2012 Sonoma Race Weekend Info & Discussion

Join in here and discuss all the weekend action for the 2012 Sonoma cup race. Robby Gordon will attempt to qualify the #7 Mapei Dodge into the field on Friday & will run the full race on Sunday. Gordon finished 18th at this track in 2011 & won the race in 2003. Here is the weekend schedule for RGM at the California track.

FRIDAY , JUNE 22nd

Practice 3:00pm - 4:30 pm/et ( TV - SPEED )
Qualifying 6:40pm - 8:00 pm/et ( TV - SPEED - TAPE DELAY AT 11:00pm/et )

Practice Live Leaderboard

SATURDAY , JUNE 23rd

Practice 12:30pm/et - 1:15pm/et ( TV - NONE )

Happy Hour 3:00pm/et - 4:00pm/et (TV -SPEED - TAPE DELAY AT 11:00pm/et )

SUNDAY , JUNE 24th

Raceday 3:00 pm/et , greenflag at 3:18 pm/et ( TV - TNT )

TOP F.A.Q

1. Engine? RGM
2. Sponsors ? SPEED Energy / MAPEI
3. Crew Chief ? Robby Gordon
4. Full Race? YES
5. Souvenir Hauler ? YES
6. Where is Miles Stanley? Engineer for BK Racing ( 73, 83 & 93 )

7. Where is Brooks ? Napa Valley

LIVE GARAGE CAM

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Permalink Reply by ShaneH on June 23, 2012 at 7:10pm

Yep! Within 1mph now.

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Permalink Reply by blitz on June 23, 2012 at 7:44pm

hey starting in the back with nothing to lose,he can gamble some crazy pit stratgey i think i will watch him 2morrow 1st race since daytona,no Robby no need to watch

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Permalink Reply by bighead on June 23, 2012 at 8:34pm

Robby is gonna put on a show dont be surprised when he wins

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Permalink Reply by irlfan on June 23, 2012 at 8:53pm

Yeah he will put on a show for sure, but I think top 15 if the equip/MOTOR hold-best outcome. If that happens its a major win for the program since being out of the mix since Bristol. Just Sayin

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Permalink Reply by Rob Hoban on June 23, 2012 at 10:00pm

This may be Robby's last ride in the 7 car this year and sadly I may have to change my plans to go to Watkins Glen later this year. But is there any chance that another team tries to sign Robby for an event at Watkins Glen or Montreal as "ringer"? Okay, back to reality...

Stop saying that NASCAR is driving "guys like" Robby out of the sport. They didn't drive out Robby, the economy drove out Robby. Matt Kenseth can't get a full time sponsor and the S&P teams are on borrowed time. Robby got in NASCAR when the sport was booming. Tracks were being built in the midwest, rumors of new tracks in the Northwest were abundant and sponsors wanted in! Just like the housing market, NASCAR peaked and it has been downhill ever since. Potential sponsors just don't have the funding anymore. This isn't Robby's fault. He just doesn't want to go broke in the process. Can't blame him. He and I are the same age and at this stage in his life he is gambleing on the SST and I hope it is a success and he enjoys this stage in his life. Like WJM said, "It's been a fun ride".

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Permalink Reply by Scott B on June 23, 2012 at 11:22pm

NASCAR certainly didn't help the situation. Attendance and ratings are down...which leads to sponsorship's being down. Should NASCAR take the full blame? No, obviously the economy didn't hurt. But, is NASCAR putting out the best product? Hell no!

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Permalink Reply by Mike Kenyon on June 24, 2012 at 1:34am

@Scott, Brian France to blame.IMO With the policy that Na$crap has to approve every sponsor,no conflicting sponsors with Na$craps exclusive sponsors.Brian is more to blame than a soft/bad economy.Fact, Na$crap was on a decline before the Demoncrate's nomination 2008.Why,Brian France's policies!

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Permalink Reply by Josh Fisher on June 24, 2012 at 5:25am

Yeah because the "Deity" known as Big Bill France totally didn't start the Exclusivity crap back in the 70s?

The Title Sponsor in the Cup Series has had exclusivity in it's category since Winston took over, and Goodyear has had exclusivity since sometime in the 90s, (So I guess technically that's Big & Little Bill that did those) & then the only sponsor that Brian added Exclusivity for was the Fuel Sponsor and to be honest that didn't really impact anybody at all, if the Oil companies wanted to be in they'd be using their Motor-Oil brands knowing that customers would carry over to their Gas brands.

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Permalink Reply by David Z on June 24, 2012 at 7:59am

Brian France should be fined for the catch all rule “Actions Detrimental to Stock Car Racing”.

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Permalink Reply by Jeff Shelton on June 24, 2012 at 12:59am

Rules and regulation has been running the smaller teams out for years. Can't blame that on the economy. Nascar let the cost get out of control and blew the possibility of sponsors getting a return for their money.

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Permalink Reply by Christopher Lutz on June 24, 2012 at 8:33am

Rob - you make a point, but - NASCAR certainly contributed. They continued to have "the official X of Nascar", which brings in money for the France Family AND eliminates sponsor options for the teams.

Remember the Verizon dust up? (Due to the "Sprint" sponsorship of "Sprint Cup").

You are correct it's NOT NASCAR independently....but, in my IMHO, the sport has been poorly managed and is now experiencing substantial declines in nearly every category (TV viewership, attendance, etc.)

When the economy is bad, viewership should be up, not down (essentially the reverse of attendance) - IF (BIG CAPITAL IF) the fans still care about the sport.

What you're seeing is the FANs leaving the sport....thus, pressuring the organization, which in turn pressures the teams.

I'm a little curious, and have a question for the Planeteers:

(1) Would you rather have slower, tighter racing (cars more even and together) OR

(2) Faster cars with bleeding edge technology and engineering

I personally get a kick out the tech angle; however, I suspect slower cars in tighter packs is more interesting to watch.

I hope everyone enjoys the race today.

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Permalink Reply by wingit on June 23, 2012 at 10:57pm

Robby's # 7 was looking good at the last part of happy hour today. Robby said looking good for tomorrow. Should be fun watching him come up through the field.