Race Previews
Daytona Preview
By
Jul 2, 2008, 11:39

Robby Gordon Daytona Preview

CHARLOTTE, NC (July 2, 2008) – Robby Gordon and his No.7 team will head south this week for round two at Daytona International Speedway, the third of four restrictor-plate races this season. Ambitions are high as this weekend’s race marks the half-way point of the Sprint Cup Series season, the 18^th race of 36.  

Gordon finished eighth in the season-opening Daytona 500 and has placed in the top-15 in the past five consecutive races at the 2.5-mile tri-oval superspeedway. NASCAR’s loop data statistics further illustrate Gordon’s success at Daytona, ranking him as the number one fastest driver on restarts, the second best closer (positions improved in the last 10% of laps in each race), and 14^th in the total number of fastest laps run.

Gordon on Daytona: “We are looking forward to heading back to Daytona this weekend, because I think our team has a really good handle on our superspeedway program. As a driver, my goal at restrictor-plate races is to “avoid the big one” by surviving the first three-quarters of the race and then go racing when it really matters. I suspect that it will be a good race and points day for the No. 7 team this weekend.”

TV and Radio Times – Qualifying is set for Friday, July 4^th at 4:10 p.m. (ET) on SPEED TV, MRN, and Sirius. Following Fourth of July fireworks, the green flag for Saturday’s race will drop at 8:00 p.m. (ET) and will be broadcast live on TNT, MRN and Sirius Satellite radio.

Appearance Schedule – Gordon will be signing autographs on Saturday at his souvenir trailer at 4:45 p.m.

NOTES

2008 Season

• Gordon finished second in the 2008 Prelude to the Dream.
• He recorded his second best finish of 2008 at Talladega. The No. 7 finished 11^th.
• He finished eighth at the Daytona 500.
• Gordon has a marketing, manufacturing and technical services agreement with Gillett Evernham Motorsports.
• Gordon switched to Dodge days before the Daytona 500.
• Gordon is 32^nd in driver points.

Career

• Gordon has two top-10 finishes at Daytona in 17 starts and has had five consecutive top-15 finishes.
• 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 in addition to 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. To date, Gordon has five Dakar Series stage wins.