ESPN: Robby Gordon faces 8-race season

Uh-oh. From ESPN.com

AVONDALE, Ariz. -- 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 told ESPN.com on 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.''

David Newton covers NASCAR for ESPN.com. He can be reached at dnewtonespn@aol.com.

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Permalink Reply by Dave-O on November 13, 2009 at 5:44pm

WIth RG's qualifing skills, dropping out of the T35 could be deadly to RGM. The sponsors won't come back if Robby starts missing races.

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Permalink Reply by Pathfinder7 on November 15, 2009 at 10:04am

No, no, I can't live through another 2005! It just hurt so bad!

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Permalink Reply by Nicky Schacht on November 13, 2009 at 5:33pm

this is not good. If this is true my nasar days are over. Really no other reason to watch

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Permalink Reply by TOG on November 13, 2009 at 5:48pm

well, Robby wants to run all the races, and he is going to do all he can to make sure he can, except not as a start and park. he'd rather park it than be a start and park.

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Permalink Reply by Alex on November 13, 2009 at 5:50pm

I totally respect Robby for that. If that doesnt prove hes a true racer then i dont know what does.

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Permalink Reply by David Gotaas on November 13, 2009 at 7:26pm

I am with you, Robby is the only reason I watch...

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Permalink Reply by Eric Appleby on November 13, 2009 at 5:44pm

It's well on the way to becoming like F-1, with 18 or so cars out there.

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Permalink Reply by Country Boy on November 13, 2009 at 5:50pm

i said it last year, time to be a vulture and contact some sponsors of the mid-level Nationwide teams.

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Permalink Reply by Bigzoom on November 13, 2009 at 5:49pm

I thought Menards & Mapei were back and Polaris took over 8 races from Jim Beam leaving? Lots of conflicting information...sounds like some deals didn't come through. During the radio interview from yesterday Robby said he was looking the find a sloution for his over the wall crew during the off season to quit losing spots on pit road...YIKES!

Like TOG said, still have time. RGM can survive. With Jim Beam out they can look at more companies to join without issues. Marketing team might have to start selling individual races or smaller packages.

Worst news I've heard in a long time!.