TEAM REPORTS (DAYTONA, FLA.) - GORDON SURVIVES CAUTION FILLED CLOSING LAPS

Robby Gordon began the 50th running of the Daytona 500 with a simple strategy: avoid the big one and be in contention in the closing laps. It sounds simple, but at the massive 2.5 mile track, it’s anything but easy.

Gordon started the race in 26th position and settled in about mid pack as the field turned circuits around the speedway. It was lap 60 when Gordon radioed to the crew.

“We will race them later,” he said. “I’m going to take it easy right now.”

Being a veteran of restrictor plate racing, Gordon knew that it would be a long 500 miles and there wasn’t a need to rush things at the moment.

Gordon moved into the high line and began running the top of the track after the next set of pit stops. On lap 89 while running in 29th spot, he brushed the wall with the right side of the Jim Beam Dodge. Despite the contact with the wall Gordon remained focused; enough so, to gain seven spots over the next two laps.

“It’s sliding all around, I almost spun out,” Gordon clamored over the radio.

Somehow Gordon held on to the loose race car until lap 121 when he brought the Jim Beam Dodge Charger to pit road for four tires and fuel.

After emerging back onto the track Gordon picked up a couple spots over the next 20 laps. He continued to lay back into the 26th position. But, his strategy still remained the same - to hang in the back of the pack and wait out the big one.

On lap 152 Gordon was called onto pit road by the No. 7 crew. As he brought the Jim Beam Dodge down through the gears and onto pit road, a yellow flag emerged on the track for debris. This was just what the team needed and helped the team avoid losing a lap. The caution allowed the team to go back out on the track then come in again with the leaders to make the necessary changes to the car.

“We got lucky there, real lucky,” Gordon explained.

With 30 laps to go, the entire field knew it was time to pick up the pace –and they did just that. Positions were being swapped all over the racetrack.

Gordon was faced with the decision of which line to jump in. “My car works the best on the bottom,” he said over the radio.

The decision of which line to join didn’t last long, as a crash on lap 178 brought out another caution.

With just 22 laps to go, this was another withdraw from the luck bank for the No.7 and Gordon was thrilled.

“We’re in the game now,” he screamed excitedly over the radio. “The car is really good. This played right into what we needed to do. We needed to be here for the final laps.”

With the field under caution, it was decision time for the lead lap cars. Should they take two tires, four or none?

The No. 7 team opted for the sure grip that four tires could offer. Other cars on the lead lap didn’t.

Gordon expressed his thoughts on the tire dilemma over the radio.

“I can’t believe they stayed out,” he said. “We got a shot at the win now. The car is perfect.”

The Jim Beam Dodge came to the restart in the 13th spot. Gordon threw the No. 7 up against the wall in the high groove and the top line started to move. It was a line of Dodges, as the No. 41, 19 and Gordon’s No. 7 pushed their way to the front.

The Dodge line ran out of laps, but Gordon still managed an impressive eighth place finish. His second best career finish at Daytona.

“We did what we needed to do today and we had the right strategy,” he explained after the race. “The team didn’t want to rush anything so we just hung out in the back of the pack and methodically worked our way up through. With about 30 to go, we were able to get some drafting help and moved into position to be there in the end.

I’ve got to thank my crew guys. They had some great stops, especially when it counted the most toward the end of the race. My friends at Gillett Evernham Motorsports have been great to work with thus far. They’ve supplied us with a great engine under the hood. This was my first race as a Dodge and I think it’s a sign of great things to come.”

Ryan Newman went on to win the 50th running of the Great American Race. The Sprint Cup Series heads west this week to California Speedway, Gordon’s home track.