Is RG's NASCAR days almost over?

[Cadwell]

Just saw this on Yahoo news.....
http://sports.yahoo.com/nascar/news;...na500-notebook

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida (AP)—In one breath, Robby Gordon is bemoaning the fact that he couldn’t quit NASCAR even if he wanted to. He has money tied up in a race shop and airplanes, with crew members depending on him for their livelihood.

Minutes later, though, Gordon is talking with boundless optimism about the potential of Speed Energy, a brand of energy drink that he’s trying to market on his own.

And does he have a deal for you.

“Race team’s for sale,” Gordon said. “It’s been up for sale. Really, what I’d like to do, I think the smartest thing for us to do as we’re talking candidly here, would be to bring in investors that have more opportunity to (attract) big sponsor relations.

“Obviously, I can drive it, we can run it, but between doing that and operating Speed, we need people that have more relations than I have.”

The 43-year-old Gordon has been a driver-owner in NASCAR since 2005, and the former standout in Indy-style racing has had his moments—including a second-place finish at Infineon Raceway in 2010.

But there are challenges, too.

Does he make money in NASCAR?

“Right now? No,” Gordon said. “We haven’t made money in NASCAR in a long time.”

Would he consider getting out?

“I’ve got a 100,000-square-foot (9,290-square-meter) building,” Gordon said. “Unfortunately, I’ve got airplanes that I can’t even afford to use today that are sitting there, I’m still paying insurance on them, I’m still paying payments. The race shop, it’s not paid for, obviously I’m paying rent on it. So I’m stuck. Plain and simple.”

Gordon later reconsidered his use of the word “stuck,” saying he would prefer to stay in NASCAR on a limited schedule and take on investors.

“The reality is, I don’t want to be all the way out,” Gordon said. “I would like to run about 15 stock car races a year. That would be my goal.”

That would allow him to continue pursuing his diverse racing interests outside of NASCAR—and continue to build Speed Energy, which he insists is on its way to becoming a marketing success that can grow to take on the likes of industry titans such as Red Bull.

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[e_lunatic]

robby isn't being honest. i know guys that worked for him and he has said many times, the day this shop stops making me money the doors will close.

[RGFan]

robby isn't being honest. i know guys that worked for him and he has said many times, the day this shop stops making me money the doors will close.

RGM's performance in Nascrap as a whole the past 4 years proves your statement false. Robby has said many things that have not come true while having the best intentions for them to come true. Even with 8 million per year, he will not come remotely close to competing with the 4 and 5 car teams who are bringing in 80-100 million every year. Nobody wants to sponsor a start and park, they want to sponsor contenders, plain and simple. Do you really think for 1 minute the likes of Paul Menard, Ryan Newman, Martin Truex Jr. and 3/4's of the drivers in Nascar are more talented drivers than Robby Gordon? Of course not, but they race for teams who have funding and money to spend on getting their cars and teams better every day. Just the plain simple facts regarding Nascar. While I respect RG for living the dream and doing things his way, starting his own team was career suicide for a driver who wanted to race and be successful in Nascar.

[randy s]

RGM's performance in Nascrap as a whole the past 4 years proves your statement false. Robby has said many things that have not come true while having the best intentions for them to come true. Even with 8 million per year, he will not come remotely close to competing with the 4 and 5 car teams who are bringing in 80-100 million every year. Nobody wants to sponsor a start and park, they want to sponsor contenders, plain and simple. Do you really think for 1 minute the likes of Paul Menard, Ryan Newman, Martin Truex Jr. and 3/4's of the drivers in Nascar are more talented drivers than Robby Gordon? Of course not, but they race for teams who have funding and money to spend on getting their cars and teams better every day. Just the plain simple facts regarding Nascar. While I respect RG for living the dream and doing things his way, starting his own team was career suicide for a driver who wanted to race and be successful in Nascar.

the one thing robby does better than driving is making bad decisions. no one in the garage area even comes close. not only with his decision to work alone but his race strategy is often flawed as well. he's got lousy people skills on top of that too. free rep points to anyone who can name all of the crew chiefs he's had...

[randy s]

the announcer sure pimped his off road accomplishments during qualifying. of course the guy could have told rg's life story and downed a twelve pack of speed energy drink with as long as it took for rg to do his two laps..

[NicksTrix]

why would a buyer invest millions into it and let him run it? it hasn't worked up to now unfortunetly.
if someone opted to buy, you'd have to think he would end up being a hired driver. yet who wants to hire someone for half a season?
they aren't drinking it so far rob, keep trying.

[wheeli]

Over 19 million up for grabs next sunday,stay out of trouble all day and try and be in the top 20 at the end will pay real good. Just think of all the money RG saved over the winter by not testing,he usually runs good on the plate tracks untill he gets takin out.Even though he dosent run well he is still the reason I watch.

[Tristar Racing]

Over 19 million up for grabs next sunday,stay out of trouble all day and try and be in the top 20 at the end will pay real good. Just think of all the money RG saved over the winter by not testing,he usually runs good on the plate tracks untill he gets takin out.Even though he dosent run well he is still the reason I watch.

New aero package, new EFI engines, and the first restrictor plate race for RGM's "engine shop." Yea, not testing was the way to go...

Watching RG fans (not you, just saying in general) make fun of everyone who questions this year's effort on the planet, Facebook, etc is hilarious. Yes, last year he ran possessed at the plate tracks. That was with a car that was designed around a different aero package and was actually optimized in the wind tunnel for that rule set, and had Penske power. I am hoping for the best, but am expecting the worst. Wednesday should provide a clearer picture of what he has this year.

[NIKAL]

Robby personally posted on Planet Robby regarding selling the team. He claims the story posted is not exactly what he said. Even Jayski made a Update/Retraction on the article posted on his site, stating that he was told by the team that RGM is not for sale, but looking for investors.

Robby's quote on Planet Robby;
Here's the real truth to the conversation. I am considering taking RGM NASCAR Team and Maybe Speed Energy to IPO. Here is the real story.

The Team is not for sale, were going to look at the private sector to bring in partners that have relationships to major corporations that have interest in marketing to NASCAR and its fan base. Although it might be better to take it to IPO where a lot of people can be part of the Team like the Greenbay Packers and help the organization. With a IPO The everyday business man or woman, fan, or supporter could own part of this my organization and race against the big teams. It would be a real David and Goliath story that would bring in a Groupe of partners that would give us more marketing arms and personal Relationships into Corporations and when the team wins and is profitable so do the investors. More details to come soon.

In this sport we have to think different than everyone else. If you always follow you will never LEAD.

[Mumzy]

In this sport we have to think different than everyone else. If you always follow you will never LEAD.

This is EXACTLY what Micheal Waltrip, Roush, Ganassi and Petty have done. Robby will find some schmuck to invest a few million, and the whole thing will implode in less than a year. It will end up in court and Robby will have burned yet one more bridge.

He had better package the whole deal as one (race teams and energy drink) if he plans on finding any interested party. And if he plans on dropping millions a year on racing he better start performing. NASCAR brand advertisement cons are in the toilet. Watch a race. If your not running in the top 15 your not even on TV....that is until you crash!

I wish him luck.