Robby Gordon shows off his new Nextel Cup paint scheme, featuring sponsor Fruit of the Loom. Credit: Turner Sports Interactive

Notebook: R. Gordon announces sponsor

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Robby Gordon announced Tuesday in a news conference at Daytona International Speedway that Fruit of the Loom would comprise one-fourth of the 2005 sponsorship package for his Nextel Cup team.

The apparel company will fund Gordon's No. 7 Chevrolet for nine races, beginning with the April 3 Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Fruit of the Loom will also be on Gordon's car at the Nextel All-Star Challenge.

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In addition, Fruit of the Loom will sponsor Gordon's No. 55 Chevrolet -- which it backed for most of its 25 Busch Series races last season -- in the Busch season opener.

The Busch opener is the only race that Robby Gordon Mortorsports currently plans to race in that series. The team will instead concentrate on the full season Cup program in which Gordon will debut Menard Engineering engines in Nextel Cup.

Gordon plans his second sponsorship announcement Wednesday as part of Preseason Thunder.

"We've put this team together with the idea that we're going to build cars that will contend to win races, and if the last few pieces of the puzzle fall into place we'll be able to do that," Gordon said. "We have some very good technical partners, including Citation Jet from Textron -- who are going to help us with engineering and wind tunnel work.

"It will take good engines, good pit stops, good strategy, if I drive smart -- it takes a lot to win (because) this is the most competitive motor sport in the world. There's nothing as competitive as NASCAR racing, and I've pretty much raced everything else."

Nemechek has knee operation

MB2 Motorsports driver Joe Nemechek is looking a little gimpy getting around the Daytona garage, but it isn't putting a crimp in his driving style, as the No. 01 Chevrolet was second on the morning time sheet and at the top of the afternoon's list.

Joe Nemechek Credit: Autostock

Nemechek had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee late last month to repair a torn cartilage. Nemechek said the knee was injured when he crashed in the early stages of August's Sharpie 500 at Bristol.

"When I hit the wall at Bristol the knee was a little sore," Nemechek said. "It gradually got worse and started to lock up.

"When we had the team's Christmas party (Dec. 17) our trainer, Lance Munksgard, advised me to have it checked out. I had an MRI the same day and had surgery the following week.

"There's still a little swelling, but it's getting better. It doesn't affect my driving."

Gordon as TV host, again

Jeff Gordon is scheduled to co-host with Kelly Ripa on the ABC morning talk show "Live with Regis and Kelly" on Jan. 26 - 27.

Although the four-time Cup champion has co-hosted the show five times, this will mark the first time he's co-hosted on consecutive days. Following the show on Jan. 27, Gordon will fly to Concord, N.C., to participate in the annual Lowe's Motor Speedway Media Tour stop at Hendrick Motorsports.

Produced by WABC-TV in New York, "Live with Regis and Kelly" airs in more than 200 markets across the country. Check local listings for the time and channel.

Jeff Gordon Credit: Autostock

FanFest on again

For the second consecutive week, fans will get to sample Daytona's new infield "fan zone" in person all day Wednesday. Last week's precursor to Wednesday evening's FanFest celebration was a first for Daytona's pre-season testing in that it allowed fans into the infield.

An estimated 3,500 people took advantage of the day to pay a $15 admission to observe the 26 Nextel Cup teams that were testing, and then participate in FanFest Wednesday night, which included food, musical entertainment and "Fan Forums" featuring question and answer sessions with the drivers.

This week, 27 teams are testing, with the infield opening at 9 a.m. for fans to enter.

The driver appearance schedule is as follows:

6 p.m.: Kasey Kahne, Rusty Wallace, Bobby Labonte, Scott Riggs, Brian Vickers and Joe Nemechek

6:45 p.m.: Mark Martin, Sterling Marlin, Jeff Burton, Bobby Hamilton Jr., John Andretti and Hermie Sadler

7:30 p.m.: Matt Kenseth, Jimmie Johnson, Dave Blaney, Scott Wimmer, Jeff Green and Robby Gordon

Daytona 500 qualifying still TBD

When NASCAR announced its new qualifying procedures for 2005 last week, questions surrounded the Daytona 500, which has a unique qualifying format, which in the past has included Bud Pole Qualifying, two qualifying races, qualifying speeds and provisional starting positions.

With the exception of the so-called "Champion's Provisional," the provisional system has been done away with. The qualifying races have been extended to 150 miles each, from 125 in the past.

The only sure thing at this point, according to NASCAR spokesman Mike Zizzo, is that the top 35 team owners from the 2004 Nextel Cup owners' standings are guaranteed starting positions in the "Great American Race."

Beyond that, Zizzo said, the qualifying format is "still being tweaked," with the details expected when the race's entry blank is available.