What can we expect long-term from RGM?

I am wondering. What does everyone honestly think will be the results for RGM 5 years from now? Can we ever expect to be any more than a 15th-30th place car? Does RGM have upward mobility or is it's days ultimately numbered? If RGM fails on the Cup level, does Robby drive for someone else or does he pack his bags and take RGM elsewhere? Where would you rank RGM among current companies and where do you think they will be, best case scenario?

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Permalink Reply by Mike/WC77 on February 10, 2009 at 4:53pm

Man thats a lot of questions to field.
Let's start here, I've heard RG quoted saying he doesn't plan on working for anyone else.
Next season will have everything to do with performance this season...just like every other car you'll see at DIS this wknd.
When you say 15th-30th, are you talking finishes, or points? Luckily the answer to both is yes.
I wouldn't hold my breath on making the chase this year, but if the right building is done this season, maybe next year.
As for upward mobility, yes RGM has it. RG could be a "vulture investor" right now,& pick up on some of the recently displaced talent in the garage area. Matter of fact with this year will prolly be RG's best chance at building for the future. RGM just needs to get a solid start to '09 going. Once theres some of '09 to talk about, RG can work on filling in the blanks (based on current performance, not expectations) for the rest of this season. Once thats accomplished maybe he'll have the funds he needs to do building/expanding.

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Permalink Reply by EM on February 10, 2009 at 5:14pm

Now that there is no testing, I am sad to say that RGM is headed for a long, hard road. Robby can drive the wheels off a car but without some team support, I hate to think his days are numbered...I just feel they are. I would LOVE Robby to get a good ride and show the 24, 48, and 8 fans what a damn good driver can do. In my dreams, he is the 3rd car with Tony Stewart and Ryan....keep dreaming, right? HAHA....

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Permalink Reply by Mike Kenyon on February 10, 2009 at 5:37pm

No Irwindale becouse they run Camping World West events there, but there are number of good non-Na$crap series tracks to test at.Robby's early season testing probably has been limited by Dakar, Score.This is diffenatly a step-up season for RGM.

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Permalink Reply by Blue Ridge Rob on February 10, 2009 at 8:22pm

Short track testing is being done at New Smryna Speedway in Florida and at the short track at Rockingham. They are doing some testing at the big track at Rockingham also. Then there are the other sites mentioned before.

BRR

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Permalink Reply by soylent_green on February 10, 2009 at 6:33pm

Robby Gordon, the Game.Dakar mode, Nascrap mode, baja mode.
make a ton of $$$
retire to the river
race Dakar and Baja
adios North Carolina

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my other scenario.
RGM becomes an "Race Car Incubator" for other single team operations.
RGM provides building, joint contracting on engines, sells the chassis, some admin support, fresh coffee and clean bathrooms. Each team gets their own sponsors, signs a clause so they can't go after each other's sponsors or steal employees. If they want to share intel etc. fine, but they don't have too.

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Permalink Reply by Lance on February 10, 2009 at 9:44pm

So is RGM solely a money making proposition?

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Permalink Reply by Mike Kenyon on February 10, 2009 at 9:50pm

RGM is a creative outlet for Robby, as is RG/OR.If it/they make money,double bonus!
Just my observation,no basis in fact

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Permalink Reply by Dave-O on February 10, 2009 at 9:52pm

That was always my impression- RG is funding his other operations (Dakar/TT/Etc) via his Nascar actions. But he still shows up and gives 'em hell with what he has, and that's good enough for me.

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Permalink Reply by GrayAntiMatter on February 13, 2009 at 1:48am

How does that even make sense when the SCORE and DAKAR programs have multiple solid sponsors and the NASCAR operations have to go out with blank hoods while RG gives interviews discussing how he has to cut costs on the NASCAR side?

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Permalink Reply by MikeNIN7 on February 10, 2009 at 10:27pm

I think RGM will live for a long time after he ~~retires~~ stops driving in nascar. I can picher my kids (that I don't have yet) rooting for a RGM driver with me.

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Permalink Reply by jack on February 11, 2009 at 1:03am

I really hate post like this one. Call me a man with pom poms or rose colered glasses, I don't care. I know that this site is suppose to be about "keeping it real".. But still!...

A few things.....
1, Robby excells in off road..(that's his start and roots into racing)
2, He is a great driver in all he does.
3, He is an underdog in Nascar. (one car team, owner/driver )
4, Motivated to beat the odds type of guy!

Here is my point. We all know that Robby is considered an underdog in Nascar and the odds are stacked against him. But why is he our driver if we act like we know and say that he can't excell? Listen to Robby on the scanner/trackpass! The man wants to win and be competative! If he only did nascar for extra money for his offroad stuff, he would be running races unsponsered. Bottom line? Robby and RGM is motivated and has goals to succede and I believe they will..... Thier will be bumpy roads along the way.. But as a fan I believe they will get there one step/race at a time. :)

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Permalink Reply by Lance on February 11, 2009 at 11:25am

With all due respect. No one is making money in the IRL. The required engines and chassis are too expensive and the sponsorship is slim to none.

In fact, I would blame the IRL on Roger Penske and Chip Ganassi's demise in Nascar. If you look at their successes and subsequent failures in Nascar, it coincides very much with the move to the IRL. These guys have lost so much money on the IRL that they are stretched out.