Bobby Labonte to Drive for Robby Gordon Motorsports at Loudon

Bobby Labonte to Drive for Robby Gordon Motorsports at Loudon

Former Champ to Pilot No. 7 Toyota at NHMS

Charlotte, NC (June 23, 2010) – Robby Gordon Motorsports will put 2000 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Bobby Labonte behind the wheel of the No. 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.

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Permalink Reply by TOG on June 23, 2010 at 4:39pm

I think if Andrew Ranger had cup series bucks behind him, he would already have something in the works. These drivers let it be known to their sponsors where they want to go and what they want to do, however, some of those dreams/desires get shot down when the sponsor tells them the max amount they will fund...lol...(example: 2010 Indy 500 ..RG wanted it badly, Monster didnt )

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Permalink Reply by Matt on June 23, 2010 at 4:44pm

No one just "forgot" about Canada.

I am a bit tired of the Andrew Ranger debate. If he was the second coming as people have claimed, AND had financial backing, dont you think someone would take a chance? My point is maybe your national pride is getting in the way of the fact that

A. he isnt the second coming
B. does not have a sponsor willing to shell out cash for Nationwide or Cup
C. a little bit of both

Roush racing at one point put Stanton Barrett in a Nationwide car only because he brought sponsor dollars. I guarantee you 110% that if Andrew has a fraction of the talent the canadians on this site claim, and has financial backing, he could get a ride in todays Nascar enviroment in seconds. Even Jon Wes Townley had an RCR ride for a few races this year.

I even volunteered to get a Nationwide car together for Andrew for this last weekend, since some on this site were sure he was a guaranteed win and had financial backing for Road America. My friends at Pratt and Miller had/have a Nationwide roadcourse car that was already paid for by KHI that is just sitting around collecting dust. Since Nationwide will be going to new style cars, they really have no use for it after this years road courses. I never heard anyone mention his name again, until now.

I hate to be critical, but do not for a second think a gifted driver WITH financial backing cant get a ride. Hell, terrible drivers with financial backing manage to get rides. The mistake you are making is ASSUMING his current sponsors are interested or willing to spend their money on an American series...

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Permalink Reply by TOG on June 23, 2010 at 5:08pm

Jacques Villeneuve cant even get Canadian $$ to race in nascar. He has been trying for 3 years now. Patrick Carpentier had a very hard time too.

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Permalink Reply by Matt on June 23, 2010 at 5:09pm

Your missing my point if you think teams have not tried to capture sponsors in your market...

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Permalink Reply by 7gason7 on June 23, 2010 at 5:14pm

Have they tried the Elsinore Brewery. RGM could alway go the mouse in the bottle route. That has worked before.

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Permalink Reply by Joe on June 24, 2010 at 8:47am

beauty, eh? like they could pay him in krullers or jellies.

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Permalink Reply by Matt on June 24, 2010 at 12:41pm

Saving christianity? I used the second coming phrase to describe "the next big thing," religion was the furthest thing from my mind. (Although I understand its roots are in religion, that was not my intent)

The Andrew Ranger thing needs to stop. Unless your his agent or a car owner, your constant comments about how great he is does nothing. Oh and the offer still stands for any Nationwide roadcourse races, let me know what sponsor he is bringing or how much he is going to fund the effort if his "guaranteed win" doesnt happen.

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Permalink Reply by bighead on June 23, 2010 at 3:37pm

I just hope Robby finds that pot of gold in Argentina......and how does "THE OBBY SHOP" sound

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Permalink Reply by soylent_green on June 23, 2010 at 3:40pm

Has there ever been a situation where 2 cars locked in the top 35 (like the 7 and 71) running as start and parks?

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Permalink Reply by Garrett Gleason on June 23, 2010 at 3:49pm

Would be pretty darn cool to have two RGM cars to root for on a weekly basis, but one step at a time. Really looking forward to seeing Bobby give the #7 a good run this week. Maybe he and Gene can do some creative strategy to get the #7 up front for some exposure and a good finish. Now pretty much locked into the top 35 for the season some gambling can start and perhaps payoff.

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Permalink Reply by bighead on June 23, 2010 at 4:15pm

He has to have the chasis they ran at Phoneix....That car is ready to win......Bobby will actually be lucky to be driving such a fine piece of hand crafted steel.......Hell he may even qual top 10..........

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Permalink Reply by Keith Stone on June 23, 2010 at 3:50pm

Nice.

•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)