew chief of the No. 18 car, which Kyle Busch will driver for the entire season. Rogers will be the crew chief the No. 20 car, which will be shared by drivers Joey Logano, Denny Hamlin and Brad Coleman.
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NEW TEAM: Bucking the odds and the reeling economy, Chicago businessman Art Shelton has formed Trail M-Sports, a NASCAR team that will field entries in the Nationwide, Camping World Trucks and Camping World East series.
The new team announced two of its drivers Wednesday, saying Jarit Johnson, younger brother of three-time reigning Cup champion Jimmie Johnson, will drive in the Camping World series, while 19-year-old Chase Austin will be in the team's truck. The Nationwide driver and several sponsors are expected to be announced over the next few weeks.
Shelton's team will be directed by former Nationwide Series team owner Armando Fitz.
Asked why they would choose this difficult time, when other teams are merging, selling out and laying off employees, to get into the sport, Fitz said: "There's a lot of great talent out there right now that wants to go to work. And there's a lot of equipment out there right now really cheap, good equipment. It's the perfect year to go racing."
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NEW LEADERSHIP: Motorsports Authentics announced Wednesday that Mark Dyer has left his role as president and chief executive officer of the merchandise company.
Dyer left his job as vice president of NASCAR licensing in 2007 to take over the company, which specializes in the lucrative business of diecasts and other racing memorabilia. MA is jointly owned by International Speedway Corp. and Speedway Motorsports Inc.
SMI executive Don Hawk, a member of MA's board of managers, was appointed to oversee the day-to-day operations on an interim basis until a replacement for Dyer can be found.
Hawk previously handled the business affairs of the late Dale Earnhardt Sr.
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AP Auto Racing Writer Mike Harris contributed to this report.
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