CUP: Robby Gordon Seeking Sponsors

Sprint Cup

CUP: Robby Gordon Seeking Sponsors

Robby Gordon says he doesn't plan to start-and-park...

Bob Pockrass | http://www.scenedaily.com | Posted May 15, 2010 Dover, DE

Robby Gordon has tried the Coca-Cola 600/Indy 500 double. (Photo: LAT Photographic)

Robby Gordon still needs sponsorship in order to attempt to qualify for all the Sprint Cup races this year, and if he does find enough sponsorship, he hopes to run the entire year.

Earlier this season, the veteran driver/owner had toyed with the idea of running a monster truck as well the Indianapolis 500 while scaling back his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driving efforts, but some of those plans have not come to fruition.

Still, Gordon won’t guarantee that his Robby Gordon Motorsports No. 7 car will run in every event.

“We’re going to do everything we can [to race],” Gordon said Friday at Dover International Speedway. “If I was to miss races, they would be the weakest races [to get sponsorship] NASCAR has. Our goal is to race, and that’s what I desire to do. We’re going to continue to do that until it becomes financially not possible to do that.”

Gordon wouldn’t pinpoint a specific race where he might have to stay home. He said he would not start-and-park.

“We’re still trying to sell races,” Gordon said. “We’re going to run until we can’t run. That’s the best answer I can give.”

Gordon does have commitments for some off-road events. During the race at Pocono in June, Gordon will miss track activity Friday and Saturday so he can run the Baja 500. Michael Waltrip will practice and qualify the car for him, Gordon said.

It’s been a tough week for Gordon, who was penalized 25 points and fined $25,000 for attaching a brace holding a wood block inside his right-side door panels at Darlington Raceway last week. The brace and wood block, used to help lessen the amount of damage to a car, were found during initial inspection and he never used the items on the track.

“Basically there was no competitive advantage unless you hit the wall,” Gordon said. “Then if you hit the wall like most guys do at Darlington, then your wheels would still be pointed in the same direction.”

NASCAR Sprint Cup Director John Darby said Friday the cars have not been tested with the additional bracing and therefore the penalty was issued.

“We’ve done a lot of development, a lot of testing and have got energy-absorbing foam in both doors,” Darby said. “That’s the way the cars were tested. What we know is that works and works really well. What we don’t know if somebody adds extra bracing and everything, what it does.

“The car was not engineered with those pieces in it, nor tested with them in there.”

Gordon dropped one spot to 35th in owner points and is just 18 points ahead of 36th-place David Gilliland of Front Row Motorsports. Gordon needs to stay 35th or higher or he will have to qualify for races on speed instead of having a locked-in position.

He worked all Friday in race trim at Dover and he is optimistic that he can get his car working well for the Autism Speaks 400 on Sunday. Gordon, who will start 42nd on Sunday, has a best finish this year of 14th at Phoenix.

“We’re doing everything we can to continue running,” Gordon said. “I believe the race team is getting better. … I have blown up [in] 20 percent of the races. When you have that in your DNF category, that’s going to hurt.

“We are an easy top-25 team. We’ve just got to put our heads down and do it.”

SceneDaily.com • Kasey Kahne says talks continue concerning 2011 ride