ORANGE, Calif. (AP) — Former NASCAR driver Robby Gordon fought back tears and expressed disbelief Thursday at the deaths of his father and stepmother after police found their bodies inside the couple’s hillside Southern California home.

Gordon recalled how his father instilled in him a love for competition and motorsports in the same Orange County neighborhood, where many residents own horses and dirt riding trails line the suburban streets.

“I’m so sad and I can’t believe it,” the racing star told reporters near the gated house where police discovered the bodies Wednesday after receiving a 911 call from a neighbor making a welfare check at the request of a relative.

Robert Gordon, 68, and Sharon Gordon, 57, were found at the home along with a rifle. Investigators do not believe a suspect is at large, but Orange police Lt. Fred Lopez declined to say how the pair died.

The younger Gordon currently races in an off-road series he created in 2013 called Speed Energy Formula Off-Road, following the path of his father.

Known as “Baja Bob,” Robert Gordon was also an accomplished off-road racer. He also owned a feed business that supplied a racetrack, residents said.

“He taught me at a young age that 1 horsepower wasn’t going to be enough – go do something different,” Gordon recalled his father saying. “And I was fortunate enough to do something different.”

Residents in the upscale neighborhood shared stories about the couple’s friendly ways — swapping jokes with neighbors, gifting tickets to racing events and delivering feed personally to local equestrians.

“I can still see them walking hand in hand, walking their dogs down the street,” said John Reina, who lives across the street. “To kind of wrap your head around this tragedy is very hard to do.”

Police in the city about 30 miles (48.3 kilometers) southeast of Los Angeles said the cause of the deaths had not been determined. Autopsies were pending as part of the ongoing investigation, Lopez said.

Robby Gordon said he would speak about the deaths in more detail once authorities conclude their investigation. He thanked the auto and horse racing communities for their support and prayers.

“The truth will come out, what went down there,” he said.

Racer Dale Earnhardt Jr. tweeted that he was praying for the Gordon family. “Hope they find strength and support,” he said.

“Heartbreaking news this morning. Thinking of the Gordon family and friends,” NASCAR star Jimmie Johnson said on Twitter.

Gordon, 47, has raced on numerous racing circuits, from NASCAR to IndyCar to Champ Car and IROC.

Known for his aggressive style, he earned three wins in parts of 19 seasons in what is now the NASCAR Sprint Cup. He was a full-time driver early last decade and finished a career-high 16th in the points standings in 2003 driving for Richard Childress Racing. Gordon last raced in the Sprint Cup in 2012.

Gordon is one of only four drivers, joining John Andretti, Tony Stewart and Kurt Busch, to compete in the Indianapolis 500 and NASCAR Coca-Cola 600 on the same day. He nearly won the 1999 Indy 500 before running out of fuel in the closing laps.

Gordon said an event featuring his off-road racing team scheduled for this weekend in Orange County will go on as planned.

Gordon’s sister, Beccy, is married to 2014 Indianapolis 500 winner Ryan Hunter-Reay. The driver tweeted Wednesday that his wife had given birth to a boy. Hunter-Reay would appear as scheduled in a weekend race in Sonoma County, Gordon said.

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Associated Press writer Christopher Weber in Los Angeles and AP freelance writer Mike Cranston in Chicago contributed to this report.