2019 Robby Gordon Headquarters
Dodge Motorsports Notes & Quotes – Robby Gordon Open Interview – NASCAR Media Day
Thursday, Feb. 10, 2011
Denny Darnell
Scott Sebastian
Dodge Motorsports PR
NASCAR Media Day
Daytona Int’l Speedway
Robby Gordon Open Interview
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
ddarnell@darnellcommunications.net
ssebastian@darnellcommunications.net
http://twitter.com/teamdodge
www.media.chrysler.com
ROBBY GORDON (No. 7 SPEED Energy Dodge Charger) CAN YOU TALK ABOUT YOUR NEW RELATIONSHIP WITH DODGE? “I want to start off and tell you how excited I am about this opportunity. AT RGM (Robby Gordon Motorsports), we haven’t had a factory program for two years. We kind of rode it out with Toyota, but it wasn’t a factory program. We really didn’t get any help and that’s the truth of the matter. The motors were good. I don’t have any complaints about the motors or the way that the program went. They had their priority teams prior to us rolling in. My Gillett-Evernham program that was a Dodge program before was all through Gillett-Evernham.
“When I went to their (Chrysler) facility 65 to 70 days ago, I was thoroughly impressed. One, with what they are producing for cars. Second, what their facility is compared to the other two in Detroit. Whoever hasn’t been to Dodge, it’s a beautiful facility. They have all the tools to do what they need to do. I feel with guys that they have in charge with Ralph (Gilles, president and CEO of Dodge) and Bryan (Viger, Head of Dodge Motorsports), and all the guys in the motorsports program, I’m excited about the direction that they’re headed with Dodge and there is multiple opportunities with Robby Gordon Motorsports.”
CAN YOU TALK ABOUT USING PENSKE ENGINES? “The best that we ran with the COT is when I had my split with Gillett-Evernham. I knew I wasn’t going to partner with them. I bolted a Penske engine and we ran in the top 15 pretty much every week. I’ve known Roger (Penske), heck, for my whole career. I’ve idolized him and love the way that he runs his programs. I respect him tremendously. He’s the Captain. Back when we raced Indy cars he was the top, top team that everybody idolized. I had one opportunity to drive for Roger and I choose the Felix Sabates stock car program because I thought that was right direction for my team, for me as driver at that time. Roger’s cars handle on the straightaway. You have to handle on the straightaway. When 85 percent of your lap at most NASCAR races is full throttle, you better handle on the straightaway. The new Dodge engine (R6P8) that they came out with last year, the way that they ran being the two fastest cars here in Daytona (during speedway test), I’m excited about the package that I picked.”
HOW MUCH DID YOU HAVE TO SELL DODGE ON YOUR PROGRAM? “This program actually started about a year back. If Penske would not have reduced down to two cars, there wouldn’t have been an opportunity for me just because they (Dodge) had their program. When that happened, it opened up a great opportunity for us. We get to play in the ‘Fast and the Furious’ program with them which fires out the whole month of April which is perfect for SPEED Energy. SPEED is about a fast and speedy lifestyle.”
DID YOU GET TO WALK THROUGH DODGE’S WIND TUNNEL WHEN YOU VISITED DETROIT? “I toured the place when I negotiated our deal. They were unveiling to their employees their new vehicles. So it was perfect because I got to see their new product line coming out not only for 2011, but what was coming out for 2012 and 2013. They’ve got some very exciting cars on the horizon.”
WHAT DOES YOUR 2011 CUP SCHEDULE LOOK LIKE? “It’s an interesting question. Last year Jamie McMurray started off a little uncertain on how their program was going to be. It’s just amazing how a good result at Daytona can change your season one way of another. Right now, I’m gonna say that we’re good for 18 NASCAR events. There are other things that I want to do. It’s not that I don’t want to race. There’s other event that I’d like to do. With my specialized situation that happened with SPEED, that put us back about 60 days. That probably jacked our Indy 500 program. We’re really starting to gain some momentum. We’re (SPEED Energy) selling product and that’s a good thing. We’re gaining more distribution on a daily basis and we’re kind of controlling our own destiny. Our program is different with sponsors than it was before. We’re really not selling sponsors, we’re selling, ‘Hey, the spots next to Red Bull and Monster. Those are the spots that I want on your shelf and I’ll give you Daytona.’ So we’ve been able to do deals with GNC. We’ve done deals with Basha’s. We’ve signed up multiple, multiple Budweiser distribution deals. Our product is just starting to roll again. We control our own destiny. I am the driver. I am the owner, kind of the sponsor, except for our sponsorship with Dodge. We can be as creative as we want to do.”
Denny Darnell
Scott Sebastian
Dodge Motorsports PR
NASCAR Media Day
Daytona Int’l Speedway
Robby Gordon Open Interview
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
ddarnell@darnellcommunications.net
ssebastian@darnellcommunications.net
http://twitter.com/teamdodge
www.media.chrysler.com
ROBBY GORDON (No. 7 SPEED Energy Dodge Charger) CAN YOU TALK ABOUT YOUR NEW RELATIONSHIP WITH DODGE? “I want to start off and tell you how excited I am about this opportunity. AT RGM (Robby Gordon Motorsports), we haven’t had a factory program for two years. We kind of rode it out with Toyota, but it wasn’t a factory program. We really didn’t get any help and that’s the truth of the matter. The motors were good. I don’t have any complaints about the motors or the way that the program went. They had their priority teams prior to us rolling in. My Gillett-Evernham program that was a Dodge program before was all through Gillett-Evernham.
“When I went to their (Chrysler) facility 65 to 70 days ago, I was thoroughly impressed. One, with what they are producing for cars. Second, what their facility is compared to the other two in Detroit. Whoever hasn’t been to Dodge, it’s a beautiful facility. They have all the tools to do what they need to do. I feel with guys that they have in charge with Ralph (Gilles, president and CEO of Dodge) and Bryan (Viger, Head of Dodge Motorsports), and all the guys in the motorsports program, I’m excited about the direction that they’re headed with Dodge and there is multiple opportunities with Robby Gordon Motorsports.”
CAN YOU TALK ABOUT USING PENSKE ENGINES? “The best that we ran with the COT is when I had my split with Gillett-Evernham. I knew I wasn’t going to partner with them. I bolted a Penske engine and we ran in the top 15 pretty much every week. I’ve known Roger (Penske), heck, for my whole career. I’ve idolized him and love the way that he runs his programs. I respect him tremendously. He’s the Captain. Back when we raced Indy cars he was the top, top team that everybody idolized. I had one opportunity to drive for Roger and I choose the Felix Sabates stock car program because I thought that was right direction for my team, for me as driver at that time. Roger’s cars handle on the straightaway. You have to handle on the straightaway. When 85 percent of your lap at most NASCAR races is full throttle, you better handle on the straightaway. The new Dodge engine (R6P8) that they came out with last year, the way that they ran being the two fastest cars here in Daytona (during speedway test), I’m excited about the package that I picked.”
HOW MUCH DID YOU HAVE TO SELL DODGE ON YOUR PROGRAM? “This program actually started about a year back. If Penske would not have reduced down to two cars, there wouldn’t have been an opportunity for me just because they (Dodge) had their program. When that happened, it opened up a great opportunity for us. We get to play in the ‘Fast and the Furious’ program with them which fires out the whole month of April which is perfect for SPEED Energy. SPEED is about a fast and speedy lifestyle.”
DID YOU GET TO WALK THROUGH DODGE’S WIND TUNNEL WHEN YOU VISITED DETROIT? “I toured the place when I negotiated our deal. They were unveiling to their employees their new vehicles. So it was perfect because I got to see their new product line coming out not only for 2011, but what was coming out for 2012 and 2013. They’ve got some very exciting cars on the horizon.”
WHAT DOES YOUR 2011 CUP SCHEDULE LOOK LIKE? “It’s an interesting question. Last year Jamie McMurray started off a little uncertain on how their program was going to be. It’s just amazing how a good result at Daytona can change your season one way of another. Right now, I’m gonna say that we’re good for 18 NASCAR events. There are other things that I want to do. It’s not that I don’t want to race. There’s other event that I’d like to do. With my specialized situation that happened with SPEED, that put us back about 60 days. That probably jacked our Indy 500 program. We’re really starting to gain some momentum. We’re (SPEED Energy) selling product and that’s a good thing. We’re gaining more distribution on a daily basis and we’re kind of controlling our own destiny. Our program is different with sponsors than it was before. We’re really not selling sponsors, we’re selling, ‘Hey, the spots next to Red Bull and Monster. Those are the spots that I want on your shelf and I’ll give you Daytona.’ So we’ve been able to do deals with GNC. We’ve done deals with Basha’s. We’ve signed up multiple, multiple Budweiser distribution deals. Our product is just starting to roll again. We control our own destiny. I am the driver. I am the owner, kind of the sponsor, except for our sponsorship with Dodge. We can be as creative as we want to do.”
Views: 332
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by ShaneH on
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This is great news. We're up to 18 races now. Sweet! I like how he talks about the distribution deals.
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Permalink Reply by Kevin Sweeney on
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Hell yeah! Rock On! I love the sound of this!
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Permalink Reply by vak7 on
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Pure marketing genius. I've always been as impressed with RGs business acumen as I have his talent behind the wheel. Pure genius. Thanks Jaci, I couldn't get the audible on the stream to play either.
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Permalink Reply by Michael Martinez on
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It was less news than I thought, however a "factory deal" washed that over." Penskie cars handled on the straight- aways". Is that saying tech help from Rodger on chassis set ups, or is that saying no more in house chassis and now running Penskie chassis???????????
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Permalink Reply by TOG on
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Robby Gordon builds his own chassis. Motors from Penske.Technology from Dodge.
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Yes...... that was what I was hoping the case was...perhaps the drips I heard TOG was my "Pipe"
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Permalink Reply by jveraSC on
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Its nice to hear that RGM is getting some factory support again. We all saw the bright neon rainbow painting on the wall, Toyota wasnt behind RGM, but RGM still did well. I think R.P. is a man of his word (just based on the loyalty his drivers devote to him), so that combined with a true factory backing from Dodge I think this may be one of the biggest chances for RGM to shine in NASCAR
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Permalink Reply by Brett Crawford on
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IF RGM were smart, they'd get a Penske chassis and figure out where the difference is. Doesn't matter how strong the engines are if you can't get on the gas the same time as everyone else does.
Hopefully the technical support fixes the chassis (or set-up) issue and RGM can in turn provide some input back to Penske.
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RGM chassis are comparable to anything out there. Even if they got a Penske chassis, it isn't going to be what see the Penske drivers running in on sunday. Every organization has it's secrets. Anyone can go out and buy a top of the line chassis from any NASCAR team, but you aren't getting exactly what their top drivers run on sunday. It just doesn't work that way
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Then the setup used on them sure isn't. You guys can sugarcoat it any way you want, but RGM wasn't competitive last year on ovals. It wasn't the engines and it wasn't the driver, so that leaves the chassis and/or it's setup most races.
Hopefully the technical support fixes that. I know I'm looking forward to seeing what improvements happen.
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