#7 Jim Beam Heluva Good! At the Glen
Pre Race Report

• Pennsylvania 6 - 5 penalty laps – RGM made their second appearance of the year at the Pocono “Roval” with every intention of contending for a solid finish. With the #7 Camry fast off the truck in early practice sessions, it seemed team owner/driver Robby Gordon had the equipment to deliver on that intent. With the untimely cancellation of qualifying due to rain, Gordon was relegated to start in the 34th position. The race started well for the “man in black” team and quickly the #7 moved into the top 25. However an early pit road speeding penalty hurt them and Gordon had to then fight his way back through the field. An issue with the #12 team forced a 5-lap penalty which effectively ruined what could have been a good points day. Team Gordon looks to rebound this week at Watkins Glen, a track where he has had tremendous Cup success in the past. Even better, Gordon will be doing double duty in the Nationwide series with his first run of 2009 in the Hard Rock Las Vegas Hotel #55 Camry.

• 04 in 09 – Duplicating a strategy from the Infineon race this past June, Team Gordon will attempt to field a second entry at the Glen with road expert P. J. Jones at the wheel of the Jim Beam/Menards #04 Camry. P.J. hopes to be driving well into the race this week after a mechanical issue forced him to retire his race car after only 2 laps at Sears Point. “Naturally I’m excited about running another road course car at the Glen for Robby. I think this time we’ll have all the belts tighten, the hoses connected and the racing suit starched and pressed. It would be great to put both cars into the top 5 and I have every intention of doing just that.”

• Where have all the people gone? – Even the casual observer couldn’t help but notice the number of empty seats at the Pocono race this past weekend. While the weather played a role in keeping fans away, track attendance in general has been way down this year. In effort to bring excitement and family fun back to racing, Nascar has announced a number of innovative strategies to fill these empty seats. “Starting at the Glen, we plan to host a number of contests during the race for fabulous prices,” said Nascar head Brian Frances. “There’s the water balloon competition where fans seated along the front stretch will try to hit race cars with balloons as they past by. Then there’s the lug nut eating contest, the beer can-victory lap challenge where prizes will be awarded to fans who successfully hit the winner with a can of Bud. Then for our grand prize, we are planning a “pit road dash” where select fans will attempt to run down pit road during a caution. We’ll need them to sign insurance waivers for that contest though.”

Robby Gordon quotes: “The thing about the 12 car is in the past. We’re focused on the Glen and getting to victory lane in both the Cup and Nationwide series. And to be honest, getting the checkers will be pay back enough. Course, if he gives me any grief in the bus stop…well you saw what I did to Kurt Busch a few years ago.”

Kirk Almquist quotes: “All I hear any more is fuel mileage, fuel mileage, fuel mileage. If I hear those words one more time, I swear I’m going to go buy a Prius and stencil the #7 on the side.”