Phoenix Robby Gordon Post Race Quotes

ROBBY GORDON (No. 7 SPEED Energy/MAPEI Dodge Charger R/T)

“We struggled to pass. I think everybody struggles to pass and I drove down onto the apron, a lot like (Elliott) Sadler did yesterday, and soon as I got back up to the main groove, it got loose on me. It’s a bummer. It was a brand new Dodge Charger and now it’s probably going to need a front and rear clip on it. That was a good race car. Guys did a good job all weekend long and unfortunately we find ourselves with another wrecked race car, which it doesn’t really matter. If you can’t stay on the lead lap, it doesn’t make any sense to race. That’s just my opinion.”

DID YOU LEARN ANYTHING TODAY THAT WILL HELP YOU MOVING FORWARD INTO NEXT SEASON?

“I learned you need to bring the best race cars that you’ve got every single weekend and it just takes money and right now, we don’t have enough of that.”

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Kathy Kubara on November 14, 2011 at 12:19pm

We knew at the beginning of the year that it was notgoing to be a full schedule. It's not a surprise that the money isn't there, Plenty of others are having sponsorship problems. There are a few things to look forward to before Daytona . Just have to wait and see what next season brings. As a fan, I'm along for the ride.

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Permalink Reply by Matt Gruber on November 14, 2011 at 12:59pm

I think we are on the verge of major changes in Cup. When Matt Kenseth can't find sponsorship, no one is safe. We might be headed back to the 1970s when only half the field was sponsored and as a result the whole thing was run for less money. THen again, we might end up with 20 sponsored cars, one or two blank cars finanaced by the big boys and then 20 S&Ps.

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Permalink Reply by Bob Sadowski on November 14, 2011 at 1:53pm

He could store it in mine!

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Permalink Reply by Mike Kenyon on November 14, 2011 at 2:14pm

@Jeff, Na$crap already did that with the COT.That's why every chassis has to go to the R&D center to be certified.And the body's have to fit the claw.

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Permalink Reply by WJM on November 14, 2011 at 4:29pm

Here's a quote from Gary Nelson, NASCAR vice president of R&D and the development overseer of the COT from 2006:

"We think one of the major benefits is yet to be realized as the car owners begin to build a more cost-efficient race car. We designed this car to run for a long time, at road courses, short tracks, intermediate-sized tracks all the way to Daytona," Nelson said. "You would be able to run the same foundation car, the frame, the cage, the body, all of the components that today are being swapped around as the cars are purpose-built for certain types of tracks. We're eliminating that with this car."

Ask any team owner in the garage how much of the above statement came to fruition.

And here's couple of things Nelson didn't mention:
The COT would require a different transmission and rear-end package.
Body repairs will be more costly because of the integrated templates ("the claw"). No more can you replace a front or rear clip without having to re-scan the whole damn car. Off by a 64th...fail inspection. And by the way, since inspections will take longer the re-certification fee that every car must have will be higher - even if it was originally certified last week.
Run the same car at Talledega, Michigan, and Watkins Glen? Sure you can, but do you think anyone actually does? Short answer: No.

That "run a long time" has come and gone. So when does that supposed cost savings kick in?

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Permalink Reply by Team Maranello on November 14, 2011 at 5:13pm

Cant this circus racing just die. Dakar/Baja cant come quick enough for me.

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Permalink Reply by Matt Gruber on November 15, 2011 at 2:28pm

I interviewed RG at Talladega the year the COT was being integrated in to NASCAR, and he was talking about the COT being the great equalizer and keeping costs down.

Little did we know that the cars would be so freaking equal that no one can pass, the leader can run away and hide even on old tires because of clean air and it STILL would favor the big teams.

I am truly thankful for the safety improvements. Without the COT (or perhaps the HANS), we likely would be without a couple of drivers who are still competing today, but the COT has ruined the racing in NASCAR.

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Permalink Reply by Mike Kenyon on November 16, 2011 at 12:11am

Hans,the Safer Barriers,proper seat belt mounting,improved seats.And the foam panels on the sides of COT's could have been installed on the older car and there's little to no difference on how front and rear clips are designed/installed.IMO

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Permalink Reply by Edwardo on November 14, 2011 at 6:23pm

So, this was actually a S & P for the #7.

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Permalink Reply by TOG on November 14, 2011 at 6:50pm

not even close, but nice try.

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Permalink Reply by NIKAL on November 14, 2011 at 7:26pm

Let see the most laps a S&P team did this weekend was 60 laps. If RG was a S&P why would he have raced 218 laps and then backed it into the wall? If you cant watch the race at least check Jayski or Nascar.com for results and look at the laps ran and result status.

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Permalink Reply by Edwardo on November 15, 2011 at 4:59am

Still, it was yet another, DNF. So what's the difference? Might as well of have been a S & P considering the prize $$$ Robby earned for 218 laps, compared to the money earned by Joe Nemechek, etc.
So, now Robby's off to Mexico, to do what? Race in a race that very few people pay attention. The Baja races are for those folks who are purest. No TV, little pub. Not much opportunity to push Speed Energy or his brand name.
It actually saddens me, that there may be NASCAR without Robby Gordon. I know, for me, that I will not watch NASCAR without Robby Gordon.