Jim Beam will continue to sponsor Gordon, No. 7 car
By Official Release
November 16, 2007
02:29 PM EST
type size: + -DEERFIELD, Ill. -- Jim Beam, The Official Spirit Of Racing, announced Friday that it will continue its partnership with Robby Gordon Motorsports as a primary sponsor of the No. 7 Ford Fusion driven by team owner and veteran driver Robby Gordon during the 2008 Sprint Cup Series and Nationwide Series seasons.
"As an independent driver and owner in NASCAR's top racing series, Robby has shown that he has the stuff inside -- the competitive spirit -- that our customers relate to and respect," said Brian Gallagher, motorsports marketing manager for Jim Beam. "We look forward to continuing to support Robby and the race team as they demonstrate true character and challenge for victories on the track."
Jim Beam will sponsor 13 Sprint Cup Series and two Nationwide Series races in 2008, the fourth year of the company's partnership with RGM and the second for Gordon in equipment provided by Ford Motor Company. With one race to go this season, the No. 7 team sits in its highest position in the Nextel Cup Series owner points standings since forming prior to the 2005 season.
"We appreciate Jim Beam for supporting our team for a fourth straight year," Gordon said. "We have shown that we can be competitive as an independent race team, and believe that through the continued support of Jim Beam for the No. 7 Ford Fusion, we can do even more next year as the full-time use of the Car of Tomorrow levels the playing field even more."
Gordon has displayed a solid performance during the 2007 Cup season with 12 top-20 and two top-10 finishes. With one race remaining this season, Gordon sits 28th in owner points, just 128 points out of the 25th position.
The No. 7 team is 260 points ahead of the 35th spot, mathematically assured of finishing inside the top-35 in the final season standings and guaranteed to earn a start in the first five races of the 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season, including the Daytona 500.
Jim Beam will utilize its sponsorship of Gordon and the No. 7 Ford Fusion to reach racing fans both on and off the track through a variety of racing related promotions to be announced prior to the end of 2007. The sponsorship also will support the Beam Global Spirits & Wine drink smart initiative. Jim Beam and Beam Global Spirits & Wine will execute programs throughout 2008 utilizing Gordon's profile as a successful driver to focus attention on preventing underage drinking and drunk driving.
Gordon, 37, started his own Cup Series team in 2005 after spending three seasons driving for Richard Childress Racing. Gordon, a six-time off-road champion, has competed in a variety of series including Cup, Busch, Indy cars, SCORE International Off-Road, sports cars, and the prestigious Dakar Rally in Europe.
He swept both 2003 road-course races in NASCAR's top series and is a three-time Baja 500 and three-time Baja 1000 winner. In addition, in 2007 Gordon became the first American in history to win a stage in the Dakar Rally.
