2013 silly season notes for #7-Robby Gordon / Robby Gordon Motorsports: indications are that Gordon will not run many, if any, Sprint Cup races in 2013 after making the Daytona 500 in 2012 he ran two more races, at Phoenix in Feb and Sonoma in June. Gordon failed to qualify for the races at Las Vegas and Fontana in March. He could run the Daytona 500 or the road course races at Sonoma or Watkins Glen. Spokesperson Alison McCabe said she doesn't think Gordon will participate in NASCAR due to his involvement in his new racing project, Robby Gordon's Stadium Super Trucks series but that they would never rule out the possibility of running selected NASCAR events. Gordon is also set to run Dakar Rally, which starts on January 5th. If Gordon does attempt any Cup races, no word what manufacturer he will use. Gordon has run Dodge the last couple of seasons. See more about other teams on my 2013 Team / Driver Silly Season Chart.(12-31-2012)

Robby Gordon unlikely to run NASCAR in 2013 UPDATE..but: Robby Gordon, who raced his way into the Daytona 500 last year as part of a light NASCAR schedule, is not scheduled to do any NASCAR racing in 2013. Spokesperson Alison McCabe said she doesn't think Gordon will participate in NASCAR due to his involvement in his new racing project, Robby Gordon's Stadium Super Trucks series. The 12-race off-road stadium series will debut April 6 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. The Stadium Super Trucks series will be televised by NBC and the NBC Sports Network. Sponsorship woes with his self-owned team led to him racing only three times in 2012: the season-opener at Daytona, race No. 2 at Phoenix and the road-course race at Sonoma. He failed to qualify for early-season races at Las Vegas and Fontana.(As the World Turns Left)(12-19-2012)
UPDATE: "With Robby's attention towards the 2013 Dakar Rally and the inaugural season of Robby Gordon OFF-ROAD's Stadium SUPER Truck Series (SST), there has been a lot of speculation regarding his future NASCAR plans. We are all focused on providing an exciting kick-off to the 2013 SST season at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, AZ on April 6th. At the same time, we would never rule out the possibility of running selected NASCAR events."(RGM/Spokesperson Alison McCabe)(12-21-2012)

Robby Gordon set to run Dakar Rally: SPEED Energy Hummer will once again attempt to conquer, the 35th Annual Dakar Rally, the world's most famous off-road event. The custom-built Dakar Hummer driven by Robby Gordon and navigator Kellon Walch will tackle more than 8000 Km / 4970 Mi from Peru through Argentina and ending in Santiago, Chile. Gordon said: "I am excited to go back to race the prestigious Dakar Rally and show the world that we are ready to give it our best shot once again at an overall victory. Obviously our cars are good enough to compete for the win. Last year we had the fastest cars at the rally and led the most check points with the fastest times, with five wins as a team, two wins with the second HUMMER (which was also approved and is available to compete) and three wins for myself. It is now time for us to go back and capitalize on what we developed and worked on over the last seven years to put ourselves in position to compete for the overall win."
For the first time in its history, the Dakar Rally will begin in Lima, Peru, sending upwards of 460 vehicles from 53 countries on a two-week, 14-stage endurance race through 3 Western South American countries, ultimately finishing in the Chilean capital of Santiago. This year's Dakar will begin on January 5 and will travel on a new course featuring sections not seen to racing since the moving of the Dakar to South America in 2009, marking the most difficult course to date.
Gordon will be joined in the cockpit by his navigator, Kellon Walch, who served as team navigator for B.J. Baldwin in 2010 and for Gordon in 2011. Walch looks to bring back the experience and chemistry gained as the team's navigator in previous rally races along with the focus and drive needed to guide the vehicle through the challenging navigation obstacles that Gordon will face.
The various aspects of Peru's natural features will put a real test to the SPEED Energy / Toyo Tires / MAPEI Dakar HUMMER in the early stages of the rally as Gordon will face gigantic dunes and rugged terrain requiring precise focus and skill to gain an early advantage. Entering Chile will set the stage for a fast pace duel through the desert before crossing the Andes Mountains into Argentina where record altitude and temperature will become a crucial factor for driver and navigator.
After a much needed day of rest on the eighth day, the SPEED Energy / Toyo Tires team will set out for the longest and most technical stage of the Rally navigating through the narrow twists and turns of the forest. The rapid assistance vehicles will not have access to this stage, requiring precise driving to be a must. Entering Chile for the final stages of the Rally will once again bring dunes into the equation, testing the driver's fatigue and equipment to the finish in Santiago.
Once reaching the Chilean capital, the small percent of the drivers who finish the 2013 Dakar Rally will partake in a short show course offering spectators and fans the chance to cheer on the new heroes who have successfully conquered the 2013 Dakar Rally. The following day the accomplishment of each of the drivers will be recognized with an elaborate ceremony planned on the Plaza de la Constitucin.
To follow Gordon and the SPEED Energy / Toyo Tires team as they try to rise above the competition at the legendary Dakar Rally, log onto www.speedenergy.com and toyotires.com for race team updates. Fans can also participate in the Dakar Rally experience by connecting on planetrobby.com and follow along with the team on Facebook and Twitter at: facebook.com/thespeedenergydrink, and facebook.com/toyotires, twitter.com/SPEED_ENERGY, twitter.com/ToyoTires.
Daily highlights from each stage can be viewed on the NBC Sports Network (DIRECTV Channel 220 / Dish Network Channel 159 / AT&T U-Verse Channel 1640 / Verizon FiOS Channel 590) January 5th – the 20th. Please check your local listings for times & schedules on the NBC Sports Network. (Speed Energy)(12-16-2012)

Latest news on Robby Gordon: Robby Gordon's Stadium SUPER Trucks and NBC Sports Group have reached an agreement to televise the 2013 Inaugural Stadium SUPER Trucks Season on NBC and NBC Sports Network. Starting in April of 2013, NBC and NBC Sports Network will televise 12 races (11 domestic and one international).(Stadium SUPER Trucks PR)(9-19-2012)

Sonoma may be Robby's last Cup race of 2012: Robby Gordon, now 42, and a NASCAR headliner since 1991, as well as one of the world's premier off-road racers, says Sunday's Save Mart 350 will be his last NASCAR race of the year. And he's leaving his stock car future in some doubt, as he focuses on his own brand new racing series. Gordon has been idled since failing to qualify at Bristol in March. This weekend's race will be only his third of the year. He finished 41st at Daytona and 41st at Phoenix. Robby Gordon, curiously says he's not planning on running Watkins Glen, the tour's other road race, and a tour event that he won in 2003. And for a man who wears confidence like a driver's suit, and who exudes positive vibes, no matter what the situation, Robby Gordon here seems a bit up in the air."This could very easily be our last Cup race this year, but if it is, we'll be back at Daytona for 2013," Robby Gordon says. "This is the big series, this is the big game. But at this point in my career, does it make sense to run all 36 events? No. We'll probably run a handful of races each season from here on out, unless something crazy happens and we land a big program. I'd love to do that, and we've got the capability and expertise to do that...but I just don't think that's going to happen." However without a Detroit manufacturer contract of some sort, to work with, it's virtually impossible to play the NASCAR game anymore. Robby Gordon is currently with Dodge....and Dodge executives have said nothing about any 2013 plans, and won't even confirm any commitment to NASCAR next season. Toyota, Chevrolet and Ford have not expressed any interest in adding teams.(MikeMulhern.net)(6-23-2012)

Robby Gordon returns to run Sonoma: Robby Gordon returns to NASCAR Sprint Cup competition this weekend at Sonoma Raceway in the #7 MAPEI / SPEED Energy Dodge Charger. Gordon has been busy during his break from stock car racing; he has competed in several off-road races and posted wins at The Mint 400, The Parker 425 and The Silver State 300. Also, most recently announced the return of stadium truck racing – Robby Gordon's Stadium SUPER trucks - resurrecting what was once Mickey Thompson's vision. Last time Gordon and his team were on a road course was the NASCAR Nationwide Series in Montreal, where they lead several laps in the #77 MAPEI / SPEED Energy Dodge Charger. They are excited to get back to road course racing and have been busy preparing a car that they hope will have what it takes to win at Sonoma Raceway, a track where Gordon is not a stranger to victory lane. Winner of the 2003 NASCAR Sprint Cup race at the Sonoma, Gordon will be making his 15th start at the 1.99 mile road course. He has also recorded three top 5 and four top 10 finishes. "Even though I have been out of the NASCAR scene for about three months, we have been extremely busy with off-road racing and the introduction of SST. We tested the #7 MAPEI / SPEED Energy car last week in South Carolina and look forward to competing with the regular NSCS group this weekend. Sonoma is a fun race track, and we have had great results there so I am looking forward to putting on a good show for our fans," says Gordon (RGM), see an image of the car Gordon will run at Sonoma on the #7 Team Schemes page.(6-22-2012)

Robby Gordon testing for Sonoma: Robby Gordon is testing Thursday at the Carolina Motorsports Park road course in the #7 Dodge Sprint Cup Car in preparation for the race next weekend at Sonoma, CA. Gordon has not attempted to qualify for a Cup race since Auto Club Speedway.(6-14-2012)

Robby Gordon starting off-road stadium series AND: [Wednesday] night media industry, fans and supporters witnessed the first exhibition of Robby Gordon's commitment to taking off-road racing to the next level in 2013 with the introduction of Robby Gordon's Stadium Super Trucks Series. Modeled after the former infamous Mickey Thompson Off-Road Race Series, Stadium Super Trucks (SST) will astonish fans with dynamic side-by- side racing excitement that promises to leave them wanting more. "Stadium racing helped Jimmie Johnson, Casey Mears and myself launch our careers," said Robby Gordon, President of SST. "Bringing off-road racing back to the stadium like Mickey Thompson did has been something that I have wanted to do for a long time, and I am proud to say that we have finally accomplished it. SST offers attractive racing venues, remarkable track designs, substantial purse, and opportunity for network TV a lot like NASCAR because you can visualize the whole track." SST will kick off the season in April 2013 with a minimum 10-race schedule throughout the country and potentially internationally. There will be two events in San Diego and Los Angeles, and the remainder of the calendar will be announced on July 15, 2012. SST will be a 2-day event. Friday's events consist of qualifying to ensure local media coverage for Saturday's events. Action-packed Saturday's will start off with a fan expo and tailgating, side-by-side ATV heats, Bigfoot heats and finals, SST heats and then on to the main event. Trucks will be modeled after automobile manufacturer replicas and the SST trucks will consist of 600 horsepower V-8 engines, with 20 inches of wheel travel while racing on DOT approved tires exactly like the ones you can purchase and drive on the street. Racers will have the opportunity to win a $60,000 purse each weekend and the overall series champion will be awarded a $500,000 dollar prize at the conclusion of the season.(PR)
AND: Gordon, a former off-road champion, put his # 7 Sprint Cup team on hold in March because of a lack of funding. Hoping to fund his racing program through sales of his Speed Energy drink, Gordon has not attempted to qualify for a Cup race since Auto Club Speedway but does plan to compete on the road course at Sonoma in late June (Sporting News)(5-31-2012)

Robby Gordon scaling back: #7-Robby Gordon said he likely will not race at Martinsville Speedway next week after failing to qualify for the previous three Cup races. Gordon said he planned to race at Martinsville if he qualified Friday in California, but even if he had made the races at California and Martinsville, it was unlikely he would go to the next Cup race at Texas. Gordon said he will concentrate on marketing his Speed Energy drink as well as competing in off-road and monster truck events. He said the next Cup race for his team could be in June at the road course in Sonoma, CA. Gordon eventually hopes that sales of his energy drink can support a Cup racing program.(Sporting News/SceneDaily)(3-24-2012)

What happened to Robby Gordon Friday at Bristol: #7-Robby Gordon failed to make the 500 field after his engine failed to fire for practice. That would normally not be a major story here; however the situation surrounding Gordon's problems made it one. "Robby was out there on the line ready for practice, and then the car just wouldn't fire," crewman Randy Rodriguez said. "Four McLaren engineers came running over there to help, and they spent 1-1/2 hours with it, but couldn't figure it out. So we have to go home. No practice, you can't qualify." NASCAR officials, asked about the situation, referred reporters to McLaren engineers, who could not be found. Dodge execs, likewise, could not be found for comment. Gordon, one of only three NASCAR drivers this year running Dodges (along with Penske men #22-AJ Allmendinger and #2-Brad Keselowski), says he has called Dodge boss Ralph Gilles since Penske announced two weeks ago that he would be moving to Ford. But Gordon says Gilles has not yet returned his inquiries. Gordon had engine problems at Daytona and tried to get an engine from Penske, the only other team owner building Dodge engines. But Gordon said Penske's price (which he wouldn't specify) was too high. Dodge itself apparently doesn't build NASCAR engines or have any other engine building source.(MikeMulhern.net)(3-17-2012)

Robby Gordon hoping for more Dodge support: #7-Robby Gordon obviously could use more sponsorship in any form, so if the Penske Racing move from Dodge to Ford in 2013 helps him, he's all for the additional support. As a driver and team owner, Gordon has run Dodges the last four years in NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series. He gets his motors from Joey Arrington's Race Engines Plus. Gordon believes he has an advantage over other teams possibly looking for Dodge support because his team builds all his own cars. He doesn't have an alliance where he gets cars and engines from another organization. Gordon, who has successfully qualified for the first two races of the season after finishing outside the top 35 in 2011, plans to field a car in every race this year, but whether he will be the driver and how much of each race is run, due to finances, is still to be determined. His only funding comes from some Menard's sponsorship, from Dodge and whatever profits he can bring from his Speed Energy drink. "If I had a [full] factory program in place, I'd show up and drive all the races," Gordon said. "Right now, I'm trying to figure out how to fund this thing. With Speed Energy, that's been about the only way I can build a business that actually can turn some profit [for sponsorship].(Scene Daily)(3-7-2012)

Where does Dodge go in 2013? A new manufacturer in Cup? Dodge will unveil its 2013 Sprint Cup car on March 11 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. However, the bigger question now is who will be driving Dodges next year? #7-Robby Gordon Motorsports would be the lone team at this point after Penske Racing announced Thursday that it was moving to manufacturer Ford in 2013. But Dodge has also reached out to other teams, including Richard Petty Motorsports [#43 & #9], according to owner Andy Murstein. "We received calls from several manufacturers today asking if they could meet with us," Murstein said. "It seems that while sponsorship is down, car manufacturer support is strong. That is probably due to the fact that the car companies are all doing significantly better these days than a few years ago. Thus Petty has been approached by several manufacturers recently. What's interesting is that while there are the usual suspects there is one new manufacturer that is trying to break into the sport. RPM's contract with Ford is up at the end of the season. Petty ran Dodges from 1972 to 1978. Petty Enterprises aligned with Dodge again when the manufacturer returned to NASCAR competition in 2001 through most of the 2009 season, then under the RPM banner. Earnhardt Ganassi Racing president Steve Lauletta said the company had not yet been approached by Dodge.(Fox Sports)
AND: Richard Petty Motorsports said: "We welcome Penske Racing to the Ford Racing Family in 2013. Additional teams mean more information for everyone and that's a very good thing from a competition standpoint. We have a partnership with Roush Fenway Racing and we are happy to be a part of the Ford Racing program. As we always do, we will evaluate all of our options and make decisions based on what is ultimately best for our race team."(RPM)(3-2-2012)

Robby speaks out against past champ provisional; Labonte responds: #7-Robby Gordon, who had to drive his way into the Daytona 500, is not a fan of the past champion's exemption, and he singled out Terry Labonte. "I think that should be based if you were with that team when you win the championship, not just because you win a championship, because that takes a spot from teams that are working really hard to get in the Daytona 500," Gordon said. "Rules are rules and we made it fair and square by being fast enough. I'm proud of my team and I'm proud to be in the Daytona 500." Labonte, who ran only 12 laps in the first duel because of a vibration, does not have a backup car and did not want to jeopardize his chances of running Sunday, so he retired early. That's a luxury Gordon didn't have. "Obviously I've got a lot of respect for Terry," Gordon said. "This is not a Terry Labonte thing. There are only eight cars that make the Daytona 500. He takes one of those spots. Now seven guys make the Daytona 500. Four make it in qualifying races, three make it on speed. It's just not right. Why take a free ride when the rest of us have to bust our butts to get into the 500?"(Daytona Beach News Journal)
AND Labonte's side of the story, though, was simple: he was simply taking advantage of the rules in place. With the #32 FAS Lane team he drove for without the money to buy a backup car, crashing in the Duels meant starting in Sunday's Daytona 500 would be impossible. "That's the only car we got," he explained. "That wreck was right in front of us, there, and we just couldn't take a chance on wrecking it. I think we practiced enough [Wednesday], in a pack, and what little we did today, the car's really good but we just couldn't risk it."(Frontstretch)(2-24-2012)

Robby Gordon looking for investors, NOT selling: In one breath, #7-Robby Gordon is bemoaning the fact he couldn't quit NASCAR even if he wanted to. He has money tied up in a race shop and airplanes, with crew members depending on him for their livelihood. Minutes later, though, Gordon is talking with boundless optimism about the potential of Speed Energy, a brand of energy drink that he's trying to market on his own. And does he have a deal for you.
"Race team's for sale," Gordon said. "It's been up for sale. Really, what I'd like to do, I think the smartest thing for us to do as we're talking candidly here, would be to bring in investors that have more opportunity to [attract] big sponsor relations. Obviously, I can drive it, we can run it, but between doing that and operating Speed, we need people that have more relations than I have." Does he make money in NASCAR? "Right now? No," Gordon said. "We haven't made money in NASCAR in a long time." Would he consider getting out? "I've got a 100,000-square-foot building," Gordon said. "Unfortunately, I've got airplanes that I can't even afford to use today that are sitting there, I'm still paying insurance on them, I'm still paying payments. The race shop, it's not paid for, obviously I'm paying rent on it. So I'm stuck. Plain and simple." Gordon later reconsidered his use of the word "stuck," saying he would prefer to stay in NASCAR on a limited schedule and take on investors. "The reality is, I don't want to be all the way out," Gordon said. "I would like to run about 15 stock car races a year. That would be my goal." That would allow him to continue pursuing his diverse racing interests outside of NASCAR -- and continue to build Speed Energy, which he insists is on its way to becoming a marketing success that can grow to take on the likes of industry titans such as Red Bull.(NASCAR.com /AP)
UPDATE: been told by the team, that Gordon on NOT looking to sell the team but is looking for investors and sponsors.(2-19-2012)

Mapei / Menards join up with Robby Gordon for Daytona 500: While some competitors use the NASCAR off season to recharge their batteries, Robby Gordon is racing in anything he can get behind the wheel of. Gordon, one of the best off-road racers in the world, participated in the 2012 edition of the Dakar Rally; in which he placed fifth overall. A week after his return from South America, he won the Best in the Desert Parker 425. Truly a racer to the core, Gordon rounded out his "off season" with the ultimate desert race, the King of the Hammers.
Now his sights are set on the pinnacle of racing, the 54th annual Daytona 500. Having fallen out of the top 35 in owner's point, Gordon and crew will head to Daytona Beach with one thing on their mind – to qualify for the biggest race of the year. Gordon will be piloting the #7 Mapei / Menards Dodge Charger in his 24th attempt at the famed 2.5 mile tri-oval.
"Daytona is the 17th race of the 2012 season for us," says Gordon who's hoping to carry the momentum from the off-road program to his stock car efforts. "Racing is still my passion and in order to brand our product, SPEED Energy, we need to race. We are fortunate to have Mapei and Menards on board for the 500 and I look forward to the challenge of putting our car into the show," he continues. The restrictor plate races have been good to Robby Gordon Motorsports, who feels they have something to prove. "We'll see how the new NASCAR rules break up the two car draft, but if not, we certainly have a fast car that can be pushed to the front," Gordon remarked.(SPEED Energy Racing)(2-17-2012)

Robby Gordon to attempt to make Daytona 500 UPDATE: #7-Robby Gordon will attempt to make the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway with sponsorship from MAPEI, see an image of the car on my #7 Team Schemes page. No word on Gordon's Sprint Cup Series plans for the 2012 season.(2-16-2012)
UPDATE: So how much Sprint Cup racing will Robby Gordon do this year? He ran 25 of last year's 36 events, a 16th in Daytona and 18th at Sonoma his best finishes, and he DNFd 14 times. "How much racing? As much as I can do without going broke," Gordon says.(see a full post about Gordon at MikeMulhern.net)(2-17-2012)

Robby Gordon wins Desert Parker 425: With the 2012 Off-Road racing season kicking off with a successful Dakar Rally for Robby Gordon and the SPEED Energy/Toyo Tires Team, Gordon didn't let up as he headed to Parker, Arizona for the Best in the Desert Parker 425. It would be new challenge for him as he drove a new truggy (a hybrid between a trophy truck and a Class 1 buggy). Built by the Geiser Brothers and owned by SPEED Energy/RPM Off-Road Racing teammate Clyde Stacey, it would be the first time Gordon would enter in the 1500 class instead of the BITD's Trick Truck class. Gordon finished an impressive 14 minutes faster than last year's, Jesse Jones. Gordon would beat the next competitor by nearly 5 minutes. A trouble free day and open-road lead boosted Gordon to another victory for the 2012 Off-Road season. Robby Gordon's next challenge is set for February 10th in Johnson Valley, California where he looks to tackle the world of rock crawling in the 2012 King of the Hammers race.(RGM/Planet Robby), past attempting the Daytona 500, no word on Gordon's 2012 Sprint Cup plans.(2-8-2012)

Robby Gordon finishes fifth at Dakar: Robby Gordon escaped injury despite flipping his Hummer on Saturday and then won the final 18-mile stage Sunday in Peru to finish fifth overall in the event. The race consisted of 5,052 miles over 13 timed stages throughout Argentina, Chile and Peru through a two-week period. Gordon, who owns his own Dakar entry just as he does in Sprint Cup, won three of the individual stages. Gordon couldn't overcome a pair of crashes and a mechanical issue as he finished 2 hours, 16 minutes behind winner Stephane Peterhansel.(Scene Daily)(1-16-2012)
AND: Gordon plans to attempt the Daytona 500, based on a tweet Sunday night, "My plans next month look busy. Parker for sure, possibly King of Hammers then Speed Week in Daytona."(1-16-2012)

Robby Gordon / Dakar Rally - Stage 12: Over the last couple of days during the 2012 Dakar Rally, Team SPEED and Robby Gordon have had to defend themselves after being accused of having an air inflation system that gives them an advantage. To prove a point, Gordon took it upon himself to show the media his entire system and how it worked last night in the bivouac in Arequipa, Peru. He even went so far as cutting the line that was in question and plugging it. He will run the rest of the rally without a vacuum system placed on his car. Given the controversy and a terrible Stage 10 and 11, Gordon and Campbell had something to prove - they were down but certainly not out. The liaison section started at 4:35 a.m. for the cars because the start of the special stage was 412 km away, making it a long day for drivers and teams. Upon arrival, the cars would compete in the 245km special to the town of Nasca. The American duo would become a fierce force to be reckoned with in the dunes. Mixed in with the truck class, Gordon started 30th, the 22nd car to take time. This would put the team behind many vehicles, which kicked up a lot of dust. Working their way through the slower cars, they would end up leading the special after the 1st waypoint, a lead that they would never give up. Through the last 100km of dunes, top teams including Peterhansel and Roma would get stuck in the sand losing precious minutes to Gordon as he carried on his way to another stage victory. Novitskiy, one of the faster MINIs through the dunes, would be the closest to Gordon, was still over 15 minutes behind. With their domination of Stage 12, Gordon and Campbell now find themselves in a better position for a podium spot when the Rally concludes in just two days. They are still in 4th position overall but only 36 minutes from third place and 1hr and 44mins from first. The two Americans know they are not here to give up the fight and look for their third stage win tomorrow from Nasca to Pisco, featuring another long special stage full of dunes where anything can happen.(RGM)
To follow the team's journey to compete in the upcoming Dakar, and for updated race team coverage, log onto speedenergy.com, toyotires.com, robbygordon.com, planetrobby.com and dakar.com.(1-14-2012)

Robby Gordon / Dakar Rally - Stage 10: UPDATES: Stage 10 was the last stage in Chile for the competitors, and it would prove to be a harsh one to Robby Gordon in the last 30km. Gordon started off the line in first, but he lost time early to the MINIs of Nani Roma and Stephane Peterhansel. After checkpoint 1, he was only 3 minutes back and had fought his way back by checkpoint 3, when he was only 30 seconds behind Peterhansel on the road. He was in third place, only 2 minutes behind. Gordon was poised to attack with the overall leader in his sight. Unfortunate events would occur hindering his chances of repeating his stage win. Gordon would limp his SPEED Energy/Toyo Tires HUMMER across the finish line fourth after a big crash during the stage. For him only lose by 13 minutes is quite remarkable. With only four stages remaining in this year's edition of the Dakar Rally, it looks to be a three-man race with Peterhansel, Roma and Gordon fighting for the overall victory. It is still anyone's race(RGM)
To follow the team's journey to compete in the upcoming Dakar, and for updated race team coverage, log onto speedenergy.com, toyotires.com, robbygordon.com, planetrobby.com and dakar.com.(1-12-2012)
UPDATE: American Robby Gordon faces disqualification from the Dakar Rally after stewards ruled that the engine in his Hummer did not confirm to race regulations. The NASCAR driver, who had been second behind overall leader Stephane Peterhansel, decided to appeal the decision and was allowed to compete in the 234-mile (377km) 10th stage from Iquique to Arica on Wednesday.(Fox Sports)(1-13-2012)
UPDATE 2: Robby Gordon and Team SPEED are shocked and disappointed by the interim decision by the race organizers of the 2012 Dakar Rally, and that decision has now been appealed to the governing body. The appeal will be decided several weeks from now, so Robby Gordon and the Team will continue to participate in the 2012 Dakar Rally pending final determination of the appeal. The issue centers on the tire inflation system used on the Hummers. That system was specifically inspected, tested, and approved by the organizers for both the 2011 Dakar Rally and the 2012 Dakar Rally. Further, it is the same system that Robby Gordon and the Team have used on the Hummers for each of the past 5 years that they have participated in the Dakar Rally. Robby Gordon, Johnny Campbell, and Team SPEED intend to complete the 2012 Dakar Rally and do their best to achieve a podium finish. The Team will put this alleged infraction behind them and hopes to celebrate as one of the top teams of the 2012 Dakar Rally.(RGM)(1-13-2012)

Robby Gordon / Dakar Rally - Stage 9: Robby Gordon and the #303 SPEED Energy/Toyo Tires HUMMER dominated Stage 9 of the 2012 Dakar Rally, winning by 1 minute and 38 seconds over Stephane Peterhansel. Gordon, with the help of his navigator Johnny Campbell, lead the entire stage with 3 MINIs breathing down their necks. Unfortunately, Nasser Al-Attiyah's day would end completely different. Al-Attiyah encountered the same issue today as he did yesterday when a serpentine belt popped off, not once but three times. Using all of his spares, Al-Attiyah was stranded near KM 200 of the 556 km stage. Being more than an hour down to the overall leader, Al-Attiyah made the tough decision to end his efforts for a repeat championship and dropped out of the stage. For Gordon and Campbell, the race to become the first Americans to win Dakar lives on. Winning Stage 9 win marks Gordon's 5th special stage victory during a Dakar Rally. Gordon is now only 5 minutes and 58 seconds behind overall leader Stephane Peterhansel with only five stages remaining.(RGM)
To follow the team's journey to compete in the upcoming Dakar, and for updated race team coverage, log onto speedenergy.com, toyotires.com, robbygordon.com, planetrobby.com and dakar.com.(1-11-2012)

Robby Gordon / Dakar Rally - Stage 7: Another history making day for Team SPEED and the Robby Gordon Motorsports HUMMERs as Nasser Al-Attiyah wins Stage 7, his 2nd in the 2012 Rally, and teammate Robby Gordon coming in 2nd place, 7 minutes and 30 seconds behind. It's the first time RGM built cars finish 1st and 2nd on the podium during a Dakar Rally.
Robby Gordon struggled early in the stage with a flat tire that cost him 5 minutes off the start. "Driver error got us off course a little and we hit a rock." Gordon commented about his slow start. "We had a really strong run after the change and pushed to the end. It's a really good feeling having Nasser win again in our car; it shows that we have cars that can compete. I never had a doubt in my mind about our team, it's just a matter of good luck vs. bad luck." With Gordon coming in 2nd he feels he needs to push a little more heading into the second half of the Rally after rest day. "Being 13 minutes behind the overall leader is a bit more than where we want to be at this point in the rally. My guys will go to work on rest day and rebuild the car giving it a new transmission, cv's, hubs and rotors; basically full service from front to rear. We're ready to gain even more time and with Nasser catching up each day it's going to be a good race." Gordon now sits in 3rd place - 13 minutes and 9 seconds behind the leader Peterhansel.
Al-Attiyah's day got better as he went further into the 477km stage in the dunes of Copiapo. As usual he came on strong and pushed really hard at the end to gain a huge time advantage on the field. "It is my job as a driver to do the best I can and Lucas and I will do our very best from here to the end to finish strong." says the Qatari driver who still sits in 6th place over all, nearly 43 minutes behind.
It's been an eventful Rally thus far for the Team SPEED HUMMERs. Robby Gordon has been quite consistent, finishing in the top 5 - 5 out of the 6 stages that have been completed. Consistency is what wins the Dakar Rally. As the team prepares the cars for the journey into the Atacama Desert of Chile, then on to the new territory of Peru, they will rest their heads with one thing on their mind - an overall win on January 15th.(RGM)(1-8-2012)

Robby Gordon / Dakar Rally - Stage 5; Stage 6 cancelled: Robby Gordon and his SPEED Energy/Toyo Tires HUMMER did exactly what needed to be done in the 5th stage of the Dakar Rally to gain time and position in the overall standings. The same can't be said for his teammate, Qatarian driver, Nasser Al-Attiyah, as a costly mistake could diminish his hopes for another Dakar Rally overall victory. Gordon started off the line in 14th place quickly setting a pace as one of the fastest cars in the dunes today. This stage, taking the competitors from Chilecito to Fiambala, had to be shortened due to large amounts of rain in the area.
Nasser Al-Attiyah jumped out to an early lead with Robby Gordon right on his tail. Gordon talked about his solid run, "we ran together for a good part of the stage. He ran his car pretty hard so I figured if that's what he wants to do then that's okay. I just didn't want him to get too far out front from me. For us it was good, just what we wanted. If it wasn't for stopping to aid Nasser when he had problems, I'm sure we could have won yet another stage. Today showed what our cars are capable of in the sand and I look forward to progressing further into the rally on the days to come."
After leading nearly the entire special, Al-Attiyah would encounter problems towards the end and found himself losing even more minutes to the overall leader. Pushing his HUMMER to the limit would cause him to bottom out and bend the frame near the rear of the race vehicle that surrounds the motor; therefore resulting in spare wheel rubbing against the water lines causing slight damage but not enough to hurt the motor since Nasser stopped just in time and fixed the problem.
"Even though he may be down in time again, the positive side of it is that he is capable of winning stages. He must keep his head up and keep digging. Racers don't run the Dakar to come here and quit." Gordon said about Al-Attiyah being nearly an hour down now to the leader.
With Gordon gaining 3 minutes and now sitting in 4th place overall, he knows consistency is a must for him and his SPEED Energy/Toyo Tires team. Tomorrow is a long stage for everyone as the teams cross the Andes into Chile. Gordon looks to post another top 5 finish, which would be his 5th out of 6 stages. Al-Attiyah will look for redemption as he will try for his second stage victory in the 2012 Dakar Rally.
NOTE: STAGE 6 has been CANCELED due to the bad weather continuing over the Andes Cordillera (rain and snow), the Chilean authorities were forced to close, for the night, the border at Paso de San Francisco, situated at 4700m. For the 7th time, the Dakar is about to cross over the Andes, and because of very unfavourable conditions, added to the fact that the course has been hit by rain and snow, in order to guarantee the security of the competitors and those following the rally, the organisers have decided to organise a convoy for all vehicles tomorrow. The itinerary has been changed after the border (follow the main road on the right which goes to Diego de Almagro).(RGM)(1-6-2011)

Robby Gordon / Dakar Rally - Stage 4: Today was not what Team Speed had expected; both Robby Gordon and Nasser Al-Attiyah would find trouble in different sections of the long 326km special stage. Gordon finished in 14th place, 18 minutes and 10 seconds behind with Al-Attiyah shortly behind him in 16th, over 26 minutes behind. Today's stage took the drivers from San Juan to Chilecito across dried-up rivers and the canyons of Province of Rioja. By the first waypoint, Robby Gordon in his #303 Speed Energy/Toyo Tires Hummer would find himself 5 minutes behind. A slight navigational error on top of a puncture as well as replacing an alternator would cost him another 8 minutes before getting back on the road. As he pushed his vehicle to gain ground he was confiedent that they still could have won the special.
Nasser Al-Attiyah started strong in his #300 Qatar Hummer, so strong that he had opened up a 2 minute lead over the eventual stage winner, Stephane Peterhansel. He would lead the stage till the last 40km when he got stuck deep into the muddy terrain. By the time that Al-Attiyah got stuck in the mud, Gordon was already back on his way. When he stopped to offer assistance to the Qatar Hummer, Gordon lost another 8 minutes by pulling him out. Both drivers hustled hard for the final km and only finishing minutes apart from one another.
"We are perfectly fine right now. We are a little behind where we want to be, but the Hummers are driving great. It's really going to be a great race down to the end. I believe without our small issues today - navigation and a flat - we could have beat these guys and picked a substantial amount of time. Nasser was doing great, but I wasn't going to leave him hanging in the mud, so we helped him get back on his way," Gordon commented headed into the Chilecito bivouac.
Navigator Johnny Campbell talked about #303's stage 4 results, "It was an eventful day for sure. We had our small issues in the beginning; we got into some big washes where water was everywhere, and I was having trouble finding our way. After all that, Robby pushed really really hard to not lose anymore time and I thought we were in areas that could possibly compromise our tires, but they worked just fine. Once we saw Nasser stuck, we jumped out and helped him which unfortunately made us lose even more time. I'm definitely a little sore from driving in the rocks, but I'll be ready to go after again tomorrow."
While it may have seemed like a terrible day for both Hummers, Team Speed is confident that with 10 stages left to go that there is still a lot of time to be gained, especially heading into the new areas of Chile and the sand dunes. It is still anyone's race as Al-Attiyah proved in stage 2 where he started 38th and then drove to a victory. With only one more stage left in Argentina, the teams head north to the white sand dunes of Fiambala where the course is different than years past. Gordon and Al-Attiyah look to bounce back and put themselves in a position to be closer to the leaders by rest day in Copiapo on January 8th. In the overall standings, Gordon drops to fifth, 16 minutes back, and Al-Attiyah drops to seventh.(RGM)(1-5-2012)

Robby Gordon / Dakar Rally - Stage 3: The third stage of the Dakar Rally opened with the #300 car of Nasser Al-Attiyah first off the line and the #303 car of Robby Gordon shortly behind him in the 3rd starting position, giving Team SPEED an opportunity to keep momentum on their side. This stage of the 2012 Dakar Rally went from San Rafael to the city of San Juan, located in a valley of mountains just southeast of the Andes. The stage featured a total of 499km that included a 208 km special stage section that ended at the bivouac in San Juan.
The stage featured terrain that was suitable for the HUMMERs once again and Nasser Al-Attiyah and navigator Lucas Cruz looked to capitalize on their top ranking performance nfrom the day before.
"Opening the stage for us was a bit tricky. Going through sections of the course that were very narrow and technical it was difficult to maneuver such a big car. We kept it at 70 percent to stay conservative until the last 20km. We then picked it up and were very fast. We looked to gain as much ground as we could from the time we lost at the first part of the stage." commented navigator Lucas Cruz. Lucas and Nasser would end up gaining ground in the last section to finish in the 3rd position, also gaining in the overall standings advancing to 6th, 6 minutes and 34 seconds back from overall leader.
Robby Gordon, in his Speed Energy/Toyo Tires Hummer, was once again consistent and finished in the lead pack in 5th place, 2 minutes and 8 seconds behind. Stephane Peterhansel, overall leader going into today's stage, had issues allowing Gordon to gain in the overall standings. Gordon will start the 4th stage of the rally only 54 seconds behind new leader, Holowczyc.
"Today was a good run. Both HUMMERs are running great and we did what we needed to do. I am being ultra conservative and making sure I finished the stage. We are now in the position to be leading the overall rally which can only boost moral and momentum heading into the heat of the rally." Gordon said having posted his 3rd top 5 finish in the first 3 stages of the 2012 Dakar Rally. Team SPEED looks to keep the same game plan going into tomorrow as the 1st car leaves the line at 7:16am for Chilecito.(RGM)(1-4-2012)

2012 Dakar Rally - Team SPEED Stage 2 Recap: Stage 2 of the Dakar Rally was successful for Team Speed; Nasser Al-Attiyah came from a 38th-starting position to win the stage on corrected time while teammate Robby Gordon finished third. Gordon now sits second overall in the rankings. It is the first time that Team Speed had two Hummer's on the podium for a Special Stage finish, making it a historic day. Competitors started early this morning, taking them from Santa Rosa de la Pampa to San Rafael, for the 487 km liasion and 290 km Special Stage. The terrain presented during the stage proved to be very suitable for the Hummers. The big, fast bends on firm gravel roads allowed Gordon and Al-Attiyah to quickly maneuver their way to the front.
Robby Gordon in his #303 SPEED Energy/Toyo Tires Hummer started out strong being the fifth car off the start line and headed straight for the lead. In a few kilometers, he set a good pace and passed Peterhansel for the lead. After the first way point at KM110, he maintained a 9 second lead.
Nasser Al-Attiyah started out 38th, but quickly picked off the other competitors one by one. By the first way point, he was already up to 12th position. By KM180 of 290, he was only 2 minutes and 40 seconds behind the leader, putting him in sixth place and in a position for a strong finish.
Unfortunately, Gordon slipped to fifth place due to a tire puncture. After a fast wheel change at way point 3, he was only 3 minutes and 34 seconds behind the leader, Peterhansel. Once he passed the 231km way point, he had lost some even more time, falling back to the sixth position. Despite this, the ever-impressive Gordon used the last 50km to put him in a close race with the eventual runner-up, Peterhansel. The race was so close that it was thought that either Gordon or Peterhansel won the stage based on corrected time. In the end, Al-Attiyah would become the victor, which was very good given the troubles that he had during Stage 1 of the Dakar Rally. Gordon would finish third, putting him second in the overall rankings only 2 minutes and 28 seconds being overall leader, Peterhansel.(RGM)(1-3-2012)

Robby Gordon racing Dakar Rally Day 1: On the first day of the New Year, the competitors of the 2012 Dakar Rally prepared for an early start, which took them from the beach city of Mal Del Plata to Santa Rosa de La Pampa. The special stage section was only 57km, making it the shortest racing section of the rally.
Nasser Al-Attiyah would start out with an advantage being the first car on the road, and teammate Robby Gordon would follow off the line in fourth. When the auto class got to the special stage, they would find areas to pass the competition along the coast line and drive into small dunes that represented their first hurdle. In this short section, the fastest time would establish each competitors position in the rankings.
By checkpoint 1 of the Special Stage, Al-Attiyah and Gordon were running first and second, only 9 seconds between them with Peterhansel 51 secs behind. The HUMMERs were off to a great start, proving to be a real contender. Unfortunately only 2km from the finish, Al-Attiyah's HUMMER lost power. Seeing his teammate on the side of the road, Gordon had no choice but to help the 2011 Dakar Champion cross the finish. With the SPEED Energy/Toyo Tires HUMMER towing the Qatar/Toyo Tires HUMMER, Gordon ended up losing valuable seconds, resulting in him being the third car to finish. He ended up fifth based on corrected time. Al-Attiyah's finish will be determined at a later time due to the fact he had assistance. Stage 2 will have a Special Stage of 290km and 487km of Liaison starting in Santa Rosa de la Pampa and ending in San Rafael where Gordon will start in 5th and Nasser's position in 30th, 9 minutes and 45 seconds back of the leader.(RGM)(1-2-2012)

Robby Gordon racing Dakar Rally: Robby Gordon's Team Speed and Toyo Tires are returning to compete in the 2012 Dakar Rally in force. This year, two of Robby Gordon's specially built Hummer H3 racers will compete for the overall win. Gordon will drive his bright orange #303 Speed Energy/Toyo Tires entry; while defending 2011 Dakar winner, Nasser Al-Attiyah, joins the team to pilot the #300 Qatar Hummer H3 racer. For the 2012 Dakar, Robby Gordon will be joined in the cockpit by multiple Baja 1000 winner and off-road legend, Johnny Campbell. Campbell will serve as navigator in the Speed Energy/Toyo Tires Hummer, guiding the vehicle through challenging terrain on this 14-day, and nearly 6,000-mile Pan-American odyssey. The 2012 Dakar starts on New Year's Day on the East coast of Argentina in Mar Del Plata. It will cross over the Andes of Chile and then finish on South America's West Coast in Lima, Peru.
To follow the team's journey to compete in the upcoming Dakar, and for updated race team coverage, log onto speedenergy.com, toyotires.com, robbygordon.com, planetrobby.com and dakar.com.(12-31-2011)

Robby Gordon planning to start and park without more sponsorship: #7-Robby Gordon plans to start and park in all but three of the remaining Cup races unless he can get additional sponsorship, he said at Bristol Motor Speedway. Gordon said he planned to run the entire race at Chicago, Texas and Phoenix because he has enough sponsorship for those races. If he gets more sponsorship, he'll run more races. Gordon also continues to build the energy drink company he created to help fund his racing programs. So, wouldn't it be better if Gordon skipped some races and be better prepared for the ones he ran instead of starting and parking most of the time? "If you don't come to the race track, you don't learn,'' Gordon said. "If you don't come to the race track, I can't help it that we can't find a sponsor to pay for right now. I can't help that. I've tried. Trevor Bayne doesn't have any sponsors on his car and he won the Daytona 500. That's the reality of it. We've tried hard, and this is what I love to do, so I'm going to continue to fight the fight.(Virginian-Pilot)(8-28-2011)

Robby Gordon will not give up #7 for Danica: Robby Gordon says he won't give Danica Patrick the #7 when she enters the Sprint Cup series part-time next season. "C'mon!'' Gordon said on Friday at Bristol Motor Speedway. "Why would I?'' Patrick said on Thursday, when officially announcing plans to leave the IndyCar Series to drive a fulltime Nationwide Series schedule for JR Motorsports and part-time Cup schedule for Stewart Haas Racing in 2012, that she'd like to keep the #7 that she's had throughout her motorsports career. Gordon, who has had the number for six years in Cup, isn't willing to bargain. "'I've built my business around the # 7,'' Gordon said. "It's all fun and games, but I think she should be proud to drive the #77.'' The 77 could be available. It hasn't been used for a full Cup schedule since Sam Hornish Jr. lost his ride at Penske Racing after the 2010 season.(ESPN)(8-27-2011)

Robby Gordon to run 'The Bullrun": For the first time in his diverse racing career, Robby Gordon will be participating in the "by invitation only" Bullrun Live Rally. The Bullrun Live Rally, or commonly known as, "The Bullrun" is the most glamorous and high profile of the new breed of high-end luxury automotive rallies. Limited to 100 entries, the finest high performance cars in the world take on an epic eight day rally-style race across the US. The rally has attracted stars such as Kim Kardashian, Dennis Rodman, and Carl Lewis. With a spectacular launch party in Las Vegas on July 8th, the rally will kick off from Fremont Street on Saturday, July 9th. The "Bullrunners" will start each day not knowing where their route will take them or what exciting challenges lie ahead. Making their way from one checkpoint to the next, the race will finish seven days later in Miami. No stranger to rallies, Gordon has won rallies across Europe, Africa and South America in his off-road vehicles. For the 2011 Bullrun, Gordon is partnering with Jeep and piloting a 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8. With Toyo Tires and a HEMI V-8 on board, the Grand Cherokee SRT8 is the ultimate performance SUV.
"I'm really excited to be participating in the 2011 Bullrun. It's basically a modern day 'Cannonball Run' just set up like the Dakar Rally. It's run on public highways within speed limits, but the guy that gets there first still wins. It's very fitting for SPEED Energy and I'm able to do it with our great partners, Dodge, Jeep and Toyo Tires. It's an awesome opportunity to introduce SPEED to a new audience and have some fun doing it", Gordon says.(RGM)(7-9-2011)

Gordon fielding two cars at Kentucky: Robby Gordon Motorsports has entered 2 Speed Energy Dodges for the Kentucky NASCAR Sprint Cup race on July 9th, 2011. Gordon will attempt to qualify the #77 Speed Energy Dodge [has to qualify by speed], while Scott Wimmer will pilot the #7 Speed Energy Dodge, which has a guaranteed starting spot in the field.(Speed Energy site)(7-7-2011)

Raikkoen not driving for Gordon at Infineon: Robby Gordon won't have open-wheel star Kimi Raikkonen driving one of his cars next week at Infineon Raceway, just another twist in what has been a strange season for his race team. Gordon will race this weekend at Michigan and again next week at Infineon but might not be back behind the wheel of his own Sprint Cup car until the Brickyard 400 in late July. The driver/owner had hoped to field two cars at the road course at Infineon - one for him and another for Raikkonen, the 2007 Formula One champion. Raikkonen wrecked Gordon's main road-course car at a test last month. Gordon just finished getting that car repaired and he and Raikkonen couldn't work out a deal for the Finnish driver to make his Cup debut for Robby Gordon Motorsports. Gordon, who has had to start and park his car at times this year due to lack of sponsorship, will attempt to run the entire race at Michigan and Infineon. His next race likely will be Indianapolis in late July. He also has planned to run the Nationwide race at Montreal in August. He said he might run two cars in some weeks for additional testing. Gordon is now buying engines and using his own shop to rebuild and maintain them. He was leasing engines from Penske Motorsports.(Scene Daily)(6-19-2011)

Sauter in the #7 at Kansas: According to a Twitter post by Speed Energy, "Johnny Sauter will be driving the #7 Speed Energy Dodge this weekend at Kansas, while Robby Gordon runs the Baja 500.(6-1-2011)

Raikkonen tests Cup car at VIR; and wrecks: Kimi Raikkonen spent Tuesday testing a Sprint Cup car for Robby Gordon Motorsports at Virginia International Raceway. "I called Robby because Kimi wanted to test a Cup car," said Todd Hirschfeld, who is managing Raikkonen's racing effort in the United States. "It worked out because Robby had another obligation. So Kimi is taking care of the car today, and Robby will show up tomorrow. And it's up to Kimi whether he stays tomorrow, heads back to Finland or stays to run the Nationwide race Saturday at Charlotte". Raikkonen has reportedly committed to running Saturday's Nationwide event, but Hirschfeld says otherwise. "I've seen the story where he's committed to run the Nationwide race at Charlotte, but he has not told me personally whether he'll do it or not," Hirschfeld said. "There's a car and team ready to go, but Kimi himself has not yet committed. He's taking this whole experience day by day. I was told before I started working with him, but this is the truth -- Kimi does what Kimi wants to do."(ESPN)
AND Kimi Raikkonen tested at Virginia International Raceway, the 3.27-mile road course in Danville, on Tuesday. And, according to multiple sources at the track, it took only a half-dozen laps for the former Formula One champ to rip the nose off the front end of the #7 Dodge he was testing for Robby Gordon Motorsports.(FoxSports)(5-25-2011)

Wimmer in the #7 for Robby: it was reported during SPEED's Sprint Cup practice coverage on Friday that Scott Wimmer is in the #7 Speed Energy owned by Robby Gordon and usually driven by Gordon. Wimmer will practice, qualifying and race the #7 Dodge. No word why Gordon is not running the race or even at the track. Next weekend when the Sprint All-Star race is run, Gordon will be at the Glen Helen round of the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series on May 21-22, taking part in the premier Pro 2 Unlimited class.(5-13-2011)

Where's Robby? Robby Gordon was MIA at Talladega Superspeedway on Saturday, leaving Sam Hornish Jr. to qualify the #7 Fast Five/Speed Energy Dodge. Gordon was enjoying the scenery at the Long Beach Grand Prix in Southern California. Following qualifying, Hornish's time was disallowed when the car did not pass the height sticks in inspection for being too low in front. What was Robby Gordon Motorsports' penalty? The #7 Dodge will have to start from the back of the field. Not really a big deal. With Gordon not qualifying his own car, he was going to have to drop back at the start of the race regardless.(Fox Sports)(4-17-2011)

Dodge teams up with movie Fast Five: The Dodge brand has teamed up with Universal Pictures for a multi-tiered partnership to support Universal's upcoming action-thriller Fast Five and the 2011 Dodge Charger. The latest installment in Universal's blockbuster franchise, Fast Five, will be released in theaters April 29. Dodge supplied multiple 2010 and 2011 Dodge Charger vehicles used in chase scenes throughout the movie and is sponsoring a Dodge/Fast Five advertisement that will air for the first time Saturday during the coveted Final Four advertising space. Making its debut at the Martinsville Speedway on Sunday, April 3, will be the #7 Fast Five Dodge Charger R/T driven by NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver, Robby Gordon. The #7 Fast Five Dodge Charger R/T Dodge will race throughout the month of April during NASCAR races at Texas, Talladega and Richmond. As part of the partnership with Robby Gordon Motorsports, the first 200 fans to register at dodgemotorsports.com or speedenergy.com will receive a special Fast Five movie viewing with Robby Gordon on Saturday, April 30, in Richmond, VA.(Dodge), see an image of the car on my #7 Team Schemes page.(4-1-2011)

Robby picks up sponsor for Bristol: Thunder Valley is about to get its first taste of SPEED Energy when the #7 Dodge Charger of Robby Gordon Motorsports rolls into town. After a week off of NASCAR competition, Robby Gordon is ready to get back in the driver's seat and take on the "World's Fastest Half-Mile." This weekend the #7 will be black with orange SPEED Energy logos and will be carrying new partner, Food City, on the quarter panels.(RGM)(3-18-2011)

Las Vegas Police still looking into Gordon-Conway incident: [Las Vegas] Police are still investigating a scuffle between NASCAR drivers Robby Gordon and Kevin Conway last week that prompted the racing series to place Gordon on probation. Las Vegas police Officer Bill Cassell said Friday that no significant injuries and no damage resulted from the March 4 altercation in a garage parking lot at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Cassell says no witnesses were immediately identified after Conway filed a police report alleging misdemeanor battery. The results of the police investigation will go to the Clark County district attorney. Conway briefly drove for Gordon in the Sprint Cup Series last year, and the drivers are suing each other.(ESPN/AP), see past news/updates on the #7 Team News and Links page.(3-12-2011)

Robby Gordon, Conway have altercation in garage UPDATE 4 probation: #7-Robby Gordon has been placed on immediate probation for an unspecified period after a post-qualifying incident in the Sprint Cup Series garage Friday evening at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. NASCAR wouldn't specifically say what Gordon did, but described its probation move as an "emergency action." "His actions were brought to our attention early last evening," NASCAR spokesman Kerry Tharp said. "We met this morning and reviewed the situation, and have reacted accordingly. We will continue to look at this situation involving Robby Gordon." NASCAR vice president of competition Robin Pemberton described the incident as a "heated discussion" but wouldn't confirm it was a physical confrontation because he didn't personally witness it, nor did any NASCAR officials. "You'll have to find somebody that actually saw it," Pemberton said. The incident was brought to NASCAR's attention by Conway, Pemberton said. Conway will not be penalized. Gordon and Conway didn't immediately respond to requests for comment. The two have had recent battles in the legal system over money.(SB Nation)(3-5-2011)
UPDATE: Neither Gordon nor Conway would talk about the incident, but Conway said he had filed a police report about the incident - giving the indication that it was physical - and said all comment would come from the police or NASCAR. Gordon said he couldn't comment because of the legal issues that already had existed between the two. Conway drove for Gordon in six races last year and they are involved in lawsuits with each other - Gordon has sued Conway sponsor Extenze in California while Conway has sued Gordon in North Carolina. Gordon said Saturday that Conway is asking for $27,000 in money from winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup rookie award from last year. Gordon said Saturday that he would pay Conway once he gets the $690,000 from Extenze.(Scene Daily)(3-5-2011)
UPDATE 2: "It's simple," Gordon says of the financial dispute. "I'll pay him his money when he pays me my money….because he couldn't have earned that money if I hadn't put that car out on the track." The two men are making court depositions in that dispute. Conway declined to discuss the situation. Gordon described the confrontation as verbal: "He got in my face...and I told him...well, if he wants to go to the police, that's, well..." Gordon actually used slightly more colorful language in describing the encounter.(MikeMulhern.net)(3-7-2011)
UPDATE 3: Kevin Conway released a statement Monday evening: "I don't mind stiff competition, but I want to make sure the hard facts are told. First and foremost, I love being a part of NASCAR and have worked very hard to earn the privilege of competing in the Sprint Cup Series. On Friday night, Robby Gordon, who has a long history of issues in NASCAR decided to ambush me in the garage area at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, completely unprovoked. Robby even confronted Joe Nemechek, my car owner, on pit road during Cup Series qualifying shoving him and telling him that he was looking for me and going to assault me. We have many witnesses including a crew chief that signed a police report documenting the truth of his physical attack on me. Situations like this are not good for our sport. It's one thing if we were racing each other and I wrecked him or he wrecked me, that's an entirely different situation. It's very unfortunate that he chose to physically attack me to address his rage. Our fans, sponsors and NASCAR expect and deserve more from our competitors than this bullish, illegal behavior that was displayed by Robby against me."(ExtenZe Racing)(3-8-2011)

UPDATE 4 - OFFICIAL Probation: NASCAR announced that Robby Gordon, driver of the #7 Dodge in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, has been placed on probation until Dec. 31 for a rule infraction he committed March 4 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Gordon was penalized for violating Section 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing; involved in an altercation in the garage area with another competitor) of the 2011 NASCAR rule book.(NASCAR)(3-8-2011)

New look for Robby Gordon at Vegas: The #7 SPEED Energy Dodge will be sporting a new color and partner this weekend. The #7 SPEED Energy Dodge Charger R/T will be yellow to represent the Octane flavor of SPEED Energy and will be sporting two new partners, Terrible Herbst and Wirtz Beverage Nevada. SPEED Energy drinks can be purchased in the Terrible Herbst convenience stores in Nevada.(RGM)(3-4-2011)

Robby Gordon has sponsorship until May: #7-Robby Gordon says he has enough funding to race in all the Cup races through April, meaning Darlington would be the first race he would miss if funding isn't found.(Virginian-Pilot)(2-28-2011)

Bashas' on the #7 at Phoenix: The second race of the Sprint Cup 2011 schedule takes the teams to the Valley of the Sun, Phoenix, AZ. Robby Gordon and the #7 SPEED Energy team sit comfortably in the 16th position of the 2011 owner points standings following the Daytona 500. The team will be featuring a new partner, Bashas' Supermarkets, this weekend.(RGM)(2-25-2011)

$5 million bonus for win in Indy Car finale by outsider: The Izod IndyCar Series confirmed its 2011 season finale at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with an enticing twist: A $5 million reward to any driver from another series who can win the race. IndyCar CEO Randy Bernard says a selection committee would be created to select a group of five entrants from outside IndyCar, likely determined by mid-summer. A test session also will be held at Las Vegas, and Bernard singled out the series' top teams -- Penske Racing, Target Chip Ganassi Racing and Andretti Autosport -- as prime candidates for offering rides to the interlopers. Bernard wouldn't speculate on who might be interested in the proposition, but the race date was designed with NASCAR in mind. IndyCar will make its return to Las Vegas' for the Oct. 16 race, which will be held at 3:30 p.m. ET. The Sprint Cup Series will race the night before at Charlotte, with the Bank of America 500 ending sometime between 11-11:30 p.m. in Concord, N.C. The Charlotte race is the fifth of 10 Chase for the Sprint Cup, which might dissuade many big names in Cup from participating because of focus on the title hunt. The obvious candidates would be former IndyCar drivers Robby Gordon, Tony Stewart, Sam Hornish Jr. and Juan Pablo Montoya. But Montoya has indicated no interest in racing Indy cars again, and Stewart has said he doesn't want to do a one-off. Gordon and Hornish, however, might be interested in returning, and other veterans (such as Jimmie Johnson, Kyle Busch and Kasey Kahne) have admitted intrigue in the prospect.(USA Today)(2-23-2010)

Robby Gordon teams with Dodge in 2011: #7-Robby Gordon will be driving a Dodge Charger during the 2011 season in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. In response to the partnership with Robby Gordon Motorsports, Dodge President & CEO Ralph Gilles issued the following statement: "We're excited Robby will be joining the Dodge Motorsports program in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in 2011. We like the competitive flair and skill he brings to the track. Robby's driving style mirrors the performance attitude of the rejuvenated Dodge brand, so he's a welcome addition to our team. We believe you don't need a certain number of cars to be successful in racing. The key is having the right combination of teams, drivers and technology. We already have a strong foundation with Penske Racing and the Dodge engineering team can easily support another Sprint Cup Series team. Our technical support will be a valuable asset for Robby Gordon Motorsports."
Robby Gordon (#7 SPEED Energy Dodge Charger) issued the following statement: "I'm excited to be associated with a manufacturer again. I like the things that Dodge has been doing to build brand awareness. They have an impressive factory and facility, and their product line is top notch. I've really enjoyed putting this deal together with Ralph Gilles and Bryan Viger; they are a fun, youthful, forward-thinking group. I've worked with Dodge in the past and have always had a great relationship with Dodge corporate."(Darnell Communications), see an image of the car on the #7 Team Schemes page.(2-10-2011)

Robby Gordon to compete for SCORE Championship: Given his early departure from the Dakar Rally, Robby Gordon now intends to participate in the 2011 SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge next weekend, as well as compete for the 2011 SCORE Championship title.(Speed Energy)(1-8-2011)

Robby Gordon disqualified at Dakar Rally: Robby Gordon had right front wheel bearing issues before the start of the timed special, costing him about 5 hours. He completed the stage, but because he was late to the special, he is disqualified from the rally. The SPEED Energy HUMMER of Eliseo Salazar is still competing in 81st overall position, as is SPEED DEMON motorcycle rider Quinn Cody who is currently in 13th position.(Speed Energy)(1-5-2011)

Day 3: Robby Gordon and the 2011 Dakar Rally: Persevering to overcome a poor finish in Stage 2 due to mechanical issues, the #303 SPEED Energy / Toyo Tires HUMMER was back on unfamiliar terrain. In the 2010 edition of the Dakar Rally, Stage 3 took the competitors from La Rioja to Fiambala, however, this year the route has moved further east as they make their way to Chile. Beginning the day in San Miguel de Tucuman, this special stage has been split into two parts, totaling 226km or 165 miles. Robby Gordon and navigator, Kellon Walch, made up valuable time in Stage 3 of the Dakar Rally. Starting the day in 21st position overall, Gordon finished the stage in 15th, putting the #303 SPEED Energy / Toyo Tires team 17th overall, 1 hour 32 minutes and:42 seconds behind leader, Carlos Sainz.(1-4-2011)

Day 2: Robby Gordon and the 2011 Dakar Rally: Last year's edition of the Dakar Rally sent the teams to La Rioja from Cordoba, but today's [Jan 3] stage was new territory for the competitors of the Dakar Rally as the course headed to San Miguel de Tucuman instead. Robby Gordon knew that the team would not have a strong showing in today's stage due to the altitude changes and the varying terrain, but he didn't think that today would end like it did. The #303 SPEED Energy / Toyo Tires HUMMER had a mechanical issue during today's stage that required it to be stopped for repairs. As a result, Gordon finished 46th and is now 21st overall, 1 hour, 6 minutes and 55 seconds minutes behind the leaders in the overall standings. Tomorrow, the third stage of the Dakar Rally, will traverse San Miguel de Tucuman to San Salvador de Jujuy. The special stage has been split into two parts for a total of 226 km.(1-3-2010)

Day 1: Robby Gordon and the 2011 Dakar Rally: Today [Jan 2nd] marked the official start of the 2011 Dakar Rally. Stage 1, the first of 13 timed stages in this year's rally race, included a 566-km road section and a 222-km special that began in Victoria and ended in Cordoba. Heavy rain created an unforeseen obstacle for Team Hummer. According to the TV choppers flying over the route, the participants in the car category suffered from skidding and sliding. Robby Gordon, driver of the #303 SPEED Energy / Toyo Tires Hummer, started today's special in fourth place. He was scored 9th as he crossed the CP1 marker located at km 137 together while last year's winner, Carlos Sainz, led the field. Eliseo Salazar, driver of the #327 SPEED Energy / Cristal CERO Hummer finished today's stage 28th, 34 minutes, 25 seconds behind.
For fans tracking the Dakar Rally at home, please visit speedenergy.com, planetrobby.com, dakar.com along with Facebook and Twitter for daily updates on the team's performance including a daily recap, photos and videos. The team will also be doing a preview daily leading up to the Rally that details their Dakar program and what it takes to get the team ready to participate in the 14-stage event. The Versus Channel will provide coverage throughout the United States. A 30-minute daily program featuring highlights from that day's racing will be aired on Versus daily at 3:30pm with a replay airing later in the day. (more notes and quotes at speedenergy.com)(1-2-2011)

Robby Gordon and the 2011 Dakar Rally: As the riders and drivers line up on the Avenue of the 9th July in Buenos Aires, they provide a grand celebration for the fans of the 2011 Dakar Rally. In true Robby Gordon fashion, he did his part as one of the most popular drivers in the Dakar Rally, jumping the podium and doing a burnout in the middle of the street to the delight of the massive crowd.
Leg 1: Buenos Aires to Victoria – In the early editions of the Dakar Rally, the riders and drivers methodically started on January 1 at place de la Concorde in Paris. Holding true to the traditions of the rally, the competitors will again be passing an obelisk. This time, like the past two editions, they will be passing the one on the Avenue of the 9th July in Buenos Aires. As the driver's head to Victoria on a road section stopwatches will not be ticking. After this leg, the drivers will meet their crews at the bivouac to prepare for the second day of the rally. As the rally heads north out of Argentina the contrast of the landscapes change day by day, kilometer by kilometer. This means the driver's skills will have to adapt between wet and dry, through vegetation and sandy dunes. The team that has the ability to adjust to the ever changing scenery will feel most at comfortable. The 2011 Dakar Rally is truly a cascade of color.
For fans tracking the Dakar Rally at home, please visit speedenergy.com, planetrobby.com, dakar.com along with Facebook and Twitter for daily updates on the team's performance including a daily recap, photos and videos. The team will also be doing a preview daily leading up to the Rally that details their Dakar program and what it takes to get the team ready to participate in the 14-stage event. The Versus Channel will provide coverage throughout the United States. A 30-minute daily program featuring highlights from that day's racing will be aired on Versus daily at 3:30pm with a replay airing later in the day. (RGM)(1-2-2011)

Monster Energy Drink is scheduled to be the sponsor at these 2010 races:
Daytona 500 - 2/14
Las Vegas - 2/21
Infineon - 6/21

Drivers scheduled to drive the #7 in the final 13 races of 2010:
Bristol - 8/21, Kevin Conway
Atlanta - 9/5, Conway
Richmond - 9/11, Conway
New Hampshire - 9/19, Robby Gordon
Dover - 9/26, Conway
Kansas - 10/3, Conway
Auto Club - 10/10, Conway
Charlotte - 10/16, Gordon
Martinsville - 10/24, Gordon
Talladega - 10/31, Gordon
Texas - 11/7, Gordon
Phoenix - 11/14, Gordon, Polaris
Homestead - 11/21, Conway?

RGM also ran a 2nd car. the #07 Toyota, drivers in those races:
Infineon - 7/20, P.J. Jones
Watkins Glen - 8/8, P.J. Jones
Michigan - 8/15, Robby Gordon
Bristol - 8/21, Gordon
Charlotte - 10/16, Conway - DNQ
Martinsville - 10/24 - Gordon - DNQ

Robby Gordon readies for Dakar Rally: 2011 marks the 33rd running of the international test of endurance and determination known as the Dakar Rally, which for the third consecutive year will take place in the South American countries of Argentina and Chile after security threats in Mauritania in 2008 caused the ASO, the race organizers, to move the race from Africa. With more than 9,500 km (5,903 miles) to be completed from January 1st to 16th, 2011, the Dakar Rally is easily the "world's most grueling race." Based on fourteen stages, known as "specials", the winner of the rally is the team with the shortest elapsed time over the fifteen day event. The terrain that competitors traverse is extremely difficult. Most of the competitive specials are off-road, crossing dunes, mud, camel grass, rocks among other elements. To be successful at the Dakar Rally, a team must possess three things: state of the art equipment, first rate driving and navigational skills, and true determination and perseverance. The slightest mistake by man or equipment can cost a team valuable seconds in their effort to achieve the ultimate objective: winning the Dakar Rally.
Known as one of the best off-road racers in the world, Robby Gordon will be participating in his seventh Dakar Rally and piloting the #303 Speed Energy / Toyo Tires Hummer. Gordon will depend on his navigator, Kellon Walsh, to maneuver through the ever changing terrain of the cross country race. Team Hummer will be fielding two entries in the rally-raid. A formal announcement regarding the second HUMMER entry will follow early next week.(see more info and ways to follow Gordon at Planetrobby.com)(12-22-2010)

Robby near settlement on energy drink logo UPDATE: #7-Robby Gordon, involved in a legal battle with Specialized Bicycle Components, has altered the logo for his Speed Energy drink. A settlement in the case is likely, according to court filings, and apparently will come with the alteration of the logo, which keeps the two diagonal orange bars of the original Speed Energy logo but does not include the connecting bar that made it look more like the letter S. Specialized obtained an injunction in federal court last month to keep Gordon and Robby Gordon Motorsports from using his original logo on the new drink - which he is selling in order to fund his race team - after claiming that his logo looked too much like the one used by the bicycle company. The injunction was to go into effect once Specialized posted a $3 million bond to cover damages in the event it lost the lawsuit. According to recent court filings, no bond has been posted. The two sides participated in mediation Nov. 23 and "are now working towards a potential settlement of this action."(Scene Daily)(12-10-2010)
UPDATE - Case settled: Robby Gordon Statement about Speed Energy Logo:
"To our fans and SPEED Energy supporters…I am happy to announce that we were able to reach a mutually beneficial settlement of our dispute with Specialized Bicycles regarding logos, and we will soon be selling all of our same merchandise with our new SPEED Energy Logo. In fact, we anticipate having merchandise with the new SPEED Energy logo available for on-line purchase between December 18th-20th with shipping available for holiday delivery. In the meantime, merchandise with the old logo has been discontinued. SPEED Energy plans to have energy drink products with the new SPEED logo available in stores in early January 2011. Please continue to check back for updates on when and where products will be available in your area. We want to thank you for your continued support of SPEED Energy and Robby Gordon Motorsports. We believe the new look of the product and merchandise is cooler than anything you’ve seen."(Planet Robby)(12-13-2010)

Robby files lawsuit against Extenze: #7-Robby Gordon claims he was used and abused by the people who make Extenze -- claiming he put their logo on a car he owned ... but didn't paying him. Gordon claims Extenze agreed pay if Gordon -- who owns a race car team -- would splash the logo on a car operated by his driver Kevin Conway at NASCAR events in October and November. But when Conway was in danger of falling out of the top 35 in onwers points -- Robby asked the Extenze people if he could personally drive the Extenze car instead. In his lawsuit, filed today in L.A. County Superior Court, Gordon claims the Extenze people initially agreed to the deal ... so he made the switch. It was only after the races, Gordon claims, that Extenze refused to pay him citing breach of contract because he got in the driver's seat instead of Kevin. Gordon wants Extenze to pay him at least $690,000 to settle (paraphrased from TMZ.com)(12-4-2010)

Robby TV special: The Military Channel is airing a one-hour special profiling NASCAR and off-road champion Robby Gordon visiting the troops on a U.S. military base (i.e. Fort Irwin). Gordon tours the facility and engages with the troops teaching Hummer off-road driving techniques and building morale. The show is scheduled to air on November 30th at 8:00 pm and will be re-broadcast on November 30th at 11:00 pm and December 1st at 5:00 am. More info at military.discovery.com.(11-29-2010)

Conway named Raybestos Rookie of the Year: #7-Kevin Conway clinched Raybestos Rookie of the Year honors in today’s Ford 400. Conway’s best finish of the season came in the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway, a 14th-place finish. He claimed top rookie honors in 29 races this season and was credited with a 30th-place finish at Homestead.
WHAT IS YOUR RACING PROSPECTS FOR 2011?
Conway: “We’re going to announce our 2011 plans very soon, hopefully shortly after the banquet." (Camp & Assoc/Raybestos), see more Conway quotes, standings, rookie rules, history and more on my 2010 Rookies Rules and News page.(11-22-2010) (11-22-2010)

Judge orders Robby Gordon not to use logo: A court order granting an injunction against #7-Robby Gordon for using the logo he developed for his Speed Energy drink could cost him millions of dollars at a time when he’s trying to raise money to continue his Sprint Cup team. U.S. District Court Judge Andrew J. Guilford issued an injunction Thursday in favor of Specialized Bicycle Components, which claimed that Gordon’s “S” logo for his drink would create confusion with the company’s “S” logo. The injunction will keep Gordon from selling product that features logo and from using the logo on his race cars, including his #7 Robby Gordon Motorsports Sprint Cup Toyota. The injunction, which was issued three days after a hearing Monday in federal court in Santa Ana. Calif., did not specify when the logos must be removed or when products with those logos must be removed from the marketplace. According to the court filings, Gordon had more than 2.4 million cans of the energy drink produced with the Speed logo with nearly 1.2 million ready for sale. The company is committed to sell more than 1.8 million cans through already negotiated distribution agreements, according to court filings. The one-time production costs for those cans is more than $1.1 million. The cans cannot be relabled and it would take at least 90 days to create a new logo and make new cans, according to Gordon’s court filings. By putting the Speed logo on his car for 10 races, the value of that sponsorship has been worth $2.25 million, according to court filings. Gordon had argued that his “S” logo was different from the Specialized logo, and that it should be allowed because the bicycle business is different than the energy drink business and racing business. The judge didn’t agree with Gordon.(in part from the SceneDaily)(11-19-2010)

Robby back to Chevy UPDATE: #7-Robby Gordon says the Chevy-to-Indy move is just perfect for him, and he says he'll be a part of the new Chevy Indy operation. Gordon is preparing to run next spring's Indy 500 with his own team (it will of course have to be with a Honda engine). And Gordon says he expects to make the NASCAR jump next season from Toyota back to Chevrolet. Gordon, who heads back to Mexico in a couple of days to run the Baja 1000, says he's one of five men with a shot to win the 16-hour marathon. But it hasn't been such a great year for Gordon, who last year's off-road championship but who this year has been hit with mechanical issues, most recently with his off-road transmission. Gordon said it was not true that the Specialized bike company was suing him over the 'S' he is using for his new energy drink: "I'm suing Specialized, because I've had that 'S' for years."(MikeMulhern)(11-13-2010)
UPDATE: Robby Gordon just got to Phoenix International Raceway Friday morning, after spending the week 'pre-running' – checking out legs of the Baja 1000 course, doing the GPS measuring and timing, and taking notes on where the notorious 'X's' are – to be avoided – and how fast to run where and when. He and his guys will fly back to the Baja immediately after Sunday's Phoenix 500-K, to put the finishing touches on things. And if all goes well, he'll finish the Baja 1000, which runs Tuesday and runs through Saturday, just in time to fly overnight Saturday cross-country to Homestead to make the starting line for Sunday's NASCAR season finale [no word who will practice and qualify the #7 car at Homestead and if Kevin Conway will be back in the car].
Factory-backing is key to the Dakar, and Gordon's sponsorship has been with General Motors, for its Hummer marketing. GM is of course dropping Hummer, but Gordon is banking on what appears to be a major new GM commitment to racing – he's ready to sign up for the new Chevy Indy 500 deal, just announced Friday – and maybe GM's marketing plans for that honking-big new truck will include one of the world's best off-roaders. It's a Chevy deal off-road, though he runs Toyotas in NASCAR. How Gordon fits into the NASCAR Toyota program isn't all that clear, but it doesn't look like much of a factory deal at all. Gordon is shopping for a new NASCAR manufacturer for 2011, and he says he wants to return to Chevrolet. Part of the behind-the-scenes key to Gordon's career has been partial backing from long-time friend John Menard, he of Menard's fame. Menard apparently still owns part of the Ilmor company that GM has picked to build its new Indy engines (for the 2012 season). That could be a key 'in' for Gordon.(in part from a long article at MikeMulhern.netmore info about Robby at the Baja 1000 at robbygordon.com)(11-14-2010)
CHEVY Note John Menard nor any Menards Company has ever had any ownership interest in Ilmor. Roger Penske is one third owner of Ilmor. This has been from the very beginning when Ilmor was founded in the UK in 1984 along with Mario Ilien (the IL) and Paul Morgan (the MOR).(11-17-2010)

Robby fighting Bike company over logo: #7-Robby Gordon launched his new Speed Energy drink last week in hopes of generating enough revenue for him to race next season. But his Speed Energy drink has hit a speed bump. Gordon hopes the rollout of the drink doesn’t get stalled by the “S” logo on his car, driver uniform and on the drink bottle. Gordon has sued Specialized Bicycle Components, which had sent him a cease-and-desist letter over his logo. Specialized now seeks an injunction in U.S. District Court in California to keep Gordon from using the logo he has used periodically since June on his race car in advance of the product launch last week. Specialized alleges that Gordon’s logo is too similar to its logo. If Specialized prevails at the injunction hearing Nov. 15 and Gordon must change his labeling and logos before being able to sell the product, he might not be able to compete in NASCAR next year, Gordon said in court documents. Gordon, who filed his lawsuit in September, claims that he’s not in the bicycle business and therefore there cannot be confusion between the two logos. His Robby Gordon Motorsports organizations fields teams in NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series with an occasional start in the Nationwide Series. The energy drink is Gordon’s vision of a new way of NASCAR sponsorship, and the lawsuit with Specialized was an unexpected snag. Specialized alleges that there could be confusion with people who think Gordon or his drink are affiliated with Specialized. The Specialized logo has been in use for 28 years. Gordon says his logo is different because it is shaped more like a lightning bolt. His is orange – which he said is a carryover from his days driving for Cingluar – while Specialized’s primary logo is more red. Specialized isn’t buying it, especially because it sponsors a cycling team in partnership with Monster energy drink – a former sponsor of Gordon. “The parties’ marketing channels substantially overlap,” Specialized says in its filing. An e-mail requesting comment from Specialized was not answered. Gordon referred all questions to his attorney, Steven Nichols, who also is his partner in Speed Energy. Specialized, in a filing Monday, noted that Gordon could have changed the logo before the launch last week. All it is asking is for Gordon to change the logo.(in part from SceneDaily)(11-6-2010)

Robby Gordon has personal vehicle towed: Robby Gordon said track officials had his pickup towed out of a private driver/owner lot at Talladega apparently over a sponsorship issue. "It's gone," Gordon said. "I guess it's at some impound yard somewhere. But it's my personal truck." This weekend, Gordon unveiled his own brand of energy drink, Speed Energy, and the company's logo was on the side of his truck and on his race car. Sunday's race at Talladega is sponsored by a rival energy drink, Amp Energy. "I can appreciate Amp Energy sponsoring the race, but they don't sponsor me," Gordon said. Gordon said other drivers have personal vehicles that feature logos of sponsors that are competitors with official NASCAR or track sponsors. "I just talked to a couple other drivers," Gordon said. "They're Coke (sponsored) drivers, and they're like, 'Well, can we not have Coke on our golf carts or not have Coke on our cars?' This one's a confusing situation for me."(Associated Press/USA Today)(10-31-2010)

Robby Gordon holding press conference Friday: UPDATES: From a media advisory: "SPEED and running on high Octane are nothing new for Robby Gordon - that's what Robby Gordon Motorsports is built around. But on Thursday, October 28, 2010, Gordon was caught driving an illegal NASCAR race car at a high rate of SPEED [see an image at Planet Robby] on Highway 77 in Huntersville, NC that slowed down portions of the interstate due to the scene. Gordon was questioned before being released by local authorities. He will be on hand at Talladega Superspeedway and available to answer any questions regarding this event and how it could affect the future of Robby Gordon Motorsports.(RGM)(10-28-2010)
UPDATE: Robby Gordon has created an energy drink company that he hopes will generate enough revenue to sponsor his Robby Gordon Motorsports race team. Gordon unveiled plans for the company, Speed Energy, Friday at Talladega Superspeedway. Gordon wouldn't commit to running all the Sprint Cup races next year but said he personally will run the first five as well as the "fun" events in big markets. Gordon, whose team is 34th in the owner standings, said he plans to run in the Indianapolis 500 as well as off-road events such as the Dakar Rally. He hopes the energy drink helps generate more sponsorship money for his race team. The energy drink's name goes along with Gordon's website, Speedfactory.tv, that shows video clips of his race team's preparation for events. He said distribution of the drink should begin soon. The drink currently is being bottled in the Charlotte area. Longtime Gordon attorney Steven Nichols will be an owner of the drink company along with Gordon, who has represented Red Bull and Monster energy drinks in the past.(Scene Daily)(10-29-2010)
UPDATE 2: SPEED Energy announced that it will sponsor Robby Gordon, one of the most diverse drivers in motorsports, for two of the remaining NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races this season. Built for SPEED, the #7 SPEED Energy Toyota will debut this weekend at Talladega Superspeedway, one of the fastest racetracks in the world and again in the season-ender at Homestead-Miami Speedway. SPEED Energy is available in three flavors: Unleaded, Fuel, and Octane, which provide the human machine with the fuel it needs to keep up with the SPEED of life. SPEED Energy will be available nationwide in major retailers, convenience stores, grocery stores, bars and nightclubs.(RGM), see an image of the car on the #7 Team Scheme page.(10-29-2010)

Gordon in the #7 through Phoenix: According to a post on his Facebook page, Kevin Conway said, "Just wanted to let everyone know that I will be in the car at Homestead. Robby Gordon will be in it through Phoenix." Cownway was originally listed as the driver of the #7 this weekend, but Gordon will drive.(10-29-2010)

#7 team to honor local deputy & Short Family murder case: On, July 21, 2010 Henry County 911 dispatcher Karen Bryant’s grandmother, Ruth Thompson, was at Fort Trial Baptist Church in Stanleytown, VA when she collapsed unexpectedly. Corporal (Cpl.) Steven Ball was on routine patrol when he heard the call come over his radio at 7:24pm/et. Two minutes later he arrived on the scene and determined she was in cardiac arrest. Cpl. Ball initiated CPR and helped work her in the ambulance en route to the Emergency Room. She was resuscitated several times during the trip and walked out of the hospital several weeks later. Cpl. Ball is credited with saving her life for his speedy work and for that he has been named an ‘ExtenZe Local Hero’ and will serve as an Honorary Crew Chief for NASCAR’s leading Sprint Cup Series Rookie-of-the-Year driver Kevin Conway and the ExtenZe racing team for this weekend’s TUMS Fast Relief 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway. Additionally, as an extension to the ExtenZe Local Hero program in Martinsville and to further honor the Henry County Sheriff’s department, Conway’s #7 ExtenZe Toyota will carry images and contact/reward information on the Short Family murder case that has haunted the Henry County Sheriff’s department for the last eight years. Law enforcement authorities continue to seek the public’s help in locating the suspect(s) involved in the murders of Michael, Mary and their young daughter Jennifer Short and are hoping that ExtenZe Racing’s help in this case will help them reach that one person out there that may have the answer in this case and are offering a $100,000 reward. For more info on the reward, or to nominate an ‘ExtenZe Local Hero’, go to extenzeracing.com.(10-24-2010)

Conway says Front Row owes him money: Kevin Conway says his marketing company only agreed to pay Front Row Motorsports for 15 races and that the team still owes him money from this season. Conway drove in 21 Sprint Cup races for Front Row this season before being released in August. He had used his marketing company, Exclaim, to represent Extenze, which sponsored him and the Front Row team. Front Row has sued Conway, Exclaim and Biotab, the parent company of Extenze, for breach of contract and asked for $2.754 million. In a response filed Wednesday, Conway said that the language in the contract required payments of $150,000 per race for the first 15 races, with the remainder of the season being paid depending on revenue from product placement through its activation of the racing sponsorship. Front Row alleges that the sponsorship agreement was for $5.4 million, paid in weekly installments of $108,000, for the full season. The team claims that a clause in the contract indicates that the weekly payments would last the entire season. Conway, who was to get $540,000 for the full season (10% of the sponsorship), said in court documents that he is owed $129,600 in salary and $122,240 in purse money because he had been paid only $135,000 before he was released in August. The case was originally filed in North Carolina Superior Court but Conway has moved it to federal court. In his response, Conway also alleges that funds were diverted from his car to the other cars in the three-car stable even though Extenze was specifically sponsoring his car. A Front Row Motorsports spokesman declined comment.(SceneDaily)(10-24-2010)

Conway & Robby switch rides: Looks like Robby Gordon will drive the pink #7 Extenze Toyota at Charlotte Motor Speedway with Kevin Conway in the blue #07 Extenze Toyota. With the #7 team only 25 points ahead of the #38 Front Row Motorsports team in owners poionts and in 35th in owners points, Gordon hopes to run well to get more owners points and stay in the top 35. See images on my #7 Team Schemes page and #07 Team Schemes page.(10-14-2010)

'ExtenZe Local Hero' program honors former racer: James Snelling, a racer who lost his left leg in an accident at Riverside International Raceway in 1985 and now runs Advanced Driving Dynamics, Inc., has been selected as an ExtenZe Local Hero. Snelling, whose school operates out of Toyota Speedway at Irwindale, will serve as honorary crew chief for NASCAR rookie driver Kevin Conway, receive a $1,000 award and sit atop the pit box Sunday. The former Toyota Pro-Celebrity driving instructor has put more than 9,000 people through his program, nearly a third on scholarship funds Snelling has found. The 'ExtenZe Local Hero' program pays tribute to people who have gone to great lengths to make a difference in their communities. Those selected have faced danger, sacrificed their own safety for others or in some way displayed leadership that changed their community for the better. Award recipients become ExtenZe Racing Honorary Crew Chiefs, receive a tour of the paddock, attend the pre-race NASCAR Driver/Crew Chief meeting, and sit atop the pit box with Crew Chief Miles Stanley to root on rookie driver Kevin Conway piloting the royal blue and red #7 ExtenZe Toyota. Each recipient also receives a $1,000 award from ExtenZe, the world's best selling male enhancement product, in recognition of their selflessness.(ExtenZe Racing)(10-8-2010)

Front Row sues Conway and Extenze: Front Row Motorsports is suing its former driver Kevin Conway and his sponsor Biotab Nutraceuticals, which sells Extenze, over alleged non-payment of part of a $5.4 million sponsorship deal for Conway to drive a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series car in 2010. The lawsuit was filed Monday [Sept 13] in North Carolina Superior Court in Charlotte. A Front Row Motorsports spokesman declined to comment on the lawsuit, which asks for damages to cover the $2.754 million that will eventually be due under the terms of the contract, payment of $734,201 in sponsorship fees, hard card fees, race licenses and other expenses for services rendered and $135,000 advanced to Conway as part of his base compensation. "It's really unfortunate that they've made some pretty outrageous allegations against us and the good thing is we'll have our day in court, and the truth will all come to light in the months ahead," Conway said in a phone interview Tuesday. "Unfortunately, I can't really comment on the specifics."
According to the complaint and contracts attached as exhibits, Extenze was to pay Conway's marketing company Exclaim $5.4 million in 50 weekly installments of $108,000, and that money was then to be sent to the race team. The $5.4 million was designed to cover the first 15 races, and then Extenze would have the option of funding the remaining 21 events through revenues generated by a product placement contract. The team would get 15% for product placement at dollar stores, retail stores or wholesale auto parts stores.
Conway's base compensation, according to a contract that is an exhibit in the lawsuit, was $540,000 plus 10% of any other sponsorships brought in for the car. He also would get paid 15% of all purse money and season point fund money, with the percentage increasing to 30% for any top-20, 35% for a top-10 and 45% for a top-five. Front Row was obligated to put Conway in a car that was in the top 35 in owner points, and if he failed to make the field in two consecutive races or any three during the season, the contract could be terminated. The deal between Conway and Front Row went sour during the summer, according to the complaint, when Exclaim allegedly began paying only half of its $108,000 payments beginning June 21. Exclaim is also listed as a defendant in the lawsuit. Front Row notified Conway on Aug. 8 that he would not be back in the car beginning with the Aug. 15 race at Michigan if his sponsor could not pay its $108,000 weekly fee. Conway did not compete at Michigan but then ran the next three events for Robby Gordon Motorsports. He is scheduled to run seven of the final 10 events for RGM but will not be in the car this weekend because team owner Robby Gordon has sponsorship for the New Hampshire race. The lawsuit was filed by Charlotte attorney Ron Skufca, who represents the North Carolina-based Front Row Motorsports. Biotab is based in California.(SceneDaily)(9-15-2010)

Robby Gordon to run off-road race this weekend: Robby Gordon is scheduled to run in the Traxxas TORC Series race at Crandon Off Road International Raceway, running in the PRO 2WD class. Gordon raced in the World Championship race last year. After starting on the pole, he led several laps and was poised for the win, but a late-race incident took him out of contention. He finished with style, however, after getting hit near the AMSOIL Finish Line, crossing the stripe in reverse. “I am looking forward to competing this weekend for the second year in a row at Crandon,” said Gordon, who nearly won the NASCAR Nationwide Series race this past weekend in Montreal. “In 2009, we qualified on the pole and finished sixth bouncing back and forth between Atlanta and Crandon. In 2010, I am excited to bring the Speed Factory and Polaris PRO 2 to compete for the entire race weekend activities. Crandon is place that I love to come to race as the track is wide and fast and provides plenty of opportunity for exciting racing.” This weekend, champions in all the PRO and Sportsman divisions will be crowned and race fans can see it live via online streaming and information about the series/schedule at TORCSeries.com.(TORC)(9-2-2010)

Conway and ExtenZe Racing sign with RGM for rest of 2010: Kevin Conway, the leading 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Raybestos Rookie of the Year driver, and ExtenZe Racing announced that they will be teaming with Robby Gordon Motorsports (RGM) for the balance of the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season beginning this weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway. For Sunday’s running of the Emory Healthcare 500, fans will find Conway behind the wheel of the #7 ExtenZe Racing Toyota. Conway heads into the Atlanta race weekend leading Terry Cook in the Sprint Cup Series Raybestos Rookie Standings by 154 points (192-38) and looks to better his 31st-place finish at Atlanta earlier this year. Prior to making this announcement, Conway had one start for RGM at Bristol Motor Speedway earlier this month and 21 starts this year for Front Row Motorsports (FRM), capturing 21 straight Raybestos Rookie of the Race awards and giving FRM its best finish since its inception in 2005 with a 14th-place finish at Daytona International Speedway on July 3rd. “I am thrilled to finally be able to announce our signing with Robby Gordon Motorsports,” says Conway. “The Bristol race a couple weekends ago came together very late and gave everyone just a quick peek at what was possibly to come. Now that everything is in place I can’t wait to take to the track this weekend in Atlanta in the #7 ExtenZe Racing Toyota. I am very thankful for this opportunity Robby has given me and ExtenZe. I’m looking forward to helping keep the #7 in the top-35, gaining more seat time and finishing races while reaching my ultimate goal of claiming the 2010 Raybestos Rookie of the Year title with RGM,” added Conway.
“We are excited to have ExtenZe Racing and Kevin Conway join Robby Gordon Motorsports. This is an excellent opportunity for everyone involved, and I am excited to have Kevin behind the wheel of the #7,” added Robby Gordon. “I hope that we will be able help Kevin bring home the Rookie of the Year Award while expanding our team and his on-track experience.”(RGM/ExtenZe Racing)(8-31-2010)

Conway looks to be with RGM for rest of season: Robby Gordon hopes to have a deal done soon to have Kevin Conway drive a Robby Gordon Motorsports car the rest of the season and possibly next year. Gordon put Conway in the #7 car at Bristol Motor Speedway last week and Gordon qualified the #07 for the Saturday night race. Conway, a rookie, started the year at Front Row Motorsports, but Conway and sponsor Extenze broke away from the team prior to the Aug. 15 race at Michigan. Conway still has the backing of sponsor Extenze and plans to move the sponsorship to RGM. Gordon says he plans to run the #7 car the rest of the year to remain in the top 35 and have one of those 35 guaranteed spots for the first five races next year. “I’ve got some things coming in for next year that are really good for our organization,” Gordon said last weekend at Bristol. “I believe it will give us the funding to do some races with the 7 car, and if we could do a good job for Kevin Conway, maybe we’ll get fortunate enough that he’ll come back next year and do some races with us as well. The plan is we’d like to [have him run the rest of year], but every weekend it’s see how it goes. … He’s got to build his confidence. The biggest thing is we need to build his confidence.”
“It’s a great opportunity,” Conway said. “I’m very thankful for Robby Gordon and the whole team for giving us this opportunity here this weekend at Bristol and hopefully in the very near future we’ll have some exciting news to announce about what our longer-term plans are.” Although he has put two cars in the field in each of the last three races, Gordon said he won’t run two cars the rest of the year. “We’ll focus once we get toward the end of the season on one car,” Gordon said. “We’ll get ready for next year and get our inventory built up for Daytona and Vegas.”(SceneDaily)(8-24-2010)

Conway to run the #7 at Bristol and: Raybestos Rookie Kevin Conway will drive the #7 SpeedFactory.TV Toyota for car owner Robby Gordon in the IRWIN Tools Night Race at Bristol. Conway spoke about his new opportunity between NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice sessions this afternoon.
KEVIN CONWAY, #7 SPEEDFACTORY.TV TOYOTA:
“We’re real excited. I think we had an a little bit of an unexpected transition and real excited to know that we have a sponsor like ExtenZe and Altril that stood behind us. It means a lot, especially as a rookie and when you’re getting your rookie season out of the way and you’re having all these firsts and you have a huge learning curve and we’re able to hopefully finish what we started and that’s to win the Raybestos Rookie of the Year title. It’s a great opportunity. I’m ver y thankful for Robby Gordon and the whole team for giving us this opportunity here this weekend at Bristol and hopefully in the very near future we’ll have some exciting news to announce about what our longer-term plans are.”
HOW DIFFICULT HAS IT BEEN TODAY WITH A NEW TEAM, CREW CHIEF AND CAR?
“Everything is new and this deal came together at about 10:15 last night. Got up about five this morning, actually four this morning to come here. Yeah, a lot of firsts. We’re still trying to get the seat fitted, get seat belts adjusted and all that stuff this morning. Pretty wild all things considered. We ’ve been focusing on race runs. I haven’t made any qualifying runs or anything like that since we’re locked in on points. Just focusing on getting to know these guys and driving an entirely different race car and working with a whole new group. It’s definitely jumping into the fire here at Bristol, a place where you have three or four tenths separating the field. I’m really excited to be back at Bristol for the second time. It means a lot to be able to hop in the car and have a little bit of an idea of what’s going on. I was confused because I thought I had these racetrack s figured out and I walked in the infield and I was lost. I forgot they had a whole new infield here [smile]. I was like ‘Wow, maybe I didn’t remember as much as I thought I did.’ I’m just really excited to have the opportunity with ExtenZe and with Robby Gordon for this weekend.”
HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO LEAN ON ROBBY GORDON FOR INFORMATION?
“Definitely. Robby has been a huge help even through practice and after practice debriefing. He’s able to go up and watch some of the stuff that’s going on. Obviously his car is running really well [second-best overall after the first practice]. They’ve worked strictly on qualifying trim and we worked strictly on race runs so we’re kind of at opposite ends of the board and now when we get ready to switch over to qualifying trim hopefully some of the things from his car will carry over and we can get both Robby Gordon Motorsports cars into the show here at Bristol.”
ANY IDEA WHAT YOUR PLANS ARE FOR ATLANTA?
“Yeah, we’ll definitely be at Atlanta and we’re going to finish out the rest of the year. We’ll have some exciting announcements coming next week that will kind of outline that and detail what those plans are.”(Camp & Associates/Rabestos)
ALSO been told that Gordon got the OK to put the Extenze decals on the #7 car Saturday for the race.(8-20-2010)

Robby Gordon in the #07: UPDATES: Robby Gordon tweeted that he will be in the #07 this week and the driver for the #7 will be announced soon.(8-11-2010)
UPDATE: An updated entry list shows P.J. Jones as the driver of the #7 for Robby Gordon Motorsports.(8-12-2010)
UPDATE 2: Why the switch to the #07 for Robby? In two tweets made Thursday evening [here and here] Robby said, "Why am I in the #07 this wkend? Because the #7 is already in the show. I feel most comfortable trying to qualify it myself than someone else. Can't have anymore wrecked race cars especially during practices."(8-13-2010)

RGM and BAM split: Hearing that the deal with Robby Gordon Motorsports and Beth Ann Morganthau / BAM Racing is no longer in place, and that RGM is in the process of taking legal action against BAM and former sponsor Warner Bros for lack of payment and breach of contract.(8-9-2010)

Robby testing; PJ Jones in the #7 at Pocono: Robby Gordon is testing the #7 Toyota at Road Atlanta on Monday in preparation for the upcoming road course race at Watkins Glen. Also, PJ Jones has been entered in the #7 this weekend at Pocono.(7-26-2010)

SpeedFactory.tv on the #7: Robby Gordon enters the race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway with two top-12 finishes in his last three NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts, and is more determined than ever to bring home a strong finish at The Brickyard in the #7 SpeedFactory.tv Toyota Camry. Robby Gordon's Speed Factory is a reality show that features a behind-the-scenes look at a world-class race shop and its day-to-day operations. Robby Gordon Motorsports is a multi-faceted race shop that houses a variety of elite racing machines that include NASCAR Sprint Cup Series cars, SCORE International Off-Road Trophy Trucks, three Dakar HUMMERs, a Short Course Off-Road Truck and the newest edition, the Monster Truck. SPEED FACTORY is scheduled to air two shows a week giving the fan a perspective of what it takes to be one of the most diversified drivers in the world, one of the few owner/driver combinations in the Sprint Cup Series, and most importantly, what it takes to make the SPEED FACTORY work. Visit www.speedfactory.tv to watch the latest episode.(RGM)(7-23-2010)

Menards / MAPEI returns to the #7: Over the last three weeks, #7-Robby Gordon has recorded a second-place finish at Infineon Raceway and a 12th-place finish at Daytona International Speedway just last weekend. This weekend marks the debut of MAPEI / Menards as the primary sponsor of the #7 Toyota Camry for the 2010 season; Gordon and team hope to carry this momentum forward into Saturday’s race under the lights of Chicagoland Speedway. Robby’s Thoughts – “Everyone at Robby Gordon Motorsports is excited to have MAPEI and Menards returning as a primary sponsor of our team for a few races this season,” said Gordon. “We’ve been building a lot of momentum over the last few weeks, and we’re all ready for the race at Chicagoland. I’ve been successful at this track in the past and I’m looking forward to another great run this weekend.”(RGM)(7-9-2010)

Labonte talks about leaving TRG and future: When Bobby Labonte starts the 2010 Brickyard 400, he will be making his 600th consecutive start. Well, for right now, that’s if Labonte starts the 2010 Brickyard 400. Labonte likely will have a ride for that event – considering he is a past Cup champion (he won the title in 2000) and has access to past champion provisionals. So even if a team isn’t in the top 35, he’d be in the race. But Labonte was prepared last Monday to see that streak end this weekend. He was prepared to leave TRG Motorsports and the #71 car because he couldn’t stomach the start-and-park plan for the organization’s unsponsored races. He had done three of them and that was enough. He didn’t have a ride until Tuesday afternoon when he got a call from Robby Gordon, who needed someone to drive his car while he went to Argentina on a business trip for his off-road racing team. The streak – which includes all but two of his career Cup races – is not that huge a deal to Labonte, who is driving for Gordon this weekend at New Hampshire and then #09 Phoenix Racing the next two weekends at Daytona and Chicago. Gordon has talked about entering a second car [#07 Toyota] for Labonte at Indianapolis but nothing is certain yet. “It’s there, but it’s not like one of those things I’ve got to sit there and say, ‘Hey, I’m only doing it because of that,’” Labonte said about the streak. “I’m doing this because of the passion I have for it and what I want to do." It is possible that Labonte will drive for #71 TRG Motorsports in a few races later this year if the races are fully funded. Beyond that, he is not sure what will happen for him after Chicago and into 2011. “It’s pretty early in the year to be looking,” Labonte said. “It’s good to be looking that far ahead but we’re not quite there yet [where teams are deciding for 2011].”(SceneDaily)(6-27-2010)

Bobby Labonte to Drive for Robby Gordon Motorsports at Loudon: Robby Gordon Motorsports will put 2000 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Bobby Labonte behind the wheel of the #7 Toyota at New Hampshire Motor Speedway for the Lenox Industrial Tools 301 this weekend in a current one-race deal. “When we found out that Bobby was available to drive for us, we jumped at it,” said team owner Robby Gordon. “To have a past champion driving your car is a good opportunity. I think we can learn from him this weekend and it will help our program moving forward.” Robby Gordon Motorsports finished second in last weekend’s race at the Infineon Raceway. “I can’t thank Robby and his folks enough for this opportunity,” said Labonte. “We’re going to New Hampshire with the goal of having another solid run for his team. They had a great finish at Sonoma and have some momentum right now. I’m just thankful for the opportunity and hope to get another solid finish for his team.” Labonte will be making his first start for Robby Gordon Motorsports and plans on running the full race this Sunday.(Robby Gordon Motorsports)(6-23-2010)

Labonte not in the #71 at NHMS: Andy Lally, and not Bobby Labonte, will drive the #71 Chevy for TRG Motorsports in the Sprint Cup race this weekend in New Hampshire. Despite rumors that Labonte and TRG have parted ways, owner Kevin Buckler said that wasn’t the case. “We’re still trying to work through everything,” Buckler said. Lally, 35, has won three Grand-Am Rolex Series titles and also competing in the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge. Lally is a six-year TRG veteran.(FoxSports)
AND: Bobby Labonte plans to part ways with TRG Motorsports, sources said Tuesday. An announcement is expected Wednesday that Labonte has left the team. Labonte possibly could end up in the #7 Robby Gordon Motorsports Toyota and run the full race this weekend at New Hampshire. The team and crew chief Doug Randolph parted ways a few weeks ago.(SceneDaily)(6-23-2010)

Robby Gordon skipping New Hampshire: #7-Robby Gordon will skip the Lenox Industrial Tools 301 Sprint Cup Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. However, Robby Gordon Motorsports won't skip the New Hampshire event, Gordon said Sunday evening. RGM, which got back into the top 35 in the Cup owners points a week and a half ago thanks to a penalty to Front Row Motorsports, solidified it when Gordon finished second in the Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Infineon Raceway. "We don't have enough sponsorship to go and do the race, so P.J. Jones will start the car and run 20 or 30 laps," said Gordon, who won the 2001 season finale at New Hampshire while driving for Richard Childress Racing. "It's ridiculous that we can't find sponsorship, but that's where we are." Three weeks ago, Gordon elected to skip the opening day of the race weekend at Pocono Raceway, putting Ted Musgrave into his #7 Toyota to qualify it while Gordon prepared to run the Baja 500 off-road event for his Robby Gordon Off-Road team. Musgrave failed to qualify. Gordon's car has appeared for four of 16 races this season with either no sponsorship or in-house programs, such as RGM's SpeedFactory.tv. At the beginning of the season, Gordon had indicated his team might have to skip races before he announced a collaboration with BAM Racing to pool sponsorship and technology. He said he would be fully-funded for the two races after NHMS, at Daytona and Chicagoland. Gordon has competed in the Dakar Rally, which starts and ends in Buenos Aires, Argentina, for the past two years. He said he had planned a trip to Argentina later this week. "There is no question about us remaining in the top 35," Gordon said. "We're solidly in there with what we managed to accomplish today. It was obviously a good run for us. We came here to win the race, but second place is pretty darn close to winning it. My team needs a little bit of morale here and there. This will boost morale back at the workshop. I will say that we'll come to Watkins Glen, guns blazing. We'll get a lot of confidence going into the Glen. I believe they'll have confidence going to Watkins Glen that we can actually win that race so we can build some momentum throughout the summer and hopefully have some good runs. We had a very good test at Indy, about a month and a half ago. I'm excited about going there. We got some other race tracks we run good at, not only Watkins Glen, but it will help us build momentum just in general."(NASCAR.com)(6-22-2010)

Monster returns to the #7 car: #7-Robby Gordon will return to his home state with the familiar Monster Energy colors on the hood of the #7 Toyota Camry. Gordon won the 2003 race at Infineon Raceway and has contended for the win at the 1.99-mile road course on several occasions since that trip to victory lane. Robby Gordon's SPEED FACTORY is a reality show that features a behind-the-scenes look at a world-class race shop and its day-to-day operations and will be featured on a second Robby Gordon Motorsports entry, the #07 Toyota with P.J. Jones driving the car. Gordon will start 16th and Jones will start 35th.(RGM)(6-19-2010)

Gordon's web channel featured on car: Robby Gordon's Speed Factory is a web based reality show that features the inside look at Robby Gordon Motorsports and it's day-to-day operations and will be featured on the #7 Toyota at Michigan.(Planet Robby), see images of the car/scheme on my #7 Team Schemes page.(6-13-2010)

Statement from Robby Gordon: "While I am in Ensenada for today’s [Saturday's] Baja 500, the #7 team was in Pocono preparing for this weekend’s Cup race. I want to personally thank Ted Musgrave for his help yesterday practicing and attempting to qualify our Cup car as well as our team members for their hard work. Despite missing the race, Ted and team made a valiant effort to get the #7 into the race. I believe that all successful companies go through times like this – they have highs and lows. I remember Penske Racing missing the Indy 500 with three cars in 1995 and Paul Tracy just last month. We will recover from this just like Penske did, and we will be stronger because of it. While I am disappointed that we will not participate in tomorrow’s race at Pocono Raceway, I want to thank our employees for their hard work and our sponsors for their continued support. What remains through all of this is Robby Gordon Motorsports’ commitment to the success of our diversified racing programs."(RGM)(6-6-2010)

Musgrave to sub for Robby; new sponsor: 2005 Triuck Series champ and former Sprint Cup Series driver, Ted Musgrave is scheduled to practice and qualify the #7 Speed Factory Toyota of Robby Gordon Motorsports at Pocono Raceway on Friday and Saturday [June 5-6]. Robby Gordon will be running his SCORE Trophy Trucks in Baja Friday and Saturday but plans to return to run the car in the race on Sunday. Robby Gordon's Speed Factory is a web based reality show that features the inside look at Robby Gordon Motorsports and it's day-to-day operations and will be featured on the #7 Toyota at Pocono.(Planet Robby)(6-2-2010)

Robby needs sponsorship; Waltrip to help at Pocono: #7-Robby Gordon still needs sponsorship in order to attempt to qualify for all the Sprint Cup races this year, and if he does find enough sponsorship, he hopes to run the entire year. Earlier this season Gordon had toyed with the idea of running a monster truck as well the Indianapolis 500 while scaling back his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driving efforts, but some of those plans have not come to fruition. Still, Gordon won’t guarantee that his Robby Gordon Motorsports #7 Toyota will run in every event. “We’re going to do everything we can [to race],” Gordon said Friday at Dover International Speedway. “If I was to miss races, they would be the weakest races [to get sponsorship] NASCAR has. Our goal is to race, and that’s what I desire to do. We’re going to continue to do that until it becomes financially not possible to do that.” Gordon wouldn’t pinpoint a specific race where he might have to stay home. He said he would not start-and-park. “We’re still trying to sell races,” Gordon said. “We’re going to run until we can’t run. That’s the best answer I can give.” Gordon does have commitments for some off-road events. During the race at Pocono in June, Gordon will miss track activity Friday and Saturday so he can run the Baja 500. Michael Waltrip will practice and qualify the car for him, Gordon said.(SceneDaily)(5-15-2010)

Rear Gear taken from #55 car UPDATE: NASCAR announced that it confiscated the rear gear of the #55 Toyoya of Michael McDowell on Friday at Darlington Raceway and will take it back to the R&D Center for further inspection. Any penalties could come Tuesday.(Virginian Pilot), McDowell started 18th at Darlington and finished 40th.(5-9-2010)
UPDATE - #7 & #55 team fined: NASCAR has issued penalties to the #7 and #55 teams that compete in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series as a result of rules violations last week at Darlington Raceway. The #7 car was found to be in violation of Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 12-4-J (any determination by NASCAR officials that the race equipment used in the event does not conform to NASCAR required specifications); and 20-18A (unapproved additional door braces) of the 2010 NASCAR rule book. The infraction was discovered during opening day inspection on May 7. Crew chief Samuel Stanley has been fined $25,000 and placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31. Robby Gordon, both driver and owner of the #7 car, has been penalized with the loss of 25 championship driver and 25 championship owner points.
The #55 car was found to be in violation of Sections 12-1; 12-4-J; and 20-10.6B (unapproved final drive gear; incorrect tooth count). The violation was discovered during post-qualifying inspection on May 7. Crew chief Zachary McGowan has been fined $25,000 and placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31. Driver Michael McDowell and owner Randy Humphrey have been penalized with the loss of 25 championship driver and 25 championship owner points, respectively.(NASCAR), to see more on penalties assessed, see my 2010 Penalties page
the penalties do not affect the Top-35 in owners points going into Dover, but #7-Gordon drops from 34th to 35th and is now 18 points ahead of 36th in owners points, #38-David Gilliland. #55-McDowell drops from 41st to 43rd in owners points, but would still make the race at Dover if qualifying were to be canceled. See the adjusted owners points on my 2010 Owners Points Standings page..(5-12-2010)

Another new crew chief for Robby? hearing that Samuel Stanley is the new crew chief for #7-Robby Gordon. Ian Watts had been the crew chief, starting at the beginnining of the season. Larry Carter supposedly was a 'consultant' for a few races, but supposedly is no longer with the team. No word if Watts is still with the team.(4-8-2010)

Robby plans to run all the race until May...then: A few weeks ago, Robby Gordon was planning on putting another driver in his #7 Robby Gordon Motorsports Toyota while he competed in the MonsterJam truck competition. But the truck didn’t get done in time, and so he’s now headed to Martinsville – where he’ll have to qualify on speed after a disappointing start to the season led to him falling out of the top 35 in owner points. “The truck didn’t quite get done,” Gordon said Wednesday following testing at Charlotte Motor Speedway. “It probably won’t be done until after Phoenix [in April]. We’ll miss the monster finals in Vegas this weekend.” Gordon, whose team has an affiliation with BAM Racing that has brought some sponsorship this year, said at the beginning of the season that he probably wouldn’t run in every race. But now he said it is likely he will compete in every event at least until May.
And what about the Indianapolis 500? “I’ve got a commitment, but just because you have a commitment from people doesn’t mean it’s going to happen,” Gordon said. “We’ll see what happens here in the next couple of weeks.” As far as the immediate future, when Gordon gets to Martinsville, the pressure will be on the driver/owner as he has top make the race on speed. He is 36th in the owner standings, nine points behind the Front Row Motorsports team of Kevin Conway. Gordon said he felt good about being able to qualify on speed. “We’re going to bring our best car,” Gordon said. “That’s just all we can do.”(SceneDaily)(3-26-2010)

Robby Gordon running SCORE race this weekend: During a rare off-weekend in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule, Robby Gordon will spend his time racing across Mexico's Baja Peninsula as a part of the Tecate SCORE International Off-Road Series. As a two-time class winner, Gordon hopes to improve on his 2009 second-place finish and to bring home a victory for the Monster Energy / Toyo Tires team. This year, Gordon will pilot the #1 Monster Energy / Toyo Tires Chevy CK1500 Trophy Truck in the 24th Annual MasterCraft Safety Tecate SCORE San Felipe 250 this weekend. Gordon will race in a field of approximately 275 competitors from nearly ten different countries and 25 states. The race will take place over a narrow 248-mile loop that extends north of San Felipe and then south adjacent to the Sea of Cortez. The extreme course requires drivers to cross three of the most picturesque and challenging washes in Baja, as well as canyons filled with silt, jagged rocks and narrow passes between rock walls. Throughout the event, drivers will need to pass through four physical checkpoint locations before making their way across the finish line at the famed San Felipe Arches. (Robby Gordon PR)(3-12-2010)
UPDATE: In the elite SCORE Unlimited Truck / Trophy Truck division, Rick Geiser and Jesse Jones teamed up in a 1-day old GEISER-built race truck claiming the victory among a huge class of trophy trucks. Robby Gordon finished 2nd. He broke a shock absorber early and had to make repairs before battling back toward the front before the end of the race(3-15-2010)

Another new crew chief for Robby? UPDATE: hearing that Larry Carter, former crew chief for #98-Paul Menard, will be #7-Robby Gordon's new chief begining with the Sprint Cup race at Las vegas. No word on plans for crew chief Ian Watts, who just started with the team at Daytona.(2-26-2010)
UPDATE: Carter said on SPEED's NASCAR Live that he is just a consultant with the team and that Watts is still the crew chief and Carter said he is just helping the team. Carter says he is still interested in the Sprint Cup director job, a spot left vacant by the recent promotion of John Darby. SPEED also reported that Gordon has a new car chief, Jay Lipo.(2-26-2010)

Gordon to run for BAM Racing for three: BAM Racing on Wednesday announced Robby Gordon as driver of the #7 Warner Music Nashville Toyota for the following races: Auto Club Speedway on Feb. 21; Atlanta Motor Speedway on March 7; Bristol Motor Speedway on March 21. "We are thrilled to be associated with such a talented driver as Robby Gordon," BAM owner Beth Ann Morgenthau said. "After Daytona, BAM Racing and Robby Gordon Motorsports will jointly field the #7 at select races. While Tony and I will miss our beloved #49, it will be good for our sponsor, Warner Music Nashville, to have a car that is guaranteed a starting position in the first five races." After evaluating the joint venture between BAM Racing and Robby Gordon Motorsports which was announced earlier this year, it was decided to consolidate the effort by running one car with Robby Gordon as the driver of the joint BAM/RGM entries. Morgenthau also announced an association with Wounded Warrior Family Support, an organization that helps families by providing them with vacations and retreats at no cost. Warner Music Nashville stars -- Larry the Cable Guy, Blake Shelton, Gloriana, Whitney Duncan, Jessica Harp, James Otto, Jason Jones, and others yet to be named -- will be featured on the #7 BAM/RGM Toyota and in the BAM Racing/Warner Music Nashville VIP Fan Experience during the 2010 Sprint Cup Season. The VIP Fan Experience allows fans unprecedented access to Warner Music Nashville recording artists and the Sprint Cup Race Team. For more information, please visit www.VIPFanExperience.com.(NASCAR.com/BAM)(2-13-2010)

Monster Energy to sponsor Gordon at Daytona: Robby Gordon Motorsports announced an extension of their partnership with Monster Energy, who will serve as the primary sponsor for the Daytona 500 of the #7 Toyota. Monster Energy and Robby Gordon already have a well-developed partnership through Robby’s off-road endeavors. Monster Energy currently serves as the one of the primary sponsors on Gordon’s Trophy Truck and Hummer. Robby Gordon’s off-season did not include much downtime, instead the driver of the #7 Monster Energy Camry spent most of his time racing. After securing the SCORE International Off-Road Racing 2009 Championship in the Monster Energy / Toyo Tires Trophy Truck, Robby Gordon and the Robby Gordon Off-Road team quickly turned their focus to the 2010 Dakar Rally, which took place January 2-16 in South America. In that event, Gordon raced his Monster Energy / Toyo Tires HUMMER across the deserts of Argentina and Chile where he won Stage 4 and finished 8th-place overall in the grueling 14-stage event. Immediately after crossing the finish line in the Dakar Rally, Gordon headed to Laughlin, Nev., where he raced the Monster Energy / Toyo Tires trophy truck in the Laughlin Desert Challenge for the SCORE International Off-Road Racing Series. Robby’s Remarks – “I had a lot of fun during the NASCAR off-season,” commented Gordon. “It gave me a chance to return to my off-road racing roots, secure a championship and celebrate victory with the Robby Gordon Off-Road team. Even as much as I love off-road racing, I’m ready for the NASCAR Season to get underway. We are very fortunate to have Monster Energy on the hood of our Camry for the Daytona 500, and I’m excited to extend our partnership with them. Monster Energy is a great brand that I love representing. We have been very strong at Daytona in the past, so I hope that we can bring home a great finish for Monster Energy’s 2010 NASCAR debut.”(RGM), see images of the Monster Energy race car and hauler on my #7 Team Schemes page.(2-5-2010)

Robby Gordon discusses 2010 plans: on Wednesday's Sirius Satellite NASCAR Radio show Sirius' Tradin' Paint with Rick Benjamin & Chocolate Myers, #7-Robby Gordon was interviewed and discussed some Sprint Cup plans for 2010, including:
* sponsorship from Monster Energy Drink for the Daytona 500, Las Vegas and a few other races.
* Gordon will probably drive some races for BAM Racing, including running a BAM Racing Toyota at Auto Club Speedway using the #7 [instead of the #49]
* BAM Racing / Robby Gordon Motorsports (RGM) plan to have at least one car at every 2010 Sprint Cup race in 2010, Gordon will drive some, David Gilliland in the 349 at Daytona, but Gilliland is scheduled to run most of the season, approx 30-32 races, in the #38 Front Row Motorpsorts Ford.
* RGM / BAM will not do start-and-parks, if they cannot run the full race, they will not enter. But Gordon expects to run at least one car at each race.
* Gordon expects to miss a few Sprint Cup races that will conflict with other interests which include a Monster truck, possibly running the Indy 500 and Extreme Sports as well as off road truck racing. Listen to the complete interview at RobbyGordon.com or PlanetRobby.com [same link](1-27-2010)

New crew chief for Robby Gordon: Iain Watt has been named crew chief for [#7 Toyota] Robby Gordon Motorsports. Watt, who worked at Gillett Evernham Motorsports (now Richard Petty Motorsports) starting in 2007 and was director of performance engineering prior to the merger with Yates Racing at the end of last season, has an extensive racing background in IndyCar racing and sports cars. “He’s ready for this level,” Gordon said. “He’s been here since the new year. We started talking back in November about this position. Let’s let the results speak for themselves.” As for formalizing Gordon’s 2010 NASCAR plans, the exact number of races has yet to be determined. It was announced early this year that RGM will have an alliance with BAM Racing [#49 Toyota]. Gordon and David Gilliland will drive cars prepared by RGM for the Daytona 500. “We’re going to run as many races as we can run,” Gordon said. “We started discussions with BAM in late October, early November. David’s racing for BAM at Daytona. We’ll drive virtually two identical cars.”(FoxSports)(1-25-2010)

Not such a good race for Gordon in Nevada: Trophy-Truck driver Andy McMillin, who won on Saturday, took the checkered flag on Sunday and finished first overall at the season-opening SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge. McMillin’s combined total time from the two days of racing was 2 hours, 2 minutes and 03 seconds. Kory Scheeler of Las Vegas finished second and Nick Vanderwey of Phoenix finished third. Robby Gordon finished sixth in class and had a DNF overall due to the fact that his truck, which was driven by Steve Kendall on Saturday, only finished seven of eight laps in the required time limit for Saturday’s race. Gordon’s Chevy also broke two wheels during today’s race. Equally as impressive as Gordon’s aggressive driving style was that fact that he raced today after having traveled all the way from Argentina where he competed in the Dakar Rally.(Las Vegas Sun, see scoring/results at score-international.com)(1-19-2010)

Gilliland to drive for BAM Racing at Daytona: BAM Racing announced today that David Gilliland will drive the #49 Warner Music Nashville/Larry the Cable Guy Toyota Camry at the 2010 Daytona 500. This season marks Gilliland’s fifth year in the Sprint Cup Series. “We’re thrilled to have David driving for BAM,” commented Beth Ann Morgenthau, owner of BAM Racing. “He’s shown himself to be a competitive racer during his Sprint Cup career, and I am excited to have him drive the #49 Warner Music Nashville Camry at the Daytona 500. The combination of David’s driving ability and the technical alliance with Robby Gordon Motorsports should produce great results at this year’s Daytona 500!” According to Gilliland, “I’m really looking forward to competing for Beth Ann and the BAM Racing organization in the 2010 Daytona 500. I was excited after our meeting in Homestead when I learned that I was on their short list of potential drivers. Now that they announced their new affiliation with Robby Gordon Motorsports, I am confident that we will have a competitive team for the 500 and produce a great finish. Daytona has always been one of my favorite tracks, and I can’t wait to take the green flag!” Gilliland is also excited about BAM Racing’s sponsorship from Warner Music Nashville and having the opportunity to meet some of his favorite recording artists at Daytona International Speedway. “I know the goal is to provide unprecedented access to these talented artists for the fans, but I am pretty excited that I get to meet them as well,” commented Gilliland. Warner Music Nashville stars Larry the Cable Guy, Blake Shelton, Gloriana, Whitney Duncan, Jessica Harp, James Otto, Jason Jones, and others will be featured on the #49 BAM Racing Toyota Camry and in the BAM Racing/Warner Music Nashville VIP Fan Experience throughout the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Season.(BAM Racing)
AND Robby Gordon Motorsports announced they have formed an alliance with BAM Racing, who will be fielding the #49 Warner Music Nashville Toyota during the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season. Robby Gordon Motorsports will provide the team with technical support, race cars and personnel. BAM Racing will make their [2010] debut at Daytona International Speedway with David Gilliland behind the wheel. Gilliland raced for Robby Gordon Motorsports in the Richmond Race last September, piloting the #7 to a 24th-place finish. “I’m very excited for our new alliance with BAM Racing, especially heading into the Daytona 500 next month,” said Gordon. “Our team has worked with David [Gilliland] a few times in the past, and we seem to mesh very well. This alliance puts RGM in a great position to basically have a ‘teammate’ on the track that we can work with throughout the weekend to improve our car, as well as to help BAM Racing improve their car. Hopefully both teams will be able to capitalize on that and bring home strong finishes at Daytona.”(RGM)(1-19-2010)

Robby Gordon finishes 8th overall at Dakar, heads to Laughlin: Carlos Sainz of Spain won the Dakar Rally in his Volkswagen, finishing second in Saturday's final stage into Buenos Aires to maintain his overall led. Volkswagen teammate Nasser Al-Attiyah won the 14th and final 128-mile stage in 1 hour, 19 minutes, 42 seconds. Sainz finished in 47:10:00 overall, which was 2:12 ahead of Al-Attiyah and 35:21 better than Mark Miller of the United States. It was a 1-2-3 sweep for Volkswagen. Robby Gordon finished the stage in seventh, 01:58 behind Al-Attiyah and claimed the eighth spot in overall standings. Cyril Despres of France won in motorcycle division with an overall time of 51:10:37. He finished sixth on his KTM in the final stage. Pal Anders Ullevalseter of Norway was second overall, 1:02:52 behind.(NASCAR/AP)
AND: After clenching last year’s championship, Robby Gordon will return to SCORE International Off-Road Racing competition for the season opener, the Laughlin Desert Challenge, January 15-17. Gordon and members of his Monster Energy / Toyo Tires team will travel to Laughlin, Nev., immediately following the conclusion of the Dakar Rally on Saturday, January 16th. Gordon is expected to arrive in time to race in Sunday’s final day of competition. In last year’s edition of the Laughlin Desert Challenge, the Monster Energy / Toyo Tires Chevy CK1500 trophy truck dominated the field by securing the pole on Friday, finishing second on Saturday and winning the main feature on Sunday. After recording a near perfect weekend, Gordon claimed the overall victory in the unique two-day racing event. This year, Gordon has entered his father Bob Gordon in the #1 Monster Energy / Toyo Tires Chevy CK1500 in the event. Recognized as a legendary off-road racer, “Baja Bob” will qualify the #1 Monster Energy / Toyo Tires trophy truck on Friday afternoon by running one complete lap around the 6.25-mile loop. Bob will then compete in Saturday’s 8-lap race before handing the wheel over to his son for Sunday’s main feature. Gordon’s starting position on Sunday will be based on the finishing order of Saturday feature. Follow Robby Gordon’s progress in the SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge and the final stages of the Dakar Rally at robbygordon.com, planetrobby.com, and Robby Gordon’s twitter.(RGM)(1-16-2010)

Gordon finishes 8th in Stage 13 at Dakar: Carlos Sainz of Spain kept his overall lead heading into the final stage of the Dakar Rally. Sainz leads by 2 minutes, 48 seconds over Volkswagen teammate Nasser Al-Attiyah going into Saturday's final leg ending in Buenos Aires. After nearly 46 hours of racing, American Mark Miller is a distant third. Stephane Peterhansel won Friday's 13th stage in 2 hours, 58 minutes, 25 seconds, with Al-Attiyah 1:21 behind. Sainz was fourth in the 229-mile stage. Robby Gordon finished the stage eighth, 12:21 behind Peterhansel. Gordon remained eighth in the overall standings, but fell to more than six hours behind Sainz with one stage remaining.(AP/NASCAR.com)(1-15-2010)

Gordon fifth in Stage 12, eighth overall at Dakar: Carlos Sainz won the 12th stage of the Dakar Rally by 52 seconds over Nasser Al-Attiyah, boosting his lead to more than five minutes against his Volkswagen teammate on Thursday. Sainz completed the 476-kilometer (296-mile) stage in west central Argentina from San Juan south to San Rafael in 3 hours, 30 minutes, 29 seconds. The Spaniard led Qatar's Al-Attiyah by 5:20 overall. American teammate Mark Miller was third in the stage and third overall, 28:12 behind Sainz. Robby Gordon completed the stage in fifth with a time of 3:41:25, trailing Sainz by 10:56. He's eighth overall, 5:52:34 off the pace.(AP/NASCAR.com)(1-14-2010)

Gordon finishes 7th in stage 11 at Dakar: In Stage 11 of the Dakar Rally, competitors from Team Hummer left Chile to begin their trek across Argentina back the finish line in Buenos Aires for the scheduled conclusion of the race on Saturday. The journey from Santiago to San Juan included dramatic changes in altitude as competitors travelled a total of 434 km and completed a 220 km timed special. The course allowed drivers to admire views of the famous Aconcagua, which is the highest mountain peak in the Americas. The day began with a trip through the Paso Libertadores, which is a mountain pass in the Andes Mountains that allowed competitors to cross into Argentina. The first fifty kilometers was the only portion of the rally completed at high altitude, but required mechanics to incorporate a setup that would compensate for a lack of power. Additionally, drivers had a make a conscious effort to take care of their brakes today to ensure they would last the entire descent of nearly 20 kilometers. Robby Gordon in his Monster Energy / Toyo Tires Hummer finished seventh despite an inflation line problem that resulted in a tire change midway through the special. Without the issue, Gordon felt confident that he and navigator, Andy Grider could have taken another stage victory in the 2010 Dakar Rally; however, he finished five minutes behind Guerlain Chicherit. He remains 10th overall behind overall leader, Carlos Saniz.(RGM)(1-14-2010)

Gordon ninth in Stage 10 at Dakar: Competitors from Team Hummer completed the tenth of fourteen stages in the Dakar Rally today [Tuesday]. Drivers travelled a total of 586 km from La Serena to Santiago, and completed a 238 km timed special composed mostly of fast, winding track. After leaving the Atacama Desert, they were exposed to the dense vegetation and hilly terrain of Chile as they travelled to Santiago. The stage was further complicated by the winding tracks, which could cost valuable time. Completing Stage 10 without any major mistakes is essential to successfully completing the Dakar Rally. Today would be an almost perfect day for Robby Gordon in his Monster Energy / Toyo Tires Hummer despite finishing ninth, 9 minutes and 36 seconds to the stage winner Carlos Sainz. None of the problems the team had faced during the previous three stags would affect him today. The terrain was not as difficult as the dunes but was similar to World Rally Championship style racing with tight roads and technical execution. The Monster Energy / Toyo Tires Hummer would run good for Gordon but just come up short on time. Robby Gordon falls back to tenth place overall, but is looking forward to gaining more ground as teams fight to survive the final stages of the 2010 Dakar Rally. Robby Gordon was upbeat after his performance during Stage 10. “The team did a good job preparing the Monster Energy / Toyo Tires Hummer for today’s stage, We had no mechanicals, failures or issues. We just got beat by our 2-wheel drive system on the tight, slippery roads. Toyo Tires has done a good job keeping up with the competition, and the Hummer has been running good. Monster has given the team plenty of energy to finish this thing, and we have four more days of racing left.”(RGM). Stage 11 Wednesday is from Santiago back across the Andes through a 3,500-meter (10,000-foot) pass into Argentina.(NASCAR.com/AP)(1-12-2010)

Gordon loses time at Dakar but: Stage 9 of the Dakar Rally presented another unique set of challenges for Team Hummer on Monday as they travelled from Copiapo to La Serena. The start of today’s [Monday] special was delayed due to dense fog setting in Copiapo over the last few days. Due to the delay, organizers for the Dakar Rally also shortened the route from 547 km to just a total of 354 km, with only 170 km timed. Stage 9 also marked the final day of competition in the Atacama Desert and allowed competitors one last chance to gain ground across the desert’s sand and dunes. By the time drivers reach La Serena, they will have conquered the most technically challenging portion of the rally’s course, but they will still need to complete five additional stages before returning to Buenos Aires for the successful completion of the 2010 Dakar Rally. Yet another day of getting stuck in the sand would haunt Robby Gordon and his Monster Energy / Toyo Tires Hummer through the dunes of Copiapo. During the first few kilometers of the stage, Gordon would lose air pressure and get stuck in the dunes. Despite the issues, Gordon in his Monster Energy / Toyo Tires Hummer would survive and come in 10th place for the day. On a positive note, the duo of Gordon and Grider moved to ninth place overall. “Today was a tough day, especially through the tricky dune sections and soft sand,” said Robby Gordon. “I got the Monster Energy / Toyo Tires Hummer stuck twice, but we survived with another top-10 finish. One thing that we learned during this Rally is that we can’t be stopped. Our competition never stops; this race is about endurance and how quickly you recover from obstacles that are thrown at you. I think that we have done a really good job getting back up when we get knocked down.”(RGM)(1-12-2010)

Gordon loses time at Dakar but still 10th: Nasser Al-Attiyah of Qatar won the ninth stage of the Dakar Rally, cutting into the overall lead of Carlos Sainz of Spain. In the motorbike category, Marc Coma of Spain won the 210-mile stage from Copiapo to La Serena. Monday's stage wrapped up almost a week in Chile's Atacama desert, one of the driest places on earth. Al-Attiyah won in one hour, 59 minutes, 28 seconds, 5:59 ahead of Volkswagen teammate Sainz. Al-Attiyah's victory cut Sainz's overall lead to only 8:36 with five stages remaining. The rally ends Saturday where it began in the Argentine capital Buenos Aires. Robby Gordon completed the ninth stage in 12th place, nearly 39 minutes behind Al-Attiyah. Despite the 12th-place finish, Gordon remains 10th overall but lost more time and trails Sainz by five hours and 34 minutes.(NASCAR.com/AP)(1-12-2010)

Gordon finishes 10th in 8th stage at Dakar: Two-time World Rally champion Carlos Sainz has stretched his overall lead in the Dakar Rally with a second-place finish behind Stephane Peterhansel in Sunday's eighth stage from Antofagasta to Copiapo in the Atacama desert. Sainz of Spain leads Volkswagen teammate Nasser Al-Attiyah of Qatar by 14 minutes, 35 seconds in the car category's overall standings. American Mark Miller is third, 22:28 off the pace. Robby Gordon finished 10th in the eighth stage, 36 minutes and 59 seconds behind Peterhansel. After Sunday's stage, Gordon remained 10th overall, more than five hours behind Sainz. Monday's ninth stage is from Copiapo to La Serena. The rally ends Saturday in Buenos Aires and Sainz and Despres are starting to look like the eventual champions.(NASCAR.com/AP)(1-11-2010)

Tough day for Robby in Dakar, drops to 10th: Friday marked the longest special of the grueling 14 stage Dakar Rally for Team Hummer. Measuring in at 641 km, the special was made even more difficult by the varied terrain that competitors had to race across. As competitors travelled from Antofagasta to Iquique they encountered everything from areas of fast off-track, to slow track, to windy track and even a salar. Stage 7, which was expected to take competitors around seven hours to complete, was filled with magnificent views of the Chilean landscape. Drivers were challenged early in the day as they crossed over sand dunes. However, the most demanding part of the stage came when competitors had to cross the salar. The salar, which spans 3 km, is an area filled with huge blocks of dry salt that requires competitors to slow their speed to under 10 km/h. Once competitors made it past this portion of the stage, it was mostly fast, open track to the finish line.
What seemed to be a great start for Robby Gordon and his Monster Energy / Toyo Tires Hummer ended in heartbreak. Gordon led the stage through the halfway point before an alternator failure crippled his Hummer on the course, crushing his hope for another stage win. Once the #302 was back on course, he finished the stage in 24th place and dropped to 10th in the overall standings. “We started off with a really good run. By the start of the second liaison, I motored by two cars and was about the fifth car on the road. I saw low voltage on the dash and switched back and forth between batteries for about 120k before the Monster Energy / Toyo Tires Hummer finally stopped running. We had to wait a long time for a replacement, which cost us a lot of time. It’s just a huge bummer. I am ready for tomorrow’s rest day so that we can reevaluate and strategize for the rest of the race. Our plan is to come on strong for the final stages and make up as much ground as possible.”(RGM)(1-9-2010)

Robby drops to 6th overall after rough Stage 6 at Dakar: Stage 6 was a very disheartening outing for Robby Gordon in his Monster Energy / Toyo Tires Hummer as he experienced what the world’s toughest race can do to a driver. Robby Gordon would end up stuck in the sand, costing him valuable time against the leaders. By the time that Gordon was able to free his Hummer, it was too late in the stage to make up any more time. The Monster Energy / Toyo Tires Hummer finished the stage in 17th place, more than 49 minutes after stage winner, Stephane Peterhansel. Dropping to sixth place in the overall standings, Gordon is roughly 1 hour and 48 minutes down to the leader, Carlos Sainz. As disappointing as it may be, Robby Gordon knows that it’s still not over. “Unfortunately, today [Thursday] was a big setback for Team Hummer. Andy and I got stuck and lost a bunch of time – both in today’s special and overall. This resulted in us dropping in the overall standings; we went from fourth to sixth. We still have a long way to go before the race is over. As disappointed as we are with today’s finish, tomorrow’s special is 600 km and will be the toughest day of the entire Rally. We hope to regain some of today’s lost time.”
Tomorrow [Friday] the competitors will enter Stage 7, the longest stages of the entire rally. It will take teams back to Antofagasta from Iquique. Team Hummer looks to rebound and make up as much time as possible to the leader.(RGM)(1-8-2010)

BAM Racing forms alliance with Robby Gordon: BAM Racing [#49 Toyota] announced today that they have formed an alliance with Robby Gordon Motorsports [#7 Toyota], who will provide technical support, race cars, and personnel. A formal driver announcement is expected soon. The alliance with Robby Gordon Motorsports positions BAM Racing for a successful and competitive return to Sprint Cup racing and enhances the team’s partnership with Warner Music Nashville. Warner’s stars including: Larry the Cable Guy, Blake Shelton, Gloriana, Whitney Duncan, Jessica Harp, James Otto, Jason Jones, and others to be named soon will be featured on the BAM car and in the BAM Racing/Warner Music Nashville VIP Fan Experience. “After the Warner Music Nashville partnership was finalized, we felt that the best way to reenter Sprint Cup Series competition was to align ourselves with an established team inside the Top-35. Positioning ourselves with Robby Gordon Motorsports gives us a solid foundation entering next month’s race in Daytona and provides an excellent marketing platform to feature Warner Music Nashville artists,” said Tony Morgenthau, Co-owner of BAM Racing.
“We are absolutely thrilled to be returning to the racetrack,” commented Beth Ann Morgenthau, Owner of BAM Racing. “Racing is my passion, and I can’t stress how deeply I have missed attending all the races and being part of the Sprint Cup Series. I am excited for the opportunity that Robby Gordon Motorsports has provided us. For a single car team, Robby Gordon Motorsports has made huge strides, and their personnel and equipment are first class.”(BAM Racing PR)(1-8-2010)

Robby & Team Hummer in 4th at Dakar: Team Hummer carried the momentum from yesterday’s stage win into today’s performance. Robby Gordon finished fourth, just 4 minutes and 48 seconds behind the winner Mark Miller. Gordon jumps to fourth place overall, only trailing Carlos Sainz by 59 minutes and 55 seconds. As Gordon suspected, most competitors struggled during Stage 5 from Copiapo to Antofagasta, one of the longest stages during the 2010 Dakar Rally. Despite the tough terrain and length of the stage, Gordon proved once again that his Monster Energy / Toyo Tires Hummer is reliable and fast across the Chilean desert. “We had an interesting day today. Since we were the first car on the road due to yesterday’s stage win, we made the trail. Unfortunately, we got stuck once in a ditch as we were making our way, costing us about six minutes. Things were going along good and then we had an overheating issue near the end of the special. Stopping to replace the belt cost us about couple of minutes. Had it not been for these errors, I think that we could have won the special by about four minutes. Regardless, we had a good day and are now within the hour mark and have our sights set on Carlos. Unfortunately, we messed up on the third day by missing a check point. It has been a good rally for us and the Monster Energy / Toyo Tires Hummer. There is still a long way to go both in the Rally and competing for the overall win,” commented Robby Gordon. For Stage 6, the teams will head north up the Chilean coast to Iquique from Antofagasta. There will be a 90km liaison with a special featuring 483km and finally another 97km liaison back to the bivouac in Iquique, Chile.(RGM)(1-7-2010)

Richert to crew chief #90 car: Keyed-Up Motorsports, the new NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team founded by Raymond Key and making its debut in the 2010 Daytona 500, announced it has named Doug Richert as the #90 team's crew chief. Richert, a California native and NASCAR veteran, is a former championship crew chief in the Sprint Cup Series and has worked with many top drivers in his successful career. Richert's NASCAR resume includes crew chief for Dale Earnhardt's first Cup championship and crew chief for ten of Greg Biffle's Cup wins. "Keyed-Up Motorsports is very thankful to have Doug guiding our #90 team." said Raymond Key. "As a past champion crew chief, Doug can definitely get the job done and fulfill our first-year goal of being competitive on the track. All of us at Keyed-Up Motorsports look forward to working closely with Doug." Richert's first priorities at Keyed-Up Motorsports will be leading the team's search for high-quality crew members and overseeing the finishing touches on the team's Daytona cars at its Mooresville, NC race shop.
"I'm very excited about this opportunity that Raymond has given me with the Keyed-Up Motorsports #90 team." said Richert. "I want to continue building this team with high caliber crew members that have the same vision for the team that Raymond does. And although a challenging endeavor, I believe that the Keyed-Up #90 car can be competitive on the track." See a video of the announcement on Keyed-Up Motorsports website (KeyedUpMotorsports/Wild Sports Marketing PR), in 2009 Richert was the crew chief for the #64 Larry Gunselman team and finished as Robby Gordon's crew chief on the #7 Toyota. No word who will be Gordon's crew chief in 2010.(1-6-2010)

Robby Gordon wins Stage 4 in the 2010 Dakar Rally: For today [Tuesday] the story wasn’t about 4-wheel drive systems or restrictors, it was about Robby Gordon in his Monster Energy / Toyo Tires Hummer proving that he can hang with the best in the 2010 Dakar Rally as he wins Stage 4 from Fiambala to Copiapo. He becomes the stage winner by just 1 second over Stephane Peterhansel in his BMW. This marks Robby Gordon’s first Dakar stage win since 2007 and his third stage victory since he started competing in the world’s toughest race back in 2005. He now sits 8th overall in time behind the leader moving up one spot from 9th. For the team who had such a disappointing outing the day before now sits on a high as they look to keep the momentum going into Stage 5. Robby Gordon talked about momentum after his Stage 4 victory, “Here’s a stage we thought we were going to be good and we were – we went out and won. Now we’re still an hour behind overall and had our bogey yesterday, we just have to be strong from here on out and I feel that we can carry it through starting with today.” Stage 5 will start in Copiapo and end in Antofagasta which will feature a liaison of 90km, a special stage of 483km and another liaison of 97km – totaling 670km. Stage 5 will feature some of the biggest and toughest sand dunes any driver or rider has faced before.(RGM)(1-6-2010)

Robby & Team Hummer: Stage 3 Review: Unfortunate circumstances plagued Team Hummer this afternoon in the dune sections of Stage 3. The team had first thought that the these set of dunes would be a good stage for the Hummers but due to a smaller restrictor cutting the horsepower down, the Hummers couldn’t carry the momentum needed to get through the heavy sand that was featured during Stage 3. Robby Gordon said his Hummer won’t run the dunes in 2nd gear and for that reason he got stuck and lost valuable time to the leaders. Robby Gordon talked about his performance during Stage 3, “I feel we are at a major disadvantage when it comes to restrictors. My top speed is about 165mph and the Volkswagens’ are going 190mph. Plus my Monster Energy / Toyo Tires Hummer needs to carry extra weight because of the fuel mileage we get. The sand dunes in this stage needed the car to have forward momentum to get through them. I would run up and try to come down and get stuck. For tomorrow we’ll move on and drive again.”
Robby Gordon would end up in 12th place in his Monster Energy / Toyo Tires Hummer for the stage and now 1 hour and 4 minutes down to the overall leader in 9th place. Stage 4 is set from Fiambala to Copiapo, a liaison for 394 kilometers and a special that will be 203 kilometers. Another 32 kilometer liaison back to the bivouac in total distance of 629 kilometers. The first car is set to leave the bivouac at 6:05 am with the special starting at 12:05 pm local time.(RGM)(1-5-2010)

Robby & Team Hummer at Dakar - Day 2: Sunday marked the second stage for the 2010 Dakar Rally and was delayed at the start due to weather in the area for an half an hour. Once the weather cleared up it was time for Team Hummer to keep up with the success they had the day before. Robby Gordon was the first Hummer off from Cordoba and was ready to run hard in order to win. Despite the terrain favoring other 4-wheel drive cars than the 2-wheel drive Hummer, Robby Gordon was able to keep pace and even lead the stage at one point. Only major issue of the stage was a flat left front tire which was caused by a big rock on the race course. “Only problem we had today where we lost a lot of time was a flat tire – Andy and I haven’t practiced changing a tire in a while. To lose 12 minutes isn’t too bad at this point and it’s all desert tomorrow so it should be good for us.” Commented Robby Gordon. Robby Gordon and the Monster Energy / Toyo Tires Hummer would end up 11th in the stage and 9th in overall time – 12 minutes 28 seconds back from the leader. Stage 3 is set from La Rioja to Fiambala, a liaison for 259 kilometers and a special that will be 182 kilometers. A total distance of 441 kilometers in length. The first car is set to leave the bivouac at 7:07 am local time with Robby Gordon in the Monster Energy / Toyo Tires Hummer rolling off in 11th place.(RGM)(1-3-2010)

Team Hummer & Robby: Off to a Good Start: For Team Hummer today [Saturday] was the start of Stage #1 and the first opportunity for competitors to race against each other. The stage was suppose to feature 251 kilometers but was unfortunately shortened by 52 kilometers due to heavy rainfalls earlier this week. The end total of the special had 199 kilometers of racing. Robby Gordon and his Monster Energy / Toyo Tires Hummer would finish 6th overall behind the eventual winner Nani Roma and improving on his performance from last year. “I am very happy were we are at right now. We got off track a few times but to still be beat by 4 minutes and 48 seconds is pretty good considering at this stage last year we didn’t fare so well.” For tomorrow, the stage is set from Cordoba to La Rioja. It will be more of the same from today with similar terrain and will be tougher on the Hummers 2-wheel drive systems.(RGM)
AND Nani Roma won the first stage of the Dakar Rally in a BMW and David Casteu of France led home the bikes on a Saturday marred by the first death of a fan in four years. Roma finished the shortened stage from Colon to Cordoba 2 minutes, 7 seconds ahead of Spanish countryman Carlos Sainz in a Volkswagen, and 2:50 in front of BMW teammate Stephane Peterhansel. Giniel De Villiers of South Africa, the 2009 champion, was 4:31 off the lead in a Volkswagen. The fatality occurred when a woman watching the rally was struck by a 4x4 driven by Mirco Schultis and partner Ulrich Leardi, who veered off course in north central Argentina. Norberto Brusa, a spokesman for Rio Cuarto Hospital, said 28-year-old Natalia Sonia Gallardo died from injuries suffered in the crash. Brusa said four other people were injured, but the extent of the injuries was not immediately available. A witness to the accident told the television station TN that fans were standing outside a secure area reserved for spectators. "There was no place and the police did not stop people," said the witness, identified as Gaston Harriague. "The fields around there are all private. They are not permitted places." Sunday's second stage takes the racers to La Rioja as the rally moves northwest toward the Chilean border.(ESPN/AP)(1-3-2010)

Team Hummer & Robby: Opening Day: New Year’s Day was filled with emotions rising in anticipation for opening ceremonies of the 2010 Dakar Rally. In the middle of downtown Buenos Aires, more than 300,000 people watched as each driver was introduced. Robby Gordon and his navigator Andy Grider were fan favorites. After Robby Gordon was interviewed about last year’s impressive performance and what he expected for this year, he climbed back into his Monster Energy / Toyo Tires Hummer as the announcer said to the thousands of people in the streets “…and now for what you have all been waiting for.” Robby Gordon backed up his Monster Energy / Toyo Tires Hummer and jumped over the stage to the crowds delight. “I feel good about the rally” Robby Gordon commented to the crowd. “I feel that our team is stronger than ever before with the addition of Carlo Degavardo and BJ Baldwin, our Hummers are stronger, faster and lighter. I look forward to getting off to a good start and the challenge that comes along with the Rally.” Robby Gordon was then asked what it’s like to be back in Argentina and happily replied, “it’s great to be back here in Argentina. You guys are wonderful and have a beautiful country.” For tomorrow, there will be a 251-kilometre special stage from Colon to Cordoba. A total of 684 kilometers, including liaison stages, are on the agenda.(RGM)(1-2-2010)

Team Hummer & Robby: Scrutineering: Team Hummer celebrated New Year’s Eve by completing scrutineering. Teams from all over the world gathered at the Buneos Aires convention center to get race vehicles, support and assistance trucks along with press cars inspected for the 2010 Dakar Rally. It was a sight to be seen as Team Hummer gathered their flight of vehicles and paraded down to the convention center. With Robby Gordon in his Monster Energy / Toyo Tires Hummer leading the way, the crowd cheered and awed as he led the team through the streets of Buenos Aires. Upon arrival at scrutineering , other teams and competitors in the Dakar Rally were amazed by Team Hummer’s Freightliner support trucks. This was the first time that the public have seen them up close and personal. The support trucks are significantly longer and lower than the standard chase or support truck. They feature 4 doors on a Freightliner cab with hydraulic steps, leather seats, King off-road shocks and air suspension. With the massive support trucks and Hummer H3s parked outside of the convention center, fans and competitors alike all stopped to take pictures. Scrutineering can be a long process as teams have to go through checklists with the organization. Team Hummer was the final team to go through inspection and by the end of the day every vehicle had made it through with no issues. This was the first step to lead Team Hummer on the road to a Dakar Rally victory.(RGM)
AND Thousands gathered at the Obelisk in the center of the Argentine capital to watch the symbolic start of the Dakar Rally, a 215-mile drive to the city of Colon on Friday. The real racing on the 5,600-mile journey across Argentina and Chile begins on Saturday for more than 350 cars, motorbikes, quads and trucks, with the finish set for Jan. 16 back in Buenos Aires. The rally was moved to South America in 2009 because of safety concerns and the possibility of a terrorist attack in Africa. Organizers said Friday that 362 vehicles passed scrutineering -- 134 cars, 151 motorbikes, 25 quads and 52 trucks. However, the field was reduced by one after the bike of Argentina's Javier Pizzolito caught fire.(AP/ESPN)(1-2-2010)

Jim Beam [14 races] is scheduled to be the primary sponsor at the following 2009 races:
Daytona - 2/15
California - 2/22
Las Vegas - 3/1
Atlanta - 3/8 [added]
Texas - 4/5
Talladega - 4/26
All-Star, Charlotte - 5/16 - Operation Homefront
Charlotte - 5/24 - Operation Homefront
Michigan - 6/14 - Red Stag/Kid Rock
Chicago - 7/11 - Red Stag/Kid Rock
Watkins Glen - 8/9 - black [added]
Richmond - 9/12 - David Gilliland driving
Auto Club Speedway - 10/11, black
Talladega - 11/1 [added]
Phoenix - 11/15

SPOT was the sponsor at the following 2009 race:
Bristol - 3/22

No sponsor ran at the following 2009 races:
Martinsville - 3/29
New Hampshire - 6/28
Pocono - 8/2

MAPEI [4 races] is scheduled to be the primary sponsor at the following 2009 races:
Phoenix - 4/18
Daytona - 7/4
Kansas - 10/4
Homestead - 11/22

Energizer Batteries ran at the following races:
Richmond - 5/2

Quaker State Oil ran at the following races:
Darlington - 5/9

Richmond Water Heaters ran at the following races:
Dover - 5/31

Pittsburgh Paints ran at the following races:
Pocono - 6/8

Jim Beam / Menard's shared opposite sites at the following races:
Infineon - 6/21

Johns Manville was the sponsor at the following 2009 race:
Indianapolis - 7/26

Moen was the sponsor at the following 2009 race:
Michigan - 8/16

Hard Rock Las Vegas was the sponsor at the following 2009 race:
Bristol - 8/22

Polaris is scheduled to be the sponsor for the following 2009 race:
Atlanta - 9/6

Camping World was the sponsor at the following 2009 race:
Dover - 9/27

Freightliner was the sponsor at the following 2009 race:
Lowe's Motor Speedway - 10/17

Schrock Cabinetry was the sponsor at the following 2009 race:
Martinsville - 10/25

Robby & team ready for Dakar inspection: Team Hummer was off to an early start this morning getting the Chile and Vanguard Hummers finalized and ready for inspection, which is in less than 14 hours away. It was a hot and windy day in Buenos Aires with the team working together to cross off their checklists. With help from local authorities, Team Hummer set up shop right across the street from the US embassy. With crowds gathered watching the team hard at work, they will carry on into the night making sure everything is right, perfecting every last detail. The scene in Buenos Aires is the “calm before the storm.” There are teams from all over the world prepping their vehicles in order to take on the challenge of one of racing’s toughest terrains. Robby Gordon and his fellow teammates are each prepared for what lies ahead of them. “Our time slot is on New Year’s Eve at 2:15pm local time. As far as my Monster Energy / Toyo Tires Hummer is concerned, we had few minor things to check off the list. I was excited to learn that the terrain will be a little different this year with even more sand dunes. The Hummers are fast there, so it should be good for us,” commented Robby Gordon about the team’s preparation for the following day.(RGM)(12-31-2009)

Robby & team in Buenos Aires: Fresh off of an eight and a half hour flight from Miami, Florida, Robby Gordon and Team HUMMER have arrived in Buenos Aires ready to tackle the most grueling race in all of motorsports, the infamous Dakar Rally. Most of the team met up in Miami after traveling from different parts of the country – from North Carolina, California, Wisconsin, and Florida. After the long trip from North America to South America, Gordon held a brief team meeting at the airport to go over procedures and checklists for the next 48 hours, the most crucial hours before the Rally begins.(RGM)(12-30-2009)

Robby Gordon ready Dakar Rally: Just days until the start of the highly anticipated 2010 Dakar Rally, Robby Gordon and Team HUMMER are preparing to head south to Argentina. The HUMMERS are flying like always, except they are soaring above the clouds at 40,000 feet. The #302 of Robby Gordon and #326 of Carlo de Gavardo left the team’s race shop in California on Saturday, December 19th to be transported to Argentina via airfreight while the team’s support vehicles left the shop in late November to be shipped to Argentina by sea freight. With the support vehicles and the Vanguard HUMMER shipping in early November, it allowed the team to focus on the final details of the Monster / Toyo Tires HUMMER and the build of the Chile HUMMER for arguably the most grueling event in motorsports. Following Gordon’s first-in-class finish and third-place overall result in 2009, Gordon is more determined than ever to compete for the overall victory in his Monster Energy / Toyo Tires HUMMER H3 in the 2010 edition of the Dakar Rally. 2010 will mark Gordon’s sixth appearance in the rally endurance race, and just the fifth appearance for Team HUMMER.
“In my mind, there is no tougher race out there than the Dakar Rally,” said Robby Gordon. “As an avid racer and car builder, a win at the Dakar Rally would be a major accomplishment for my team. To be the first American to ever win a stage of the event was great, but to be the first American team to win the Dakar Rally would mean so much more – not just to me but to the people that are as passionate about this program as I am – from our sponsors to our dedicated employees. 2009 has been an amazing year for Robby Gordon Off-Road; we took 3rd place in the Dakar Rally and went on to win the SCORE Championship. I hope that we can continue to build on that momentum and that the Monster Energy / Toyo Tires HUMMER H3 team will continually be recognized as a valid threat to become the 2010 Dakar Rally Champions.”
In 2005, Gordon entered his first Dakar Rally where he became the first American to ever win a stage of the demanding race. Immediately after the finish, Gordon began planning his own effort for the 2006 Dakar Rally where he hoped to become the first American to win overall. Team HUMMER fielded two HUMMER H3s in the 2009 event, where both the Monster Energy / Toyo Tire HUMMER H3 and the Vanguard HUMMER H3 finished in the top fifteen and proving that Team Dakar is a serious threat to win the 2010 event. 2010 will mark the team’s first effort with three entries. Carlo de Gavardo will be joining the elite team, piloting the Chile HUMMER H3.
Traditionally run throughout Europe and Africa, the 2010 Dakar Rally will take place in South America for just the second time in the rally’s 32-year history. Competitors will race on a 5,592-mile (9,000 kilometer) course while navigating across some of the world’s highest sand dunes and mountains. The event kicks off on January 2 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Competitors race over the Andes Mountains, across the Pampas plains and through the merciless Atacama Desert. After 14 strenuous stages, the competitors will return to Buenos Aires as they race to the finish. At the completion of the event, the heroes of the competition will celebrate in the village of San Carlos de Bolivar before returning to Buenos Aires for an even bigger celebration on January 17.(RGM)(12-28-2009)

Robby Gordon Clinches Off-Road Title: Following a dominating season, Robby Gordon and the #77 Monster Energy / Toyo Tires team were named the 2009 Overall Series and Trophy Truck division Champion for the Tecate SCORE International Off-Road Racing Series. Gordon clinched the championship with his top-five finish in the Baja 1000 on Saturday, November 21st. Throughout the 2009 Tecate SCORE International Off-Road Racing season, Gordon raced in all five events and finished in the top-ten in each race. Additionally, Gordon actually scored two wins throughout the five race season. The 2009 Tecate SCORE International Off-Road season kicked off in January with the Laughlin Desert Challenge where Gordon dominated the competition, winning the unique two-day event. Gordon returned to victory lane following the PRIMM 300 in early September, when he missed the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event in Richmond, VA.
"I'm so pleased with the progress Robby Gordon Off-Road made throughout the 2009 SCORE International Off-Road season," commented Gordon. "When the season began, we didn't even know that we were going to compete in the entire season. But after winning the Laughlin Desert Challenge in such dominating fashion, we knew that we could make a run for the championship. The guys did a great job continually building and preparing the trophy truck, which made it easy to run upfront. I'm very proud of our success. Returning to my roots to win two of five races is great, but capturing the championship is very exciting and rewarding. The entire Robby Gordon Off-Road team is extremely thankful for such great sponsors. Because of the support of Monster Energy and Toyo Tires, we have experienced great success this season."(RGM)(11-22-2009)

Busy weekend for Robby Gordon: The final race weekend of the 2009 season will also mark one of the busiest weekends of the year for #7-Robby Gordon. Before going to Homestead-Miami Speedway to compete in the 400-mile race on Sunday afternoon, Gordon will travel to the Baja Peninsula to compete in the Tecate SCORE Baja 1000, November 19-22. The Baja 1000 will mark the fifth and final event in the Tecate SCORE International Off-Road Series 2009 Championship, which Gordon is currently leading. Robby’s Remarks – “It’s going to be a very physical and exhausting weekend for me,” said Gordon. “The Baja 1000 is not an easy event, but I’m confident that my guys prepared an extremely competitive trophy truck for me. Hopefully we’ll be able to complete that race with a strong finish and secure the championship. As soon as we’re done there, we’ll be headed back to Miami for the Sprint Cup Series finale. I’m very excited to have Matt Crafton work with the MAPEI / Menard’s team to help practice and qualify our Camry. Matt’s a great driver, and I’m sure that he’ll do a great job preparing the car. Hopefully we’ll be able to get a strong finish this week in our Cup program as well. A good finish at Homestead would be a great way to build motivation and excitement for the 2010 season at the RGM shop.” (RGM)(11-20-2009)

Robby thanks Jim Beam, Crafton to help out: The Phoenix Sprint Cup race was the final appearance of Jim Beam on the hood of Robby Gordon’s #7 Toyota and the end of a five-year partnership between the two companies. “Jim Beam has been a great partner to the Robby Gordon Motorsports organization since its formation back in 2005,” said Gordon. “I really hoped that we would be able to bring home a stronger finish than 22nd for their last race to show our appreciation for everything they have done." Prior to racing in the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Robby Gordon will travel to the Baja Peninsula to race the #77 Monster Energy / Toyo Tires Trophy Truck in the Tecate SCORE Baja 1000, November 19-22. The Baja 1000 marks the fifth and final competition in the 2009 Tecate SCORE International Off-Road Championship, which Gordon is currently leading for both the Trophy Truck division and the Overall SCORE Desert Series. While Gordon works to clinch the SCORE Championship, the Robby Gordon Motorsports team will work to prepare and perfect their Toyota Camry with the help of Matt Crafton. Crafton is set to practice and qualify the #7 MAPEI / Menards Toyota, turning the wheel back over to Gordon for the 400-mile race on Sunday afternoon.(RGM)(11-16-2009)

Last race for Jim Beam on the #7 car: Robby Gordon and the #7 team welcome Jim Beam back to the hood of Gordon’s Toyota to mark the sponsor’s final appearance in the five season partnership. In honor of Veteran’s Day, Operation Homefront will serve as an associate sponsor. Operation Homefront is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing emergency and morale assistance to U.S. troops and their families. Robby’s Remarks – "Jim Beam has been a great partner for the past five years," said Robby Gordon. "I would like to thank them for their support through the years. They have been with me since we started the team in 2005, helping build our Cup team and aiding in its success. In the spring race at Phoenix, we had a really good car and had a great run going. Unfortunately we were ultimately caught up in an accident, which ruined our chances of a strong finish. Hopefully, we’ll have a strong car this weekend that can bring home a great finish to show our appreciation and celebrate our partnership with Jim Beam.” More info at robbygordon.com.(RGM)(11-14-2009)

Robby down to 8 races in 2010?: #7-Robby Gordon, who has run a full Sprint Cup schedule as a driver/owner since 2006, says he has enough sponsorship for only eight races in 2010. "I'm looking at a lot of weekends off,'' a frustrated Gordon said Friday at Phoenix International Raceway. Gordon said he has two four-race commitments from sponsors for next season. One of his major sponsors, Jim Beam, announced earlier in the year that it would not return to the sport. "Nobody is spending money,'' Gordon said. "Everybody is cutting the fat out of everything. To be in racing you have to be a pretty big company.'' Gordon said many of the larger teams are making deals for well less than the market value because they can afford to, but that runs teams like his out of business. "It's sponsorship suicide,'' said Gordon, who is 34th in points. Gordon said NASCAR needs to create a unified marketing plan so every team is on a level playing field. He said there are so many different plans now that sponsors are confused. He expects to see more start-and-park teams next season than ever, adding he doesn't plan to be one. "I don't know what we're going to do,'' Gordon said. "We're going to continue to work hard to sell races through March of next year. After that I'm looking at a lot of weekends off.''(ESPN)(11-13-2009)

Robby Gordon running Baja 1000: The Southern California construction industry remains in the doldrums. And violence in Mexico is still a problem. Despite that double dose of bad news, officials of SCORE are looking forward to a strong Baja 1000 off-road race Nov. 19-22 to complete the 2009 season. More than 275 entries are expected for the 42nd edition of the desert classic, which will start and finish in Ensenada for the 20th time. The star of the show will be Sprint Cup driver Robby Gordon, who leads the overall and TrophyTruck points races going into the 673-mile season finale. For the past decade, Gordon has run SCORE events when his NASCAR schedule permitted. This year, breaks in the NASCAR schedule enabled Gordon to run in three of the first four SCORE events. He skipped the Sept. 12 Sprint Cup race in Richmond, Va., to compete in a SCORE event at Primm, Nev [David Gilliland raced Gordon's #7 car at RIR]. Gordon won that race to widen his SCORE points lead going into the Baja 1000. Gordon will fly from Ensenada after finishing the 1000 to compete in the NASCAR season finale at Homestead.(San Diego Union Tribune)(11-3-2009)

New associate sponsor for Robby: Coburn Supply Company has joined Robby Gordon Motorsports as an associate sponsor of the #7 this weekend in Talladega. Coburn Supply Company has been recognized for many years as a leader in the wholesale distribution of quality plumbing products.(RGM PR)(10-30-2009)

Bobby Labonte visits RGM? hearing that Bobby Labonte, who drove the #96 Hall of Fames Racing Ford for the majority of the 2009 season and will finish out the season in the #71 TRG Chevy, recently visited Robby Gordon Motorsports. Supposedly Robby Gordon is considering starting a 2nd team for 2009. Gordon owns and driver the #7 Toyota. And having a driver with a past champion provisional [Labonte won the 2000 Cup Championship] would be attractive to sponsors and a start up team with no owners points as Labonte has a past champions provisional to use.(10-29-2009)

Robby has new colors at Martinsville: Robby Gordon and his #7 team are gearing up for Martinsville Speedway this weekend. Earlier this week the team announced that NASCAR veteran Doug Richert will be calling the shots on #7 for the remainder of the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season. Also new this weekend is the sponsor for the #7 – Schrock Cabinetry will adorn the hood of Gordon’s yellow and blue Toyota. Robby’s Remarks – “I’m very excited to have Schrock Cabinetry on the hood of our Camry this weekend,” said Gordon. “Hopefully, we’ll be able to put on a strong showing for Schrock Cabinetry and all of our other partners this weekend. Martinsville is one of the toughest tracks we race on, especially from an equipment standpoint. Putting 43 drivers on track with the long straight-aways and the tight corners makes for interesting racing.”(RGM)(10-23-2009)

New crew chief for Robby in 2010? UPDATE: hearing that Robby Gordon's current crew chief, Kirk Almquist, will leave the team at the end of the 2009 season, supposedly to retire and head back to California.(9-19-2009)
UPDATE: Robby Gordon Motorsports announced Doug Richert as the crew chief of the #7 Camry for the remainder of the 2009 season. Richert, a NASCAR veteran with more 25 years of experience and 15 Cup wins, will assume the crew chief responsibilities starting at Martinsville this weekend. “Doug brings experience and knowledge to our team, which I hope will help elevate our Cup performance. He has spotted for us since early June, but we are happy to have Doug come on board as crew chief this weekend. He will fill this role for the final five races, and we will see where it goes from there,” commented Robby Gordon. “I am really looking forward to this opportunity. Even though I have helped Robby and the #7 team as a spotter, I haven’t been associated directly with a team since last May. This opportunity will allow me to be more hands-on in the decisions of the #7, which I hope will directly improve the team’s performance. I am looking forward to the rest of the year and continuing to push forward,” commented Doug Richert.(RGM)(10-20-2009)

Freightliner to sponsor Robby at LMS: Robby Gordon Motorsports announced that Freightliner Trucks will serve as the primary sponsor of the #7 Camry at the NASCAR Banking 500 at Lowe's Motor Speedway on October 17, 2009. This recent announcement is another chapter in the ongoing relationship between Robby Gordon Motorsports and Freightliner Trucks which began three years ago. Earlier this year, the companies started working together to produce three custom-made “fast assistance” vehicles that will be used during the 2010 Dakar Rally in South America. These custom built vehicles feature a 580 horsepower engine and 48 inch tires. Additionally, Eaton and the Charlotte Truck Center will serve as associate sponsors of the #7 for the Charlotte race. Freightliner Trucks is a division of Daimler Trucks North America LLC, headquartered in Portland, Oregon, and is the leading heavy-duty truck manufacturer in North America (RGM), see images of the scheme on my #7 Team Schemes page.(10-16-2009)

Gilliland in 2nd car for Robby: a 46th entry popped up on the NASCAR Entry List for the Price Chopper 400 at Kansas Speedway Sprint Cup Series race, #04-David Gilliland, in a 2nd Robby Gordon Motorsports Toyota, with no sponsor listed and Doug Richert listed as the crew chief. Richert has been with RGM for a few months now. Gilliland raced Gordon's primary car, the #7 Toyota at Richmond on September 12th when Gordon was running a road race in the Las Vegas desert [which he won]. The #04 team will probably be considered a post entry (PE), an entry after the deadline for the race and will not earn points for the team or driver.(10-1-2009)

Robby Gordon says team will continue: #7-Robby Gordon lost one of his bigger sponsors this week, but the driver/owner has several sponsors that should help him handle the departure of Jim Beam. Gordon said Jim Beam was the primary sponsor for 12 races this year and a to-be-announced sponsor has committed for four of those, leaving him eight to replace from that sponsorship next year. Menards and Mapei are returning, and Gordon said he has a good opportunity for other sponsors such as Polaris, Monster and Camping World to return. Gordon said he can generate a lot of exposure through his various racing avenues, which includes offroad racing. He said he is still not interested in merging with another team. One thing that could help Gordon is if the Indianapolis 500 starts earlier next year, allowing a driver to do both that race and the Sprint Cup Coca-Cola 600 on the same day. "I have a sponsor that I talked to today that said they would take Indy and Charlotte at the right dollars today," said Gordon, who has extensive experience in open-wheel cars. "They've already told me that. If Indy changes, I think you can count me in it - with a new sponsor, a different sponsor that's not on my car today."(SceneDaily)(9-26-2009)

Camping World sponsoring Robby at Dover: Coming off a 24th-place finish in the Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Robby Gordon and the #7 Toyota team are ready to return to the front of the pack at Dover International Speedway. Gordon’s car will sport a special blue and yellow paint scheme supporting Camping World, which will return to the hood of the No. 7 Camry for the first time of the 2009 season.(Robby Gordon Motorsports PR), see an image of the car on the #7 team paint schemes page.(9-25-2009)

Jim Beam leaving NASCAR? UPDATE: hearing that Jim Beam, sponsor for #7-Robby Gordon in 13-15 races a year, will not return to sponsor Gordon or any other team in 2010 and will concentrate on sponsoring Kid Rock's world tour.(9-19-2009)
UPDATE: Beam Global Spirits & Wine, Inc., maker of Jim Beam Bourbon, the world’s number one-selling Bourbon, announced that its marketing plans for 2010 will not include a return to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. As a result, the company will not extend its current partnership with Robby Gordon Motorsports in 2010. The company plans to focus its marketing resources for Jim Beam into other platforms that directly impact the end consumer. “It was a difficult decision to transition away from being a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team sponsor,” said Bill Newlands, president Beam Global Spirits & Wine U.S. “We always take a hard look at our marketing resources and how we can best interact with legal purchase age consumers. After an extensive review of our marketing strategy, we have come up with new alternatives to fuel growth for Jim Beam in 2010.” Jim Beam will continue its support of #7-Robby Gordon Motorsports for the remainder of the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup series schedule.“Jim Beam has been a great partner for the past five years,” said Robby Gordon. “I would like to thank them for their support through the years. They have been with me since we started the team in 2005, helping build our Cup team and aiding in its success. Great relationships have been formed, and I expect those to continue well into the future.”(RGM PR)(9-22-2009)

Robby and Menard to sport Sylvania colors at NHMS: Robby Gordon and Paul Menard will be "racing to the future of lighting" at this year's Sprint Cup Series kick-off, the Sylvania 300. Menard will be behind the wheel of the Sylvania- DOT·it covered #98 Ford Fusion and his fellow competitor Gordon will take to the track in the Sylvania blue and orange painted #7 Toyota Camry. This season is Gordon's inaugural season driving Sylvania colors, while it marks the third year in a row that Menard has driven the Sylvania car. Additionally, Matt Crafton will be driving the #88 Sylvania Chevy Silverado in the Camping World Truck Series race on Sept. 19th.(PR Newswire.(9-14-2009)

Robby wins off-road race at Primm: #7-Robby Gordon competed in the fourth of five SCORE International Off-Road Racing Series races, the Primm 300 in Nevada on Saturday, Sept 12th and after finishing 2nd, was declared the winner after a complete data tracking review, finishing at 4 hours, 49 minutes, 18 seconds, just ahead of Rob MacCachren, 4:50:20. See the rundown at race-dezert.com.(9-13-2009)

Robby going for Off Road chanpionship: #7-Robby Gordon will compete in the fourth of five SCORE International Off-Road Racing Series races, the Primm 300 in Nevada on Saturday. Gordon will drive the #77 Monster Energy / Toyo Tires Trophy Truck in the SCORE series event. Gordon and the Robby Gordon Off-Road team have been nearly flawless during the 2009 season, currently leading the Trophy Truck point standings. Gordon looks to clinch the championship this weekend, which would be his sixth Off-Road Championship and his first since 1996. “This is the first time I have run a full SCORE schedule since 1996. I won the Trophy Truck Championship back then and I am confident we can do it again this year,” commented Gordon." Meanwhile, David Gilliland will take Gordon's place in the #7 Jim Beam Camry on Saturday night at the Richmond International Speedway. California natives Gordon and Gilliland grew up with racing in their blood. Both worked in their fathers' race shops and learned every aspect of cars from the chassis up. That knowledge will serve Gilliland well this weekend in Richmond as he works with crew chief Kirk Almquist to finely tune the #7 Jim Beam Camry for Saturday night’s Chevy Rock & Roll 400. When asked about Gilliland being in the #7 this weekend Gordon stated, “David did some testing for me earlier this year, and he and Kirk formed a good working relationship that will pay dividends this weekend. He’s an excellent race car driver and I am confident he will be competitive this weekend in Richmond”.(RGM)(9-12-2009)

Gilliland in the #7 for Gordon: Last week was a busy yet terrifying week for #7-Robby Gordon. Early in the week, Gordon tested his Hummer H3 in the desert of Arizona. A violent crash sent Gordon to the hospital, calling into question whether he would be able to participate in the scheduled Labor Day racing events. After a thorough examination, the doctors released him stating that it was fortunate to walk away with just a few bruises and a black eye. Despite being hurt, Gordon rallied and prepared himself for the weekend’s events. He spent much of the weekend traveling between Crandon, WI for the TORC race and Atlanta, GA for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event. On Sunday morning, he made his TORC debut in the #007 Polaris PRO 2WD in Crandon, WI, as a part of THE Off Road Championship series. Gordon put on a great show for the large crowd, but he was unable to challenge Scott Taylor for the race win. Despite having an engine problem, Gordon was able to maintain fourth position until an incident just feet from the finish line caused him to spin and cross the finish line in reverse, resulting in a disappointing 6th-place finish for the team. Gordon then traveled over 1,000 miles to Atlanta, GA, where he raced the #7 Polaris Off-Road Vehicles Toyota to a 16th-place finish in the Pep Boys Auto 500.
“We had a great run in the Cup car on Sunday,” said Gordon following the race. “I’m excited for Eldora and Primm later this week, and I’m also happy to have David Gilliland driving the #7 Jim Beam Camry at Richmond this weekend. Hopefully, it will be a great week of racing for Robby Gordon Motorsports and Robby Gordon Off-Road.” After racing in a double-header last weekend, Gordon will go on to compete in two other races during the week. On Wednesday, September 9, Gordon will travel to Rossburg, OH, to compete in the Prelude to the Dream at Eldora Raceway. Gordon will then immediately travel to Primm, NV, where he will race in the SCORE Terrible’s Primm 300, September 11-13. PRIMM will mark the fourth of five events in the 2009 SCORE International Off-Road Racing Trophy Truck Season. Robby Gordon enters the event leading the season-long championship standings.(RGM)(9-9-2009)

Robby to skip Richmond? during SPEED's Sprint Cup practice coverage on Staurday at Atlanta it was mentioned that David Gilliland would run the #7 Toyota at Richmond next weekend in place of Robby Gordon [owner/driver] who will be running the road race in Baja. Mile Bliss will run the #71 Chevy instead of Gilliland.(9-5-2009)

Gilliland to run a race for Robby Gordon and...: David Gilliland will run at least one race for owner/driver #7-Robby Gordon (NASCAR.com). Gilliland is scheduled to visit Army Reserve Soldiers of the 80th Training Command and the Defense Supply Center Richmond on behalf of Operation Homefront on Sept. 10th. No word which race but Gilliland is set for a ride at 8 [maybe 9] of the 12 remainig races:
Scheduled to run five races in the #71 TRG Chevy: Richmond, Dover, Auto Club, Charlotte [but also scheduled in the #02?], and Martinsville.
One race in the #21 Ford at Atlanta [subbing for sore Bill Elliott];
and three races for Joe Gibbs Racing in the #02 Toyota: Charlotte [but also scheduled in the #71?], Texas and Homestead
so that leaves three or four open races for Gilliland: New Hampshire, Kansas, Talladega [w/Gordon team?] and Phoenix. Look for the #71 to put another driver in the #71 at Charlotte.(9-5-2009)

Robby fastest qualifier in Off-Road race: A crowd of 10,000 fans welcomed back an old friend during qualifying for the 40th running of the World Off-Road Championship. Robby Gordon marked his return to Crandon, Wisconsin; his last appearance was in 1989. This weekend the team unveils the brand new Polaris PRO 2WD, hoping to drive it into victory lane on Sunday. The #007 Polaris PRO 2WD qualified in the second group. Gordon posted the fastest qualifying lap of 1:25.962. Although Gordon posted the fastest qualifying time, he will start mid pack on Sunday. The top six competitors have earned their start position through season point’s standings.(RGM)(9-5-2009)

New sponsor for Robby at Bristol: #7-Robby Gordon will carry the colors of Hard Rock Las Vegas in the Shaprie 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Gordon also ran a similar scheme in the Nationwide race at Watkins Glen (8-21-2009)
MORE: The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas / The Rogue Joint will return as the primary sponsor at Bristol. The flashy black and purple scheme was seen last on Gordon’s #55 Nationwide entry at Watkins Glen where he finished 14th. The Rouge Joint inherited its name from the legendary original Hard Rock venue and was designed by the renowned Montreal-based architectural design firm Scéno Plus. This upgraded facility has a seating capacity of 4,000 and will carry on the up-close and authentic feel of the original venue with the furthest seat in the house only 155 feet from the stage. The Rogue Joint is a multipurpose facility featuring a state-of-the-art sound system, an innovative lighting system, and 38 flat screens throughout the venue to guarantee the ultimate viewing experience and is part of the widely-publicized $750 million dollar expansion of the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas slated for completion later this year.(RGM)(8-21-2009). See images on my #7 Team Schemes page.(8-21-2009)

Polaris to Sponsor Robby Gordon Race Weekend: #7-Robby Gordon will race The Off Road Championship (TORC), at Crandon International Off-Road Raceway, in Crandon, Wis., on Sunday, September 6, and then jump on a plane and head to Atlanta Motor Speedway for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Labor Day Pep Boys 500, later that night. As part of the multi-year product development and marketing agreement Polaris and Gordon inked earlier this year, Polaris will be the primary sponsor of Gordon’s #007 TORC Chevy Silverado race truck for the TORC race and the primary sponsor on the #7 NSCS Toyota Camry, at the NASCAR Labor Day Classic 500. A whirlwind of a weekend, Gordon will practice for the TORC race on Friday and Saturday morning, then fly to Atlanta after Saturday’s practice to qualify for the NASCAR Labor Day Classic, and return to Crandon on Saturday night for more prep before the race on Sunday. After the TORC race, he’ll jump back on a plane to compete in the NASCAR race on Sunday evening. This past winter, Gordon and Polaris entered into a three-year agreement that included Gordon providing insight on future products and promoting Polaris’ RANGER RZR Side-by-Sides. The agreement was unique in that Gordon would not only market Polaris product but also use his off-road expertise to help create new Polaris vehicles. It won’t be much longer when off-road enthusiasts will see the first of the units co-developed by Robby Gordon and Polaris. The TORC off-road race can be seen live on ABC, Sunday, September 6, from 4:00-5:00pm/et. The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Labor Day Pep Boys 500 will air on ESPN, starting at 7:00pm/et, Sunday night.(RGM), see image of the scheme on my #7 Team Schemes page.(8-15-2009)

Robby Gordon Responds to Logano Incident in NNS race: Robby Gordon [#55] and Joey Logano [#20] both raced in the Watkins Glen Nationwide Race and got together late in the race, Gordon responded Sunday to the incident: "After reviewing the comments by Logano and the replay of the day's events, I felt that it was necessary to explain what happened during yesterday's race from my prospective. This whole turn of events started with Joey running into the back of my #55 in Turn 10. He then knocked me sideways in Turn 11. To show him my displeasure, I ran him down towards the inside wall on the front straight. I tried to do a crossover move in Turn 1 to get back by him; however, I missed judged a little resulting in both of us getting flat tires. During the final incident that ended Joey's day, we were racing for the lucky dog position. We both had good cars and were just trying to improve our finishing position for the day. After the bus stop chicane, Joey wrecked the No. 34 of Tony Raines. This contact allowed me to get underneath him in Turn 9. He saw that I was going to pass him for the Lucky Dog position, so he tried to block me. This maneuver resulted in his right rear tire connecting with my left front. From there, I felt he would be okay because he was in the section where the outer loop was. Rather than going down the inner loop, he decided to cut across the grass, hitting the tire barrier. At the end of the day I'm just glad Joey is okay. This is a highly competitive sport, and we are all very passionate when we are on the track. Tempers have a tendency to flare, but hopefully in the future we will both race each other cleaner. Under my own doing, I did stop by the NASCAR hauler this morning to converse with them about yesterday. There will be no repercussions from yesterday' events," commented Robby Gordon.(RGM)
AND Joey Logano, who was wrecked pretty blatant by Robby Gordon and sent spinning into a tire barrier. Logano's fuel lines came loose and the car caught fire, forcing him out of the race. "Apparently, we got in a little grudge match after I cut down his tire," Logano said. "It's a pretty raw deal. You can't fix stupid, it's forever. You put that in your memory bank."(Alabama Live)(8-9-2009)
UPDATE: Robby Gordon did his best to head NASCAR off at the pass. After dumping Joey Logano in the Nationwide Series race on Saturday at Watkins Glen International, Gordon met with NASCAR at the trailer prior to the drivers meeting on Sunday to explain his side of the story. Gordon, who salvaged a 14th-place finish after the incident Saturday, said he hoped "in the future we will both race each other cleaner." Gordon added that he didn't expect any further repercussions from NASCAR. However, Sprint Cup Series director John Darby said that any final outcome would depend on Gordon's behavior in Monday's rain-delayed Cup race.(FoxSports)(8-10-2009)

Robby and P.J. schemes for Watkins Glen UPDATE: #7-Robby Gordon will sport a black Jim Beam scheme on the #7 Toyota at Watkins Glen this weekend. Gordon will also field a car for P.J. Jones as he did at Infineon Raceway. Jones will drive the #04 Jim Beam / Menards Toyota with the same scheme he had at Infineon.(RGM), see images of the schemes on my #7 Team Schemes page and #04 Team Schemes page.(8-6-2009)
UPDATE: After months of preparation and testing, Robby Gordon is prepared to capitalize on the tricky twists turns of Watkins Glen International this weekend. Gordon will attempt to capture his second career win at the 2.45-mile road course. Gordon cruised to victory lane at the Glen in 2003, sweeping both Sprint Cup road courses races that year. In his ten Sprint Cup Series starts, he has seven top-five finishes and posts an average finish of 10.6. Additionally, he has completed 96.5% of all laps attempted and has led 79 laps. In Gordon’s fifth start in his #7 at The Glen, Jim Beam once again returns as the primary sponsor in a special black and red paint scheme. Jim Beam has been the primary sponsor for several of Gordon’s top-five finishes at the 2.45-mile road course, including a second place finish. Robby Gordon Motorsports has entered a second car in this weekend’s Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips at the Glen. PJ Jones, son of racing legend Parnelli Jones, will pilot the #04 Jim Beam / Menards Toyota and will serve as a teammate to Robby Gordon. Jones has made eight Sprint Cup Series starts at The Glen and has posted one top-five and two top-ten finishes. His best performance came in 2002 when he finished fourth.
Watkins Glen – “I obviously look forward to the road courses every year and view them as one of the best opportunities for our team to win a Cup race,” said Gordon. “Sunday’s race marks Jim Beam’s fifth time as our primary sponsor at this race. We have posted three top-five finishes during over the last five years. However, I would love nothing more than to pull the #7 Jim Beam Toyota into Victory Lane on Sunday,” commented Robby Gordon. “We have tested numerous times in preparation for this weekend's race and have spent the last few weeks fine tuning our cars for the race. I feel really good about chances this weekend. Watkins Glen its a momentum track, and we need some momentum for the remainder of the year."(RGM)(8-6-2009)

New Look for Robby's #7 at Indy: #7-Robby Gordon returns to Indianapolis Motor Speedway this weekend for the 16th running of the Brickyard 400. Johns Manville, a leading manufacturer of premium quality building insulation, returns as the primary sponsor of the #7 Toyota Camry.(RGM), see images of the scheme on my #7 Team Schemes page.(7-26-2009)

Testing at Road Atlanta: Hearing that drivers testing at Road Atlanta today include #99-Carl Edwards, #6-David Ragan, #16-Colin Braun (subbing for Greg Biffle), #42-Juan Pablo Montoya, #47-Marcos Ambrose, #2-Kurt Busch, #77-Sam Hornish Jr., #12-David Stremme, #13-Max Papis and Boris Said (in John Wes Townley's #09 Nationwide Series Ford which he will run at Watkins Glen).(7-21-2009)
AND: told #7-Robby Gordon was also at the track.(7-21-2009)