Associated Press
The NASCAR notebook …
Car owner Robby Gordon sees Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Watkins Glen International as a chance to show the team’s progress and woo potential sponsors.
Driver Robby Gordon just wants to feel what it’s like to win again.
It’s been five years and 178 races since Gordon took the checkered flag, winning the 2003 event at The Glen to complete a sweep of the two Cup road races that season while driving for Richard Childress Racing.
Since starting his own team in 2005, Gordon’s success has been limited. His only top-five finishes the past three seasons have been a second, fourth and fifth at Watkins Glen.
There is constant speculation that Gordon’s time as an owner could end soon if he doesn’t find more sponsors. But Gordon, who insists he is not spending his own money, said he’s confident Robby Gordon Motorsports will have a sponsor next year. Jim Beam is the current sponsor.
“Every year we’ve climbed the ladder in points and we work ourselves up into a higher position,” Gordon said.
TRUEX STAYS WITH DEI
CHARLOTTE ó Martin Truex Jr. has finally agreed to a contract extension with Dale Earnhardt Inc. that keeps him in the No. 1 Chevrolet at least through 2009.
The two sides held a mutual option on the 2009 season, but Truex had been reluctant to commit even though DEI was eager to retain him. He tested the market, and had verbally agreed to stay with the team several weeks ago, but declined signing anything before agreeing on Wednesday.
Now that he’s signed, the two sides are working on a longer deal.
Truex, who won consecutive championships in the then-Busch Series for DEI, made the Chase for the championship last season. He’s currently 17th in the standings, 248 points out of the 12th and final spot with five races to go.
YELEY OUT, COLEMAN IN
CHARLOTTE ó Twenty-year-old Brad Coleman will replace J.J. Yeley in the No. 96 Hall of Fame Racing Toyota beginning at the Aug. 17 NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Michigan International Speedway.
Yeley, already set to sit out this Sunday’s Cup race at Watkins Glen in favor of road racing specialist P.J. Jones, was released by the team on Wednesday.
The Michigan race will be the Cup debut for Coleman, who has made 42 Nationwide Series starts and is currently 16th in the season points.
“I really appreciate Jeff Moorad and Tom (Garfinkel, co-owners of Hall of Fame Racing) for giving me this opportunity,” Coleman said. “I have really enjoyed my time testing with the people on the team and I’m looking forward to having a successful weekend at Michigan.”