Robby Gordon News
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Robby Gordon plans to only drive for himself: Twice in the past week, a magazine story was brought up in conversation with Robby Gordon. With his well-groomed face on the cover, the headline read, "Robby Gordon's Last Chance." Gordon, who made his NASCAR debut in 1991, is committed to going his own way and following the tracks of pioneers such as legendary car builder and racer Dan Gurney. Gordon loves building cars, such as the Hummer for the Dakar Rally; his is the only American team to ever win a stage, and he has won eight. But he is also looking to build a Toyota Camry that will bring him his first Sprint Cup victory as an owner. It's a lot to do, and some might think he is spreading himself too thin. But selling off and running for someone else is not going to happen, even though he has two Indy car victories and three Sprint Cup victories driving for someone else. "If I do that, where does the next Rick Hendrick come from, the next Chip Ganassi, the next Richard Childress?" said Gordon, who would have won the 1999 Indianapolis 500 with "a few more ounces" of fuel; he instead finished fourth. "By us doing what we're doing today, we're working on our program for the future. It's not about today or tomorrow, it's about building a company that can build the best race cars in the world. If the direction turns five years from now and everyone says we got to go back to Indycar racing because that's the popular series, that's obviously what we're going to do." (ESPN Los Angeles)
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Robby Gordon's No. 7 carrying Warner Music Nashville scheme at California: Robby Gordon will debut the Warner Music Nashville / Whitney Duncan Toyota this weekend at Auto Club Speedway. The Toyota entry will be a joint effort between Robby Gordon Motorsports and BAM Racing. Robby's Remarks "Fontana is a really cool race for me because it allows me to return to my home track and race in front of my friends and family," said Gordon. "I'm even more excited about the race this year since I have the chance to debut a new sponsor on the No. 7 Camry. Our partnership with BAM Racing has been great, and having Warner Music Nashville and Whitney Duncan on the hood of our car this weekend is just another benefit resulting from that relationship." Last week, BAM Racing announced an association with the Wounded Warrior Project, an organization that meets the needs of severely injured service men and women. On Thursday, Gordon visited wounded Marines at the Naval Medical Center on behalf of Wounded Warrior.(RGM PR)
Saturday, February 13, 2010
R. Gordon to run in three races for BAM Racing: BAM Racing on Wednesday announced Robby Gordon as driver of the No. 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 No. 7 at select races. While Tony and I will miss our beloved No. 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 No. 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)
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Monster Energy to sponsor Robby 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 No. 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 No. 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)
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Robby Gordon Motorsports announces alliance with BAM Racing: Robby Gordon Motorsports announced they have formed an alliance with BAM Racing, who will be fielding the No. 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 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 No. 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 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)
Satuday, January 16, 2010
Robby Gordon finishes eighth in Dakar Rally: 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)
Robby Gordon to race in the Laughlin Desert Challenge: 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 No. 1 Monster Energy / Toyo Tires Chevy CK1500 in the event. Recognized as a legendary off-road racer, "Baja Bob" will qualify the N. 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 PR)
Friday, January 15, 2010
Robby Gordon finished 5th in Stage 12th; Gordon is 8th overall in Dakar Rally: 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)
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Robby Gordon places ninth in 10th stage of Dakar Rally: Competitors from Team Hummer completed the tenth of fourteen stages in the Dakar Rally today. 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)
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Robby Gordon loses time in 9th stage of Dakar Rally: 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)
Monday, January 11, 2010
Robby Gordon finishes 10th in 8th stage of Dakar Rally: 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)
Friday, January 8, 2010
BAM and Robby Gordon Motorsports forms alliance: BAM Racing announced today that they have formed an alliance with Robby Gordon Motorsports, 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)
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Robby Gordon wins Stage 4 of the Dakar Rally: 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)
Monday, December 28, 2009
Robby Gordon preparing to race in 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 No. 302 of Robby Gordon and No. 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. 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. Race Coverage of the Dakar Rally will be covered at robbygordon.com, planetrobby.com, dakar.com and Twitter. Versus 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. The show is set to air daily from January 3rd through January 18th, check your local listing for exact show times. A 60-minute recap show featuring all fourteen stages will air on Versus on Sunday, January 24th at 3:00pm.(RGM PR )
Monday, November 16, 2009
Robby Gordon thanks Jim Beam for their support: The Phoenix Sprint Cup race was the final appearance of Jim Beam on the hood of Robby Gordon's No. 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 No. 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 No. 7 MAPEI / Menards Toyota, turning the wheel back over to Gordon for the 400-mile race on Sunday afternoon.(RGM PR)
Friday, November 13, 2009
Robby Gordon to run a limited schedule in 2010? 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.com)
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Robby Gordon Motorsports announces new crew chief: Robby Gordon Motorsports announced Doug Richert as the crew chief of the No. 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 No. 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 No. 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 PR)
Satruday, Sept. 26, 2009
R. Gordon has no plans to merger with another team: 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)
Friday, Sept. 25, 2009
Camping World to sponsor Robby Gordon at Dover: Coming off a 24th-place finish in the Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Robby Gordon and the No. 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)
Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2009
Jim Beam and Robby Gordon to part ways: 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 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)
Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2009
Robby Gordon to miss Richmond Cup race: Last week was a busy yet terrifying week for 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 No. 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 No. 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 No. 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)
Friday, Aug. 21, 2009
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas to sponsor Robby Gordon at Bristol: 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 No. 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)
Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2009
Robby Gordon met with NASCAR officials: 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.com)
Thursday, Aug. 6, 2009
Robby Gordon in Jim Beam Black scheme; RGM to field second car with Jones: 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 No. 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 No. 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 No. 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 PR)
Friday, June 26, 2009
Robby Gordon to drop appeal: Driver/owner Robby Gordon says he has opted not to appeal the 50-point penalty levied against his Robby Gordon Motorsports team May 27 for having exceeded the maximum specified toe of plus or minus 1 degree during the Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Spedway. Gordon was penalized 50 owner and 50 driver points, while crew chief Kirk Almquist was fined $50,000 and placed on probation until Dec. 31. The driver/owner said he was going to appeal but has changed his mind and opted not to go through the NASCAR appeals process. “I’m not going to appeal,” Gordon said Friday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway when asked whether he had had his appeal prior to getting in his car for practice.(SceneDaily.com)
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Robby Gordon is NASCAR's most penalized driver: After each race, NASCAR issues an infractions report. I went back and looked at all of them to see who has been penalized the most so far this season as the series heads to Michigan. Infractions include pitting before pit road is open (something many do after they've been in an accident or had some mechanical troubles), lug nuts not all installed, speeding and pit crew members not taking care or tires or too many during a stop or something like that. So, the driver who has been penalized the most this season? Robby Gordon has been penalized 17 times. (Virginian-Pilot)
Friday, June 12, 2009
Jim Beam and Robby Gordon honored: The National Association of Drug Court Professionals (NADCP) and the National Center for DWI Courts (NCDC) awarded the NADCP Ambassador Award to Beam Global Spirits & Wine, Inc., the leading American spirits company and industry leader in the battle against hardcore drunk driving. Robby Gordon was also honored with an Ambassador Award for his continued support of DWI Courts. Beam Global and Robby Gordon have partnered with NCDC since 2007 to bring national attention to the effectiveness of DWI Courts in addressing hardcore drunk driving. Beam Global and Robby Gordon received the award at the NADCP 15th Annual Training Conference held in Anaheim, California. The NADCP Ambassador Award is given to public figures who have used their celebrity or public position to raise awareness about Drug Courts or DWI Courts. Martin Sheen will also receive a 2009 NADCP Ambassador Award.(Welt Online)
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Robby Gordon to feature Kid Rock paint scheme: The No. 7 Jim Beam Team of Robby Gordon will host Kid Rock along with featuring a special Red Stag by Jim Beam/ Kid Rock paint scheme for the upcoming LifeLock 400 at Michigan International Speedway. This coincides with the recent announcement of Red Stag by Jim Beam’s partnership with multi-platinum superstar, Kid Rock, as a headline sponsor of Kid Rock’s 2009 Rock N’ Rebels Tour, which will hit 25 cities across North America this Summer. Kid Rock will kick off the Red Stag by Jim Beam partnership on June 14, when the Detroit native will serve as Grand Marshal of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series LifeLock 400 race at Michigan International Speedway. Fifty cents from every ticket sold for Kid Rock's upcoming concert tour will be donated to Operation Homefront, a non-profit organization that provides assistance to America's military veterans returning home to their families. Through their support of Operation Homefront, Red Stag and Kid Rock will help fund emergency aid, moving assistance, computer programs and care packages in local chapters throughout the country. Red Stag, an all-new cherry-infused offspring of the world’s No. 1 selling bourbon is scheduled to launch in June and is the latest innovation from Beam Global Spirits & Wine Inc.(RGM PR )
Monday, June 8, 2009
Robby Gordon wins Baja 500: Robby Gordon took a break from NASCAR's Sprint Cup circuit Saturday to win the overall four-wheel title in the 41st SCORE Tecate Baja 500 off-road race. Gordon's Chevrolet TrophyTruck crossed the finish line in Ensenada on Saturday night with a nearly five-minute lead on B.J. Baldwin of Las Vegas. Gordon covered the 432½-mile distance in eight hours, 35 minutes and 49 seconds. However, SCORE yesterday said that it was delaying posting official results until after it reviews tracking reports to verify the exact routes followed by some of the racers. (San Diego Union-Tribune)
Friday, June 5, 2009
Robby Gordon running in Baja 500: Leader of the 2009 SCORE Desert Series points standings and four-time Baja 500 champion, Robby Gordon returns to Ensenada, Mexico hoping to continue his dominance of the dirt in the 2009 season. Following his season-opening win in the Laughlin Desert Challenge and his second place finish in the San Felipe 250, Gordon has a 125-point lead heading into Saturday’s 41st Tecate SCORE Baja 500. On Saturday morning, Gordon and co-driver Andy Grider will climb into the No. 77 Monster Energy / Toyo Tires Chevy CK1500 for 432.51-miles of racing action. The green flag will drop for the car and truck classes at approximately 10:00 a.m. local time. The duo of Gordon and Grider roll off sixth and will race their way towards the coveted Baja 500 title in front more than 100,000 spectators. Upon completion of the race, Robby Gordon will head east to Pocono, where he will race another 500 miles in the Sprint Cup Series event. When it is all said and done, Gordon will have raced more than 950 miles.(RGM PR )
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Robby Gordon to appeal penalty: No. 7 Robby Gordon says he will appeal NASCAR penalties levied against his Robby Gordon Motorsports team May 27. Gordon was penalized 50 owner and 50 driver points while crew chief Kirk Almquist was fined $50,000 and placed on probation until Dec. 31. Officials said the rear axle housing of the no. 7 Toyota, which was taken following a third-place finish by Gordon in the May 25 Coca-Cola 600, exceeded the maximum specified toe of plus or minus one degree. “The bottom line is we were no more ‘body yawed’ than anybody else,” Gordon said May 30, “even though our rear end had more toe. We ... pulled our right-side trailing arm forward and our left-side trailing arm backwards. We fit the template on the right side before the race. So we aren’t doing anything funny there; there was no advantage.”(SceneDaily.com)
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Robby Gordon docked 50 driver/owner points: NASCAR has issued penalties to the No. 7 team that competes in the Sprint Cup Series as a result of rules violations committed at Lowe’s Motor Speedway earlier this week. The No. 7 Toyota, driven and owned by Robby Gordon, was found to be in violation of Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 12-4I (any determination by NASCAR Officials that the race equipment used in the event does not conform to NASCAR rules); and 20-10.6H (rear axle housing exceeded the maximum specified toe of plus or minus one degree) of the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Rule Book. The violation was found during post-race inspection on May 25. As a result, Gordon has been penalized with the loss of 50 championship owner and 50 championship driver points. Crew chief Kirk Almquist has been fined $50,000 and placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31.(NASCAR PR)
Monday, May 25, 2009
Robby Gordon's rear axle housing confiscated by NASCAR: During post-race inspection, NASCAR found a possible issue with the rear axle housing on the No. 7 Jim Beam/Operation Home Front Toyota driven by Robby Gordon, who finished third in the Coca-Cola 600. NASCAR will take the housing to their Research and Development Center for further examination this weekend. If NASCAR finds a violation, forthcoming penalties will be announced later this week. (Fanzone Sports)
Friday, May 22, 2009
Robby Gordon invites military veteran; and statues the troops: In honor of Memorial Day, Jim Beam and Robby Gordon Motorsports has asked, veteran John Savage to be an honorary pit crew member during the 600 mile race at Lowe's Motor Speedway for the No. 7 Jim Beam / Operation Homefront entry. Savage, a former NCO in the U.S. Army Special Operations Command, served his country for 22 years and received his retirement from service due to combat related injuries. Savage currently resides in Asheboro, NC where he mentors youth in martial arts, providing encouragement and a foundation to a better life. Additionally the No. 7 Jim Beam Camry will sport a special red, silver and blue paint scheme featuring Operation Homefront, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing emergency assistance and morale to U.S. Troops and their families. (RGM PR)
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Robby Gordon unhappy with Waltrip: Robby Gordon wasn't pleased with Michael Waltrip after contact with the No. 55 Toyota sent Gordon into the wall. "I'm really looking forward to having a new driver in the 55 next year," Gordon grumbled. Waltrip owns his car, but said before the start of the season that he'll retire at the end of the year if he's not competitive. "I don't know what Michael was doing," Gordon said, "but he just ran us over." (Charleston Daily Mail)
Related: Robby Gordon, Michael Waltrip Phoenix 2009 incident
Friday, April 17, 2009
MAPEI on No. 7 RGM at Phoenix: The No. 7 Toyota of Robby Gordon will display the familiar yellow and blue MAPEI / Menards colors for the first time this season at Phoenix International Raceway. Saturday’s Subway Fresh Fit 500 will mark Gordon’s 14th start at the ultra-fast mile oval. He owns two top-10 finishes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and also has one win in the CART Series at PIR. “We are also excited to have MAPEI return as a primary sponsor for Robby Gordon Motorsports this year. We expect good things from this car and our team for their 2009 debut this weekend,” commented Robby Gordon.(RGM PR)
Monday, March 30, 2009
R. Gordon slump continues: Robby Gordon finished 40th. It's the eighth consecutive race he's finished 34th or worse at Martinsville. (News-Record)
Thursday, March 5, 2009
R. Gordon's nice gesture: A couple of fans visited Las Vegas Motor Speedway last weekend hoping to get Robby Gordon to sign a poster so they could send it to a solider they know who's in Iraq. Gordon not only signed it, he took the poster inside the track and had more than two dozen other drivers sign it and got it back to the fans so they could send it to the soldier. (ThatsRacin.com)
Friday, February 27, 2009
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino to serve as R. Gordon associate sponsor: Jim Beam will serve as the primary sponsor for Sunday's 285-lap event. In addition to MAPEI and Menards, Robby Gordon Motorsports is excited to announce that Hard Rock Hotel & Casino will also serve as an associate sponsor this weekend. (PR)
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Robby Gordon has no plans to merge: The odds are long, and the challenge is overwhelming for Robby Gordon. And he wouldn't have it any other way. In a sport of multi-car operations and technical alliances, Gordon still prefers to go it alone in the Sprint Cup Series. While teammates compare notes and share information, Gordon prefers to rely on his own experience and guile to make his way around the track. "I have no interest [in merging with another team]," Gordon said. "We're trudging forward and building our race team. I think stubborn is the wrong thing. We're good business people. We're able to operate our team without going in debt and without doing it over the top without controlling it. "We know every dollar, every cent and where it goes and what we have budgeted for. That's different than a lot of other race teams that go get whatever they want, then wonder how they're going to pay for it." (Florida Times-Union)
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Robby Gordon to race a Dodge in Bud Shootout: Sirius Speedway spoke to NASCAR representative Ramsey Poston today, and he confirmed that Robby Gordon is approved to run the Budweiser Shootout in a Dodge, before converting to Toyota for the remainder of Speedweek 2009. Gordon ran Dodges last season, but will campaign a Toyota in 2009. Both manufacturers have apparently signed-off on the arrangement. (The Motorsports Soapbox)
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
RGM to join Toyota: Robby Gordon Motorsports announced that they will partner with Toyota beginning in the 2009 Sprint Cup Series season for the #7, which is guaranteed a spot in the season opener Daytona 500. “We are excited to be partnering with Toyota in NASCAR in 2009. After watching their progress last season, we decided that a switch to Toyota was the right package for our team,” commented Robby Gordon, owner of Robby Gordon Motorsports. “We are confident that fielding a Toyota Camry will add to the success of our organization and the competitiveness of our performance on the race track.” “I’ve known Robby as a driver, team owner and fierce competitor since 1990,” said Lee White, President of TRD, U.S.A. “We’ve raced together in Off-Road, IMSA, SCCA and Indy Car and have shared many memorable challenges and victories. It will be exciting to see how the association between Robby, his team, Toyota and TRD will develop in 2009. I promise you that it will not be boring to watch.” Toyota's first involvement with Robby Gordon dates back to 1989 when he became the youngest grand national sport truck driver to win a championship in a TRD-powered Toyota truck.(RGM PR)
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Jim Beam renews with RGM: Jim Beam Bourbon announced that it will continue its partnership with Robby Gordon Motorsports (RGM) as a primary sponsor of the #7 driven by team owner and veteran driver Robby Gordon during the 2009 Sprint Cup Series season. “With so many teams merging or taking on investors, Robby Gordon represents a one-of-a-kind driver and owner in NASCAR’s top racing series. His tenacity and commitment shows he has the competitive spirit, that our customers value and respect,” said Brian Gallagher, Motorsports Marketing Manager, Jim Beam. “We are proud to continue our support of Robby and his race team as they demonstrate true character and achieve success on the track.” Jim Beam will be the primary sponsor for 13 Sprint Cup Series races in 2009, and will serve as an associate sponsor for the remaining events. The deal marks the company’s fifth year of partnership with RGM, a relationship that began when Gordon created the team in 2005. “Jim Beam has been with me since the beginning,” said Gordon. “To have them back with us for a fifth straight year is exciting and a credit to everyone here at RGM. It’s challenging being one of the few single-car teams remaining and yet, we have shown we can still be competitive. With Jim Beam’s continued support for the No. 7 team, we can focus on improving our race program and build our way towards a successful 2009 season.” Jim Beam will utilize its sponsorship to reach race fans both on and off the track through a variety of racing related promotions, including the second annual Beam Bash, a concert featuring Grammy-nominated country music duo, Montgomery Gentry, scheduled to take place prior to the Daytona race weekend. Gordon will also support and serve as spokesperson for Beam Global Spirits & Wine reminding legal age consumers to drink responsibly throughout the year. Through its drink smart® responsibility platform, Beam Global educates consumers on how to make responsible decisions about alcohol and reminds them of these six basic principles: Respect Others, Obey the Law, Take Responsibility, Drink in Moderation, Be a Responsible Host and Drive Safe. Robby Gordon finished the 2008 season in the top-35, which guarantees the #7 a starting spot in the first five races of the 2009 Sprint Cup Series season. The team scored three top-10 and seven top-20 finishes and displayed a solid performance at the superspeedway events, finishing second in restrictor-plate points.(GMR Marketing/Jim Beam Racing PR)
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Robby Gordon committed to NASCAR: Robby Gordon is nothing if not persistent. He is bound and determined to make a go of it in NASCAR and keeps piecing together enough sponsorship to get him through. Jim Beam has signed on for another year and with continued support from Menard's, he should be in decent shape for 2009. (Indy Star)
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Robby Gordon to race Baja 1000: Proving once again that he never tires of racing, Robby Gordon left this weekend’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series finale in Homestead, Florida and headed straight for Ensenada, Mexico to compete in the 41st annual Tecate SCORE Baja 1000, one of the most grueling off-road races in the world. Gordon, a three-time overall winner, hopes to pilot his No. 77 Monster Energy / Toyo Tires Chevy CK 1500 to his fourth victory when the race commences on Friday, November 21st. The Baja 1000 is the world’s longest non-stop and most famous desert race. This year’s race will be a challenging 631.35-mile journey around the northern Baja California peninsula, beginning and ending in Ensenada. (RGM PR)
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Jim Beam back with Robby Gordon? Jim Beam plans on returning as a primary sponsor for the majority of NASCAR Sprint Cup races with Robby Gordon next year as he visited with the company's distributors annual conference a couple of weeks ago and was introduced as the 2009 driver. Neither side will comment until the contract is signed and becomes official. (SceneDaily.com)
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Camping Gordon returns as sponsonr one the #7 Robby Gordon Motorsports car: When the #7 Dodge Charger hit the track earlier this weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, it was sporting the all too familiar “back in black” paint scheme. But when the Sunday’s Lenox Industrial Tools 301 starts, Robby Gordon’s #7 Dodge will feature the blue and gold Camping World paint scheme. For the second consecutive weekend, Camping World has offered their support to Gordon and his team. It will also mark their fifth race of the 2008 season as Gordon’s primary sponsor. “I want to thank Camping World for sponsoring our team again this weekend. It was disappointing for our team to unload another black car this weekend, so it means a lot to have a sponsor like them that continues to support and strengthen our program,” commented Gordon. “I got my first NASCAR win here in 2001, so I think that the Camping World Dodge will finish well on Sunday.” Camping World offers over 8,000 quality products geared toward the RVing community through 65 nationwide SuperCenters, a well-established catalog call center, and an award-winning website. Camping World is the industry leader in RV accessories and services. In addition to RVs, Camping World provides its customers with high-quality products and services to help enhance their life on the road.(RGM PR)
Friday, June 20, 2008
Robby Gordon sponsorless at Infineon: Despite Gordon’s dominance at Infineon Raceway, the No. 7 will sporting the “back in black” paint scheme for the second time this season. Gordon's strong performance earned his sponsors in excess of $3 million dollars of exposure in last year's Sonoma race. Primary sponsorship opportunities are still available for this weekend’s race, and interested parties should contact the Business Development department at bizdev@teamgordon.com. (RGM PR)
Robby Gordon Page 2 News
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Birthdate: January 2, 1969