Nascar legend Jeff Gordon reveals on Twitter he will retire after 2015 season

Mr Gordon has won the NASCAR championship four times

NASCAR great Jeff Gordon has announced on Twitter that he will retire after the 2015 season.

The 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup season will be the last for Jeff Gordon, at least as a full-time driver in the most popular motorsport series in the US.

The four-time NASCAR champion tweeted that he plans to step out of the car following the upcoming season.

Letting team know this will be my final year competing for a championship. pic.twitter.com/s7aH8OpGQZ

- Jeff Gordon (@JeffGordonWeb) January 22, 2015

I'm proud of the career I've had & knew this day would come, but I'll be involved with @TeamHendrick for many years to come.

- Jeff Gordon (@JeffGordonWeb) January 22, 2015

“As a race car driver, much of what I've done throughout my life has been based on following my instincts and trying to make good decisions,” Mr Gordon said in a statement. “I thought long and hard about my future this past year and during the offseason, and I've decided 2015 will be the last time I compete for a championship.

“I won't use the ‘R-word’ because I plan to stay extremely busy in the years ahead, and there's always the possibility I'll compete in selected events, although I currently have no plans to do that.”

Mr Gordon is third all-time in NASCAR wins, having won 92 races, putting him behind only Richard Petty, who won 200 races, and David Pearson, who won 105 races.

He last won NASCAR’s championship in 2001, but won four races last year before falling just short of another championship and eventually finishing in sixth place.

Follow Payton Guion on Twitter @PaytonGuion.