Richmond COT Race

[JRod]

Richmond is an impound race. Also the site of a big COT test earlier this year, so one would expect most teams to have quite a few notes for this weeks race.

RG/GE said the COT in Phoenix was the best they have had yet- not sure if they will use the same car at Richmond to stop the "slide" everyone is so concerned about RG having in the points, but if they do use the same chassis and get a motor that isn't set to go Mission Impossible and self destruct, he could have a good day.

[dezertranger1600]

gotta love a saturday night shootout:D..lets hope RG has a good run.

[RGFan]

I hope that testing helped. They seemed pleased with the results after the test at Richmond. He does well at Richmond, he has a win in Busch and solid finshes in CUp, including a few years ago in the 31 when he came back from 4 laps down, no lucky dogs, he earned every lap back. It was some incredible driving, one of those moments of brilliance.

[NIKAL]

I guess thats one more Crew Chief thats gone from MWR! That looks to be a revolving position at there shop. The big question is where does Borland end up. Anywhere is going to better then were he was.

Michael Waltrip Racing and Dale Jarrett's crew chief Matt Borland have parted ways.

Before joining MWR to lead the No. 44 team, Borland had been Ryan Newman's crew chief at Penske Racing South since the inception of the No. 12 team in 2000.

"Dale Jarrett wasn't happy, UPS wasn't happy, and we had to do something immediately," Waltrip said. "Originally, we had hoped that Matt Borland would take the role as the technical director, but he wasn't ready to come off the road. We need a technical director down the road, but it wasn't going to help us this weekend."

Jason Burdett, formerly the co-crew chief of the No. 88 car at Robert Yates Racing, left Yates on Wednesday and will eventually be the No. 44 crew chief. Waltrip wanted to give Burdett time to get acclimated to the system at Michael Waltrip Racing before he jumped into that role. Burdett worked with Jarrett last year.

This weekend at Richmond, Derrick Finley will be the No. 44 crew chief. Finley started the season at Bill Davis Racing as the crew chief on Jeremy Mayfield's No. 36 car. After leaving BDR, he became the crew chief and then lead engineer on Waltrip's No. 55 car and is already familiar with the operations at MWR.

Jarrett, Mark Green and David Green tested the Car of Tomorrow on Tuesday at Nashville Superspeedway. Waltrip said that the test went really well, and it gave them encouragement for this weekend at Richmond International Raceway. Given the situation as it was, it was time to make a move.

The 1999 Cup champion used all six of his champion's provisionals in the first nine races of the season, and the No. 44 team must make the field for Saturday's Cup race on speed during qualifying on Friday.

[RGFan]

Man, this would be a coup for RG to sweep him up even for just the season. I know he and Greg Erwin work well together, but Matt Borland is a crewchief with the resume and he is a technical mind like RG likes. He could not just sweep Greg to the side.......maybe make Matt Chief Engineer and have him on the box with Greg, I do not know, but man, they should really make a go at him.

[bajafox]

RG dropped out...

http://www.nascar.com/2007/news/features/power_rankings/10/richmond/index.html

He really needs a strong finish this weekend

I'm pretty much done watching NASCAR until Infeneon, can't stand the politics lately

[NIKAL]

It looks as if Michael "FatBack" the Crew Chief for the #21 Wood Brothers has left the team as of today. It seems as silly season is all year around now. Who will be the first driver to leave a team this year? I bet its comming soon!

[HarleyR]

It wouldnt matter who the crew cheif was at MWR Those guys are just padding their wallets for a season or 2... Take any winning crewcheif and you'd have the same result... DJ fell off the wheel a few years ago and MW was never up on it.

[b-makk]

DJ fell off the wheel a few years ago and MW was never up on it.

Good line! :D

[RGFan]

Well, RG was the slowest in the lap average grouping with an average lap of 116 mph, compared to the rest of the field which was in the 119 to 120 mph range for the first and only practice session of the race. I keep hearing people say oh just wait, RG has something brewing, it is not looking that way.........

[Mary Kay]

That is a large amount to pick up!

[kaw500]

From NOL RG 39th fastest @ 121.924 mph. Ran the lap in 22.145 seconds .833 off the leader.

Leader MM 126.689 @ 21.32 for the lap.

The little guy that could will pick up 2 spots in the points after this race instead of losing the avg 2 spots over each of the last 6 races.

Hell I've been a Warriors fan for 13 dry seasons and last night showed me anything can happen. The JIM BEAM #7 is still proudly displayed in the rear window of my truck.

[DEZERTSUB]

HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS....who can really beat em?

[DanDan]

POS and Jarrett is going home.

[FlyHiFlyLo]

POS and Jarrett is going home.

That's awesome!

[dezertranger1600]

From NOL RG 39th fastest @ 121.924 mph. Ran the lap in 22.145 seconds .833 off the leader.

Leader MM 126.689 @ 21.32 for the lap.

The little guy that could will pick up 2 spots in the points after this race instead of losing the avg 2 spots over each of the last 6 races.

Hell I've been a Warriors fan for 13 dry seasons and last night showed me anything can happen. The JIM BEAM #7 is still proudly displayed in the rear window of my truck.

How bout them warriors?i knew dallas would fall in the first round...after 67 wins,you'd be burned out too.

[woundedyak]

Did anyone see RG on Trackside last night?

[Mary Kay]

yes,it was a good interview!

he sounded good and looked good.

when do we vote for him in the all star race?

if he gets in, he is giving all of his earnings to victory junction!

thats great!

[mattb]

Yeah, he did a great job. DW was surprisingly interested in him. Is he totally two-faced or what? It seems like he bags on him during every race. He got some great plugs out, CORR (tv coverage mentioned as well), Dakar, all sorts of good stuff. I think it was good.

Oh yeah. Nice call by RG- He said that if he get's voted in, he'll donate ALL money from the race to Victory Junction. Nice call.

[dezertranger1600]

Looks like this race might be rained out...40-50 % chance of rain tonight.

[Total Loss]

Props to Johnny Benson - 31st on the grid for a first time cup team in a TOYOTA!
My opinion is that since many drivers felt that the sportscar of tomorrow drove like a Craftsman truck- and was an advantage for Johnny.
Or maybe he just is a better driver- with a better team than Brown and POS.
Go Johnny Go- put it on the podium!!!

[woundedyak]

Looks like this race might be rained out...40-50 % chance of rain tonight.

looks like it might be gone by the time they take the green.

http://radar.weather.gov/radar.php?rid=akq&product=N0R&overlay=11101111&loop=no

[dezertranger1600]

Red flag....rain delay.

[RGFan]

postponed until tomorrow .....10 am pacific

[dezertranger1600]

Damnit=(

[DSRacing]

Waltrip wanted to give Burdett time to get acclimated to the system at Michael Waltrip Racing before he jumped into that role.

The first thing I thought when I read this was Burdett standing there saying, "Hey guys, why you packing everything up, it's only Satur......Oh yeah new system."

[FlyHiFlyLo]

The first thing I thought when I read this was Burdett standing there saying, "Hey guys, why you packing everything up, it's only Satur......Oh yeah new system."

Yeah, that's funny as hell.

"We just got to the track boss what do we do now?"

"Pack up and catch your plane back"

[NIKAL]

Has anyone else seen this? http://michaelwaltripsucks.com/index.html Someone actually made a web site and they have sponsors on there site too. Its funny as hell!

[14802]

Good site Nikal..This may be true!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3Sl-Ft-k4k&mode=related&search=

[RGFan]

Good site Nikal..This may be true!!!!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3Sl-Ft-k4k&mode=related&search=

LMAO!!!! Along with the crossed legs and al of the wrist action!!! And talking about "beautiful" Kasey Kahne.....LMAO!!!!

[RGFan]

Here we ago again, flat tire, 2 laps down....What were some saying about the big news........He keeps going this way, he will be down below the top 35 in a week and the only big news will be RGM closing its Nascar Team

[REEVESRacing]

Back on lead lap!


whoa....damb, black flag leaving pis too fst, 3 down???

[jeff]

Another flat and a black flag... Place your bets on how long this tire will last... and double or nothing the next blow out takes him into the wall.

Aloha

[Bricoop]

Two flats and a broken sway bar by lap 10. Awesome

[Bricoop]

Robs pissed now too fast exiting pit lane on the second flat.

[Bricoop]

RG wants a new sway arm on competition yellow

[REEVESRacing]

Crazy...:eek:

Aaaargh.:cool:

[FlyHiFlyLo]

Jeeeeeez us H Christ! Another wait and see who crashes out race.

[kaw500]

Spent the AM tearing down a buddies old shed beat the crap out of this. I'm going riding, RG will be lucky to stay 30th in points. What is it going to take to right this ship?

[bajafox]

:( :mad: :( :mad: :( :mad: :( :mad: :( :mad:

[RGFan]

Spent the AM tearing down a buddies old shed beat the crap out of this. I'm going riding, RG will be lucky to stay 30th in points. What is it going to take to right this ship?

Him driving for another team in Cup and growing RGM in the Busch and Truck series Like DEI did and KHI and JRM are doing. 23 f'ing laps down...........Like I said before, this is their 3rd year, not first, this is not good for RGM East

[dezertranger1600]

congrats to JJ....hendrick still dominating.

[FlyHiFlyLo]

Him driving for another team in Cup and growing RGM in the Busch and Truck series Like DEI did and KHI and JRM are doing. 23 f'ing laps down...........Like I said before, this is their 3rd year, not first, this is not good for RGM East

A 30th place Cup team is worth more than a champion truck team and a champion Busch team.

[RGFan]

A 30th place Cup team is worth more than a champion truck team and a champion Busch team.

Well, if that was the case Fly, there would not be any sponsor issues. All of the Champion Truck and Busch teams have sponsorship, 30th place Cup teams do not sometimes. I am not trying to bust your balls fly, but results speak louder than words, and things are not looking to good for our boy. I have heard talk from friends with "info" as well, some has panned out and some has not. Simple facts about Nascar, 30th place teams do not keep sponsorship if they keep finishing 30th year in and year out. Ask Richard Petty, Darrel Waltrip, Ricky Rudd, Theresa Earnhardt, I can make a list 3 pages long of teams who have lost sponsorship for finishing consistantly in the bottom 15 in the past. I think it is fair to say that RG will not be making the Chase again this year. Lets face it, RGM performance wise is not to far off from MWR, I hate to say that, in fact it pains me, but the qualifying results speak for themselves, granted they are not really making qualifying runs, but even when they have, by RG's own admission, that is an area they have to work on. Once out of the top 35, All of that practice time they have been using for racing is going to have to go towards qualifying, which will mean even less prep for the race, if they make it in week in and week out. It sucks to see RG waste his best years with an underfunded race team that seems to be consistantly behind the 8- ball. I want to see RGM grow, but not at the cost of watching my favorite driver wallow below mediocrity during the best years of his driving career. Actions speak louder than words............Here's to hoping that things change for the better quickly, very quickly:(

Short of him adding not 1, but 2 or 3 cars this year, actually in the next few months and the sponsorship to go with it, or a huge full allianceship with a top notch team (Hendrick, RCR, JGR, DEI, or Roush) I just do not see drastic improvement coming in the next year or 2. I hope I am wrong

I know, I am a glass half empty kind of guy.

[spalind]

Hmmm, finished 34th and fell to 29th overall...wow...what a slide...from like 14th all the way to 29th....not good...not at all good...

[RGFan]

Hmmm, finished 34th and fell to 29th overall...wow...what a slide...from like 14th all the way to 29th....not good...not at all good...

And 83 points away from 35th. It sucks, it sucks nuts, 140 plus points in 2 races.

[movindirt]

So does anyone know exactly why RG lost those right fronts so early?

[Bricoop]

So does anyone know exactly why RG lost those right fronts so early?

A wire on the brake hose was turned around backwards for whatever reason. That's what they were saying on the radio. Sounds like someone will pay for this.

[DailyPedal]

The brake and bead blower hoses have a spiral wire to keep them from collapsing. If the car has a push (seems all COTs push) driver has to put in more steering input and tires rub...but he lost two tires in a matter of laps, probably more than the wire, like the swaybar bolt which can rub on low pressures and hard input.

[b-makk]

I don't know how many more races I can take this before I fold. I'll never stop cheering for him off-road but nascar seems to have his number.

[9Iron]

Keep the faith!
Others are up against the same...

[Bricoop]

Menards/Mapei Richmond Race Report





Richmond, VA (May 6, 2007) – After an engine failure at the Talladega Speedway, Robby Gordon and his team looked forward to heading to the Richmond International Raceway as a chance to regain momentum in the points. However, rain showers on Saturday evening postponed the scheduled event until Sunday afternoon and would ultimately mirror the weekend for Robby Gordon and his No. 7 crew. A broken sway bar arm dampened Robby Gordon and his No. 7 team’s hopes of a solid run and a good points day.


On lap two, a cut tire forced the Menards/Mapei Ford Fusion to pit road. As soon as Gordon returned to the track, the same thing happened – another cut right front tire. Gordon again came down pit road knowing it wasn’t just a cut tire they were dealing with; there was something wrong with his race car.


Since Saturday night competition was postponed, NASCAR decided to schedule a competition caution on Lap 40. Knowing that sway bar arm was broken, Gordon came down pit road and stayed there until his crew could fix the issue. The team repaired the sway bar arm as best they could on pit road and returned the No. 7 Menards/Mapei Ford Fusion to competition. Despite early troubles, Gordon and his crew persevered and finished 34th, 22 laps down. Although falling two spots in owner points and not getting the finish they had hoped, the team worked together and worked well under pressure to fix the race car on pit road and get the No. 7 back out. Gordon and his team never gave up during the 400 lap event, running competitive lap times with the leaders for the remainder of the race and chalking it up to another learning experience in the Car of Tomorrow.

Next up for Gordon and his No. 7 crew is the Dodge Avenger 500 at Darlington Raceway. Live coverage of the event will be televised on FOX Saturday, May 12, beginning at 7 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). The race will also be covered live on the Motor Racing Network and Sirius Satellite Radio. Qualifying will be televised live on SPEED Friday, May 11 beginning at 3 p.m. EDT.

[movindirt]

How does one break a sway bar arm in just a few laps?

[Bricoop]

How does one break a sway bar arm in just a few laps?

From two flat tires.

[b-makk]

How does one break a sway bar arm in just a few laps?


From two flat tires.

How does one get two flat tires in just a few laps?

[Bricoop]

How does one get two flat tires in just a few laps?

This


http://www.robbygordon.com/Imagefolio31_file/gallery/01_NASCAR/Cup_Series/2007/10_Richmond/Richmond_Menards_26.jpg

causes this(x2)

http://www.robbygordon.com/Imagefolio31_file/gallery/01_NASCAR/Cup_Series/2007/10_Richmond/Richmond_Menards_24.jpg

[DailyPedal]

I think if they have the spacing too close on the right front trying to tuck the tire in and depending on the front arm and spindle combo, when things are off a little the tire will rub the arm up by the pinch bolt. But by the pic, maybe the arm broke where it ties to the control arm, took out the tire and rubbed the ground...can you say "handful" to drive.

[movindirt]

This


http://www.robbygordon.com/Imagefolio31_file/gallery/01_NASCAR/Cup_Series/2007/10_Richmond/Richmond_Menards_26.jpg

causes this(x2)

http://www.robbygordon.com/Imagefolio31_file/gallery/01_NASCAR/Cup_Series/2007/10_Richmond/Richmond_Menards_24.jpg

But one had to happened first, no? So which is it the chicken or the egg?

[FlyHiFlyLo]

The corrigated cooling hose (Bead Blower) has a metal wire in it that holds it expanded. That wire rubbed the tire and cut it the first time and the second time. RG smacked the wall broke the end link then aluminum sway arm ground off on the track.

That is what I gathered.

[Samco Fab]

I hope the team keeps thier chins up, and dont loose motivation after a couple of bad races. Look at good drivers like Kasey Kahne who are doing bad this year, but are from much better funded teams. Crap happens, this sounds like a prep issue and prep issues can be fixed.

Go RGR!

[Bricoop]

The corrigated cooling hose (Bead Blower) has a metal wire in it that holds it expanded. That wire rubbed the tire and cut it the first time and the second time. RG smacked the wall broke the end link then aluminum sway arm ground off on the track.

That is what I gathered.

RG smacked the wall?

[14802]

I laughing during the first few moments that Darrell Waltrip said during Robby's first flat " His crew cheif should look into some wheel spacers".(Saying he is run to low of a tire pressure) . Mabey he has a point.....Naaaa He's just a old fart.

[FlyHiFlyLo]

RG smacked the wall?

I think he "touched the wall"

[movindirt]

RGM can't afford prep problems. Hopefully RGM can figure it out and get things moving in the right direction.

Robby, if you need someone to look for stupid little problems I am available and will work for free if you just fly me to the races and let me test the TT once.