Aaron's 312 - Robby Gordon Notes

GORDON'S BIG NASCAR BREAK CAME AT TALLADEGA ELEVEN YEARS AGO

Huntersville, NC (April 20, 2004) - For Robby Gordon, the return to the Talladega Superspeedway this weekend is a reminder of native-son Davy Allison. It was here that Robert Yates asked him to fill in for his racing team following the untimely death of the popular Hueytown racer.

Eleven years later, Gordon has developed himself as one of racings most dynamic drivers competing for the first time this year as the owner/driver of the Fruit of the Loom racing Team.

Fifth in the NASCAR Busch Series point standings, the Fruit of the Loom Racing Team heads to Talladega Superspeedway this Saturday for the Aaron's 312. The 2.66 mile tri-oval will be the site of the second restrictor plate race of the team's history and will mark Robby Gordon's eighth appearance behind the wheel of the No. 55 Fruit of the Loom Chevrolet Monte Carlo.

Talladega will be different this year for the NASCAR Busch Series as the same rule package used in the season opener at Daytona Beach, Fla., will likely keep the pack much closer together throughout the race. A 15/16th-inch restrictor plate will be used Saturday to allow drivers the chance to drive out of trouble using the gas. In addition to the smaller restrictor plate, each car will have a B=-inch roof strip as well as a 1B=-inch wicker on the spoiler. These additions will create extra drag and open up the air behind each car to promote drafting. With that in mind, drivers will have to rely even more on their spotters as the field will be in much closer proximity on Saturday.

Following a great season opener in Daytona Beach, Fla., Gordon hopes to top his third place finish with a win in Talladega.

"The Fruit of the Loom Racing Team is going to take the same car that we raced in Daytona Beach," Gordon said. "We had a really good finish our first time out with restrictor plates, so, hopefully, we will be able to take Fruit of the Loom to Victory Lane this weekend. We have had some really good finishes so far this year, and it's safe to say that we have our eyes focused on Victory Lane."

PIT NOTES

- Eleven years ago, Gordon drove the No. 28 Texaco Havoline Ford at Talladega in the team's first race since the death of Davy Allison.

- Gordon plans to chase the NASCAR Busch Series Championship as long as the Fruit of the Loom Racing Team remains in contention to win. Gordon is currently fifth in the NASCAR Busch Series points, 71 behind leader Michael Waltrip.