Bi-Lo 200 - Tina Gordon Notes

Tina Gordon Notes, Quotes: South Carolina 200
‘How To Be Excited About Darlington’

This weekend Tina Gordon and the #39 Yahoo! Ford team head to the 1.366-mile Darlington (S.C.) Raceway for Saturday afternoon’s South Carolina 200. Gordon has started at the track in NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series competition, but is looking for her first start in Busch Series action at the egg-shaped oval.

Gordon, 33, is a native of Cedar Bluff, Ala., and driver of the Yahoo!-sponsored Ford fielded by Jay Robinson Racing of Charlotte, N.C. Robinson is the first car owner in major league motorsports to have fielded full-time rides for different female drivers, the other being Tammy Jo Kirk the second half of last season. Gordon comes to the Yahoo! Ford team from the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, but also brings strong experience credentials from the weekly short tracks of Alabama, the same tracks that spawned racing legends such as Davey Allison, and helped build legends such as Bobby and Donnie Allison, Red Farmer and Neil Bonnett.

Microtel Inn and Suites, which has received the J.D. Power & Associates award for highest guest satisfaction the past two years, and, Vasarette, a top of the line lingerie manufacturer, have joined Jay Robinson Racing as associate sponsors on the #39 Yahoo! Ford.

Jay Robinson Racing, in its fourth season of operation, is one of the fastest-growing teams in NASCAR. Robinson, a Charlotte, N.C., native who is a successful businessman, founded the team as a high-value endeavor that offers high-end equipment and efforts, while proving to be one of the most cost-efficient teams in the sport. Robinson fields two sponsored cars fulltime on the Busch Series: the #39 Yahoo! Ford and the #49 Advil Ford, and runs a third car in many Busch Series events.

The thoughts of Yahoo! Ford driver Tina Gordon heading into Darlington:

“Everyone talks abut how tough Darlington is. Yeah, sure, it’s a tough track. It’s a really tough track, but nothing is as tough as going into a track that you’ve never seen in person. Luckily that will not be the case this weekend at Darlington.

“I’ve at least been on the track with the Craftsman Truck Series and I know a little bit about it. That’s a big deal for anyone. Any rookie in any series has a tough time adjusting to tracks that they have never seen before. I’ve faced that challenge too many times to count this season. I’ve been to tracks that I’ve only seen on television this year, and then once I got there it was go out there for a few hours and then go qualify. That’s tough for anyone. Getting to a place like Darlington, a track where I’ve raced in the past, is a nice change of pace.

“I’ll know at little bit about Darlington on Friday. I’ll know the track, the groove, the feel of the track. That’s important to a driver, and especially to me. I feel more comfortable and I’ll know more what to expect. The case of the ‘unknowns’ isn’t there. It gets you excited and ready to come to the track. It’s why you see so many rookies do better the second half of the season more than the first. Anytime you do anything first in life it’s not as easy as the second or third time. It becomes more natural and more comfortable. That’s why I’m looking forward to Darlington.

“It’s probably a little different to say that someone is ‘excited’ to go to Darlington, but that’s how I feel. I do, however, know that this track is a tough one. It’s not the easiest track to get around. It’s pretty challenging, and I’ll have my work cut out for me this weekend, but at least I’m more prepared at Darlington.

“This season has had its ups-and-downs, but I knew that going into it. I knew that this was going to be a learning process. I need more track time, the seat time, and to experience these different tracks. That’s the only way any driver is ever going to get better. I faced the challenges, this team has faced them, and we have never backed down. It shows the character of this team. We have really fought hard this year and we’re going to continue to do that this weekend.

“It’s just another challenge, but maybe one that I’m more comfortable with. Darlington is tough, but I’ve faced tough in the mirror all season. I’m not ready to quit or to even think about it. This Yahoo! Ford team is always ready to do its best and so am I. I know it sounds a little odd, but I can’t wait to get to Darlington this weekend.”