Robby Gordon was the Newsmaker guest on Wednesday night's The Race Reporters show on PowerUp Channel. Bill Fleischman and Jim Pedley joined me in the questioning and then Dave (The King) Wilson provided his unique perspective on the season.
Jim asked Robby if any of the NASCAR "cost-cutting" rules (CoT, testing ban at NASCAR tracks, etc.) have benefitted his single-car Jim Beam Toyota operation.
"I think it actually hurt us. The only benefit to the no-testing program was the no-testing program. Except, nobody listened to the rule. They went off to other racetracks and started doing different things with tires. Here's where the biggest problem has come into play, in my opinion. The best teams do all the Goodyear tire tests. When nobody else gets to test, you're that much further behind. The testing policy is totally lopsided right now."
Use this link to listen to the entire show:
http://www.modavox.com/voiceamerica/vepisode.aspx?aid=42394
Here's a link to my Tuesday story in the Arizona Republic on the automakers continued involvement in NASCAR. You might be surprised at some of the numbers.
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/speed/articles/2009/11/09/20091109spt-pirautomakers2.html
Plus links to my Thursday article on Hendrick Motorsports and a notebook. Mark Armijo and I will have coverage all weekend of NASCAR at Phoenix International Raceway. Look for my Q&A with Chad Knaus in Sunday's paper. If you're not in the area to buy the Republic, read us at http://azcentral.com/ .
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/speed/articles/2009/11/11/20091111spt-pirhendrick.html
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/speed/articles/2009/11/11/20091111spt-pirnb.html
And, here's a link to my new "All Business" column in Drag Racing Online.com. It's about Don Schumacher saving Antron Brown -- How about Angelle Sampey, too?
http://dragracingonline.com/columns/knight/xi_11-1.html
Upcoming The Race Reporters guests:
(Show is live Wednesdays at 7 p.m. ET, downloadable, and available on-demand at no cost. Click on TRR page logo in upper right-hand column.)
November 18 -- NHRA Funny Car or Top Fuel champion. Panelists: Mark Armijo, John Sturbin.
November 25 -- Best-of-show with Richard Petty, Mike Harris, Lewis Franck.
[ more early next week . . . ]
