Who are these NASCAR guys Anyhow?

Robby Gordon
Birthday: Jan. 2, 1969
Hometown: Orange, Calif.

Robby Gordon owns an extensive and diverse racing background as both a driver and owner.

In 2005 he drove his own car, the No. 7 Chevrolet, in the Cup Series. Gordon finished second at Watkins Glen, and had one other top-10 finish. It’s the latest of a racing career that began on motorbikes at age 8.

As soon as Gordon turned 16, however, he got behind the wheel of a car. He won the first off-road race he entered, the Nevada 400, and went on to become a six-time SCORE/HDRA Off-Road champion, including five in a row from 1986-90.

In 1990 Gordon tried his luck at sports cars, and in ‘91 won five GTO races and a Trans-Am race in ‘92. Then it was off to open-wheel racing, both in the Indy Series, when in ‘93 he drove for A.J. Foyt, and the CART Series, where in ‘95 he won four poles and two races.

In 1996-97 Gordon finished second both years in IROC points. He recorded five top-fives and six top-10s in the seven combined races he started.

Gordon’s other racing accomplishments include winning the Baja 1000 both as a co-driver with his father in 1987 and by himself in ‘89, four consecutive class victories in the Rolex 24 (1990-93) and a SCORE Off-Road Trophy Truck class championship in ‘96.

During the 1990-91 IMSA seasons driving for Jack Roush, Gordon had 18 top-fives in 23 starts. Only twice during the two years did he finish outside the top 10.

By then Gordon was beginning to dabble in NASCAR. He made his Cup debut in 1991, finishing 18th in the season-opening Daytona 500. In July ‘93 he started at Talladega in Yates Racing’s No. 28 Ford, the team’s first race following Davey Allison’s death. Gordon started 14th but an accident ended his run 55 laps into the race.

Gordon didn’t spend the majority of his time in Cup until 1997 when he started 20 of 32 races that season. Using his road-course background, Gordon finished fourth at Watkins Glen.

In 1999 Gordon drove open-wheel cars and was leading the Indianapolis 500 on the final lap when he ran out of gas. In 10 career Indy 500 starts Gordon has five top-10s. Also in ‘99, as the CART Series’ only driver/owner, Gordon recorded seven top-10 finishes.

In 2000 Gordon began his own team, but his first victory didn’t come until the season-finale in ‘01. Driving the No. 31 for Richard Childress, Gordon came from the 31st starting position to win at Loudon.

Gordon’s best Cup season came in 2003, also driving the No. 31, when he recorded two victories, four top-fives and 10 top-10s to finish 16th in the final point standings. Gordon became only the fourth driver to win both Cup road races — at Sonoma and Watkins Glen.

Gordon drove for Childress one more season before teaming with Jim Smith to operate Robby Gordon Motorsports’ No. 7 in ‘05.

Besides NASCAR, Gordon’s most recent challenge has been the Dakar Rally, where he became the first American to win a stage in the event.