Fox Sports/Lee Spencer Dodge/Robby Gordon Article

Robby Gordon will return to NASCAR Sprint Cup competition in a Dodge this season.

Gordon said the direction Dodge was moving in “with two young guys (CEO of Dodge Ralph Gilles and Head of Dodge Motorsports Bryan Viger) running the program,” made it an attractive proposition, particularly for an owner/driver.

“They have good ideas. Their cars are stylish. It was the first time, even though I was with Dodge before that I had factory help," Gordon said.

“Toyota didn’t have any help to offer. I’m impressed with (Dodge) cars. And anyone who hasn‘t been to Dodge, it‘s a beautiful facility.”

Gordon, 42, will have Penske engines this season. He acknowledges that the most success he’s had since the inception of the new car was with Dodge power under the hood. He was last behind the wheel of a Dodge in 2008.

“Eighty-five percent of your lap is full throttle,” Gordon said. “You have to be able handle down the straightaways.”

Gordon has operated his own team in NASCAR since 2006. He has driven cars from all manufacturers throughout that period.

Gordon last visited Victory Lane in the Cup series in 2003, when he swept both road-course races while driving for Richard Childress. In 2010, he spent time between off-road trucks and stock cars and finished 34th in the NASCAR points standings.

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by TOG on February 10, 2011 at 10:29am

1) Toyota offered nothing

2) Dodge giving him full support

3) EZ Decision

4) Let's Race !

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Kathy Kubara on February 10, 2011 at 10:34am

He must be itching to get his butt in that car and get racing

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Billy on February 10, 2011 at 10:40am

Could this mean more races for RG ??

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Turtle7 on February 10, 2011 at 11:03am

I wonder when he will drop the next shoe... Dakar and Jeep? Go RGM! BTW, if sponsership $ appear, I wonder who will drive the 7 in the other 18 races.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Saint Yukon on February 11, 2011 at 1:06am

I'm sure that Penske would be more than happy to loan him a driver if the occasion should occur...Hornish is looking for a ride.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by alan4s on February 10, 2011 at 11:11am

The last sentence is interesting:

Robby Gordon, Dodge reach deal By Jim Utter - jutter@charlotteobserver.com Thursday, Feb. 10, 2011

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Dodge's Sprint Cup fleet increased by 50 percent on Thursday.

Driver Robby Gordon announced that he and his Robby Gordon Motorsports organization had reached a deal to run Dodges in the Cup races he enters this season, which right now stands at about 18 to 20.

Dodge had three factory-backed teams in 2010 – with drivers Sam Hornish Jr., Kurt Busch and Brad Keselowski, all with Penske Racing. Penske ended its Cup program with Hornish, which effectively allowed for another Dodge program.

“At RGM, we haven’t had a factory program in two years. We kind of rode it out with Toyota, but it wasn’t a factory program,” Gordon said during Thursday’s Media Day activities at Daytona International Speedway.

“We really didn’t get any help. That’s the truth of the matter. They had their priority teams prior to us rolling in.”

Gordon said he was impressed with Dodge’s facilities in Detroit during a visit in December.

“They have all the tools to do what they need to do. I feel with the guys they have in charge, I’m excited about the direction they are headed with Dodge and there will be multiple opportunities for RGM,” he said.

Gordon will use engines from Penske. His Cup schedule could expand.

Read more: http://www.thatsracin.com/2011/02/10/55156/robby-gordon-dodge-reach...

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by NIKAL on February 10, 2011 at 11:35am

Another part of the Speedway Media interview;

"We’re (SPEED Energy) selling product and that’s a good thing. We’re gaining more distribution on a daily basis and we’re kind of controlling our own destiny. Our program is different with sponsors than it was before. We’re really not selling sponsors, we’re selling, ‘Hey, the spots next to Red Bull and Monster. Those are the spots that I want on your shelf and I’ll give you Daytona.’ So we’ve been able to do deals with GNC. We’ve done deals with Basha’s. We’ve signed up multiple, multiple Budweiser distribution deals. Our product is just starting to roll again. We control our own destiny. I am the driver. I am the owner, kind of the sponsor, except for our sponsorship with Dodge. We can be as creative as we want to do.”

So it looks as if the blank spot on the side of the car that everyone seems so interested in will be for companies that partner and distribute Speed Energy. Example was the Bud Light logo on the TT at Parker.