Robby Gordon weighing options after Sonoma

Robby Gordon

By Marty Smith, Turner Sports Interactive
June 26, 2001
7:31 PM EDT (2331 GMT)

CONCORD, N.C. -- On Sunday, Robby Gordon fell a few Kevin Harvick love taps short of his first career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory at Sears Point Raceway.

Two days later, the volatile driver said he had been offered a new home.

Gordon said Tuesday that he has been offered the seat of Jim Smith's No. 7 Ultra Motorsports Ford, and that he plans to have an answer for Smith by Wednesday. Gordon said the offer has been extended for the rest of the year, but nothing has been finalized.

Winston Cup Standings  Gordon's 2001 Stats  Stewart wins at Sonoma  Hired guns do well  Video: Gordon post-race  Video: Final laps at Sears Point

"That's been offered. I got a couple things working," said Gordon, who finished a career-best second to Tony Stewart Sunday. "Jimmy Smith is a friend of mine and we've been real open with each other. I've told him what's happening and what's going on.

"I told him I'd give him a decision by (Wednesday). I just want to be sure a couple things I do have in play don't conflict with Daytona. I don't know if I'd take over the rest of the year. I don't know if the rest of the year is offered right now."

Gordon was unsure whether or not he'd be in the car at Daytona July 7. He's slated to race Richard Childress' No. 21 Chevrolet in the Busch Series event at Watkins Glen that same weekend, and wants to keep that option open, as well.

"I don't know what (Smith's) plans are," Gordon said. "I know that Jimmy offered the deal to me, and I'm sitting back weighing out all the equations. I just want to check out some schedules and stuff.

"I'm scheduled to run the Rockwell car next week and I just don't want to jeopardize that opportunity. Richard Childress prepares very good racecars. I think that's another opportunity to showcase my abilities and run up front."

Kevin Harvick applies pressure to Gordon late in the 112-lap event.

Gordon ran up front all day Sunday. After qualifying seventh, he surged into the top-five and stayed there virtually the entire day. Then, having taken the lead from pole-sitter Jeff Gordon with 27 laps remaining, Gordon appeared to be on cruise control to the checkers when Harvick came speeding out of the pits following a four-tire stop that included a 15-second penalty for speeding on pit road.

That would eventually mark Gordon's demise. Gordon quickly passed Harvick, but Harvick latched onto the leader's rear bumper and commenced a relentless pursuit. Despite desperate pleas from his spotter to let Harvick go by, Gordon remained out front and for the second straight lap, Gordon slipped wide on the exit Turn 4.

"We had cut a deal with Richard Childress that if a caution came out I'd let him get his lap back," Gordon said. "About three turns before Kevin knocked me sideways for, I believe the fourth time, they said okay we've got the deal done. As long as the caution comes out let Kevin go by and he'll back off you a little bit."

Harvick didn't back off. Going into the new "Bud Bottleneck" section, Harvick tapped the leader trying to get around him and both cars slid wide on the exit, opening the door for Stewart to shoot past them both and into Victory Lane, and eliminating Gordon's shot at a first career win.

Obviously frustrated, Gordon manages to take the high road.

Gordon's second-place finish was a career-best for the Californian.

"I'm cool with it, I understand," Gordon said. "I'll get to race against Kevin for a long time and his turn will come someday. On new tires our car was very dominant. On old tires, I was as good as anybody. I don't think Tony would have gotten by me were it not for that instance (with Harvick).

"I don't hold grudges. I just know that if the rules were reversed, I'd have probably gotten black-flagged and banned for a while or something. But you can't cry over spilt milk. I'm not going to retaliate. He's young and aggressive, and I can remember myself being like that a few years ago.

"I'm very happy, the only thing I'm disgusted at were some of Kevin Harvick's remarks. I mean I can't remember the last time a leader of a race has been knocked sideways and cost victory from a lapped car. I've been watching races for a long time, and I don't remember that happening."