Bobby Labonte to Drive for Robby Gordon Motorsports at Loudon

Bobby Labonte to Drive for Robby Gordon Motorsports at Loudon

Former Champ to Pilot No. 7 Toyota at NHMS

Charlotte, NC (June 23, 2010) – Robby Gordon Motorsports will put 2000 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Bobby Labonte behind the wheel of the No. 7 Toyota at New Hampshire Motor Speedway for the Lenox Industrial Tools 301 this weekend in a current one-race deal.

“When we found out that Bobby was available to drive for us, we jumped at it,” said team owner Robby Gordon. “To have a past champion driving your car is a good opportunity. I think we can learn from him this weekend and it will help our program moving forward.”

Robby Gordon Motorsports finished second in last weekend’s race at the Infineon Raceway.

“I can’t thank Robby and his folks enough for this opportunity,” said Labonte. “We’re going to New Hampshire with the goal of having another solid run for his team. They had a great finish at Sonoma and have some momentum right now. I’m just thankful for the opportunity and hope to get another solid finish for his team.”

Labonte will be making his first start for Robby Gordon Motorsports and plans on running the full race this Sunday.

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Permalink Reply by d7lee on June 23, 2010 at 3:49pm
This is good news.

More exposure for the Speed Factory. And a past champions view of the team.

Good stuff all around.

If RGM could get Bobby in a 2nd car, that would be even better.

Nice job Robby.
Permalink Reply by TOG on June 23, 2010 at 3:53pm
Labonte is actually in a good position, as is RGM. Labonte would be locked in for the second RGM car at Indy with the past champs provisional, in a worst case scenario. Also, its a big purse event , so getting sponsorship should be a bit easier there,than say, for Martinsville. Never a dull moment.
Permalink Reply by Kevin Sweeney on June 23, 2010 at 4:02pm
Love It Love It Love It!
Permalink Reply by MAyersatUSC on June 23, 2010 at 3:56pm
After the Pocono DNQ I suggested something kinda like this, would much rather see Robby in the car after such a great finish, but, I think having a Cup champion driving the car for a full weekend will help RGM grow and mature in the long run. I love this decision. Looking forward to a great run from Bobby and the guys at RGM.
Permalink Reply by Slider316 on June 23, 2010 at 3:58pm
here's a mind binder...just for shits and giggles, wouldn't it be wild if BL managed to pull off a win for RGM, either this weekend or at say Indy? How ironic would that be? You know who would be the most pleased? Yup, RG.
Permalink Reply by rgordonfan on June 23, 2010 at 3:59pm
Great news. I just ordered 4 die casts to help with the $$$. Go Robby and Bobby.
Permalink Reply by Saint Yukon on June 23, 2010 at 4:08pm
Permalink Reply by Richie Hornsby on June 23, 2010 at 4:31pm
Your talking about a guy who hasn't been out of the seat.... Labonte will be just fine... It's not a Musgrave/PJ type situation. Wouldn't surprise me one bit to see a top 15 this weekend.
Permalink Reply by b-makk on June 23, 2010 at 7:41pm
Should be a top 16 - his average at NH is 15.7
Permalink Reply by K H on June 23, 2010 at 7:47pm
Probably be a lap down by lap 16. Seriously, after all these years away from Gibbs, when's the last time Bobby was really any kind of threat? I can see Bobby possibly leading a lap under caution, but that's about the extent of it. Bobby is way too easy on equipment, there's no way he's going to flat out try to win the thing or push the car hard.
Permalink Reply by vak7 on June 24, 2010 at 11:42am
How much of a threat did anyone pose in Petty equipment? The team is his in name only this year so any success by the 9 or 43 this year doesn't count. TRG wasn't up to the task. Bobby still has the fire to compete. I look forward to seeing someone with his experience in the car, just to see how someone else handles it. We know Robby builds everything with his off-road background skills. Now we'll see how a nascar driver responds to his stuff.
Permalink Reply by Matt Gruber on June 24, 2010 at 11:47am
Why would Labonte force the issue in the 71? Could they afford to repair wrecked race cars? Is there really that big a difference between 25th and 20th for TRG?

The 43 was junk when Labonte was there. Put him with Hendrick, RCR or Gibbs and he's winning 2-3 races a year and making the Chase every season. He'd fare no worse than Jeff Burton in the 31.

Barring mechanical failure or a crash, I think a top 20 is very doable this weekend, and maybe even top 12.

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