▁During ▁the ▁ 1 9 8 0 s , ▁Gordon ▁and ▁his ▁family ▁had ▁to ▁overcome ▁an ▁ins urance ▁hur d le . ▁The ▁minimum ▁age ▁for ▁driving ▁the ▁s print ▁cars ▁was ▁ 1 6 , ▁and ▁his ▁pers istence ▁paid ▁off ▁with ▁an ▁all ▁Florida ▁speed ▁weeks . ▁Support ing ▁his ▁career ▁choice , ▁Gordon ' s ▁family ▁moved ▁from ▁Valle jo ▁to ▁Pitts bor o , ▁Indiana , ▁where ▁there ▁were ▁more ▁opportun ities ▁for ▁younger ▁rac ers . ▁Before ▁the ▁age ▁of ▁ 1 8 , ▁Gordon ▁had ▁already ▁won ▁three ▁short - track ▁races ▁and ▁was ▁awarded ▁US AC ▁M idget ▁Car ▁Racing ▁Ro ok ie ▁of ▁the ▁Year ▁in ▁ 1 9 8 9 . ▁That ▁season ▁was ▁highlight ed ▁by ▁winning ▁Night ▁Before ▁the ▁ 5 0 0 ▁m idget ▁car ▁race ▁on ▁the ▁day ▁before ▁the ▁Indian apolis ▁ 5 0 0 . ▁During ▁the ▁de cade , ▁Gordon ▁also ▁ran ▁s print ▁cars ▁in ▁Australia ▁and ▁New ▁Zealand . ▁In ▁ 1 9 9 0 , ▁Gordon ▁won ▁his ▁second ▁consecutive ▁Night ▁Before ▁the ▁ 5 0 0 , ▁the ▁H ut ▁H undred , ▁and ▁the ▁Belle ville ▁M idget ▁National s ▁on ▁his ▁way ▁to ▁winning ▁the ▁US AC ▁national ▁M idget ▁title . ▁In ▁ 1 9 9 1 , ▁Gordon ▁captured ▁the ▁US AC ▁Silver ▁Crown , ▁and ▁at ▁the ▁age ▁of ▁ 2 0 ▁became ▁the ▁young est ▁driver ▁to ▁win ▁the ▁season ▁championship . ▁He ▁also ▁won ▁the