Notebook: R. Gordon looking at hectic month

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- Robby Gordon is looking at a month of May that would frazzle the nerves of a lesser man.

	Robby Gordon

Gordon, who owns his own Indy Racing League and NASCAR Busch Series teams and drives for Richard Childress Racing in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series, is scheduled to be in one of the three race cars for 17 of the 23 days between May 8 and 30.

Gordon will compete in three Busch Series races in as many states during that period, driving his No. 55 Fruit of the Loom Chevrolet. He has two Nextel Cup point races, plus the NASCAR/Nextel All-Star Challenge before his month culminates on the 30th with his 10th Indianapolis 500 followed by the twilight Coca-Cola 600 Cup race at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

Amazingly, on only nine of the 23 days is track activity scheduled in more than one of the series. Luckily for Gordon, 35, there are only two days when all three divisions are on-track: May 14 and 22.

In both cases, Gordon will skip Indy in deference to his NASCAR rides. Gordon will qualify his Cup ride at Richmond on May 14. Gordon will qualify for the 88th Indy 500 on May 15.

Proving he's a glutton for punishment, Gordon is vigorously pursuing sponsorship to allow him to do Busch Series events this month at Nazareth, for which he's currently entered and Lowe's Motor Speedway, which is not on his schedule.

It's the third consecutive year that Gordon has attempted the Memorial Day "Double." His grueling month begins Saturday when he'll practice and qualify his Busch car for Saturday night's Charter 250 at Gateway International Raceway outside St. Louis.

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The official start of practice for the Indianapolis 500 is Sunday.

Gordon proved he had a worthy ride for the Brickyard when he took part in a two-day test at Indianapolis Motor Speedway prior to heading to California Speedway for last Sunday's Auto Club 500.

Gordon was third quickest among the teams that participated in the warm-up test session, cutting a best lap of 218.921 mph in his No. 70 Meijer Dallara Chevrolet.

"Any time you can come to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and be capable of running up front, it's a good day -- especially for us, a new team that hasn't been racing in the other IRL events," Gordon said. "Even though you pull a lot of Gs in the middle of the corner, it's (Indy 500) a very mental race.

"I've been able to do it, slide over to the Coca-Cola 600 and be very competitive there, as well."

Winston tribute to air on SPEED

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The musical tribute to former Cup sponsor R.J. Reynolds that was held last fall at Lowe's Motor Speedway will be shown on SPEED Channel at noon ET Sunday.

The tribute includes performances by Hank Williams Jr., George Jones and Wayne Newton, among others. In addition, Cup drivers from the past and present discuss R.J. Reynolds impact on the sport.

Gordon leads first-quarter balloting

Jeff Gordon, who has won the last two Nextel Cup Series races, has been named the first-quarter winner of the "NASCAR USG Person of the Year" award.

Through his personal foundation, Gordon has donated nearly $500,000 to local and national charities this year, including Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis, The Make-A-Wish Foundation, the American Lung Association of North Carolina and The Victory Junction Gang Camp.

NCTS starts returning to their roots

	Dennis Setzer is one of three Craftsman Truck Series drivers that will race ay Hickory Motor Speedway this weekend. Credit: Autostock

Craftsman and Goodyear have a special event scheduled Saturday night at Hickory Motor Speedway, when three former champions of the legendary North Carolina short track currently competing in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series return to their old stomping grounds.

Former Hickory track champions Andy Houston, Robert Huffman and Dennis Setzer will compete in a 10-lap Late Model Stock Car shootout along with another former Hickory racer, Marty Houston, a crewmember on Setzer's No. 46 Chevrolet truck.

Fans will be able to get autographs from each driver from 6-7 p.m. ET.

Fans get to drive Texas

	Eddie Gossage

Anyone whose dream has been to drive the high banks of Texas Motor Speedway can make it happen Saturday evening with a donation to Speedway Children's Charities' annual "Laps for Charity" event.

From 6-10 p.m. CT, participants will get to make three laps around TMS's 1.5-mile oval after making a $25 donation to the Texas chapter of Speedway Children's Charities. There is no pre-registration and participants may pay with cash, check or credit card, for multiple sets of laps if they wish.

"Laps for Charity is the only chance for the fans to drive their own vehicle around the speedway," speedway president Eddie Gossage said. "We've had folks drive everything from sports cars and the family station wagon to a UPS truck.

"It's a lot of fun for all the participants and anytime you can help kids, it's a worthwhile cause."