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Weekly Racing Journal

Race/Date:                 Sirius at The Glen/August 10, 2003

                                    (22nd of 36 races)

Location:                    Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International

Start Position:            14th

Finish Position:            First

Points Position:          10th (from 11th last week)

Robby Gordon and the No. 31 Cingular Wireless crew proved Sunday at Watkins Glen International they know a little bit about road racing as Gordon took the checkered flag in the Sirius at The Glen, making it win number two for the No. 31 Richard Childress Racing (RCR) team. The win places Gordon in the books as only the fourth driver to sweep both road course races in the same season.

As soon as the race got underway, Gordon radioed his team to tell them the car felt great. By lap 22, he moved up eight positions to sixth and was gaining on the leader when the second caution of the day prompted the Cingular Wireless team to make its first pit stop under yellow, taking four tires and fuel. When green flag racing returned, Gordon was in 15th place.

The No. 31 RCR team went to work to devise a pit strategy to get their Cingular Wireless driver toward the front of the field. To gain track position, the No. 31 Chevrolet team did not come down pit road during the third or fourth cautions of the day. By the time racing resumed on lap 46, the Cingular Wireless Chevy was ninth.

Then, the fifth caution flag waved on lap 52, giving Gordon the opportunity he and his crew were hoping would arrive as they were within their fuel window. They completed their second and final pit stop of the day, taking four tires and fuel. The No. 31 Cingular Wireless driver was back on track in sixth place, soon taking the lead on lap 62.  Gordon went on to lead the rest of the 90-lap race, cruising into victory lane for the first time at Watkins Glen International.  

As a result of Gordon’s victory, Cingular Wireless is donating $50,000 each to FDNY and Special Olympics.

Gordon Quotes: “It’s about time. This is just great. We have come so close so many times here, and now we finally get to go to victory lane. Hats off to everybody at RCR, all of the employees, not just the guys who come and help us on race day, but everybody that makes it happen. I’ll be honest. I don’t think we had the best car today. We just drove a good, smart strategy, and they made some good calls in pit lane, so my hat’s off to Kevin Hamlin for some great calls from pit lane. The guys also had some excellent stops and I just really appreciate everything they do. I definitely did not win this race by myself. And it is a great win for FDNY and Special Olympics. We raised a good amount of money for them today, so that makes today’s win that much more special for everyone involved.”