Gordon looking to improve on career-best Dakar effort

Seeks to become first American to win endurance race

By Team Release
December 28, 2009
04:06 PM EST

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Coming off a first-in-class finish and third-place result in the 2009 Dakar Rally, Robby Gordon is determined to compete for the overall victory in his sixth appearance in the endurance race.

"In my mind, there is no tougher race out there than the Dakar Rally," Gordon said. "As an avid racer and car builder, a win at the Dakar Rally would be a major accomplishment for my team. To be the first American to ever win a stage of the event was great, but to be the first American team to win the Dakar Rally would mean so much more -- not just to me but to the people that are as passionate about this program as I am -- from our sponsors to our dedicated employees."

Gordon

Gordon entered his first Dakar Rally in 2005, when he became the first American to win a stage of the race.

Traditionally run throughout Europe and Africa, the 2010 Dakar Rally will take place in South America for just the second time in the event's 32-year history. Competitors will race on a 5,592-mile course while navigating across some of the world's highest sand dunes and mountains. The event begins on Jan. 2 in Buenos Aires. Competitors will race over the Andes Mountains, across the Pampas plains and through the Atacama Desert. After 14 stages, the competitors will return to Buenos Aires as they race to the finish.

Gordon's two Hummers -- the No. 302 that he will drive and the No. 326 of Carlo de Gavardo -- left the race shop in California on Saturday to be transported to Argentina via air freight while the team's support vehicles left the shop in late November, shipped by sea freight.

Versus will provide coverage throughout the United States. A 30-minute daily program featuring highlights from that day's racing will be aired 3:30 p.m. ET daily. The show is set to air Jan. 3-18. An hour-long recap featuring all 14 stages will air at 3 p.m. ET on Jan. 24.

Robbygordon.com, planetrobby.com, Twitter and NASCAR.COM also will have updates on the teams' performance including a daily recap, photos and videos.