NEW YORK (AP) - Jeff Gordon won’t have to miss a race for the birth of his daughter.

NASCAR’s four-time champion became a father yesterday when his wife, model Ingrid Vandebosch, gave birth to a girl. Gordon announced on his Web site that Ella Sofia Gordon was born yesterday morning.

"It’s been an absolutely incredible experience," Gordon said. "Ingrid came through amazingly, and we’re both really happy and overjoyed."

Gordon asked Mark Martin to be on standby this weekend in case he had to leave the race in Sonoma, Calif., to return for the birth. He said he’ll travel to California later this week and participate in all on-track activities at Infineon Raceway.

Gordon’s baby was born two days after Tiger Woods’ daughter.

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