Robby Gordon Motorsports: Texas Preview

No. 7 Jim Beam Chevrolet
Samsung Radio Shack 500 
Sunday, April 17, 2005

Race 7/36
 

Huntersville, N.C. (April 13, 2005) – This weekend’s Samsung Radio Shack
500 marks the first time the No. 7 Jim Beam Chevrolet takes the track
for a NASCAR Nextel Cup race this season.         

 

A little more than two weeks ago, an optimistic Robby Gordon and crew
took full advantage of the Cup off-weekend and spent extra hours testing
at both Texas Motor Speedway and in the wind tunnel in Mooresville, N.C.
Additionally, it gave Menard Engine Group an extra week to test and
refine engines after experiencing several failures early in the season.

 

Pit Stops…

 

Trust me, I know what I'm doing – After overcoming several weeks of
engine problems that forced the team to a slow start, Robby Gordon
Motorsports rallied back to qualify for the Advance Auto Parts 500 in
Martinsville, VA last weekend.  Although Gordon started the race 43rd,
he and the team pulled through with a respectable 20th place finish.

 

Watch, listen and learn – Robby Gordon will team up with IRL driver Dan
Wheldon of the Andretti Green Racing Team on Saturday, April 16 to tape
a Public Service Announcement about making sensible decisions related to
alcohol consumption. The PSA is being produced to raise awareness of Jim
Beam’s social responsibility platform, drink smartŪ.   

 

drink smart means:

	*	If you’re of legal age and you choose to drink, do so
responsibly
	*	Do not drink if you’re under 21
	*	Don’t drive drunk
	*	If you can’t drink smart – don’t drink at all

 

For more information on the PSA, please contact Kristin Ianiero, Jim
Beam Racing, 570-594-0460 or kristin.Ianiero@ketchum.com
 . 

 

Two for One… Happy Hour – There will be no impound rule at the Texas
Motor Speedway this weekend.  Teams will have two 45-minute practices on
Saturday morning, with a 55-minute break in between, to make final
adjustments to the cars after Friday qualifying. 

 

April is Alcohol Awareness Month – As part of the drink smart campaign,
Robby Gordon Motorsports will donate $10,000 from a $100,000 fund
provided by Jim Beam bourbon, the “Official Spirit of Racing,” to
officials from Rice University.  The check presentation will take place
in the No. 7 garage at Texas Motor Speedway, Friday at 2 p.m.  The
donation will fund the university’s implementation of The Century
Council’s Alcohol 101 PlusTM education program and related alcohol
education activities.  Note:  Media are welcome to attend the check
presentation and will have the opportunity to speak with Robby after the
ceremony.

 

TV and Radio - Start time for Sunday's Samsung Radio Shack 500 is 1:00
p.m. ET on FOX.  The pre-race show with Chris Myers and Jeff Hammond
will start at 12:30 p.m.  Radio coverage this weekend is on PRN Radio.
Green flag is 1:15 p.m. ET. Remember times and dates are subject to
change, so check your local listings.

 


Behind the wheel with Robby Gordon…


 

The impound rule will not be in effect this weekend.  Do you think the
extra time with the car will help your team?  “It certainly helps since
we’re still a new team trying to overcome the fact that we started the
season without any guaranteed starting positions like the established
teams.  Once we crack the top 35, it’s going to be a different game for
us.  We’re on equal footing with every other team in the garage this
weekend, and we’re confident we’ll qualify and race well.  We tested at
Texas a few weeks ago and came away feeling good about our intermediate
track program.  We get to work on qualifying Friday morning and not
worry about race set ups until Saturday.  If we can get back to the same
balance we had when we tested, we may surprise a few people this
weekend.” 

 

You’ve got a lot going on this weekend – a PSA shoot, appearances,
interviews… how do you stay focused for the race?  “Every weekend is
busy at the track, and I love doing things around the fans and sponsors,
and this weekend we’re going to get plenty of chances for that.  Dan
Wheldon (No. 26 IRL driver) and I are taping a PSA about responsible
drinking in support of a platform created by our sponsor, Jim Beam,
called drink smart.  We are also donating $10k to Rice University as
part of the Alcohol 101 program to support alcohol education programs on
campus.  Even though I have a lot to do off the track, I know that once
I put my helmet on, my focus is on racing.”