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Gordon Ready For Waltrip's Retirement.
Gordon Readies for Waltrip's Retirement
Posted Apr 18, 2009 10:37PM By Geoffrey Miller
The NASCAR on FOX television crew tried to play it off as an accident, but Sprint Cup driver Robby Gordon was having none of it.
"I'm really looking forward to having a new driver in the [No.] 55 next year," said Gordon during his post-wreck interview, mad after Michael Waltrip bumped him into the Phoenix International Raceway turn three wall Saturday night in the Subway Fresh Fit 500.
No, Gordon doesn't have insider infomation about Waltrip's 2010 plans, but rather he was just citing comments that the driver/owner made at the beginning of the season.
During a preseason press conference, Waltrip noted that his personal performance in the No. 55 Toyota of his Michael Waltrip Racing entity had to improve significantly over what had been two straight seasons of mediocrity -- if that.
"My goal is to go win some races this year, run up front so that I don't have to say this is my last year. But if I don't do those things, if I can't compete at the level that Reutimann does or NAPA expects, then I probably won't get to do this again in 2010," said Waltrip
Apparently Robby doesn't think such circumstances will occur Waltrip in 2009, though his comments came at a time when the driver of the No. 7 was a little biased.
The incident happened on lap 167 when Gordon headed into turn 3 with Waltrip inside and the other Gordon -- Jeff, the version with four more Sprint Cup titles than Robby -- trailing close behind. Waltrip lost grip heading into the corner, slid up the track and knocked Robby's ride into a spin. The No. 7 rear-ended the wall with Waltrip getting a piece of the action on his right-rear quarter panel.
Robby headed for the garage for repair [and returned to the race many laps down] while Waltrip hit pit road.
While in the garage, FOX Sports' Steve Byrnes grabbed an interview, leading off by referring to the crash as a 'victim of circumstance'.
"Yeah it's a bummer," Robby said. "I don't know, we probably should have come for tires there. We were running 18th. I don't know what Michael was doing there but he just ran us over."
"Can you get back in the race?" Byrnes asked.
"Yeah, but getting back in the race is one thing, but to lose this many points for the second weekend in a row -- its just devastation," said Gordon. "Our speedway car is really not that fast so i'm really concerned about that. But I'm really looking forward to have a new driver in the 55 next year."
And with that, the interview was complete, Michael Waltrip dissed and Robby Gordon's dismal streak of finishes continued.
Posted Apr 18, 2009 10:37PM By Geoffrey Miller
The NASCAR on FOX television crew tried to play it off as an accident, but Sprint Cup driver Robby Gordon was having none of it.
"I'm really looking forward to having a new driver in the [No.] 55 next year," said Gordon during his post-wreck interview, mad after Michael Waltrip bumped him into the Phoenix International Raceway turn three wall Saturday night in the Subway Fresh Fit 500.
No, Gordon doesn't have insider infomation about Waltrip's 2010 plans, but rather he was just citing comments that the driver/owner made at the beginning of the season.
During a preseason press conference, Waltrip noted that his personal performance in the No. 55 Toyota of his Michael Waltrip Racing entity had to improve significantly over what had been two straight seasons of mediocrity -- if that.
"My goal is to go win some races this year, run up front so that I don't have to say this is my last year. But if I don't do those things, if I can't compete at the level that Reutimann does or NAPA expects, then I probably won't get to do this again in 2010," said Waltrip
Apparently Robby doesn't think such circumstances will occur Waltrip in 2009, though his comments came at a time when the driver of the No. 7 was a little biased.
The incident happened on lap 167 when Gordon headed into turn 3 with Waltrip inside and the other Gordon -- Jeff, the version with four more Sprint Cup titles than Robby -- trailing close behind. Waltrip lost grip heading into the corner, slid up the track and knocked Robby's ride into a spin. The No. 7 rear-ended the wall with Waltrip getting a piece of the action on his right-rear quarter panel.
Robby headed for the garage for repair [and returned to the race many laps down] while Waltrip hit pit road.
While in the garage, FOX Sports' Steve Byrnes grabbed an interview, leading off by referring to the crash as a 'victim of circumstance'.
"Yeah it's a bummer," Robby said. "I don't know, we probably should have come for tires there. We were running 18th. I don't know what Michael was doing there but he just ran us over."
"Can you get back in the race?" Byrnes asked.
"Yeah, but getting back in the race is one thing, but to lose this many points for the second weekend in a row -- its just devastation," said Gordon. "Our speedway car is really not that fast so i'm really concerned about that. But I'm really looking forward to have a new driver in the 55 next year."
And with that, the interview was complete, Michael Waltrip dissed and Robby Gordon's dismal streak of finishes continued.
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by TOG on
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He 100% made the right call by staying out at that time,regardless what he said post-race about 'probably should have pitted via 15th or worse strategy". They called an audible.It was the right call. No second guesses are even needed on this subject.Track position was such a premium at that time,and only a handfull of laps passed since the last stop.Of course 'after the fact' he second guessed himself.But they made the right call staying out,and the same stuff could have happened while running in 30th,had they pitted,and then they would have said " we should have stayed out" , nah mean ?
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Permalink Reply by Lance on
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Here is the mantra if I'm the 7 team...do what the 48 does. They never screw up on strategy. Chances are he's going to be behind them...just follow them around. That's how Derrick Cope won the Daytona 500, Buddy Parrot (Cope's crew chief at the time) did exactly what Earnhardt did all day and at the end, was lucky enough that the 3 had a flat tire on the last lap.
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Permalink Reply by wilks7 on
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JJ has never finished lower than 5th in the points.....three consecutive championships also
so your mantra is not a bad idea
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Permalink Reply by FlyHiFlyLo on
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Yup Jimmy is a leader. Robby made the right call... Can't do nothing about a driver that rams your door because they don't know how to control a car.
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Permalink Reply by Brad on
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I'm curious if TOG is on the payroll? LOL..... serious though TOG you should be Robbys PR man. You do a good job here keeping it even and open. I am a lil worried about the motor situation. Robby keeps bringing it up and we blew twice. I will tell you this, Robby has matured....LOL... if this had been a few years back he would have been all up mws grille. I miss those days....
I think alot of RG fans dont get it.... Anyone going to coachella????
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All I am saying is, had Robby pitted and he got wrecked, everybody would have complained that he should have stayed out.and he would have been second guessing himself about staying out.
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Permalink Reply by GrayAntiMatter on
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I look forward to Waltrips comments on Speed Monday night....
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Permalink Reply by xcmtb on
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TOG - Will PR have video of the TWIN segment that covers this incident? Could be an instant classic.
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Permalink Reply by Jaci on
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He is talking about the Steve Byrnes & Mikey Waltrip show on Monday night? A lot of people don't get Speed and want to know what Mikey has to say (or not say) about it Monday night.
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I'm asking about Mikey's explanation of what happened from This Week in Nascar. I know you guys are good - but getting video before its shot?
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