Robby Gordon #7 vs Regan Smith #78

Could someone here please tell me how is it that another single car team beat Robby in points. I see the 78 car based in Denver Co. with the same challenge the 7 car has but one is 26th in points and the other 34th. I see RG with major driving talent and car construction ability but poor finishes. Is the question money or skill or some other factor. I read posts here on most issues and can't get a grip on why RG isn't at least in the mid 20's in points. We have some insiders here and I would like to get some insight. Oh by the way yes I am a RG fan from way back.....just a little frustrated.

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Permalink Reply by ivanspeed on August 2, 2011 at 11:20pm

cant rg just buy an ecr engine he has one on his TT why cant he get one for his cup car?

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Permalink Reply by Mike Kenyon on August 2, 2011 at 11:25pm

had?

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Permalink Reply by WJM on August 2, 2011 at 11:32pm

I don't see Dodge having a problem with that.

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Permalink Reply by TOG on August 2, 2011 at 11:36pm

You win. Gibbs it is.

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Permalink Reply by WJM on August 3, 2011 at 12:22am

"Could someone here please tell me how is it that another single car team beat Robby in points."
Barney Visser started Furniture Row Racing in 2005, same as RGM, but prior to hooking up with RCR (and Barney upping the budget into seven figures) last season, the #78 team struggled badly. Barney has 'beat' Robby only once in owner points prior to this year:
2005 - 64th
2006 - 41st
2007 - 42nd
2008 - 42nd
2009 - 40th
2010 - 29th
2011 - currently 26th
Kudos to Barney and Joe Garone for getting the program turned around but rest assured those RCR chassis', ECR engines, and the required support resources jacked up the budget to probably three to four times that of RGM - but its not like Furniture Row has been handing RGM their ass for the past 7 years.

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Permalink Reply by Matty A. Teasley on August 3, 2011 at 12:42am

So true. Money gets results. BUY MORE SPEED! (Sorry for the caps lock, was going for emphasis. Please don't kick me out).

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Permalink Reply by Lance on August 6, 2011 at 9:15am

Wait do you mean having an affiliation with a larger team can help performance? Why didn't RGM think of that? Seems like ive heard that somewhere before. Lol

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Permalink Reply by Wheaton56 on August 3, 2011 at 12:38am

Wjm, does Barney still have equipment at CNS? Just curious.

And while on topic for comparisons, a money figure to ponder.
When the 78 team leased engines from HMS, it was a cool 5 mil for a season worth of engines for all back ups, primarys and a tuner at the races.
I would be curious if the amount is close for ECR engines and what the changes will be for FI, but thats another topic.

The 78 guys work as if they will win each race and defiantly have top notch equipment.
The bare chassis come in on truck after NASCAR inspects them and they still build the car from that point.

So still they build, plumb, wire, bodywork, suspension, exhaust, bla, bla, bla the whole car before heading to track.

It's still hard for some people to understand the whole car and team have to be flawless for things to go right. It's not like they slap a 78 sticker on an old 07 car and scratch off the Jack Daniels stickers.

And in the end Regan is a.pretty darn good racer also.

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Permalink Reply by Matty A. Teasley on August 3, 2011 at 12:53am

No doubt that driver deserves credit. Two time Cup winner. Great talent, incredible qualifier. Just glad people got to see how well he can hang that car out over a couple laps during the Darlington race...