Thompson In Turn 5 · Tommy Thompson · Tuesday March 13, 2007
Owner / Driver Robby Gordon, never one to shy away from the spotlight, became the target of heavy criticism this past weekend at Las Vegas. Early on in the race, he lost control while attempting to pass on the inside of the race track, involving himself in an incident with drivers Casey Mears and Ward Burton, ruining their days. Burton recorded a last place finish as a result of the wreck, and Mears, whose car was able to briefly return, finished a disappointing 40th on the day. The FOX race commentators were in unanimity during the numerous replays of the melee in that Gordon's failed attempt to execute such an aggressive pass only nineteen laps into the race was ill-advised. Mears minced no words in placing the blame on Gordon. “It amazes me,” Mears said. “Every time I think Robby can’t do anything any more stupid than he’s already done, he one-ups himself.
“It’s so early in the race. The tires are some of the hardest tires to drive we’ve had all year. It’s such a long race, and he puts us three-wide going into Turn 1. It’s ridiculous. He’s trying to pull something off in the first opening laps when it means nothing. I guess he’s trying to be a hero, you know?”
Gordon, on the other hand, believed that he was pinched down onto the apron, causing the car to slide out from underneath him. Whatever his reasoning, the accident hardly left Gordon a victim; he wound up with a 17th place finish in the UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400. That Top 20 run resulted in Gordon's No. 7 Ford team being positioned in 14th place in the Nextel Cup standings this week, only twelve points behind tenth place driver Elliott Sadler in what is Gordon’s strongest start to a season in years. And though it's certainly too early in the season for anyone to get their hopes up concerning the season-ending ten race Chase to the Nextel Cup, Gordon sits only five points behind Yates protégé David Gilliland for the twelfth and final qualifying spot.
That Gordon is once again being accused of over aggressive driving in the backdrop of a solid start to his year is neither surprising nor particularly newsworthy. Robby Gordon has been a hard-charging, give-no-quarter type of driver his entire racing career. It is a reputation that has followed him through the many disciplines of motorsports that he has participated and enjoyed success in. Whether competing in off-road racing, sport cars, open-wheel or stock car, drivers know that Robby Gordon can be expected, on track, to make the aggressive move more often than not.
However, what has become more apparent is that NASCAR's media establishment continues to miss or ignore the more intriguing and interesting story on Robby Gordon… that of a driver that continues to survive and prosper in the highly competitive and exclusive club of NASCAR Nextel Cup racing ownership against almost insurmountable odds. It’s a remarkable story that continues to develop and rival the legendary accomplishments of another owner/driver and 1992 Cup Champion, the late Alan Kulwicki; not since then has any “lone wolf” accomplished as much in the ever increasingly expensive, competitive, and unforgiving racing series.
Since the debut of Robby Gordon Motorsports’ Cup entry at the 2005 Daytona 500, this man has understood that nothing was going to come easy. The team was fined $50,000 and docked 25 owner points for a race in which they failed to qualify for (sound familiar, Michael Waltrip?). After that inauspicious beginning Gordon has had to continue overcoming hurdle after hurdle to compete. Blown engines were an early handicap with engines supplied by John Menard, forcing Gordon to abandon the experimental power plants before their true potential could ever be realized. In addition, Gordon recorded several failures to qualify for races during 2005, sometimes as a victim of the Top 35 rule that allowed slower cars into the field even though Gordon’s qualifying speeds were faster. Bad luck and DNF’s due to wrecks and mechanical failure all contributed to relegate Gordon to a 37th place points finish by the end of that season.
It appeared that pessimistic predictions of Gordon’s failure as an owner/driver would come to fruition at that point. “He’s certainly a good driver and certainly has the talent, but trying to make it on your own with your own team — I don’t know if that business model works anymore,” said multi-car owner Chip Ganassi at the time, who Gordon drove for in the Indy Racing League ten years ago. “I could be wrong. More power to him, but I think it’s a tall hill to climb.”
Those doubts on Gordon's chances of success were echoed by his former car owner, Richard Childress. “If anybody could pull it off in today’s world, Robby could,” Childress said. “You have to admire him for trying to make it as a car owner and a driver. It’s just tough today trying to make it — even tougher than it was — with all the technology. It takes several teams to distribute (the costs).”
Apparently, Robby Gordon never got the memo that he was destined to fail. 2006 saw a marked improvement, as Gordon continued to prove the skeptics wrong. After missing seven races the previous year, Gordon qualified for all thirty-six races and gained Top 35 protection by virtue of his 30th place position in the season-ending point total.
The road as an owner / driver has not gotten easier while Gordon’s gotten better. Having lost his longtime sponsor Harrah's Resort and Casinos through no fault of his own, Gordon now struggles to simply accumulate the financial backing necessary to compete. This fact and a still unexplained snafu in expected sponsor support from Monster, the energy drink rival to Red Bull, resulted in the No. 7 Ford racing last Sunday with no sponsorship logos on its hood.
Which brings us back to the racing at Las Vegas. Casey Mears understandably was upset with Gordon’s lack of patience during last Sunday’s race, but what Mears fails to understand is that Robby Gordon does not have the luxury of being patient and just “riding” for a while. Unlike the talented driver, who is locked into a long-term contract with the highly successful and well-financed Hendrick Motorsports team, Gordon was driving a car he owns and with no primary sponsorship. In his situation, following is really not an option; Gordon needs to make things happen. When he believes that there is a good possibility of advancing his position, he has to “go for it,” as his very survival in the sport depends on him doing the exceptional…not the expected.
Now, Robby Gordon is not going to win any Mr. Congeniality votes from his on-track peers as a result of that behavior, and certainly, there is not a Most Popular Driver award awaiting him in the near future. But like the aforementioned Kulwicki during his years of fighting against all odds for success and survival, those recognitions are not a priority to him in a sport that will “chew up and spit out” a competitor at the first sign of weakness.
Robby Gordon's brashness and aggressiveness on the track is a reflection of his overall makeup, and are probably the very traits that have allowed him to endure so far as an owner / driver at the highest level of stock car racing. Yet, there is a bigger story here that fans have yet to catch on to…the story of David vs. Goliath. And it is puzzling to me. Americans generally like to root for the underdog, and in this sport, there is no bigger underdog than Robby Gordon… NASCAR owner/driver.
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Robby’s driving skills are most appreciated by those who actually attend the race. TV coverage will only expose him when there is trouble but the fan in the grandstands who can see the whole track can never be bored because Robby will capture your attention on every lap. This sport is suppose to be about racing and no one does it better since Jimmy Spencer got from behind the wheel.
Just a GREAT, GREAT, article on Robby Gordon!
Your point about “following is not an option†hits the nail on the head!
NASCAR today is more about “protecting your positionâ€, rather than trying to make something happen. For most teams, riding around collecting points is the key issue!
ACTUAL RACING is not!
GO ROBBY!
Finally! Someone who gets it about Robby. Great article, Tommy. Thanks for writing it.
Mr. Thompson,
Thanks for the fair and realistic commentary on Robby. His fans appreciate all the good words. Monster Drink will be on board soon. He will survive and will have the last laugh, just as Alan did.
Robby is a “lone wolf†because no other team will have him. Many talk about nice/bad Stewart. Robby is like that without the nice!
ward burton doesn’t have the “luxury†of having to come in contact with people like robby gordon who drive too aggressively too early in the race. ward is also driving for a one-car team and doesn’t have the “luxury†of being in the top 35 in points like robby is. maybe if robby wouldn’t drive like a meatball, he’d have a sponsor AND some support in the garage area.
Rob is a terrific person.
That simple. He is as genuine as they come. The fact is though, he’s a darn racey driver, and that ticks off a lot of average ones and pundits like DW.
Brian France Sucks
03/14/2007 11:06 AM
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You have to appreciate a guy who goes for broke in this day and age. With sponsors and owners exerting so much control over drivers these days it’s refreshing to watch a guy who is not burdened by these restrictions. Robby might drive a little out of control (see Watkins Glen Busch race) but it makes for exciting racing, which is something NASCAR doesn’t have enough of these days. You have to admit though, Ward Burton’s quote after being wrecked was hilarious.
Gordon is not like the other racers in the NASCAR world. He just loves to race. There are only a couple of them now, Stewart, Schrader come to mind. Would any of them hollywood boys hang out in Africa for two weeks doing the Dakar. Doubtful. I look forward to seeing Robby up front soon and if it means waiting for a road race so be it. To bad he cannot do the double anymore. Hang in there RG you have plenty of fans pulling for ya.
Great article!!! Is it that Robby is “too aggressive†or that the other drivers are becoming less aggressive? No one complains when Shrub almost takes out the entire field with every turn! Or when that old #3 came up on someone’s back bumper. Back then, it was only considered “intimidating.â€
GO ROBBY!!! Best of luck this season! Prove them all wrong!
It’s so nice to finally read a column written by somebody who “gets†Robby Gordon. Thank you Mr Thompson for your insight.
As a single-car owner/driver Robby is under a totally different kind of pressure than any other driver out there and he’s making it work. All his detractors do is motivate him.
Robby is one of the most fan friendly drivers I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting. From the sand dunes to the asphalt it’s been one heck of a ride being a Robby Gordon fan.
Thanks for taking the time to look beyond what others think and say about Robby – there will never be a more talented driver in NASCAR – and it is great that someone finally understands what many of Robby’s fans have seen and known for years! Thanks for the great article!
Very nice article! Go Robby Gordon!
Great article. It is always refreshing to read an article about a driver and showing a side that few ever talk about. Robby is one of the best all around racers, winning in everything he has tried (and I do consider winning stages in the Dakar Rally as winning). I really enjoy watching Robby race at California Speedway. When the networks are showing the boring, single-file racing, I am I sitting in the stands watching Robby (and all the other drivers) running two, three, and sometimes 4 wide through turns 3 and 4.
I loved your article. It’s refreshing to see someone who gets Robby Gordon and has the guts to write about it instead of joining the mind-numbing drone… he’s a dying breed for sure.
And it is puzzling to me. Americans generally like to root for the underdog, and in this sport, there is no bigger underdog than Robby Gordon… NASCAR owner/driver.
Wrong Kimosabe. Ward Burton and Casey Mears are greater underdogs.
When you’re climbing to the top over others bodies, your going to be no one’s hero. That’s the self-absorbed Robbie Gordon.
It’s about time somebody noticed The Robby Gordon Story unfolding. The more you know about Robby the more you understand that he is in it to win, no matter what “in†is: NASCAR, Indy 500, Baja, Dakar, or whatever. I would challenge any of the current NASCAR “coasters†to be as BRAVE and BOLD as Robby Gordon
Here’s the bottom line on Robby:
1. Came into NASCAR at a time when you paid homage to, and gave way, to Confederate heroes. He didn’t. He didn’t think his resume required an apprenticeship and the established drivers dismissed him and the aspiring youngsters used him to enhance their own fanbase. Sadly, Robby occasionaly made himself an easy mark.
2. To the many race fans who know and follow Robby, there has never been a driver more appreciative of his fans. Nobody.
3. From a racing talent perspective, he is very very talented and impatient. I would caution his detractors, if they can leave their opportunistic PR for a moment, to inventory his “incidents†and you will find that he has reacted, that’s right, reacted and responded to bumps and grinds far more than he’s initated them. Copyright POS Waltrip and the helmet toss.
4. NASCAR detests his maverick style and secretly hopes he will be successful, although they have not put a thumb on anyone like they have on Robby in recent memory.
Finally, here’s a shout to your readers: If you admire hard work, bucking the establishment, doing it your way, racing every lap as though it’s your last, NOT becoming a smoothly-styled, dollywood sound bite, repleat with the trappings of a corporate eunoch, then take a look at Robby. Thank you for your outstanding article on this unique NASCAR star.
Robby has fans all over the world. I am one from Australia.
Thanks for a positive artical on him.
He is the most versatile driver on track.
Go Robby
Tom, you hit the nail on the head with this one. Robby is the most admirable person on the track today and down right top 5 in overall talent. Not many could walk in his shoes with the responsibility that he has. As for the people who are saying that it was lap 9, he should not have been racing that hard, that is the exact mentality that has made 90 percent of the race today as boring as day time TV. Robby is a racer not a pacer. Keep up the good work Tom.
I will state proudly that I am a Robby Gordon fan and have been for a very long time. When he is driving, that is his job. I think when there is 4 hours of TV coverage and you do not know anything about 38 out of 43 drivers—I think that is considered poor coverage. I am seriously thinking about creating my own website—the race you did not see or hear. I will have coverage the next day but at least the whole story will be told.
Robby has accomplished a lot in his career. Many of the races he has won—Nascar drivers are just starting to race. I think jealously is running rampant and therefore, Robby is not accepted.
However, any race that Robby is in—there is excitement because at least one driver will not sit and ride for most of the race.
I think Nascar has forgotten the true roots of racing. Money has made them all soft. I believe Robby has said he races better when he is hungry—Watch out, I predict a very exciting road race!!!
Gas on Robby to victory.
Hey all your Robby Gordon fans.. He is a “has been that never wasâ€... just like Jimmy. We all know how exciting a driver like that can be.. If he gave people more respect and didn’t always complain or cry when he got wrecked.. people would love him even more…. Don’t get me wrong.. I know how hard it is to be a owner/driver and I have alot of respect for that. I just know that he needs to be a owner driver because all the teams he has been with drop him before the season is over… When Morgan McClure fires him in only 4 weeks.. that says something… I wish him the best…
Robbie Gordon is a ‘Lone Wolf’ because no one else will have him. He constantly drives beyond his or the cars capabilities. Causes numerous wrecks that he manages to avoid himself, and never takes the blame for anything. Please explain how Sunday’s example of great driving was caused by Casey Mears, or even Ward’s spotter? He’s been racing on Daddy’s money for way too long.
Great article,Robby is the only reason I still watch Nascar.I have been going to Daytona every year since 1980.Favorite race 1993 Hickory Bucsh won by Johnny Rumley.That to me was “the last real underdog upset’
Great article. Robby Gordon is a Nascar winner. Casey Mears, well, Nascar winner wannebe! Go Robby Go!!!
Great article about Robby; NASCAR in general fails to note Robby’s diverse fan base and support; for example, the last time I checked the message boards on NOL, Robby had the 3rd most postings beind only the “other†Gordon and Junior; also, Robby fails to get any attention in the TV coverage as the Waltrips and their friends dominate the coverage. Somebody in the journalistic world should examine whether DW has a serious conflict of interest as a Fox and Speed Channel analyst when 3 of Mikey’s cars are in the field and DW most likely has some kind of financial interest in MWR and connections to Toyota.
Nice article! I have a ton of respect for Robby, his determination, and his driving. Frankly, Nextel Cup is not the best series for his skills :) These races are marathons, and more often than not the winners are the guys who race with the ‘big picture’ in mind, while Robby is not happy if he’s not driving the wheels off the car every minute. Still, I hope he continues to do well this season. Would be great to see for Robby’s sake, and would be great to see a driver/owner show it can still be done.
Robby driving on Daddy’s money? R u kidding me? What an ignoarant statment. His father althoug a sucesful off-raod driver, never made a good living.Bob Gordon sstill lives ina modest home a couple of miles from Robby’s shop in Anehiem.Bob is always there staying buzy, most of the time you can see him outside spraying doen the pavement with a hose.And to put it lightly, Bob Gordon is not a wealthy man.
Awesome! Good Job! Finally! Someone who gets it about Robby. The most versatile, talented, driven, race car driver in the word….. Tommy – Thanks for writing it.
San Diego’s – “feed fanâ€
I am a huge Ricky fan, but when he took last year off i took a huge liking to Robby. Great coverage for the hardest working driver on the track.
Thanks for posting an honest article on Robby. What I think happens in the NASCAR world often happens in everyday life. The no respect issue comes with the Good Old Boy system and in NASCAR you have to be a golden child (JG,JR) are an incredible suckup(waltrip)to be a good old boy. Robby will never be a good old boy and will be tagged as a trouble maker for a long time. NASCAR needs to wake up and learn that just because you have a differnt opinion it doesn’t necessarly mean you are wrong. Good luck to Robby and keep racing to win.
Robby Gordon does not even belong on the track with the other NASCAR drivers! Until he learns to drive in accordance with his abilities and the capabilities of his car, Robby Gordon will always be a “Lone Wolf.â€
No wonder that all of the teams have dropped him through the years. If he is not wrecking a car, he is blowing the engine up. He seems to treat each NASCAR race as if he is running the Baja 1000, where it is o.k. for the car to come back damaged.
Listen up all you NASCAR fans who THINK you know Robby Gordon…you don’t! You listen to DW’s comments and accept them as the truth. Well, during the 70’s and 80’s who did the fans hate most? That’s right, Darrell Waltrip! I have been a Robby Gordon fan for years. The reasons are too many to list here and besides, some clown would just post some disparaging remarks about my upbringing and region of origin. Being a Robby Gordon fan makes me special and unique, unlike the thousands of you who wear red and white or the colors of the rainbow! So just remember this… when you boo RG during driver introductions, I’ll be the one in the crowd giving you the one-finger salute. Gas On Robby!
Tommy thanks for the great article!! Robby is why I started watching NASCAR racing. His driving talent is second to none as demostrated by his varied and winning career. He lives to race and races to win every lap. Thanks Robby for making racing exciting and fun to watch….GAS ON Robby!!! One of your many OC California fans
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