Robby Gordon Motorsport: Richmond Preview

Focus on Accomplishing Original Goals
Necessitate Changes at Robby Gordon Motorsports

 

          HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. (May 9, 2005) – Robby Gordon Motorsports
will take its No. 7 Jim Beam Chevrolet to Richmond International Raceway
this weekend with a new crew chief and a new team manager/car chief.

          The roles will be assumed by Greg Erwin and Frank Kerr
respectively.  Erwin began his duties as crew chief last week, and Kerr,
who returns to RGM after serving as the team’s car chief last season,
starts today (May 9) after observing at Darlington.

          “Among the many things we have learned over the last 10 races
is that there is no substitute for proper preparation and attention to
detail,” said John Story, general manager of Robby Gordon Motorsports.
“We were clearly one of the better cars at Darlington during
Friday’s practice session, and then made a series of mistakes to the car
while prepping it for qualifying.  We took what should have been a
top-10 qualifying effort and a car and driver capable of racing for a
top-5 finish and missed the show.  What happened there is inexcusable
and shouldn’t happen at this level of competition.  

          “Twice we failed to qualify (Bristol and Darlington) because
of careless mistakes made to the car between practice and qualifying,
and that will not be tolerated.  We have made other mistakes during
races that have caused poor performances, and Robby and I have charged
Greg and Frank with making sure these same mistakes, or any like them,
don’t happen again.”

          RGM is in its first season of competition in the NASCAR Nextel
Cup Series after performing solidly last season in the NASCAR Busch
Series.

          “We recognize that the level of competition is much higher in
Cup than the Busch Series,” Story said, “but it isn’t so much tougher
that we should be performing as we are.  As in any other professional
sport, it’s the little things that make a difference, and the little
things have been spelled out and will be attended to by everyone in the
organization.

          “As a brand-new team, we knew coming into this season that we
wouldn’t threaten for a championship in our first year, and we knew that
we wouldn’t lead the Series in wins.  However, we obviously expect to
perform better than we have, and our goals for the season are still
attainable.  By bringing in Greg and Frank we will accomplish our
objective of being a top-20 car each week and winning one or more races.
Once we become a top-20 team, we’ll work on becoming a top-15 team, and
then a top-10 team.   When we become a top-10 team, we will contend for
championships; and with the changes we have made this week I honestly
believe that is a realistic expectation over the next two or three
seasons.”

          Following Richmond, Fruit of the Loom will return the track as
the primary sponsor for the NASCAR Nextel Open at Lowe’s Motor Speedway
on May 21, and again in the Coca-Cola 600 on May 29.