Race Previews
Jim Beam Daytona 500 Advance
By
Feb 12, 2008, 11:20

Robby Gordon Daytona 500 Preview

Jim Beam Dodge driver Robby Gordon will start 17th in Thursday’s second of the twin 150-mile races that determine the starting lineup for Sunday’s 50^th running of the Daytona 500. Gordon posted the 28th quickest speed of the 54 drivers who made a qualifying attempt on Sunday. Because of his top-35 points finish in the 2007 season, Gordon is guaranteed a spot in the Daytona 500.

DRIVER ROBBY GORDON QUOTES:

QUALIFYING RACE STRATEGY: “There isn’t going to be a whole lot of strategy – you want to race as hard as you can and get the best spot for Sunday’s race. Thursday is important but what this team has its eyes on is Sunday’s race. That pays a whole lot more than anything else we do down here. We are pretty happy with everything so far.”

PREPARATIONS FOR SPEEDWEEKS: “This year is the best that we have ever been prepared. We had 14 cars that were on wheels and tires. We are in very good shape as far as cars, parts and pieces. Obviously we are changing over to Dodge, but the changeover hasn’t been that big of deal. The Gillett Evernham guys have been working with us and we have six cars already converted. My California and Vegas cars are in paint already. Believe it or not we have three restrictor plate cars down here right now. We have never been this prepared. We expect big things out of our race team this year. I think the Gillett Evernham engines are strong. It’s going to be good season and I think we are going to be fast.”

DODGE: “None of us really qualified that well, but we knew that coming in. I expect the Dodge’s will race a lot better than they qualified. We’ve focused on the race not qualifying and I think that should start to show on Thursday and then Sunday.”

NOTES

Daytona International Speedway

·         In 16 starts, Gordon has completed all 2,603 of 2,834 laps. He owns an average starting spot of 21.9 and average finish of 21. He has led 4 laps. He finished sixth in this race in 2003.

2007 Season

·         Gordon finished 26^th in driver points. No driver of a single car team scored more points. He posted a fifth-place finish at Watkins Glen and a 10^th-place finish at Dover.   

Career

• Gordon owns three NASCAR Sprint Cup victories:
  • Loudon on Nov. 23, 2001
  • Infineon on June 22, 2003
  • Watkins Glen Aug. 10, 2003
• Gordon’s NASCAR only pole came at Atlanta on March 7, 1997.
• Gordon owns one Nationwide Series victory at Richmond on Sept. 10, 2004
• In the CART Series, Gordon made 106 starts posting wins at Phoenix and Detroit plus four poles.
• In his ten starts in the Indianapolis 500, Gordon owns five top-10 finishes.
• In 2005, Gordon became first American to win a stage in the Dakar Rally. Gordon also scored his second victory during the 16 day event.

History

• In 270 starts, Gordon has posted 14 top-5 finishes and 34 top-10 finishes. Gordon has led 463 laps and driven 70,929 laps in his Sprint Cup career covering over 95,170 miles. He has finished on the lead lap 83 times. He owns a career average start of 26.1 and an average finish of 24.9.