After Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson called it quits from competitive racing, Hendrick Motorsports was on the lookout for a new face to lead the charge. But they didn’t know that their search for their future flagbearer would be in a controversial setting.

In 2020, while competing in an iRacing event, Kyle Larson was heard using racial slurs in reaction to a technical glitch in the online game. Following the incident, he was fired from his job at Chip Ganassi Racing and was barred by NASCAR from competing for the rest of the year. It could’ve been the moment where the rising star derailed his racing career, but Hendrick Motorsports had other ideas.

Not only did they breathe a new life into Larson’s racing career when they signed him in, but found their new superstar drivers, continuing the winning legacy. August 4, 2020, was the date when Kyle Larson signed the contract with HMS that would see him reach new heights in his racing career. But the date of August 4th is something special for the 32-year-old California native.

Sharing the key stages of his racing career, Larson took to X to send out his best wishes to Jeff Gordon on his birthday. And surprisingly, Gordon’s birthday also falls on August 4th. “Special day today… August 4th 2007 I got my first sprint car win August 4th 2020 I signed my first @TeamHendrick contract And most importantly August 4th 1971 @JeffGordonWeb was born! Happy Birthday, JG!.”

Even fans were left puzzled to see the stars align and the two HMS stars being linked with a coincidence; Or, call it fate! Many took to their X accounts to extend their best birthday wishes to Jeff Gordon. They also tried wrapping their heads around the special connection he shares with Larson.

That’s one of the ways to celebrate birthdays at HMS

From staring at his NASCAR career going downhill to joining the winningest team, Larson’s fortunes changed overnight. But he did repay the faith and trust he was shown by Rick Hendrick and Jeff Gordon by winning multiple races and a championship. Therefore, this timeline might come out as a big coincidence, but this fan believed this partnership was pre-destined, “All the stars aligned, it would seem.”

Gordon had set the bar high with his 4 championship triumphs and 93 race wins. It was going to be a tough ordeal for any talented driver to take the reins of this winning team. Fortunately, Larson, with his 17 Cup wins and 2021 title, has lived up to his billing. Reacting to this special bond and relationship between the two star drivers, this fan added, “Two GOTEs (Greatest Of Their Eras) in that picture!”

This race fan was over the moon when he came to know that he was Gordon’s birthday twin. Giving Larson his flowers and showering his best wishes to the veteran driver, he wrote, “I did not know I shared a birthday with Jeff Gordon! Congrats Kyle and Happy Birthday Jeff!”

Claiming the hand of the supernatural forces behind this unique yet impactful connection, a fan chimed in stating, “Kyle it’s like it was planned by forces we don’t even really understand.” A few of them were still curious to know what went on behind the scenes when he was fired at Chip Ganassi Racing, and HMS came to his rescue. “How in the WORLD were you able to keep signing with HMS a secret for almost 3 months??”

Hopefully, the 4th of August will bring more memorable achievements and feats for Kyle Larson. While he is seen as NASCAR’s star boy of this generation, he has some distance to travel to reach to Jeff Gordon’s level.