Atlanta, GA (March 7, 2010) – A blown tire on lap 3 led to an immediate accident and an early exit for Robby Gordon and the BAM Racing, Blake Shelton Toyota Camry.

Race morning started out cheerful and upbeat, with most of the Warner Music Nashville crew feeling loose – anticipating a strong run and a good finish. Final practice had ended with Robby being very happy with the car’s handling and looking forward to his prospects; “We may not have a race-winning car, but we definitely have a top 15 car!”

As if psychic, veteran crew chief Larry Carter was the only member of the No. 7 team that seemed concerned. When asked why he wasn’t smiling Larry responded, “I’ve just got 900 different things running through my head; all the what-ifs depending on what may happen during the race.”
When the field fired their engines and began rolling off pit road, BAM Racing owner Beth Ann Morgenthau encouraged the team, “Good luck today guys. Do a good job for us, thank you very much!”
Robby replied, “You got it, Beth Ann!”

With Robby approaching his pit stall, spotter Ron prompted, “Ten away” (meaning Robby was ten pits away from his assigned space).

Then Larry picked him up as he came closer, “Spot 5 right there . . . here we are.”
As is typical, Robby spent this relatively quiet time to try to improve his car, saying “I got a minor point. On the heel support brace, my right heel gets caught on it just a little bit. We need to check that.”
Iain Watt replied, “10-4.”

Larry then asked, “Is your pit road speed box working?” Robby reported back, “They’re working and we’re operable. All systems go.” Ron, the spotter reminded Robby of a note that NASCAR had stressed earlier in the Driver’s Meeting, “Remember on the start to stay in line until after you cross the Start/Finish Line.”  Robby replied, “10-4.” Then . . . “I have switched to Battery 1, copy?” Larry confirmed, “Copy.” Robby added, “Please make a note of that every time.” Larry reassured him, “10-4.”
Just before the green flag, Larry Carter added his own words of encouragement to the crew, “Like we talked about guys (in the team meeting held one hour prior to the start of the race in the team transporter) be on your toes and be ready for anything.”

When the green flag flew, Ron jumped into high gear informing Robby where other cars were positioned in relation to his car: “High” . . . “Got one inside.” . . . “Three wide there!”
After starting 39th, Robby moved up to 36th at the end of lap one. When Greg Biffle passed him low out of turn four, Robby reported, “When he got down underneath me it got tight.” Then on lap two, with a little bit more urgency in his voice he added, “Got tight on corner exit.”

Then, on the beginning of lap three just as he was “thinking about turning in” the left rear tire came apart and violently turned the car sharply to the left. Still traveling at over 190mph and now completely out of control, all Gordon could do was hold on tight as the Warner Music Nashville Camry slammed into the wall, badly mangling the body beyond repair.

Ron immediately asked, “Are you alright there Robby?”
Robby replied, “It’s a crying (frigging) shame.”
Ron added, “It looked like the whole casing came off the left rear.”
Robby responded, “(Crap) – no luck at ALL!”

As the race progressed, ours was not the only car that experienced tire problems. Our pressures were all at or above the NASCAR-mandated minimums, but “stuff” happens. In auto racing there are no “do-overs”, there are no time-outs and there are no substitutions. One stroke of bad luck and you’re out of the race and a brand spanking new, gleaming, immaculately prepared racecar is completely destroyed. This can be a cruel sport at times.

For the team, they had one of two duties. One group busied themselves with loading up all the pit equipment and the pit box. The other group had the thankless task of cutting parts and pieces off the wiped out car so that it could roll and be loaded up on the transporter. Then our truck driver, Randy could take the expensive carcass back to Robby Gordon Motorsports to be stripped down and completely rebuilt.

The next race for the BAM Racing Warner Music Nashville Camry will be the Goody’s 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, TN in two weeks on March 21.