Weekly
Racing Journal
Race/Date: Chevy Rock & Roll 400/Sept. 6,
2003
(26th of 36 races)
Location: Richmond International Raceway
Start Position: 21st
Finish Position: 29th
Points Position: 13th (down one from 12th)
Less than five months ago at Richmond International
Raceway (RIR), Robby Gordon and the No. 31 Cingular Wireless crew
walked away with a hard-earned fourth-place finish, posting the
top-five after coming back from being three laps down. History looked
like it was going to repeat itself Saturday night at RIR for the
Cingular Wireless team members, as they rebounded from one lap down
and worked their way up to fourth place once again. But, with less
than 20 laps to go, a late-race accident banished another happy
ending at RIR as the No. 31 Chevrolet dropped from fourth to a disappointing
29th-place finish.
Gordon was battling a loose-handling race car
in the opening laps of the Chevy Rock & Roll 400, when another
car spun the No. 31 Cingular Wireless Chevrolet early in the race.
The spin did not result in any major damage to the Chevrolet, but
did put the No. 31 Cingular Wireless driver one lap down.
Patience and persistence eventually landed the
No. 31 Cingular Wireless team in the 20th position by lap 144, returning
the team to where it started the 400-lap race. Then, the eighth
caution of the race gave the Cingular Wireless crew the opportunity
it needed. Gordon was back on the lead lap and pitted for the fifth
time to take four tires, fuel and to make chassis adjustments to
improve the car’s handling.
The No. 31 Cingular Wireless driver pitted
two more times, under yellow to take four tires and fuel on laps
270 and 291. The team’s pit strategy paid off. The No. 31 Cingular
Wireless Chevrolet was fourth with less than 20 laps to go, but
as the field was approaching turn three on lap 382, Jeff Burton
punted the No. 31 Chevrolet into the wall, ending the night for
the Cingular Wireless team on a very somber note and dropping Gordon
to 13th-place in NASCAR Winston Cup points standings.
Gordon Quotes: "I am just really disappointed with what happened
there at the end. I gave him room there. We had a really good car
and I just feel sorry for my guys. We had a chance for a really
strong finish for the Cingular Wireless Chevrolet. I love racing
at Richmond and I know it is short track racing, but it is just
really disappointing. I raced him clean and gave him plenty of room
on the inside."
|