Robby Gordon Motorsports
Encyclopedia
Robby Gordon Motorsports is a NASCAR
Sprint Cup Series team. It fields the #7 Speed Energy Dodge Charger
for Robby Gordon
. It is based in Charlotte, North Carolina
, and is owned by Gordon and heavily supported by John Menard, Jr.
for the 2005 season with Menard as a business partner and former owner Jim Smith
being listed as owner for provisional points. In 2005, Menard built engines for RGM with little success, as the engines were prone to failure. This led RGM to switch engine suppliers and lease from Dale Earnhardt, Inc.
Jim Smith also left the team after pulling his own Ultra Motorsports out of NASCAR completely.
, running the Ford Fusion in 2007. The car was sponsored by Jim Beam
, Mapei
, Camping World
, and Monster Energy
Drink. RGM used Roush/Yates
engines.
Daytona 500
, RGM switched to the Dodge Charger
, using Evernham engines. However, due to the sudden switch, GEM could only give Gordon a Dodge Charger
nose for testing. Gordon received the correct nose, a Dodge Avenger
nose with Charger decals, before the Daytona 500, and finished 8th at Daytona. However, he received a 100 point penalty from NASCAR along with a $100,000 fine. Many fans and sponsor Jim Beam started a "Rally for Robby" campaign, protesting the penalty, although it was standard in most 2007 COT penalties. On March 5, the National Stock Car Racing Commission made a decision on the penalty. The championship driver and owner points were reinstated making the #7 Dodge 21st in the Sprint Cup Standings. The suspension of Frank Kerr was retracted however remained on probation, and the fine was increased to $150,000.
Late in the year, GEM and RGM were embroiled in a lawsuit, concerning a potential merger between the two organizations. The suit was eventually dropped, but in the process the partnership was dissolved and Gordon switched to Penske Racing
engines.
, Menards
, Camping World
, and Freightliner
, among others.
A second RGM team, the #04, debuted for the first time in 2009, with P.J. Jones
finishing 43rd at Infineon and 41st at Watkins Glen. David Gilliland
attempted the race at Kansas, but failed to qualify for the event.
and continued with Toyota. Starting with the 2010 Daytona 500, Robby Gordon Motorsports expanded its partnership with Monster Energy Drink to include sponsorship in some Sprint Cup events. RGM's alliance with BAM Racing was to allow BAM Racing's sponsor Warner Music Nashville to sponsor Robby Gordon's #7 Camry starting at California as well as the events at Atlanta and Bristol. For the first half of 2010, the team had floated in and out of the Top 35. At the 2010 Gillette Fusion ProGlide 500
, the team had its first DNQ since 2005, with Ted Musgrave
driving. A major penalty by another team moved the #7 back into the Top 35. The Toyota/Save Mart 350 proved to be the best race in 2010 for Robby Gordon Motorsports, Gordon finished 2nd in the race and a second RGM entry, the #07 car driven by P. J. Jones, qualified and finished 41st. Former series champion Bobby Labonte
drove at New Hampshire.
Gordon stepped out of the #7 to allow Kevin Conway
to drive. Conway, a NASCAR Sprint Cup Rookie of the Year contender, having been released from his ride at Front Row Motorsports
, brought his sponsor ExtenZe
with him. Conway drove the locked-in #7 in the Irwin Tools Night Race at Bristol while Gordon moved into the #07 that Jones was originally supposed to drive. Conway qualified 40th and finished 36th in the while Gordon qualified 37th and finished 40th. Gordon did not enter the Emory Healthcare 500
at Atlanta, fielding Conway in the #7. Conway had the slowest time of all 47 qualifiers, but due to RGM being in the top 35 in owners' points he started 42nd. Occasionally, Gordon and Conway switched between the #7 and #07 rides in order to keep the #7 team in the Top 35. Kevin Conway
started and parked in 5 out of the 7 races he ran with the team, with his only full race coming at Fontana, resulting in a 31st place finish. The #7 team finished 32nd in 2010 owner's points. It was later announced following the season that RGM would sue ExtenZe
for lack of payment, much like Conway's
former team, Front Row Motorsports
, had done.
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
Sprint Cup Series team. It fields the #7 Speed Energy Dodge Charger
Dodge Charger
The Dodge Charger is an American automobile manufactured by the Dodge division of Chrysler. There have been several different Dodge vehicles, built on three different platforms and sizes, all bearing the Charger nameplate...
for Robby Gordon
Robby Gordon
Robert W. "Robby" Gordon is an American racecar driver who currently competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series as an owner-driver, driving the No. 7 Speed Energy Dodge Charger for Robby Gordon Motorsports, and also competes part-time in the Nationwide Series...
. It is based in Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
, and is owned by Gordon and heavily supported by John Menard, Jr.
John Menard, Jr.
John R. Menard, Jr. is an American entrepreneur who is the founder and owner of Menards, a major Midwestern home improvement store chain, and a former long time Indycar racing team owner in CART, IRL with Team Menard...
2005
Gordon purchased the defunct Ultra MotorsportsUltra Motorsports
Ultra Motorsports was a NASCAR Winston Cup & Craftsman Truck Series racing team. Jim Smith helped start the team and the Craftsman Truck Series. It ran full time in the Craftsman Truck Series from 1994 to 2005, earning many wins and a 2005 championship with Ted Musgrave...
for the 2005 season with Menard as a business partner and former owner Jim Smith
Jim Smith (NASCAR team owner)
Jim Smith is an American motocross racer and former NASCAR team owner who helped found the Craftsman Truck Series.Smith owned Ultra Motorsports until the closing of their shop in early 2006 following a sponsorship dispute with the Ford Motor Company...
being listed as owner for provisional points. In 2005, Menard built engines for RGM with little success, as the engines were prone to failure. This led RGM to switch engine suppliers and lease from Dale Earnhardt, Inc.
Dale Earnhardt, Inc.
Dale Earnhardt, Inc. was a NASCAR-related organization located in Mooresville, North Carolina, United States working to continue the legacy of Dale Earnhardt. It was originally formed in 1980 by seven-time Winston Cup champion Dale Earnhardt who died in a crash on the closing lap of the 2001...
Jim Smith also left the team after pulling his own Ultra Motorsports out of NASCAR completely.
2006-2007
In October 2006, Robby Gordon Motorsports signed with Ford RacingFord Racing
Ford Racing is the Ford Motor Company's racing division and the multinational name used for its motorsport activity.-History:* 1896 - Henry Ford reached a top speed of 20 mph in his first car, Quadricycle....
, running the Ford Fusion in 2007. The car was sponsored by Jim Beam
Jim Beam
Jim Beam is a brand of bourbon whiskey produced in Clermont, Kentucky. It is currently one of the best selling brands of bourbon in the world. Since 1795 , seven generations of the Beam family have been involved in whiskey production for the company that produces the brand, which was given the name...
, Mapei
Mapei
MAPEI is an Italian company founded in 1937 by Rodolfo Squinzi in Milan, Italy. It evolved from a small wall paint producer into a worldwide producer of adhesives, thinsets and sealants for buildings ....
, Camping World
Camping World
Camping World is an American corporation specializing in selling parts and service for recreational vehicles and supplies for camping. The company is based in Bowling Green, Kentucky, and is privately held. Camping World has 70+ retail/service locations throughout the United States, and also sells...
, and Monster Energy
Monster Energy
-Distribution :Though it is not widely advertised in the media, Monster receives a large amount of recognition from its sponsorship of various sporting events, including motocross and car racing. Hansen Natural Corporation announced a distribution agreement with Anheuser-Busch in the U.S. and Grupo...
Drink. RGM used Roush/Yates
Yates Racing
Yates Racing was an American stock car racing racing team that competed in NASCAR until the 2009 season when it merged with Richard Petty Motorsports. Previously known as Robert Yates Racing, the team was owned by Doug Yates, who has officially owned the team since his father Robert's retirement on...
engines.
2008
During the preseason testing prior to the 20082008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
The 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season began on February 9, 2008 at Daytona International Speedway with the Budweiser Shootout, followed by pole qualifying on Sunday, February 10, 2008 for the 50th Daytona 500 on February 17...
Daytona 500
2008 Daytona 500
The 2008 Daytona 500 was the 50th annual running of "The Great American Race", the Daytona 500. The race took place on Sunday, February 17, 2008 at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. The race was the 50th to be run since the first in 1959, won by Lee Petty. To commemorate...
, RGM switched to the Dodge Charger
Dodge Charger (LX)
The Dodge Charger LX is a rear-wheel drive four-door automobile introduced in February 2005. Built by Chrysler for its North American Dodge brand, the car was created to continue the Dodge Charger line, and replaced the Dodge Intrepid as Dodge's full-size sedan...
, using Evernham engines. However, due to the sudden switch, GEM could only give Gordon a Dodge Charger
Dodge Charger
The Dodge Charger is an American automobile manufactured by the Dodge division of Chrysler. There have been several different Dodge vehicles, built on three different platforms and sizes, all bearing the Charger nameplate...
nose for testing. Gordon received the correct nose, a Dodge Avenger
Dodge Avenger
The Dodge Avenger is a front-wheel drive, mid-size sedan, built by the Chrysler Corporation for the Dodge marque. In its initial debut, the Avenger was produced from 1995 to 2000 as a 2-door coupe...
nose with Charger decals, before the Daytona 500, and finished 8th at Daytona. However, he received a 100 point penalty from NASCAR along with a $100,000 fine. Many fans and sponsor Jim Beam started a "Rally for Robby" campaign, protesting the penalty, although it was standard in most 2007 COT penalties. On March 5, the National Stock Car Racing Commission made a decision on the penalty. The championship driver and owner points were reinstated making the #7 Dodge 21st in the Sprint Cup Standings. The suspension of Frank Kerr was retracted however remained on probation, and the fine was increased to $150,000.
Late in the year, GEM and RGM were embroiled in a lawsuit, concerning a potential merger between the two organizations. The suit was eventually dropped, but in the process the partnership was dissolved and Gordon switched to Penske Racing
Penske Racing
Penske Racing is a racing team that competes in the IndyCar Series and NASCAR. They also previously competed in road racing, and Formula One. Penske Racing is a division of Penske Corporation, and is owned and chaired by Roger Penske...
engines.
2009
For 2009, Gordon made another manufacturer switch, the team's fourth in as many years, and fielded Toyota's for the season. Gordon ran 35 of the 36 races, with David Gilliland running at Richmond, finishing 24th. Gordons best finish of the year came at Charlotte, where he finished 3rd. The team ended the season 34th in owners points. Sponsors included Jim BeamJim Beam
Jim Beam is a brand of bourbon whiskey produced in Clermont, Kentucky. It is currently one of the best selling brands of bourbon in the world. Since 1795 , seven generations of the Beam family have been involved in whiskey production for the company that produces the brand, which was given the name...
, Menards
Menards
Menards is a chain of home improvement stores in the Midwestern United States.The privately held company headquartered in Eau Claire, Wisconsin has 262 stores in 13 states: Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, Kansas, South Dakota, North Dakota, and...
, Camping World
Camping World
Camping World is an American corporation specializing in selling parts and service for recreational vehicles and supplies for camping. The company is based in Bowling Green, Kentucky, and is privately held. Camping World has 70+ retail/service locations throughout the United States, and also sells...
, and Freightliner
Freightliner
Freightliner can refer to* Freightliner Trucks, a heavy vehicle manufacturer in the United States* Freightliner Group Limited, a European rail-freight operator* Freight liner , describing a cargo ship operating to a repeating schedule...
, among others.
A second RGM team, the #04, debuted for the first time in 2009, with P.J. Jones
P.J. Jones
P. J. Jones is a race car driver. He has raced in NASCAR, Indycar, IMSA GT, ALMS, and Champ Car. He is the son of racing legend Parnelli Jones, and brother of Page Jones.-Sprint Cup Series:...
finishing 43rd at Infineon and 41st at Watkins Glen. David Gilliland
David Gilliland
David Gilliland is a NASCAR driver and he currently drives the #34 Taco Bell Ford Fusion for Front Row Motorsports. He is the son of former Cup and West Coast driver Butch Gilliland. He was born in Riverside, California....
attempted the race at Kansas, but failed to qualify for the event.
2010
For 2010, Robby Gordon Motorsports aligned with BAM RacingBAM Racing
BAM Racing is a NASCAR racing team based in Charlotte, North Carolina, United States, owned by Beth Ann and Tony Morgenthau. The team began in the ARCA RE/MAX Series in 2000, moving to NASCAR in 2001 to 2008 before sitting out 2009 due to the economy...
and continued with Toyota. Starting with the 2010 Daytona 500, Robby Gordon Motorsports expanded its partnership with Monster Energy Drink to include sponsorship in some Sprint Cup events. RGM's alliance with BAM Racing was to allow BAM Racing's sponsor Warner Music Nashville to sponsor Robby Gordon's #7 Camry starting at California as well as the events at Atlanta and Bristol. For the first half of 2010, the team had floated in and out of the Top 35. At the 2010 Gillette Fusion ProGlide 500
2010 Gillette Fusion ProGlide 500
The 2010 Gillette Fusion ProGlide 500 Presented by Target was a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series motor race that was held on June 6, 2010 at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. It was the fourteenth race of the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season. The event was scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. EDT on...
, the team had its first DNQ since 2005, with Ted Musgrave
Ted Musgrave
Theodore Musgrave is an American race car driver.-Pre-NASCAR:Musgrave's father, Elmer, was a famous short-track racer in the Midwest who raced for over 25 years at Soldier Field, O'Hare, Waukegan, and Wilmot, Wisconsin before moving into asphalt late models in the American Speed Association and...
driving. A major penalty by another team moved the #7 back into the Top 35. The Toyota/Save Mart 350 proved to be the best race in 2010 for Robby Gordon Motorsports, Gordon finished 2nd in the race and a second RGM entry, the #07 car driven by P. J. Jones, qualified and finished 41st. Former series champion Bobby Labonte
Bobby Labonte
Robert Alan "Bobby" Labonte is an American race car driver in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. He currently drives the #47 Kroger/Clorox/Kimberly-Clark/Kingsford/Reese Towpower Hitches Toyota Camry for JTG Daugherty Racing. He currently resides in Trinity, North Carolina. He is married to his wife...
drove at New Hampshire.
Gordon stepped out of the #7 to allow Kevin Conway
Kevin Conway (NASCAR)
Kevin Conway is an American NASCAR driver. He is the 2010 Raybestos Rookie of the Year. Conway has raced in motocross, legends, the World Karting Association, and the United States Automobile Club.-2002-2005:...
to drive. Conway, a NASCAR Sprint Cup Rookie of the Year contender, having been released from his ride at Front Row Motorsports
Front Row Motorsports
Front Row Motorsports is a team that competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup. The team began running part-time in 2004 as Means-Jenkins Motorsports under a partnership with Jimmy Means and restaurant entrepreneur Bob Jenkins, with Jenkins becoming the full team owner in 2005...
, brought his sponsor ExtenZe
ExtenZe
ExtenZe is a herbal nutritional supplement claiming to promote "natural male enhancement", which suggests a euphemism for penis enlargement. However, television commercials make few definitive claims, employing suggestion and euphemism or promising a "better" or "more fun" sexual experience...
with him. Conway drove the locked-in #7 in the Irwin Tools Night Race at Bristol while Gordon moved into the #07 that Jones was originally supposed to drive. Conway qualified 40th and finished 36th in the while Gordon qualified 37th and finished 40th. Gordon did not enter the Emory Healthcare 500
Emory Healthcare 500
The AdvoCare 500 is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car race held at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Georgia. Prior to its most recent rescheduling the fall Atlanta race was always run during the final stages of the NASCAR season, in either October or November, and was one of the ten races in...
at Atlanta, fielding Conway in the #7. Conway had the slowest time of all 47 qualifiers, but due to RGM being in the top 35 in owners' points he started 42nd. Occasionally, Gordon and Conway switched between the #7 and #07 rides in order to keep the #7 team in the Top 35. Kevin Conway
Kevin Conway
Kevin Conway is an American actor and film director.-Early life:Conway was born in New York City, the son of Helen Margaret , a sales representative, and James John Conway, a mechanic...
started and parked in 5 out of the 7 races he ran with the team, with his only full race coming at Fontana, resulting in a 31st place finish. The #7 team finished 32nd in 2010 owner's points. It was later announced following the season that RGM would sue ExtenZe
ExtenZe
ExtenZe is a herbal nutritional supplement claiming to promote "natural male enhancement", which suggests a euphemism for penis enlargement. However, television commercials make few definitive claims, employing suggestion and euphemism or promising a "better" or "more fun" sexual experience...
for lack of payment, much like Conway's
Kevin Conway (NASCAR)
Kevin Conway is an American NASCAR driver. He is the 2010 Raybestos Rookie of the Year. Conway has raced in motocross, legends, the World Karting Association, and the United States Automobile Club.-2002-2005:...
former team, Front Row Motorsports
Front Row Motorsports
Front Row Motorsports is a team that competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup. The team began running part-time in 2004 as Means-Jenkins Motorsports under a partnership with Jimmy Means and restaurant entrepreneur Bob Jenkins, with Jenkins becoming the full team owner in 2005...
, had done.