Gordon Readies for Waltrip's Retirement
Posted Apr 18, 2009 10:37PM By Geoffrey Miller

The NASCAR on FOX television crew tried to play it off as an accident, but Sprint Cup driver Robby Gordon was having none of it.

"I'm really looking forward to having a new driver in the [No.] 55 next year," said Gordon during his post-wreck interview, mad after Michael Waltrip bumped him into the Phoenix International Raceway turn three wall Saturday night in the Subway Fresh Fit 500.

No, Gordon doesn't have insider infomation about Waltrip's 2010 plans, but rather he was just citing comments that the driver/owner made at the beginning of the season.

During a preseason press conference, Waltrip noted that his personal performance in the No. 55 Toyota of his Michael Waltrip Racing entity had to improve significantly over what had been two straight seasons of mediocrity -- if that.
"My goal is to go win some races this year, run up front so that I don't have to say this is my last year. But if I don't do those things, if I can't compete at the level that Reutimann does or NAPA expects, then I probably won't get to do this again in 2010," said Waltrip
Apparently Robby doesn't think such circumstances will occur Waltrip in 2009, though his comments came at a time when the driver of the No. 7 was a little biased.

The incident happened on lap 167 when Gordon headed into turn 3 with Waltrip inside and the other Gordon -- Jeff, the version with four more Sprint Cup titles than Robby -- trailing close behind. Waltrip lost grip heading into the corner, slid up the track and knocked Robby's ride into a spin. The No. 7 rear-ended the wall with Waltrip getting a piece of the action on his right-rear quarter panel.

Robby headed for the garage for repair [and returned to the race many laps down] while Waltrip hit pit road.

While in the garage, FOX Sports' Steve Byrnes grabbed an interview, leading off by referring to the crash as a 'victim of circumstance'.

"Yeah it's a bummer," Robby said. "I don't know, we probably should have come for tires there. We were running 18th. I don't know what Michael was doing there but he just ran us over."

"Can you get back in the race?" Byrnes asked.

"Yeah, but getting back in the race is one thing, but to lose this many points for the second weekend in a row -- its just devastation," said Gordon. "Our speedway car is really not that fast so i'm really concerned about that. But I'm really looking forward to have a new driver in the 55 next year."

And with that, the interview was complete, Michael Waltrip dissed and Robby Gordon's dismal streak of finishes continued.

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I think this article is well written, giving insight to why Robby would say there would be a new driver for the #55 next year, plus a recap of the incident.Well done!
Agree 100%
I'm ready for waltrip's retirement too
michael sucks and so does he brother FOX should be ashamed how darrel always defends his brother and props all walltrips drivers MICHEAL SUCKS ANDS SO DOES FOX I WANT SHOOT DIGGER
Can't wait to see what Steve Byrnes and Mikey say about it on TWIN.
I laughed so hard when Robby made that comment. Happy trails Mikey.
well our superspeedway program is good, we all know that, hoping for a better weekend at dega
I'm ready to have no Mikey Waltrip in a car or calling a race. He is a turd.
Twards the end of the race when Robby was running near Michael, I switched to the 55 channel, to see if they were avoiding Robby..They didn't say much,but at the end of the race MW told BB that it was his mistake,,He sounded like he was almost in tears..He said, he loved to drive but got so nervous..It was very strange..
Mikey got nervous, WTH is up with that? Guess he still is and always will be a POS
I was waiting for the "POS" coment when they interviewed him. You hear the restraint in Robs voice. Michael has got to go. Seems like every other race he's wrecking someone. His other two cars consistently run up front and Waltrip runs in the back! Give it up already!
Robby got screwed, u can totally feel his frustration in that interview he's better then 35th in pts

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