Wallace out, Gordon for Ultra at Chicago

Mike Wallace

By Tim Packman, Turner Sports Interactive
July 11, 2001
5:20 PM EDT (2120 GMT)

MOORESVILLE, N.C. -- Robby Gordon will once again return to the seat of the No. 7 NationsRent Ford of Ultra Motorsports, starting this weekend in the Tropicana 400 at Chicagoland Speedway.

This comes on the heels of Mike Wallace, the team's original driver, finishing 10th in last weekend's Pepsi 400. It was Wallace's third top-10 of the season - all of which came on restrictor-plate tracks.

Although Gordon has not been named the team's permanent driver, his name will be above the driver's side window at Chicago this weekend. Wallace's status with the team is still undecided.

M. Wallace's 2001 Stats  R. Gordon's 2001 Stats  Mike Wallace Video  Robby Gordon Video

"We're trying to work the logistics out for the rest of the season," said Frank Starr, operations manager for Ultra Motorsports. "The only definite is that Robby Gordon will be in the car this weekend."

Gordon drove the Jim Smith-owned car to a season's best second-place finish at Sears Point. Prior to the Pepsi 400, Wallace had not driven the car since failing to qualify at Michigan.

Wallace has failed to qualify three times in 2001. The team is 31st in owner points.

Robby Gordon

Ted Musgrave, the team's driver on the Craftsman Truck Series, drove the car at Pocono, qualifying 15th and finishing 29th.

"We're still trying to work out the details with the team and the sponsor," Starr said.

Gordon had started the season out with the No. 4 Kodak Chevrolet owned by Morgan-McClure Motorsports, but they parted ways five races into the season.