NASCAR SPRINT CUP > News > Race Reports Chicago Cup Post Race

Gordon Finishes 25^th at Chicagoland Speedway

Joliet, IL (July 13, 2008) - For a weekend that was interrupted by rain, the No. 7 Jim Beam team persevered to finish Saturday’s LifeLock.com 400 in 25^th position. After qualifying was cancelled on Thursday evening due to inclement weather, Robby Gordon started the race in 31^st, as the field was set by 2008 owner points.

In the first few laps of the 267-lap event, Gordon radioed his crew to let them know that the No. 7 “SaveOurName.com” Jim Beam Dodge was lacking grip. As Gordon settled in for the first race at Chicagoland Speedway under the lights, the car’s grip began to come to him. By lap 15, he commented that “we’re coming now.”

Due to unknown tire conditions, NASCAR informed the drivers prior to the race that there would be a competition caution on lap 35 to monitor tire wear. In preparation for the first pit stop of the race, Gordon told his crew that he needed to be freed up because he was just too tight from the middle off. Crew chief, Walter Giles, called for a tire pressure adjustment, four tires and fuel.

As the sun set in Turn 4, the competitors tightened their belts and prepared for a long night of racing. As the track conditions changed, the handling of the No. 7 varied throughout the race. It went from loose to tight. On each stop, the crew made adjustments to try to perfect the handling for Gordon – from tire pressure to track bar to wedge.

As the race drew to a close, the action picked up. Just after the eighth caution of the night, Gordon was fighting for coveted track position when he, the No. 70 and the No. 22 were three wide in the middle of Turns 1 and 2. Gordon and the No. 70 made contact, causing right front fender damage on the No. 7. This damage resulted in severe aerodynamic imbalance on the No. 7 Dodge, and he told the team that the desperately needed a caution to fix the handling.

On lap 263, Gordon’s request was granted when the No. 38 blew a motor, causing the caution flag to wave for the ninth and final time. Gordon came to pit road for four tires and repair the right front fender.

Gordon returned to the track for the final three laps of racing and was able to bring the No. 7 “SaveOurName.com” Jim Beam Dodge home in 25^th place.

“The competition at this level of motorsports is extremely tough,” Gordon stated as he took the checkered flag. “We stayed on the lead lap the entire race. It is a tough field, and that’s not always easy to do.”

After a weekend off, the NASCAR Cup Series will return to action Sunday, July 27^th for the Allstate 400 at The Brickyard, held at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The race can be seen live on the ESPN network at 1 p.m. EST and heard on the IMS Radio Network at 2 p.m. EST.