Team HUMMER: The Official Start of the Dakar Rally
Stage 1: Victoria – Cordoba

Cordoba, Argentina (January 2, 2011) – Today marked the official start of the 2011 Dakar Rally. From this point forward, it is serious business for the competitors vying for the coveted Dakar title. Stage 1, the first of 13 timed stages in this year’s rally race, included a 566-km road section and a 222-km special that began in Victoria and ended in Cordoba.

Heavy rain created an unforeseen obstacle for Team HUMMER. According to the TV choppers flying over the route, the participants in the car category suffered from skidding and sliding. Robby Gordon, driver of the No. 303 SPEED Energy / Toyo Tires HUMMER, started today’s special in fourth place. He was scored 9th as he crossed the CP1 marker located at km 137 together while last year’s winner, Carlos Sainz, led the field.

Disadvantaged by the slippery race conditions, Gordon finished 11 minutes, 4 seconds behind Carlos Sainz in the first stage of the Rally with a total time of 2 hours, 29 minutes and 36 seconds. This time puts Gordon eighth overall heading into tomorrow’s stage from Cordoba to San Miguel de Tucuman, which will be a 324-km race through the mountains.

“We started today’s special in fourth place, and unfortunately we finished eighth. We knew that the HUMMER team would not be as strong as we would like in the Argentina portion of this race, but we struggled a little bit more today than I would have liked due to the weather conditions and technical rally-style section. Sainz and Peterhansel led today’s stage, but they also started the race before the weather began and were virtually unaffected by it. That’s why you see the gap in time from the rest of the competitors,” commented Robby Gordon, driver of the No. 303 SPEED Energy / Toyo Tires HUMMER.

“We started out the special good, but we had a couple of challenges along the way. Kellon [Walch] and I had to change helmets during the middle of the stage because his microphone quit working. I ran off the road at one point. We also ran out of windshield wiper fluid due to the mud. These mistakes probably cost us about 1 minute of total speed. I expected to give up 5 minutes in today’s stage not 11 minutes, which disappoints me. It is still early in the race, but we have some ground to make up tomorrow. Some of the guys are already starting to have issues this early. Hopefully, we will recover quickly from today’s issues before we enter Chile because it is our best opportunity to make up time. By this point, I want to be less than 10 minutes behind,” furthered Gordon.

“Tomorrow’s stage is supposed to go through the mountains, which are not good for us for two reasons. First, the HUMMERs are not turbo-charged then the course is a little narrow. They did say that we should encounter some bumps, which could be good for us.”

Eliseo Salazar, driver of the No. 327 SPEED Energy / Cristal CERO HUMMER finished today’s stage 28th, 34 minutes, 25 seconds behind.

2010
· Campaigned as a three-race vehicle team throughout Argentina and Chile
· Robby Gordon finished 8th overall, the Vanguard HUMMER finished 20th and the Chile HUMMER ended on Stage 3 after the transmission expired

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The new NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season hasn’t even started yet and AJ Allmendinger is already turning competitive laps at Daytona International Speedway.

For the second straight year, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series star is participating in Daytona KartWeek, which showcases hundreds of karters from across the country in World Karting Association races.

“We’ve had three off weekends now so I’m bored,” said Allmendinger, who drives for Richard Petty Motorsports. “I had to get away from the house. It’s time to go racing. As soon as Christmas is over, it’s time to go racing.”

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Two different courses showcase two different series during Daytona KartWeek – the George Kugler/Bridgestone Manufacturer’s Cup Series that competes on the sprint track located in Turns 3 and 4 and the Dirt World Championships on the quarter-mile dirt track outside Turns 1 and 2.

Daytona KartWeek is the beginning of what will be a two-month stretch of events for Allmendinger at the “World Center of Racing.”

“I think I might buy a condo or something here in Daytona,” Allmendinger joked. “I just love karting. I love competing. I use to be really good at it and I’m not so good at anymore and now I need to get better at it again. I feel fortunate enough being a Sprint Cup driver and doing something that I love to do every Sunday that I have the opportunity to have the equipment and have fun again and enjoy it.”

Allmendinger didn’t enjoy last year’s Daytona KartWeek as much as he wanted. He struggled on the track and packed up early and headed back home to North Carolina. This year, he comes ready for what is a competitive field that also includes 2010 Daytona 500 champion Jamie McMurray.

He recently switched over to Arrows go-karts and he has longtime friend Tim Pappas, who Allmendinger worked with at Paul Tracy Karting, assisting him in the garage.

“We’re better but we’re still not where we want to be,” Allmendinger said. “There are some fast kids here. Last year, we were so out in left field. I wasn’t even competitive. It wasn’t even fun. At least I feel like we’re in the ball game to where we can have some fun racing against some fast guys and at least contend for a decent spot. We still have work to do.”

As Allmendinger has been racing on his kart, he was also able to see the new racing surface around the legendary 2.5-mile tri-oval. He will get his first laps on the new asphalt during NASCAR Preseason Thunder testing on Jan. 20-22.

“It looks smooth,” Allmendinger said. “I’ve heard great reviews about it. It looks really cool. I read about the testing. It looks like it’s going to be a hell of a race. It’s basically going to be Talladega but a lot narrower. We’re going to still think we can go five wide but I don’t think it really holds that. Everybody that I’ve talked said it’s so smooth and it’s going to be a great race. I look forward to Jan. 20 and we can get to go test.”

* NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Teams To Test January 20-22 At Daytona International Speedway
* NASCAR Preseason Thunder Fan Fest At Daytona Coincides On Jan. 21-22

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Oct. 9, 2010) – Daytona International Speedway’s three-day NASCAR Sprint Cup Series test, known as NASCAR Preseason Thunder, is scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 20 through Saturday, Jan. 22. Sunday, Jan. 23 is the rain date.
The 2011 edition of NASCAR Preseason Thunder will help teams acclimate to the new pavement, plus speed their preparation for the 53rd Daytona 500 on Feb. 20 – the series’ traditional season-opener.
The repaving project – only the second in track history and first since 1978 – began immediately after the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event on July 3.
“This allows everyone an equal opportunity to work on their setups and get everything in order leading up to Speedweeks and the running of the Daytona 500,” said Robin Pemberton, NASCAR vice president of competition. “Additionally, it gives the teams the chance to get accustomed to the new pit road and the added run-off areas on the backstretch. We’re excited about the new surface and believe it will only enhance the racing experience at Daytona.”
All NASCAR Preseason Thunder sessions begin at 9 a.m. and end at 5 p.m., weather permitting. Each includes a lunch break from noon until 1 p.m.

Fans seeking to rev up their new year can do so at the NASCAR Preseason Thunder Fan Fest at Daytona – the companion event to the January test. Along with watching NASCAR Preseason Thunder track activity from Daytona’s Sprint FANZONE, fans can enjoy two Fan Fest sessions – from 5-9 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 21 and from 5-7 p.m., on Saturday, Jan. 22.
Driver question-and-answer and autograph sessions are planned. Tickets for the NASCAR Preseason Thunder Fan Fest are $20. Fans also can watch each day’s testing at no cost from a section of the Oldfield Grandstands.
“We’re looking forward to welcoming the stars of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series to our new racing surface in January,” said Joie Chitwood, Daytona International Speedway president. “NASCAR Preseason Thunder will be an important test session for all teams as they acquire data from their first laps on the new asphalt at Daytona.
“The test is also going to serve as a great opportunity for fans to interact with their favorite drivers in advance of Speedweeks 2011 and the 53rd annual Daytona 500.”
Teams from the NASCAR Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series are expected to receive extra practice time during Speedweeks to get acclimated to the track’s new surface.

Fast Facts

What: NASCAR Preseason Thunder testing for the 2011 Daytona 500

Where: Daytona International Speedway.

Track Layout: 2.5-mile tri-oval.

When: Thursday, Jan. 20 through Saturday, Jan. 22.

Times: 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.

Who: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams.

Photos usually say it best, in fact you know the old saying, a picture is worth a….so here’s 19,000 words!

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Photo Credit: NASCARMedia

TODD GORDON NAMED AS CREW CHIEF FOR CHAMPIONSHIP-WINNING PENSKE RACING NO. 22 NATIONWIDE SERIES TEAM

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (December 27, 2010) – Penske Racing has announced that experienced crew chief Todd Gordon has been named as the crew chief for the defending NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) championship-winning No. 22 Discount Tire/Ruby Tuesday Dodge team for 2011.

Gordon, who most recently served as race engineer for Diamond-Waltrip Racing in the Nationwide Series, will take over the team that earned Penske Racing’s first NASCAR championship last season with driver Brad Keselowski claiming six wins, five poles and a series single-season record 26 top-five finishes. Gordon will be paired with Keselowski as the No. 22 team will once again pursue the Nationwide Series title in 2011.

“The chance to join Penske Racing and lead the championship-winning team with Brad next season is the opportunity of a lifetime,” said Gordon. “The No. 22 Dodge team had a special year in 2010 and I’m looking forward to coming on board and hopefully building on that level of success as we move forward.”

Gordon, who graduated from Clemson University with a mechanical engineering degree, has served as a crew chief several times throughout his 12-year career in racing. Prior to working with Diamond-Waltrip Racing, he was crew chief at Baker Curb Racing in the Nationwide Series and he also helped build the CJM Racing Nationwide Series program from the ground up, serving as both team manager and crew chief. This will also mark Gordon’s second stint as crew chief of the No. 22 NNS car as he actually led the “double deuce” team when it was part of PPC Racing in 2006.

“We are excited to welcome Todd to Penske Racing,” said Michael Nelson, Vice President of Operations for Penske Racing. “With his strong engineering background and experience as a crew chief in the Nationwide Series, he will be a great addition to the No. 22 Discount Tire/Ruby Tuesday Dodge team.”

Paul Wolfe, who helped lead the No. 22 team to the NNS championship this season, was named recently as crew chief of Penske Racing’s No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge in the NASCAR Cup Series beginning in 2011, which created the opportunity for Gordon.