Just win, baby: Gordon adjusts to new role

CONCORD, N.C. -- Robby Gordon is gaining fans, even if it's one lap at a time.

Leave it to the freewheeling, wide-open style of the Bellflower, Calif. native to win over fans during a caution.

While leading at Watkins Glen last year, Gordon took the opportunity to sway some fans his way.

"I was leading the race and the caution came out," Gordon recalls. "On the first caution lap, I was going around one of the turns and noticed four guys on top of a camper giving me the single-digit salute. I don't think they knew I saw them doing that.

"So, the next lap by I returned the favor to them. The third time by before the restart, they were jumping up and down and cheering me as I went past. They cheered me the rest of the way and I gained four fans right there."

Just one day in the colorful life of the 33-year-old Gordon.

His relationship with the Winston Cup Series has had its share of flips. He drove for Felix Sabates in 1996 and 1997 and returned to the series as a driver/owner in 2000. He began last year driving the No. 4 Kodak Chevy for Morgan-McClure Motorsports, but was let go after only five races.

He then drove the No. 7 Nations Rent Ford for Ultra Motorsports and finished out the year for Richard Childress in the No. 31 Lowe's Chevrolet. Driving for three different teams last year, Gordon feels he has yet to show his true on-track talent.

"Ultra is a good team," Gordon said. "Jimmy Smith (owner) is a good friend of mine and he needed a little bit of help at one point. But, he didn't have financial sponsorship and when Richard came to me to finish out the year in his No. 31, I went to Jimmy and asked if I could do that.

"I know that hurt him, personally. But, he was a good enough guy that he told me to go with Richard, as it would be better for my career."

			Robby Gordon signs autographs at Watkins Glen in 2001. Credit: ASP

Last year, he showed momentary spurts of greatness in leading at Sears Point, only to lose the lead to race-winner Tony Stewart while battling with the lap car of Kevin Harvick. He showed his road course prowess again at Watkins Glen only to have a burning telemetry box knock him out of contention.

Fast forward to 2002. Gordon is the driver -- not the fill-in -- behind the wheel of the No. 31 Cingular Wireless Chevy for the championship owner of Childress.

Considered tough to work with by some, Gordon admits he has his own ideas on how things should be done at times. Although he admits to being man enough to admit when he's wrong, it doesn't make him hesitate to offer an opinion.

Childress has dealt with aggressive drivers in the past. This year, Childress has the hell-on-wheels style of Kevin Harvick and the tough as nails determination of Jeff Green in his Winston Cup stable.

Where does a Robby Gordon fit into the picture?

"Robby had everything we were looking for when we went searching for a driver," Childress said. "I watched him during the Indy 500 week and he was great with the sponsors, the media, everyone he came in contact with he was just wonderful with.

"He did what we asked of him last year filling in and the finishing out the season for us. The more I watched him and spent times with him the more I knew we wanted him to be part of RCR."

Gordon has driven for his share of owners between NASCAR, Indy, CART and SCCA days. He's seen the gamut of personalities from each owner and how they run their respective teams.

"Every owner does things a little differently," Gordon said. "I've worked for A.J. Foyt in Indy cars and Cal Wells, too. Each of them guides their ships on different courses.

"Richard is definitely a driver's owner. He was a driver and knows what it's like to be in both shoes. If you look at his drivers, there's a trust there that I trust him in owning a race team, and he trusts me to drive his cars.

"We're going to -- I'm not going to say question -- but we will communicate at times when each of us thinks the other is doing something differently than we'd like. We're going to try and help each other become better, instead of taking it personally.

			Gordon drove for three different car owners in 2001. Credit: ASP

"Ninety percent of the races won today are done before you get to the track. You just can't roll off the truck, be two seconds off and think you're going to find it in an 90-minute practice session."

Some of Gordon's on-track aggression, or competitive spirit if you prefer, was evident during last year's New Hampshire victory. As the race laps ticked toward the checkered flag, Gordon kept inching closer to Jeff Gordon, who was leading.

Contact was made; the four-time champion went toward the wall as the former Indy ace moved past him for the lead and the win.

"I didn't wreck him on purpose, I didn't even wreck him," Robby Gordon said. "He didn't crash and didn't even do a full spin, he just moved up the race track a little bit.

"There was no reason for the reaction that we got.

"That's the beauty of NASCAR fans. They pick their guy and they stand behind him. I'm just excited I got myself in a situation I can be competitive with a Jeff Gordon."

Robby Gordon doesn't feel the need to fit in with his fellow Winston Cup competitors, but does respect them for what they've accomplished. Case in point, during the recent Speedweeks at Daytona, Gordon was banished to another parking lot and couldn't stay in the same motor coach area as the others.

Not that he was having wild parties and making noise all hours of the night. His home for the week, just like him, was just a tad different than the others. Gordon was holed up in custom-built single-wide trailer instead of a coach like the others.

"They're all over there in the motor coach area," Gordon said with a smile. "I'm over here in the single-wide parking area. I'm the oddball out and I'm okay with that. A few years ago I would have been complaining to the track.

"I like the guys I race with, I really do. But, it's not important to me that they accept me. I have two teammates that I get along with just fine."

Like many other drivers in NASCAR, Gordon has his two personas. One comes through while strapped in to do battle with 42 other drivers, all in search of one checkered flag. The other is a more calm, easier going person out of uniform.

"When I'm in the car, I'm as fierce a competitor as anybody," Gordon said, as his eyes grew darker. "I know what's going on around me at all times and I don't drive above my head. I feel I drive in control, I know people think I don't- but I do.

"Outside of the race car, I'm a fun guy. I just love racing cars. It's how I become a good race car driver is by racing.

"I just want to be competitive week in and week out. I'm a lucky guy, I get paid to drive a race car for a living.

"It's what I love to do."