F1 drivers may have to take pay cut

Formula One's top drivers may be forced to take a cut in wages as the global financial crisis hits the sport.

Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali, whose driver Kimi Raikkonen's salary is the highest in F1 at £35m, said teams had to make savings in all areas.

"When teams must significantly reduce costs, one could say you need an ace to make the difference," Domenicali said.

"But I feel in the current climate the big teams won't be able any more to offer the amounts some drivers get."

Domenicali, who was talking in an interview with the Italian magazine Autosprint, said he expected salaries within F1 to undergo "a major revolution" in the next few months.

Raikkonen, the 2007 world champion, has by far the biggest salary in the sport, but there are a number of other leading F1 drivers earning salaries of more than £10m - such as Renault's double world champion Fernando Alonso and this year's title winner Lewis Hamilton of McLaren.

A select few leading engineers in the sport - such as Red Bull's chief technical officer Adrian Newey - also earn salaries of several million a year.

Raikkonen's Ferrari contract was extended in September until the end of 2010, despite the Finn's largely lacklustre season, but Domenicali said changing it was not impossible.

"Anything can be modified in life," he said. "The important thing is wanting to do it. We know the terms of the contract.

"However, I'm convinced this issue will soon be discussed among all the teams and with every driver."

His comments follow those made by fellow team boss Frank Williams, who said last week that he was in favour of a driver salary cap.

"We've raised this issue several times and will take the opportunity to do so again," Williams told British newspapers.

"We'd also strongly support a budget cap, introduced gradually, if it could be properly policed."

Williams dominated F1 in the 1980s and 1990s, but has seen his team's competitiveness slip in the last decade.

And he admitted that enforcing limits on the salaries of top drivers would be very difficult.

"If McLaren don't want to pay Hamilton £15m, someone else will. How do we stop that?" he said.

Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo insisted he would not swap the English 2008 world champion for Felipe Massa, who lost the title to Hamilton by a single point.

"Hamilton is a great driver," Di Montezemolo said at Ferrari's HQ in Maranello. "But, with all respect, I wouldn't swap him for Felipe Massa.

"Felipe is extremely popular, for the man he is, for the great driver he's demonstrated to be, and for the beautiful way he lost the championship.

"If Massa did not win it this year it was because we (the team) were to blame.

"It would have been normal for him to win. He didn't manage to because of our mistakes."

Meanwhile, on a visit to the American headquarters of team sponsor Mobil, Hamilton concedes the new raft of regulations for 2009 could affect his title defence.

"With the new regulations it's going to make it very tough to win the championship again," the 23-year-old said.

"But I think as a team we are in a position to pull together and make a difference in some other way."

(Source: BBC Sport)

RACING NEWS: TRANS-AM SERIES MAKES A COMEBACK

RACING NEWS: TRANS-AM SERIES MAKES A COMEBACK

IT’S BACK: The Trans-Am Tour is expected to return in 2009 with the SCCA sanctioning eight events in conjunction with major SCCA club racing events across the country. Rules are to closely resemble those of the SCCA GT-1 classification.

MAZDA SPEED: Mazda will enter the American Le Mans Series next season, with veteran team owner Rob Dyson fielding a pair of Mazda-powered cars in the LMP2 class.

DRAG MOVES: It appears that team owner David Powers will park his Top Fuel dragster because of a lack of funds. Driver Rod Fuller and crew chief Mike Kloeber are hoping to salvage the team under new ownership.

DRAG MOVES II: Team owner Don Prudhomme has released Larry Dixon from his contract and hired Spencer Massey to drive his Top Fueler next season. While nothing is official, the move frees up Dixon to drive for new team owner Alan Johnson next season. Johnson won five straight titles with Tony Schumacher before splitting with the Schumacher team at the end of the season.

UNEMPLOYED: Former NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Bobby Labonte was released from his contract with the financially strapped Petty Enterprises team last week and is currently seeking a job with another team.

CHAMPION: Several days after being named the 2008 Driver of the Year, NHRA Top Fuel champion Tony Schumacher became the first two-time winner of the Economaki Champion of Champions Award presented by Speedway Motorsports Inc. and National Speed Sport News. Schumacher accepted the award at the Performance Racing Industry Trade Show in Orlando, Florida.

SUBSCRIBE: National Speed Sport News has been published weekly since 1934. To subscribe to National Speed Sport News, click on the following link for a special industry rate: www.nationalspeedsportnews.com/subscribe.html?pid=NQ%2BVfhkepT4%3D.

Schumi: New rules will improve F1

Michael Schumacher believes Formula 1 will become stronger as a result of the current round of regulation changes and cost cuts.

The FIA and the F1 teams agreed to take drastic action last week to head off a crisis in the sport, as the worldwide financial downturn started to squeeze the teams' finances and led to Honda's shock departure.

In addition to the rules changes already planned – including the return of slicks and the revised wings to aid overtaking – testing will be slashed next year and aerodynamic and engine developments have been further restricted.

This had led to fears that F1 will become less challenging, but Schumacher thinks the championship's new era will be both more competitive and cost-effective.

"The direction of the new decisions is absolutely right in my view and has even the potential for a better show to come," said Schumacher in an interview for his personal website.

"To increase the mechanical grip for example is perfect.

"Formula 1 will still remain the pinnacle of motorsports.

"It will change a bit, but life is about changes."

He added that he was pleased that action was taken so quickly.

"It is clear that something has to happen in the light of the current situation worldwide," said Schumacher.

"I am happy with the fact that the FIA together with the teams have taken the first steps.

"We have to carefully evaluate what to do now, and this is what happens at the moment."

Gulf region says doing all it can for F1

The oil-exporting Gulf Arab region cannot do more than it is doing already to support Formula One, a leading member of the sport's governing body said on Wednesday.

"The contribution is massive already," said International Automobile Federation (FIA) vice-president Mohammed bin Sulayem, a United Arab Emirates rallying champion, in answer to questions about the economic crisis battering car manufacturers who dominate the sport.

"Who would have thought we would have two Formula One races so close together, 40 minutes apart (in Bahrain and Abu Dhabi)," he told reporters.

"Who would have thought we'd have a situation where a percentage of McLaren would be owned by the Bahraini government?"

The island kingdom of Bahrain, which owns 30 percent of McLaren, became Formula One's first Middle East circuit in 2004 while Abu Dhabi, the UAE capital, will host the season-ending race next year.

Dubai investors were linked this year to failed attempts to save the Super Aguri team that folded in April and there has been speculation that Middle Eastern cash could keep the Honda team alive.

Honda announced this month that they were pulling out of the sport due to the credit crunch, with the team to be closed down if no serious buyer materialises in the next few weeks.

Interest in motorsport is booming in the region, with Gulf trade and tourism hub Dubai boasting a modern circuit while Qatar plans to update its Losail MotoGP track to Formula One standard.

Mubadala Development Co, an investment firm owned by Abu Dhabi, has a five percent stake in Ferrari and also sponsors the championship-winning team.

Formula One unveiled a raft of cost-cutting measures last week that should see the teams reduce their costs by almost a third next year.

Bin Sulayem said the sport had to prepare for the worst after Honda's shock exit, with fears that another carmaker could quit before the season starts in Australia on March 29.

"We have to be ready for the worst and that is what we are preparing for," he told Reuters. "We don't know what their (manufacturers') sales are in November, December, January, how they are doing, this all has an impact."

Asked whether the worst would be another team leaving the championship, Bin Sulayem said: "It would be even worse than that." He declined to elaborate.

He said that, in addition to the 30-percent cost reductions agreed by manufacturer-owned teams next year, there would be another 20-25 percent cut in budgets in 2010.

"Even after the crisis ends, we should not go back to spending whatever you want," he said. "Manufacturers and teams realise that there's an issue...they want a fast cure but there isn't one.

"Strict measures have to be taken whether you like it or not."

(Source: Reuters)

PCI Race Radios, Inc. acquires the Solder Joint and opens up second store in Orange, California!

PCI Race Radios, Inc. acquires the Solder Joint and opens up second store in Orange, California!

Signal Hill, CA (December 1, 2008) PCI Race Radios, the leading supplier of Communications to the Powersports Industry has acquired The Solder Joint, of Orange, California. Mark Foster, founder of The Solder Joint relocated to Indiana and PCI Race Radios took advantage of the opportunity to open a second, more convenient location for our Racing customers and expand into the Marine and Public Safety Industry.

PCI Race Radios, Inc. has hired Mark ?Hollywood? Lowman, and he will continue to manage the Solder Joint, a DBA of PCI Race Radios, Inc. ?I?m excited about The Solder Joint?s now expanded line of products and increased inventory levels, this is exactly what we needed to service our customers better,? commented Mark Lowman, Manager of the Solder Joint.

In the purchase of the business, PCI also acquired a new 20? trailer to better support our racers in the desert. We are now able to be at two places at one time, like the upcoming January 22nd, 2008 weekend. Our 40? trailer will be at the SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge race, while our 20? service trailer will be at the MORE Barstow race.

In addition to our new boating packages, The Solder Joint offers full custom installations in all types of vehicles, trucks and boats. The Solder Joint also has full CB Sales and Service at their Orange location. The Solder Joint is conveniently located in Orange where the 22, 55 and 57 Freeways meet, we have stocked the shelves with inventory and done some renovations to the store, stop by and check it out! The Solder Joint offers full custom Installations and CB sales and service.

In 1976, PCI entered into the motor sports industry and immediately emerged as a leader providing unparalleled support, service and clear communications. Providing trackside support for over 30 years, while developing racer friendly products, PCI is widely recognized as the leader in off road racing motor sports.

SIGAL RACING HITS THE AIRWAVES

Can’t get enough of Sigal Greenberg and Sigal Racing? Watch her continue to blast into the stratosphere this Sunday on Good Morning Arizona at 7:50 AM. Carey Pena will interview Sigal about becoming Arizona’s first woman racecar champion.

Tune into KTVK TV, Channel 3 on December 21 and see Sigal weave her magic!

Prodrive chief 'may turn to F1

Subaru's withdrawal from the World Rally Championship could hasten team principal David Richards' return to F1.

Richards, chairman of Banbury-based firm Prodrive which prepares the Subaru cars, says he now has time to consider future projects.

"I can focus now on where we want to be long term. Who knows? That might be in Formula One," he told BBC Oxford.

Richards was axed by Honda when it took over BAR in 2004, and has not ruled out a takeover of the troubled F1 team.

Richards, a former Benetton boss, is thought to be one of the parties interested in taking over the Honda team - after the Japanese company pulled out of F1 because of financial reasons.

"I don't know about Honda," he said. "There's a new era beckoning in Formula One, with a lower cost base. No less competitive or exciting, but certainly (there is) an opportunity there."

When asked whether potential buyers might prefer to wait until cost cutting rules are fully implemented by F1, Richards replied: "That is going to be one of the challenges for Honda I suspect."

Prodrive runs the Subaru World Rally team and Aston Martin's Le Mans programmes as well as the Ford Performance Racing team in Australia.

source: bbc

Durka Durka Photo 25% off Holiday Sale

Robby Gordon Motorsports Partners with Toyota for 2009

Charlotte, N.C. (December 15, 2008) – Robby Gordon Motorsports announced today that they will partner with Toyota beginning in the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season for the No. 7, which is guaranteed a spot in the season opener Daytona 500.



“We are excited to be partnering with Toyota in NASCAR in 2009. After watching their progress last season, we decided that a switch to Toyota was the right package for our team,” commented Robby Gordon, owner of Robby Gordon Motorsports. “We are confident that fielding a Toyota Camry will add to the success of our organization and the competitiveness of our performance on the race track.”



“I’ve known Robby as a driver, team owner and fierce competitor since 1990,” said Lee White, President of TRD, U.S.A. “We’ve raced together in Off-Road, IMSA, SCCA and Indy Car and have shared many memorable challenges and victories. It will be exciting to see how the association between Robby, his team, Toyota and TRD will develop in 2009. I promise you that it will not be boring to watch.”



Toyota's first involvement with Robby Gordon dates back to 1989 when he became the youngest grand national sport truck driver to win a driver's championship in a TRD-powered Toyota truck. Gordon and TRD hope to continue this successful pattern in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

Citroen and Peugeot not planning F1

Sources at PSA Peugeot Citroen say that rumours suggesting that the French company might buy the assets of Honda Racing F1 are not going to become a reality. The company was involved in F1 between 1994 and 2000 as an engine supplier with McLaren (1994), Jordan (1995-1997) and Prost (1998-2000). There is obvious merit in F1 for image-building but Peugeot sources say that it is not possible to invest the kind of money needed at the same time as it is closing down production facilities and idling factories. The company does not know how the rumours started.

The spokesman also added that he had no idea how the rumor had started about the Peugeot racing group being (again) involved with F1.

Peugeot is continuing its assault at Le Mans with the diesel-engined 908 HDi FAP, while Citroen is going to stay in the WRC.

sourcwe granprix.com

Subaru pulls out of 2009 World Rally Championship

Subaru and rally competition have been synonymous for nearly 20 years, but in a surprising move, the company said on Tuesday that it is pulling out of the 2009 World Rally Championship in response to the global economic crisis.

The Prodrive-run Subaru team has won six WRC titles--three manufacturer's and three driver's--and built up a strong following around the world. In turn, rally success has helped Subaru sell sporty cars and burnish its image with enthusiasts, in the process making the blue Impreza rally car an icon.

The announcement came from Subaru's parent company, Fuji Heavy Industries, which said it had met its objectives for WRC competition.

Prodrive said it will prepare to re-enter competition in 2010 with a new team, as new technical regulations are introduced.

"Subaru's departure from the World Rally Championship is a great loss as it is one of the sport's icons," Prodrive chairman Dave Richards said in a statement.

"The Subaru World Rally Team has created true champions, such as Colin McRae and Richard Burns, and its absence will be felt by many the world over. Although this decision closes a significant chapter in Prodrive's history, our focus now turns to the future."

On Monday, Suzuki said it would withdraw from the WRC. The departures leave the series without a Japanese automaker.

The news sends another chill through the racing world following word that Honda is pulling out of Formula One competition and Audi is leaving the American Le Mans Series.

Source autoweek

new Baja 1000 Chassis?`

A strange creation from Dong Tran.

More info here
http://www.thedesignblog.org/entry/baja-1000-buggy-green-and-mean-desert-racer/

eam Germany, Sebastien Loeb win Race of Champions titles

NASCAR champions Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson told fellow Sprint Cup Series driver Carl Edwards of the fun to be had in the annual Race of Champions, but Edwards wanted to travel to London to see for himself.

Edwards came away from Wembley Stadium inspired by the talent of the drivers participating in what is designed to be an all-for-fun activity.

"Hopefully, I can be invited back so I can get better," he said.

Edwards did himself and his country proud by reaching the semifinals of the ROC's competition for individual drivers. He even beat retired seven-time Formula One champion Michael Schumacher in a head-to-head race.

"That was a dream, and that alone was worth the whole trip," Edwards said.

The ROC, which began in Paris in 1986 as a battle of international rally drivers, has grown into one of the world's best off-season attractions. Sixteen drivers come from both sides of the Atlantic Ocean to compete on a temporary asphalt course in a stadium setting.

The competition is divided into two parts--two-man teams competing for their countries in the Nations Cup and an individual shootout--and both involve bracket racing with two drivers racing at a time on a tight track. Five types of cars rotate through the four-hour event, keeping drivers on their toes.

Among the cars were the Ford Focus used in the World Rally Championship, an Audi-powered KTM X-Bow track car, an Abarth 500 Assetto Corse and a pair of open-wheel buggies, one of which looks like a sprint car and the other a praying mantis.

"Like racing go-karts in your living room," F1's Jenson Button said.

Drivers start races side by side in opposite lanes, and the approximately one-mile lap takes them on separate paths back to the starting line. Races consist of two laps, and the team competition is a best-of-three format. The individual portion is win-and-advance.

"But the world doesn't go bad if you [lose]," Schumacher said. "It just means you get to have a drink [earlier]."

Edwards expected to have two-time ROC participant Travis Pastrana as his teammate, but the X Games star injured his hip and a knee in a motocross accident just days before the race.

Replacing Pastrana was Tanner Foust, a stunt driver and California-based rally and drift driver who also is co-host of the yet-to-find-a-network Top Gear USA television show. Foust was in Orlando, Fla., on Thursday when he got the call to hurry across the pond for the Sunday event. His first look at the circuit was from the passenger seat of Sebastien Loeb's rally machine.

"Not a bad way to go," he said.

Edwards got the same first look, and it nearly took his breath away.

"When you're with a guy who has done a lot of left-right, shifting gears, pitching it around, it's really amazing," he said. "It surprised me. I didn't expect Loeb to be that good."

Edwards and Foust got off to a rough start, losing their first-round team match to one of two British teams. Edwards missed the first corner, which had been coated with oil from recently retired F1 driver David Coulthard's crash during practice and struck the movable barrier, costing him the race to Button. Foust made a bad start and was handily beaten by World Touring Car champion Andy Priaulx, handing the United States a quick 2-0 elimination.

"The Ford Focus [WRC] is a very sophisticated car, and there are a sequence of things you have to do to get the launch [right], and once I dumped the handbrake to accelerate, it just stalled," Foust said.

The German team of Schumacher and new F1 star Sebastian Vettel won for the second consecutive year, again beating the Scandinavian pairing of sports-car ace Tom Kristensen and two-time DTM champ Mattias Ekstrom, the 2006 and 2007 ROC champion. Last year, Vettel carried the load with two wins in the team finals; this time, the honor went to Schumacher.

"That's what you call teamwork," Schumacher said.

In the individual event, Edwards opened with a win over Jaime Alguersuari, the British Formula Three champion racing for injured F1 gun Mark Webber, before dispatching Schumacher. Edwards was faster than the legend on each of their laps.

"Still can't believe it," Edwards said.

Edwards reached the semifinals before Coulthard eliminated him. By event rules, Coulthard should have been dealt a five-second penalty for twice hitting barriers, but officials allowed him to advance to the finals because they had given Foust a similar--and very unpopular--pass against Button in the quarterfinals.

"I wouldn't have wanted to [advance] that way, anyway," Edwards said. "He beat me."

With bruises on his hand from intense driving, Coulthard lost the best-of-three final round to Loeb before a crowd estimated at 40,000. The win gave Loeb his third ROC title.

After two years in London, the event figures to be in a different, yet-to-be-announced location in 2009. Miami was in line to host until Dolphins Stadium was sold earlier this year. Believe it or not, the new Yankee Stadium in New York is under consideration for 2010. (Don't laugh. It snowed in London just a few days before this event, and each of the past five ROCs have been held in see-your-breath conditions.)

Edwards doesn't care where the ROC is, as long as he's there.

"It's such an incredible challenge," he said. "It's driving front-wheel-drive cars, open-wheels, rally cars, shifting gears in a tight setting with a different track surface. Wow!"

But if race organizers need a recommendation, Edwards has one.

"This would be fun at Bristol," he said.

GSPEED RACING TAKES THIRD PLACE IN SPORT 1450 TRUCK CLASS

GSPEED RACING


WHIPLASH VULTURE MINE 150


GSPEED RACING TAKES THIRD PLACE IN SPORT 1450 TRUCK CLASS



Gspeed racing decided rather that drive a thousand miles to Nevada on the weekend of December 6th, 2008, We would enter the local off road racing event put on by the Whiplash Off Road racing organization.



There is not a Jeepspeed class per say offered by this organization but there happened to be us and another jeepspeed team entered. We had to be lumped in to the Sport 1450 truck class which meant that we would be contending against vehicles that had much more wheel travel and much more horsepower. They’re where Toyotas and Chevy’s and Fords. We entered at the last minute so started at the back of the pack.



The course was a 30-mile loop that ran through some of the roughest terrain Arizona has to offer. This would mean that we would need to run four laps. Whiplash was running a little behind on the race start so instead of starting at the three thirty start time we didn’t get off the start line till four thirty. We had planned on having enough daylight to do at least two to three laps in the light and one in the dark, with the start time though our plan where changed.



The first lap we took the course a little slower that expected but still came in under an hour. During that lap we past several of the trucks entered in our class and the other Jeepspeed prepare truck that had entered. Feeling good about how the truck was handling and seeing that we would get another half a lap before we lost our daylight we hammered through the pit area with horns sounding and onto our second lap.



























The course was rough and had some very tight turns and narrow areas to navigate. One area was a soft tight left-hander we came into a little to hot and we very slowly dropped over onto our right side. My co driver and I exited the vehicle and found as we did that there where about 15 people standing nearby. They descended on up like a pack of wolves and toppled the jeep back on all fours. We quickly jumped back in and started the Jeep. All was fine except we where stuck in some very deep soft sand now. The spectators continued to work and stack stones under the tires until finally what seemed like an eternity we where free of the sand.



The truck was fine and it was now pitch black out in the middle of the desert. We turned on our Dominator HID lights from LazerStar and night turned into day. We operate with two floods and two spots mounted in our adjustable Morphic Light bar. Even After being rolled over bounced around and wacked by every kind of desert vegetation you could through at them the Lazerstar lights worked bright and did not miss beat. We would recommend these lights to anyone looking for extraordinary lighting. We continued to race thought the night and finished lap after lap. We pitted only for a splash of fuel and to tape my pumper hose to my helmet.

Then about five miles from the finish I realized that the vehicle had no brakes. They could be pumped up but then would go right to the floor. We decided this being the final lap that we would slow our pace a little and bring the vehicle in without brakes.



We entered the finish line not really knowing where we had placed or how we had performed but once back at the pits we where told that we should have finished in the top three spots. We walked over to the Whiplash trailer to confirm our standing and YES! We had finished in the top three. Amazing! Unfortunately our little roll over had cost us second and possibly a first place finish. We finished eighteen minutes out of first and twelve minutes out of second. All the same we where very happy with a top three, our highest finish yet since we started racing.





The truck now needs a little body shop love and an intensive prep for the new season on February. So we will be very busy these next couple months putting her back into the beautiful machine we call the HEEP.

Baja 1000 on NBC at 10 pacific

35 minutes from now. Watch it.

Jim Beam Bourbon Renews Race Sponsorship With Robby Gordon NASCAR Team For A Fifth Year

im Beam® Bourbon, the world’s No. 1-selling bourbon, announced today that it will continue its partnership with Robby Gordon Motorsports (RGM) as a primary sponsor of the No. 7 driven by team owner and veteran driver Robby Gordon during the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season.

"With so many teams merging or taking on investors, Robby Gordon represents a one-of-a-kind driver and owner in NASCAR’s top racing series. His tenacity and commitment shows he has the competitive spirit, that our customers value and respect," said Brian Gallagher, Motorsports Marketing Manager, Jim Beam. "We are proud to continue our support of Robby and his race team as they demonstrate true character and achieve success on the track."






Jim Beam will be the primary sponsor for 13 Sprint Cup Series races in 2009, and will serve as an associate sponsor for the remaining events. The deal marks the company’s fifth year of partnership with RGM, a relationship that began when Gordon created the team in 2005.

"Jim Beam has been with me since the beginning," said Gordon. "To have them back with us for a fifth straight year is exciting and a credit to everyone here at RGM. It’s challenging being one of the few single-car teams remaining and yet, we have shown we can still be competitive. With Jim Beam’s continued support for the No. 7 team, we can focus on improving our race program and build our way towards a successful 2009 season."

Jim Beam will utilize its sponsorship to reach race fans both on and off the track through a variety of racing related promotions, including the second annual Beam Bash, a concert featuring Grammy-nominated country music duo, Montgomery Gentry, scheduled to take place prior to the Daytona race weekend. Gordon will also support and serve as spokesperson for Beam Global Spirits & Wine reminding legal age consumers to drink responsibly throughout the year. Through its drink smart® responsibility platform, Beam Global educates consumers on how to make responsible decisions about alcohol and reminds them of these six basic principles: Respect Others, Obey the Law, Take Responsibility, Drink in Moderation, Be a Responsible Host and Drive Safe.

Robby Gordon finished the 2008 season in the top-35, which guarantees the No. 7 a starting spot in the first five races of the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season. The team scored three top-10 and seven top-20 finishes and displayed a solid performance at the superspeedway events, finishing second in restrictor-plate points.

Gordon, 39, a six-time off-road champion and owner/driver of Robby Gordon Motorsports started his own NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team in 2005 after spending three seasons driving for Richard Childress Racing. Gordon, a versatile driver has competed in a variety of series including NASCAR Sprint Cup, NASCAR Nationwide Series, Indy Cars, SCORE International Off-Road, sports cars and the prestigious Dakar Series. He swept both 2003 road course races in NASCAR’s top series and is a three-time off-road Baja 500 and three-time Baja 1000 winner. In addition, in 2007 Gordon became the first American in history to win a stage in the Dakar Rally, a grueling two-week off-road adventure.


Jim Beam Racing 2009 Primary NASCAR Sprint Cup Events
Date Venue
2/15/09 Daytona
2/22/09 California
3/1/09 Las Vegas
4/5/09 Texas
4/26/09 Talladega
5/16/09 All-Star, Charlotte
5/24/09 Charlotte
6/14/09 Michigan
7/11/09 Chicago
9/6/09 Atlanta
9/12/09 Richmond
11/15/09 Phoenix
11/22/09 Homestead-Miami