Father, stepmother of former NASCAR driver Robby Gordon found dead in possible murder-suicide in O.C.
The father and stepmother of former NASCAR driver Robby Gordon were found dead Wednesday as a result of a possible murder-suicide in the racer’s Orange home.
The bodies of Robert Gordon, 68, and his wife, Sharon Gordon, 57, were discovered at 5 p.m. in the 1400 block of North Kennymead Street, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.
Sharon Gordon was strangled to death and Robert Gordon died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to the Orange Police Department.
Outside the home Thursday, Robby Gordon fought back tears as he told reporters that he would explain what happened once the coroner says he can.
“The truth will come out what went down there,” he said.
Few details about the couple’s death have been released, but Orange Police Lt. Fred Lopez said family members asked a neighbor to check on the couple Wednesday because they couldn’t reach them. The neighbor entered the home and discovered the bodies.
Property records show Robby Gordon, 47, owns the home.
“I grew up on this property my whole life,” he said. “I learned everything about motorsports out in this tiny little barn over here.”
Motorsports wasn’t his father’s only passion, Robby Gordon said. He also had a love of horse racing, which started off in Los Alamitos.
“He told me at a young age that ‘One horsepower wasn’t going to be enough, go do something different,’ ” he said.
So Robby Gordon did.
“I am completely shocked,” said Tim Cecil, a friend of the Gordon family. “I am very sad for the family. It’s extremely heartbreaking.”
Cecil has known Robert Gordon and his son for more than 20 years and raced with the elder Gordon. He met the father and son while working in the off-road racing scene.
Cecil, who owns a sign and graphics company, created stickers and graphics for the family’s racing ventures.
He described Robert and Sharon Gordon as a nice couple who were “always fun to hang out with.”
“There was nothing out of the ordinary,” Cecil said.
Robby Gordon, who won fame racing in the IndyCar Series and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, now participates in off-road vehicle competitions, such as the Baja 500 and the Dakar Rally.
Known as “Baja Bob” Gordon, his father competed in off-road racing. His sister, Beccy Gordon Hunter-Reay, is also an off-road racer. According to her husband’s social media accounts, she gave birth to a boy Wednesday.
Her husband, Ryan Hunter-Reay, is a professional race car driver and won the Indianapolis 500 in 2014.
Robby Gordon told reporters that he and his three sisters were devastated.
“It’s going to be tough on all of us,” he told reporters. “I’m so sad and I can’t believe it.”
The NASCAR community sent their condolences to the Gordon family.
NASCAR star Dale Earnhardt Jr. said on Twitter that he was praying for Robby Gordon and Gordon Hunter-Reay.
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UPDATES:
6:55 p.m.: This article was updated with the couple’s death investigated as a possible murder-suicide.
1:15 p.m.: This article was updated with comments from Robby Gordon.
10:45 a.m.: This article was updated with comments from a friend of the Gordon family.
10:05 a.m.: This article was updated with reaction from the NASCAR community.
8:44 a.m.: This article was updated with additional information from police.
8:05 a.m.: This article was updated with additional information from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.
This article was originally published at 6:50 a.m.
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