Robby Gordon remains undefeated in Class 1500 with his #1537 SPEED Energy / RPM Offroad / Toyo Tires open wheel buggy. Gordon also won both the Bluewater Resort & Casino Parker 425and The Mint 400 this year.
“We started the season just to go to Parker and have a little fun… and we overalled it there. Clyde (Stacy) asked if I would run the next race at the Mint 400… sure enough, we overalled it there. And then we went to the Silver State. We didn’t win overall, but we finished first in class, so that’s three wins in a row,” said Gordon. “Obviously, we’re in a position with the RPM / SPEED Energy / Geiser truggy to win the overall championship in Best In The Desert, which would be awesome for all of us, from Toyo Tires to RPM to SPEED Energy. All of us have a great opportunity there and we’re just going to do the best job we can.”
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March 26, 2012
Robby Gordon and Toyo Tires® Win the Mint 400
JEAN, NEVADA – Robby Gordon proved dominant once again in the 2012 Best In The Desert racing series, winning his second consecutive race this past weekend, the Mint 400. Gordon piloted the SPEED Energy/ RPM Offroad / Toyo Tires® open wheel Class 1500 buggy to a margin of victory of more than three minutes over the second place finisher, finishing the course in a time of 6:05:54. Gordon relied on 39x13.50R17 Toyo® Open Country M/T®-R tires for the overall victory.
The Mint 400 consisted of four grueling laps in the Nevada deserts, with terrain varying from dry lakes with high speeds, to dust-choking silt beds to jagged rocks.
“I can’t say enough about how good my tires were this weekend at the Mint 400,” said Gordon. “We qualified second. I knew there were a couple of areas where we had to be careful because there were some big rocks that could have damaged a tire, but we didn’t… we qualified second and that basically set the stage to put us in a position to win the race itself.”
“With regards to the race itself, I basically paced Rob MacCachren most of the race. When they were pulled over changing a flat tire, we drove on by,” continued Gordon. “This win is another testament to how good Toyo tires are and how strong the RPM Offroad team is. It’s a pleasure to be driving both on Toyos and for RPM.”
“Robby Gordon is a true desert racing champion, and we are glad Toyo Tires was a part of his overall win of the Mint 400 off-road race,” said Stan Chen, manager of events and motorsports, Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp. “We congratulate Robby and the entire RPM Offroad race team for their great victory this weekend.”
About Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp.
Toyo Tires manufactures and distributes a complete line of premium replacement tires for nearly every make and model including high performance cars, luxury vehicles, light trucks and SUVs as well as tires for commercial trucks. For more information log onto www.toyotires.com and connect with the community at Facebook, Twitter and Google+.
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March 15, 2012 (Charlotte, NC) – What is another form of racing that Robby Gordon can mark off his impressive list of racing series? If you guessed monster trucks, you guessed correctly. Robby Gordon Motorsports and SPEED Energy have formed a partnership with BIGFOOT 4x4, Inc., owner of the most well –known monster truck in the United States.
NASCAR and Off-Road racer, Robby Gordon, and BIGFOOT 4x4, Inc. have entered into a multi-year agreement beginning with the 2012 season. The addition of the monster truck, built at Gordon’s race shop in Charlotte, NC, will be the nineteenth chassis in the line-up of BIGFOOT trucks.
Gordon’s energy drink company, SPEED Energy, will be the co-primary sponsor of the monster truck. “This partnership with BIGFOOT 4x4, Inc. is a big step for our company. It opens the door to market SPEED Energy to a new demographic. Being featured as a sponsor on the truck is just one element to the relationship, we will also be selling SPEED Energy/BIGFOOT #19 diecasts, t-shirts, hats and other merchandise,” says Gordon. During the first year of the agreement the monster truck will be used primarily for display purposes. From there the truck will participate in events, with the possibility of Gordon being behind the wheel. “I’m excited about the opportunity to drive the SPEED Energy/BIGFOOT #19 monster truck. We built the truck a few years ago and we’ve played around with it, but actually competing in events would be a lot of fun,” Gordon remarks.
“We are really looking forward to teaming up with Robby and Speed Energy! Robby and Bob Chandler go back to the early days when both teams were Ford sponsored. Robby’s dynamic outlook and his racer’s mentality fit right in with the BIGFOOT way of life! Be on the lookout for a whole line of Robby Gordon’s Speed Energy/BIGFOOT #19 merchandise,” says Bob Trent, Vice President of Sponsorships & Business Development at BIGFOOT 4x4, Inc.
ABOUT SPEED ENERGY – SPEED Energy is available in four flavors: Ethanol, Unleaded, Fuel and Octane, which provide the human machine with the fuel it needs to keep up with the SPEED of life. Each drink contains a potent blend of B-vitamins, caffeine, taurine and ginseng. SPEED, packaged in 16 ounce cans, is available in singles, 4 packs, and cases. SPEED Energy is available at major retailers, convenience stores, grocery stores, bars and nightclubs. For a retailer near you, please visit www.speedenergy.com.
ABOUT BIGFOOT 4X4 INC. - Since its inception in 1975, BIGFOOT, The Original Monster Truck®, has gone on to achieve worldwide notoriety, and spawned an entire family of BIGFOOT® monster trucks that have pioneered the growth of the monster truck industry. Created by St. Louis-area contractor Bob Chandler and his wife Marilyn in 1975 as a promotional tool for their Midwest Four Wheel Drive business, the BIGFOOT fleet has captured 30 National Championships, set numerous world records, and travelled to over 26 countries. In 2009, BIGFOOT was named one of the “Top 5 Marketing Vehicles of All Time”. Since 1975 over 20 BIGFOOT vehicles have been constructed, and today the team campaigns eight (soon to be nine) BIGFOOT monster trucks full-time in North America, in addition to one BIGFOOT truck based full-time in England. The team expects to average over 900 appearance days starting in 2012, and will achieve in excess of 30 million impressions each year. Visit the team online at www.bigfoot4x4.com.
San Felipe, Mexico (March 12, 2012) - A broken transmission ended Robby Gordon's chances at the San Felipe 250 on Saturday as well as cost him a top-12 drawing spot for the Baja 500 in June.
Like most off-road races, Gordon knows how to pace himself and save his equipment until the end, especially at San Felipe because it is known to be hard on equipment due to the harsh terrain. Gordon set a steady pace early as he was the thrid truck off the line. He knew he would have to battle the course instead of racing Jesse James hard at the start. After James made the pass, Gordon could see parts and pieces falling off James' truck, knowing that he wasn't going to run hard in the bumps for much longer.
Before heading towards the dry lake bed, drivers had to make their way through a long road full of bumps between race mile 50 and 70. On this stretch of road, Gordon would end up passing leader Rob MacCachren as well as Jesse James as both of their trucks had issues. Gordon was able to move to second place behind new leader, Andy McMillin.
Suddenly, Gordon came to a stop; his transmission didn't have any gear except reverse. While trying to escape the course, he got stuck which resulted in more positions lost for the 2009 champion.
"It's a huge disappointment to make the trip down here and not even make it half way before having problems. The truck was steady and fast through the bumps. We found out Andy had issues a little bit further from ours; I think that if it had held together we would have had a good chance of winning the race. We have some changes coming that could solve our transmission issues for the 500. We'll just have to hope we end up with a decent drawing spot in order to have a chance to position ourselves for a win."
Look for the SPEED Energy/Toyo Tires Trophy Truck again in June for the Baja 500.
Parker, AZ (February 7, 2012) – With the 2012 Off-Road racing season kicking off with a successful Dakar Rally for Robby Gordon and the SPEED Energy/Toyo Tires Team, Gordon didn’t let up as he headed to Parker, Arizona for the Best in the Desert Parker 425. It would be new challenge for him as he drove a new truggy (a hybrid between a trophy truck and a Class 1 buggy). Built by the Geiser Brothers and owned by SPEED Energy/RPM Off-Road Racing teammate Clyde Stacey, it would be the first time Gordon would enter in the 1500 class instead of the BITD’s Trick Truck class.
With qualifying on Thursday, Robby Gordon attempted to out run a field of 88 vehicles complied of class 1550s and trick trucks. “The truggy drives a lot different than my trophy truck, but it handles the bumps pretty well. I think we’ll be pretty close to win the SPEED Energy Pole Award,” said Gordon after his practice run right before his qualifying attempt. Gordon would come close, qualifying third for the 2012 Parker 425 and first in the Class 1500 category. “I honestly don’t know how we could have gone any faster. I was on the rev limiter the whole time it felt like,” said Gordon after his qualifying run.
The race started early on Saturday morning, and Robby was focused on victory. Pacing himself off the line, Gordon would remain strong and hold onto third place as he finished the first of 3 laps of the 141-mile loop in the Arizona desert. By the time he reached the main pit on the second lap, BJ Baldwin who was running second was directly in front of him. Notably two of the best off-road racers were now fighting side-by-side as they exited the pit area. Gordon let Baldwin know he was behind him with a few bumps on the back of his truck. After Baldwin gave way to Gordon, he was ready to chase down leader Rob MacCachren. Half way through the second lap, MacCachren had a motor issue and Gordon cruised by him to take the lead.
On the third lap, the team received reports that fellow SPEED Energy/RPM Off-Road teammate Juan Carlos Lopez in the No. 18 trophy truck was closing in on time to catch Gordon in his truggy. Gordon would then picked up the pace and finish an impressive 14 minutes faster than last year’s, Jesse Jones. Gordon would beat the next competitor by nearly 5 minutes. A trouble free day and open-road lead boosted Gordon to another victory for the 2012 Off-Road season.
“I can’t thank RPM Off-Road and Clyde Stacey enough for the opportunity to race his truck. The Geiser Brothers built a good truck that all we really had to do was put some Toyo Tires on it and go racing. I’m happy to give Toyo Tires another victory after the Dakar Rally, and I look forward to carrying the momentum into the rest of the year,” Gordon said after winning the overall in the Parker 425, his first in the event since 2006.
Robby Gordon’s next challenge is set for February 10th in Johnson Valley, California where he looks to tackle the world of rock crawling in the 2012 King of the Hammers race. Be sure to check for updates on the KoH on SPEED Energy’s facebook and twitter pages which can be found on speedenergy.com.
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Lima, Peru (January 15, 2012) - At the conclusion of the 2012 Dakar Rally, Robby Gordon and Johnny Campbell left their mark on the final stage by finishing first in the capital of Peru. This marks the third stage win for the American duo and Team SPEED's fifth of the rally. Despite being faced with adversity from their competitors and the organization, the No. 303 SPEED Energy/Toyo Tires HUMMER stole the show. Gordon posted 10 top-5 stage finishes to finish in fifth place overall. Even though it wasn't Gordon's best finish (third in 2009 was) of his rally career, it certainly was his best performance.
"It's all about SPEED. Our HUMMER was definitely capable of winning the rally. I just made a couple of mistakes that cost us, but I'm happy to walk away on a good note and really ready to start talking about 2013." As Gordon commented about his effort in 2012, he also praised his new navigator, Johnny Campbell, "Johnny is such a great guy. Not to take away from anyone else because I've been lucky to have good navigators in the past, such as Kellon Walch and Andy Grider. Johnny really helped me stay focused, and I think he helped from a management side of things to bring us to a championship caliber team."
Gordon also thanked his sponsors and fans. “I want to thank Toyo Tires, Traxxas, Mapei, Menard’s, SPEED Energy Drink, Polaris, 4Wheel Parts and all of our great sponsors in all of the racing series we run throughout the year. Without them, we wouldn’t be in a position to do this. I also want to say thanks to all the fans all over the world, and a special thanks to the fans in South America. They really seem to love racing, and they made us feel at home wherever we went. I always try to have fun racing, and make it fun for the fans. I hope we did.”
The story for Team SPEED in 2012 was all about redemption. Robby Gordon produced a team that was on the edge of glory to become Dakar Rally Champions. By Stage 9, they would find themselves only a few minutes behind the overall leader. Unfortunately the distraction of the dispute about his air inflation system made it hard for Gordon and his team to stay focused on the main goal for the overall win. Despite the adversity, the team walks away with five stage wins between Gordon and Al-Attiyah, making up for what was such a disappointing 2011 rally.
Looking forward to 2013, Gordon and Team SPEED plan to take nothing short of victory. Gordon and team will make the long journey back to the United States and begin preparations for next year's edition.
Santa Rosa (January 1st, 2012) - On the first day of the New Year, the competitors of the 2012 Dakar Rally prepared for an early start, which took them from the beach city of Mal Del Plata to Santa Rosa de La Pampa. The special stage section was only 57km, making it the shortest racing section of the rally.
Nasser Al-Attiyah would start out with an advantage being the first car on the road, and teammate Robby Gordon would follow off the line in fourth. When the auto class got to the special stage, they would find areas to pass the competition along the coast line and drive into small dunes that represented their first hurdle. In this short section, the fastest time would establish each competitors position in the rankings.
By checkpoint 1 of the Special Stage, Al-Attiyah and Gordon were running first and second, only 9 seconds between them with Peterhansel 51 secs behind. The HUMMERs were off to a great start, proving to be a real contender. Unfortunately only 2km from the finish, Al-Attiyah's HUMMER lost power. Seeing his teammate on the side of the road, Gordon had no choice but to help the 2011 Dakar Champion cross the finish. With the SPEED Energy/Toyo Tires HUMMER towing the Qatar/Toyo Tires HUMMER, Gordon ended up losing valuable seconds, resulting in him being the third car to finish. He ended up fifth based on corrected time. Al-Attiyah's finish will be determined at a later time due to the fact he had assistance. Al-Attiyah and his navigator Lucas Cruz would evaluate the situation with their vehicle before heading towards Santa Rosa de la Pampa. Not really knowing what exactly happened, they were able to communicate with Gordon to help get his HUMMER up and running again.
About SPEED Energy– SPEED Energy is available in four flavors: Unleaded, Fuel, Ethanol and Octane, which provides the human machine with the fuel it needs to keep up with the SPEED of life. Each drink contains a potent energy blend of B-vitamins, caffeine, taurine and ginseng. SPEED is packaged in 12 ounce sleek cans that have a stylish black top and sexy body and are available in singles, four-packs, and cases. SPEED Energy is available in the United States in major retailers, convenience stores, grocery stores, bars and nightclubs. For more information, please visit speedenergy.com.
Race Coverage– Follow Team SPEED during the 2012 Dakar Rally on www.speedenergy.com as well as twitter and facebook at www.twitter.com/speed_energy and www.facebook.com/thespeedenergydrink. Daily highlights from each stage can be viewed on the NBC Sports Network (formerly known as Versus) January 1st – the 15th at 1:30AM Eastern Standard time. Please check your local listings on where to find the NBC Sports Network.
The SPEED Energy APP - featuring exclusive updates of Robby Gordon and his SPEED Energy / Toyo Tires HUMMER during the 2012 Dakar Rally. Follow Robby as he competes in the world's toughest race through Argentina, Chile and Peru. Be the first to hear updates from the driver himself and get exclusive videos and photos during the team's quest to win the coveted Dakar Rally. You'll be able to keep up with Robby during the rally from your iPhone or iPad!
Copyright © 2011 SPEED Energy Racing, All rights reserved.
Our mailing address is:
10615 Twin Lakes Parkway
Charlotte, NC 28269
Media Contact: Kevin Wilson or Alison McCabe
Tel. 704-949-1255
kwilson@speedenergy.com or amccabe@speedenergy.com
Media Contact: Jay Jones, TMC
Tel. 949-851-6313
jay.jones@tmcauto.com
Toyo Media Site: http://toyotires.mediaroom.com/
Charlotte, NC (December 14, 2011) – Robby Gordon’s Team SPEED and Toyo Tires® are returning to compete in the 2012 Dakar Rally in force. This year, two of Robby Gordon’s specially built HUMMER H3 racers will compete for the overall win. Gordon will drive his bright orange #303 SPEED Energy/Toyo Tires entry; while defending 2011 Dakar winner, Nasser Al-Attiyah, joins the team to pilot the #300 Qatar HUMMER H3 racer. The race vehicles rely on Toyo® Open Country M/T®-R tires to deliver off-road performance and durability.
Team SPEED and Toyo Tires are no strangers to Dakar. Gordon and Toyo Tires first competed in the Dakar in 2006. Together they showed their capabilities with a Stage 6 win and an Open Class victory in the 2007 Dakar, and then scored their highest finish, a third overall, in the 2009 Dakar. That year, the HUMMER was the only two-wheel-drive vehicle to finish in the top ten, proving the capabilities of the team and the Open Country M/T-R tires.
“Toyo Tires and I have worked hard over the years to develop a tire combination that is right for the HUMMER,” said Gordon. “Their team has put a lot of effort into making a Toyo tire that is tough, durable and ready for the Dakar Rally. It has good grip and can sustain the varying terrain, from sand to slick gravel roads to hard rocky areas. I look forward to getting out there and racing on it.”
For the 2012 Dakar, Robby Gordon will be joined in the cockpit by multiple Baja 1000 winner and off-road legend, Johnny Campbell. Campbell will serve as navigator in the SPEED Energy/Toyo Tires HUMMER, guiding the vehicle through challenging terrain on this 14-day, and nearly 6,000-mile Pan-American odyssey. The 2012 Dakar starts on New Year’s Day on the East coast of Argentina in Mar Del Plata. It will cross over the Andes of Chile and then finish on South America’s West Coast in Lima, Peru.
“Dakar is the most challenging off-road endurance race on the planet and is a true test of both man and equipment,” said Stan Chen, manager of events and motorsports, Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp. “We are proud to have Toyo Tires represented by these off-road champions. The Open Country M/T-R is the perfect tire to lead them to their goal of winning the 2012 Dakar.”
To follow the team’s journey to compete in the upcoming Dakar, and for updated race team coverage, log onto www.speedenergy.com and www.toyotires.com. Fans can also participate in the Dakar experience by connecting with the community at www.facebook.com/thespeedenergydrink, www.facebook.com/toyotires, www.twitter.com/speed_energy and www.twitter.com/toyotires.
Toyo Tires’ Adrian Puente will travel with the team during its effort to win Dakar, providing reports, photos and videos. Toyo Tires manufactures and distributes a complete line of premium replacement tires for nearly every make and model including high performance cars, luxury vehicles, light trucks and SUVs as well as tires for commercial trucks. Learn more at www.toyotires.com.
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EDITOR’S NOTE: Photos of Robby Gordon, Johnny Campbell and the SPEED Energy/Toyo Tires HUMMER are available at: http://toyotires.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=13&cat=138&mode=gallery
Media Contact: Kevin Wilson or Alison McCabe
Tel. 704-949-1255
kwilson@speedenergy.com or amccabe@speedenergy.com
Media Contact: Jay Jones, TMC
Tel. 949-851-6313
jay.jones@tmcauto.com
Toyo Media Site: http://toyotires.mediaroom.com/
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Charlotte, N.C. (December 8, 2011) – Robby Gordon and the SPEED Energy/Toyo Tires team announce the addition of off-road legend, Johnny Campbell to the 2012 team. Johnny Campbell will serve as Gordon’s navigator during the 2012 edition of the infamous Dakar Rally. Campbell will be responsible for directing Gordon through the 6,000-mile pan-American journey that is different than years past, which will add to the allure of the grueling race. The 14-day racing event will starting on New Year’s Day in Mar Del Plata, Argentina, cross over the Andes of Chile and then finish in country of Peru. Both the route and terrain will be different than years’ past, making Campbell one of the most important team members.
The Southern Californian 2-wheel racer is most known for his multiple Baja 1000 victories. This will be his second entry in the Dakar Rally and his first on to the South American continent as a navigator. Campbell, age 40, finished 8th overall and1st as a privateer during the 2001 Dakar Rally, bringing an impressive resume to Robby Gordon’s SPEED Energy/Toyo Tires team. With a total of 16 Baja wins - 5 Baja 500 and 11 Baja 1000 – Campbell not only brings along a tradition of success but a great deal of experience when it comes to reading the desert terrain. Campbell’s ability will be key to Gordon’s success as the two look for their first Dakar Rally overall win in 2012.
"I have always said that I would return to conquer the Dakar Rally when the right opportunity presented itself. When I got the call from Robby, I knew that time had come. To be partnered with one of motorsports all-time legends, his great team and awesome equipment is a dream come true. I am very excited and looking forward to the challenge of navigating the Speed Energy / Toyo Tires team to the top of the podium," commented Johnny Campbell.
“Having Johnny Campbell join our team is a real honor. Having 11 Baja 1000 victories and finishing the Dakar Rally in 2001 on a motorcycle, he understands what it takes to be successful and competitive. Not only will he be an asset on the car side, he also brings a level of professionalism to our team given his managerial background, which is only going to make our team that much stronger this year. He is a true champion, and I am excited to have him as part of this year’s Dakar Rally team,” commented Robby Gordon.
Johnny Campbell’s Career Highlights:
* Baja 1000, 1997-2005, 2007-08
* Baja 500, 1997-98, 2002-04
* San Felipe 250, 1998-2000, 2002-04, 08
* Vegas to Reno, 2001, 2004-05, 2007
* Terrible’s Town 250, 2001-03, 2005
* HYR 24 Hours of Glen Helen, 1999, 2006
* 2005--Henderson's Terrible 400, Nevada 1000, Parker 250
* 2004--Henderson's Terrible 300
* 2003--Laughlin U.S. Hare Scrambles
* 2001--8th overall/1st privateer, Paris-to-Dakar Rally
* 2000--Nevada 2000, Tonopah 300, Adelanto Grand Prix
* 1998--Silver State 300
* 1995--Nevada Rally
* 1992--HDRA Nevada 500, Rosarito Beach Grand Prix
For more information on champion Johnny Campbell, please visit www.jcrhonda.com. Follow the SPEED Energy Off-Road Racing team during the 2012 Dakar Rally on www.speedenergy.com as well as twitter and facebook at www.twitter.com/speed_energy and www.facebook.com/thespeedenergydrink.
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