Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: The other Gordon is hanging tough

Friday, June 21, 2002 | 8:54 a.m.

Brian Hilderbrand covers motor sports for the Las Vegas Sun. His motor sports notebook appears Friday. He can be reached at bh@lasvegassun.com or (702) 259-4089.

It could be argued that Robby Gordon is having less success this season than in any of his previous attempts to make it in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series.

After 15 races with Richard Childress Racing, the 33-year-old Southern California native has only one top-10 finish and stands 27th in points going into Sunday's Dodge/Save Mart 350 at Sears Point Raceway in Sonoma, Calif.

Oddly enough, he has perhaps the most job security since he first attempted to make the switch from open-wheel cars to stock cars in 1991.

Childress, who hired Gordon last summer to replace Mike Skinner in the No. 31 Chevrolet, said he is convinced Gordon has the talent to become a regular winner in the Winston Cup Series.

"Right now, Robby Gordon is a lot better (driver) than the team and the cars we're giving him," Childress said. "We've got a great team but we've just got to figure out what we've got to do to get these cars working.

"I'm very pleased with what he's done, I'm just not as happy with what we've been able to do with our cars. If we get him the right equipment, he'll be winning races."

Childress even hinted that he sees a lot of the late Dale Earnhardt in Gordon. Earnhardt drove for Childress for 17 years and won six of his seven Winston Cup championships with Childress.

"Yeah, he has a lot of traits of being a 'great,' that's for sure,' " Childress. "Robby is an aggressive driver and a very intelligent driver. I think that could have been one of his problems -- if he had any -- in the past with people just not understanding (him).

"He really understands the racecar. He knows what he wants. We all believe in him because he shows us what he wants in the car and we do our best to give it to him."

While some observers have said that Childress has managed to 'tame' the brash driver, Gordon said he simply has matured under Childress' tutelage. And he remains convinced that the entire Childress operation will turn things around (teammates Jeff Green and Kevin Harvick are 23rd and 34th in points, respectively).

"I have a lot of respect for Richard," Gordon said. "I really enjoy working for him. Richard Childress is a racer and I enjoy driving for a racer. 'No' is not an answer at RCR; we're going to find a way to get back to the top."

Gordon was leading the race with 11 laps to go when, in trying to keep Harvick from getting back on the lead lap, Gordon and Harvick bumped and Tony Stewart was able to pass Gordon for the lead and the win.

"It's over and gone and done," Gordon said of the incident. "I learned something at that race: I've got to be a little bit smarter of a guy at the wheel and not let stuff like that bother me.

"Harvick is my teammate now. We obviously have to work together if we're going to build this team and be competitive with all three cars. I have no grudge against him so I don't see a problem there."

According to his mother, Gaye, Busch said he was not sure why he was among the 3,500 invited guests at the President's Dinner at the Washington Convention Center, but said he would not pass up the opportunity to meet the President.

Defending WoO series champion Danny Lasoski, with seven wins, continues to lead the 2002 points standings. Kinser, with nine wins, is 30 points back in second place and Mark Kinser is third, 184 points behind Lasoski.

Junior Dragster drivers will solicit pledges from sponsors on a per-round basis. All money raised will be donated to Speedway Children's Charities' Las Vegas chapter. Class winners will receive trophies and will have their cars displayed at the NHRA ACDelco Las Vegas Nationals at The Strip in October.