Race 2 Win: Ameriquest 300 - Robby Gordon Notes

NASCAR Busch Series

Ameriquest 300 - Robby Gordon Notes

Gordon Plans to Repeat Success in No. 88 Navy Chevy at Fontana

Robby Gordon will once again take the helm of the No. 88 Navy Accelerate Your Life Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS on Saturday at California Speedway for the NASCAR Busch Series Ameriquest 300. The race will mark Gordon’s second race in the JR Motorsports No. 88.

Gordon was tabbed to drive the No. 88 Navy Chevy while JR Motorsports regular driver, Shane Huffman, awaits approval from NASCAR to compete at tracks of 1.5 miles or greater in length. Huffman will be back behind the wheel of the No. 88 for next Friday’s Emerson Radio 250 at Richmond International Raceway.

Gordon has made one prior start in the JR Motorsports No. 88. Two weeks ago at Michigan International Speedway he led 11 laps before taking the checkered flag in third position. The run marked the best-ever finish for the JR Motorsports No. 88 Navy team.

In his one previous Busch Series start at California Speedway in 2004, Gordon started eighth and finished 12th. The motorsports veteran also has eight Nextel Cup Series starts at the two-mile oval in Fontana, Calif. His best finish at the track in that series was ninth place in 2004.

The team is running chassis No. 022 at California Speedway. Gordon drove this car to a third-place finish two weeks ago at Michigan International Speedway after qualifying 21st.

Shane Huffman will sign autographs at the U.S. Navy’s display at California Speedway from 4:05 to 4:35 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 2.

Robby Gordon, Driver, No. 88 Navy Accelerate Your Life Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS
“After my last run in the No. 88, I’m ready to get back in the Navy Chevy at Fontana and try to improve on our last run. I really thought we were going to get the win at Michigan, but the team owner beat me to it.

“The car was really strong at Michigan and with a few small changes, it’ll be even better at Fontana. It would be nice to get a win back home, so we’ll see what we can do.”

Wes Ward, Crew Chief, No. 88 Navy Accelerate Your Life Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS
“California Speedway is a fun track that’s wide open. When we get there it seems like there’s only one lane, but as the weekend progresses it turns into a multi-groove track with lots of room for racing.

“We’re taking the same car that we ran at Michigan with Robby (Gordon). I’m looking forward to going back to California and challenging for the win for the Navy.”

Navy Notables
The fleet honoree for Saturday’s race at California Speedway is the USS Preble (DDG 88). The mission of the USS Preble (DDG 88) is to conduct sustained combat operations at sea, providing primary protection for the Navy’s aircraft carriers and battle groups, essential escort to Navy and Marine Corps amphibious forces and auxiliary ships, and independent operations as necessary. The USS Preble is the 38th ship of the DDG 51 program and is a Flight IIA Aegis destroyer. The ship’s armament includes one 5/62” caliber gun, two Vertical Launch Systems capable of launching the standard missile, Tomahawk, vertically launched ASROC, and Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile, six torpedo tubes, and one Close In Weapons System. The USS Preble also has two aircraft hangars, each capable of accommodating a Seahawk (SH-60B) undersea warfare helicopter.

Event Information
Ameriquest 300
9/2/06
California Speedway
Fontana, California
2-Mile D-shaped Oval
TV – TNT 10 p.m. ET
Radio – MRN 10 p.m. ET

Team Information
Chassis – JRM No. 022
Chassis Info – third at Michigan
Engine – RCR
Primary Sponsor – U.S. Navy
Associate Sponsors – Chevrolet, Champion, R&B, Puma, Snap-On, Miller, Mitel, Wix Filters, Sherwin Williams, Racing Radios