Robby Gordon lives for hectic race weekends

Brian Hilderbrand

Thursday, June 1, 2006 | 7:25 a.m.

Apparently, racing an off-road vehicle one day and a NASCAR Nextel Cup Series stock car the next isn't enough of a challenge for Robby Gordon.

Last year, Gordon won both the SCORE Trophy Truck and overall 4-wheel vehicle titles in the Tecate SCORE Baja 500 in Ensenada, Mexico. Gordon flew to Dover, Del., immediately after the desert race and finished 29th in the Nextel Cup race the following day at Dover International Speedway.

This weekend, Gordon again is doing the unusual double duty - with a twist. Gordon will start the Baja 500 Saturday morning in a Chevrolet Trophy Truck and drive approximately half of the 424-mile course before turning over the wheel to teammate Andy McMillin. Gordon then is scheduled to get behind the wheel of his Hummer H3 - which his father, Bob, will drive for the first half of the race - and attempt to finish the race.

"This is the sort of thing that I live for," Gordon said of the hectic weekend. "Obviously, my primary focus is on our Nextel Cup effort, but when I have an opportunity to compete in our Trophy Truck, I take it. On paper, the travel logistics look tough but when it's over, it really doesn't seem like it was all that hard."

The Hummer in which the elder Gordon will start the race is the same vehicle Robby Gordon raced in January in the Dakar Rally.

"By running both trucks, we'll be able to put a lot of development miles on the H3 in preparation for the next Dakar," Gordon said. "The H3 has been a very reliable truck but it was built to conform to the rules of the Dakar Rally, and that's the way we will race it in the 500 - so it will be at a horsepower disadvantage to the unlimited horsepower Trophy Trucks.

"But my dad has still got what it takes to get the job done, and he doesn't make many mistakes, and if the H3 is as reliable as it has been in the past, we could win with either truck."

Bob Gordon, a longtime off-road racer, is a five-time class champion of the legendary Baja 1000. Robby Gordon is a three-time SCORE class season champion.

The Miller Brewing Co. announced it will end its 11-year sponsorship of Don Prudhomme Racing's Top Fuel dragster, driven by Larry Dixon, at the end of this season. Miller Lite has been the team's primary sponsor since Dixon's rookie year in 1995.

Dixon has won two Top Fuel season championships (2002 and 2003) and 38 national-event victories while driving the Miller Lite dragster but is winless in nine races this season.

Team owner Prudhomme said he has begun "exploring potential primary sponsorship partners" to replace Miller Brewing.

Also noted:

Second-place finishes for Kyle Busch in two career NASCAR Nextel Cup starts at Dover International Speedway

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Consecutive NASCAR Nextel Cup starts for Jeff Gordon when he takes the green flag Sunday at Dover