CART: Robby Gordon Will Test For Arciero-Wells
28 January 1998
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Arciero-Wells and All American Racers have been partnered as the two development teams for Toyota. Both of these successful Southern California- based teams have worked with Toyota for over 15 years in its many motorsports endeavors. All American Racers was nominated four years ago to be Toyota's CART development team and Arciero-Wells joined in this effort one year later.
"Adding Gordon as the fifth Toyota driver will be a true asset in continuing and furthering the Toyota program and getting it to the front," said Cal Wells III. "It's a natural fit. I have known Robby for most of his life and he won a drivers' championship for us in 1989. His father, Bob, drove for me and won the Baja 500 with me. Robby was just a kid winning his first Mickey Thompson Stadium Championship and was in a PPI-prepared Toyota. It is good to have him back. We selected Robby not only because of our strong personal relationship but because he is a seasoned driver who will help us continue the development of our CART program and the Toyota engine program. He has extensive experience working with development programs. His talent and technical knowledge will be an asset to everyone involved with the program."
"I think we have some of the finest young drivers in the world," said Lee White, Toyota Racing Development (TRD) general manager. "We already know what kind of talents we have in the returning drivers, PJ Jones, Max Papis and Hiro Matsushita. I think Alex Barron will really surprise some people. He doesn't have a lot of experience, but he's already shown us he's one of the top young Americans in the sport. Of course, in Robby Gordon we have a proven CART winner. I've personally worked with Robby at Roush Racing and there's no doubt that he's a true talent. He will bring a lot to the program, obviously from a racing standpoint, but also in Arciero-Wells testing program and in working with both Max and Hiro."
"Robby's first pro off-road win was with me," said Frank Arciero Jr. "The Arciero, Gordon and Wells families have always raced together; Robby grew up with us. He has a lot of talent and I believe he will push Max and Max will challenge Robby; this will help our racing program." Gordon's many accomplishments include two CART wins and four CART poles, as well as numerous off-road championships.
"Being on a team with the right chemistry is important in the equation and is especially important in racing," said Gordon. "I have a bond with Cal and Toyota; it is a winning combination. Cal and I have a strong personal relationship that goes way back."
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GORDON AT A GLANCE
1976
Began racing motocross at seven. Rode for factory Team Green Kawasaki
Amateur program for three years.
1985
Began off-road truck racing, winning the first race he entered, the Nevada
Frontier 500, sharing the duties with Frank Arciero. Finished ahead of
second place
driver, his father and off-road driver, Bob Gordon. Scored victory in
first-ever Mickey Thompson Stadium (MTEG) series event he entered.
1986
Teamed with his father to win four off-road events. Won his first
SCORE/HDRA championship and Rookie of the Year title.
1987
Won the SCORE/HDRA championship.
1988
Won the SCORE/HDRA and MTEG championship titles. Won four off-road races.
Raced own MTEG entry. Elected to the All American Racing Writers
Broadcasters Association (AARWBA) All American Team.
1988 and 1989
Voted Off-Road Driver of the Year.
1989
Drove for the factory Toyota team, winning six of eight events and the
MTEG Drivers' Championship. Won five off-road truck races including
driving solo for
almost 17 hours in the Baja 1000. Elected to AARWBA All American Team.
1990
Moved from dirt to pavement competition in the International Motor Sports
Association (IMSA) GTO/GTU. Won five races including the prestigious 24
Hours of
Daytona. Finished second in GTO Drivers' Championship.
Won the SCORE/HDRA Heavy Metal Off-Road Championship. Won the pole and led the race in his first-ever career stock car start in an Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) event.
1991
IMSA GTO/GTU competition, five wins including the 24 Hours of Daytona for
the second consecutive year. Started two NASCAR Winston Cup events.
1992
Started CART competition; ran a partial season, seven events, becoming
CART's only rookie to lead a lap. Won in IMSA GTO/GTS competition and
became
three-time winner in the 24 Hours of Daytona. Won first career pole and
race in Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) Trans-Am competition. 1993
First full season of CART competition. Finished tenth in the CART drivers'
standings with four top-five finishes and six top-ten finishes. Won the 24
Hours of
Daytona in IMSA GTS competition. Started 14th in NASCAR race at Talladega.
Ran selected off- road races with a second place finish at the Nevada 400.
1994
Finished fifth in the CART drivers' standings; won first CART pole at
Toronto and set track record, also won pole in Vancouver. Voted Most
Improved Driver by
CART peers. Had nine top-ten finishes in CART competition. Also raced in
SCORE International Off-Road Racing, NASCAR Winston Cup racing and drove
in
NASCAR's newest series, Supertruck competition.
1995
First CART career win at Phoenix; posted a second win at Detroit from the
pole. Also won the pole at Nazareth. Finished fifth in the drivers'
standings. Finished
eighth in the SCORE International Trophy Truck Class championship.
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Signed with Team SABCO for 1997 at the end of the 1996 CART season, competing in three 1996 NASCAR Winston Cup events. Other racing competitions included Indy Racing League (IRL); started third at the Indy 500 and finished 14th. Won first-ever Trophy Truck Class Championship in SCORE as team owner and driver. Raced in NASCAR Craftsman Supertruck and International Race of Champions (IROC) competition, finishing second in IROC drivers' championship.
1997
Ran full season of NASCAR Winston Cup competition. Won first career NASCAR
pole in just the fourth race of the year. Also raced in the IRL Indy 500,
ran as
high as second. Raced in IROC competition, finishing second in the
drivers' championship.
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