New day, New Hampshire next, we must move forward

I'm sure the "what if's" and "why?" has all been played over and over. The startegy was working. Robby was sticking to the plan and leading the race, racing luck fell and took Robby's chances away? But the reaction cost him. Robby made a setup call that seemed to be way too extreme and it cost him a ton of points. I'm sure it was a desperation call out of frustration, but it knocked alot more than than yellow flag did. Robby restarted near the rear but soon was sitting in 17th with more double file restarts to come. He easily had the equipment for a Top 10 or even Top 5 finish. But the ill-handling car wouldn't perform and Robby couldn't pick up spots. He was slowed by a spinning Biffle that put him in the 25th position and then collected in a wreck that finished him up in 36th. It's sad because even without the win, Robby easily had 75 to 100 points sitting in his lap. Those positions would have moved him up 2 spots in the Owner's Points and closed the gap on the Top 20. That's the down side to being an owner/driver, he needed someone to say "Negative! That car is good, we'll tighten you up a little with air pressure. Go out there and see if you can put yourself within striking distance. We're gonna get some cautions. Get after it!"

Well, it's over and New Hampshire is next...Jim Beam won't return until Chicago, so this weekend and Daytona will be TBA. Crazy thing is these two tracks actually are better tracks for Robby and give the team a chance, Robby won at New Hampshire with RCR and the plate track program has been solid.

I know it takes money & time, but if RGM would put the effort into building a couple of cars like they did their road course car they would be contenders. Build 2 plate cars, 2 road course cars and 2 intermediate cars like they did this past weekend and he'd look more like Stewart-Haas.

Robby must not think of what could have been and think about what his team has done. They had a car built better than anyone and it was bad fast. He has the team, we all know he can drive. Having the Baja 500 win taken away, and leading at Sonoma when the caution flag dropped has to be one of the hardest weeks Robby has ever endured. This will be a long, hard week for Robby Gordon, but he has to move forward.

Now is the time for Robby fans to show support. It's easy to be behind him when he wins, but it's when he's down is when the real fans stand tall.

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Bigzoom on June 22, 2009 at 4:57pm

McJam, I actually think Robby went in very patient and stuck to the plan. I heard several times the spotters telling him "You're running faster than the leader, back it down." Even when he slowed down he was stll scary fast. He knew he was patient. He knew he followed the plan. He knew he saved his equipment. He also knew when the words, "Caution Out" came over the radio he was taking a major hit. It happens. Look at Kyle Busch, he was fast and got taken out.

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Permalink Reply by Matt on June 22, 2009 at 12:14pm

Im shocked people are so up in arms. I was not able to follow the chat here or listen to radio traffic, but RGM had a fast car and were victims of circumstance. It did not seem like an ill handling car at all. The caution came out at the worst time, Robby understandably was bummed, and they were behind from that point on.

This is racing folks, honestly get over it. There are many times the fastest cars dont win a given race, ask Jimmy Johnson about Michigan. The point though is RGMs cars have been much better this year. If RGM starts to contend for more races, a win will happen. You have to put yourself in position to win before you can win, and Sunday Robby did that before bad luck occured.

Get over it and move on folks, to me nothing will eclipse running out of fuel at Indy on the last lap in regards to bad luck.

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Permalink Reply by Matt on June 22, 2009 at 12:47pm

No worries, fishdood from rdc hooked me up with some radio updates.

Yup, on to Loudon. Looking forward to Daytona as well.

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Permalink Reply by McJam on June 22, 2009 at 12:26pm

My only dissapointment was what happened after Lady Luck turned away from RG. That was all hindsight and yep, you're right, he was in position and the more times you put yourself in position at some point good things will happen. Afterwards was a bit different though. RG drove pissed and a solid finish slipped from his grasp. I'm saying that his "pissness" (if there is such a word) is what draws me to be a fan of RG. I'm glad (and proud) I don't follow any of the other 42+ robot clones.

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Permalink Reply by mic kanic on June 22, 2009 at 12:26pm

It is funny how things never change and always come around--think Montreal think Ambrose, think Infineon think Ambrose getting into Labonte to cause yellow. One day soon RG will get a win or top five when NOBODY expects it. Don't change anything just go out and GIVEHER.

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Permalink Reply by GrayAntiMatter on June 22, 2009 at 9:25pm

Yup. And following on a solid run where he was in the top 20 all day at Michigan....thats great. Two races in a row where RGM put cars on track that were able to perform well? Thats a good a thing.

Now if the #7 runs on the lead lap and can hang in the top twenty, making it three solid runs in a row, then things will actually be looking up

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Permalink Reply by FlyHiFlyLo on June 22, 2009 at 12:19pm

RGM did the right thing. They stuck to what could have been the top 3 stratagy. There is no doubt RG had almost 40 seconds on Stewart when the caution fell. RG could have came into the pits as planned and after all the action at the end of the race he would have been the one punting Kahne for the win. But it played out different than that. This same stratagy has won before many times. Stick to it and it will get you a win. Just not this time.

Plenty of testing for the 7 and 04 tho. Bring it to The Glen.

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Permalink Reply by kurt kern on June 22, 2009 at 12:50pm

Robby has 100x the instestinal fortitude of the rest of his competition...... Monday morning QBing is the easy part. It was was a heartbreak weekend for RGM. No time to cry in our beer though.....off to New Hampshire. I'm fired-up....Robby runs wells there!

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Permalink Reply by Country Boy on June 22, 2009 at 12:57pm

Can we assume that Rob's car will be "Naked In New Hampshire"?

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Permalink Reply by brewski on June 22, 2009 at 1:22pm

Yes remember the new day next race talk?whats the car going to be Yellow /Green /Black? ...maybe blue orange and yellow like tha old indy car or menards TT? That could be the postive energy RG needs this week!

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Permalink Reply by shawn rhinehart on June 22, 2009 at 1:51pm

Robby did all he could do. Racing luck was involved, and the BONEHEAD move by Ambrose causing the caution. Is this midget aussie gonna haunt Robby the rest of his life?