Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images for NASCAR
2011 proved to be dismal for Robby Gordon and his self-owned race team. It was the first time in his 18 year NASCAR Sprint Cup career that he did not have a top 10 finish in a season where he attempted all or most of the events. 16th in the season opening Daytona 500 was the best finish Gordon could muster. Gordon's next best finish in 2011 was 18th at Infineon Raceway in the Toyota Save Mart 350.
Gordon attempted to qualify in 26 of the 36 races on the NASCAR Sprint Cup schedule. Of those events, Gordon only failed to qualify for one, the inaugural Quaker State 400 at Kentucky Speedway. The other 10 races were started by Reed Sorenson, Johnny Sauter and Scott Wimmer. Of those 10 events, Gordon's #7 Dodge missed the field twice with a best finish of 27th by Wimmer in the Lenox Industrial Tools 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. With all the struggles of 2011 and an uncertain 2012, it's unknown whether or not Gordon will be able to continue fielding his own team in the Sprint Cup series.
Gordon was only penalized by NASCAR three times during the season, once for speeding in the pits, once for a commitment line violation and once for leaking gear oil. Gordon's pit crew only had one infraction for too many crew members over the wall. Gordon managed to have a somewhat humorous series of penalties in the eighth race of the season at Talladega, the Aaron's 499. Sam Hornish, Jr, who was subbing for Gordon in qualifying had his time disqualified by NASCAR. Since the 7 car was locked into the top 35 in points Gordon was able to still start the event but at the rear of the field. Because of the driver substitution, Gordon had to serve another pre-race penalty for starting in the rear. Also because Gordon's crew made changes to the car in an impound situation, Gordon was penalized a third time to start the rear of the field for the race.
2011 Statistics For Robby Gordon
34th in Sprint Cup standings
0 top 5s
0 top 10s
Best Finish: 16th in the Daytona 500
18 laps led
2011 Penalty Report For Robby Gordon
Race 1 - Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
Race 2 - Pitting before pit road is open, Garage; Speed-Exiting pits, Pass Thru; Too many crewmember(s) in contact with pit service area, Tail End
Race 3 - Pitting before pit road is open, tail end; Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
Race 6 - Commitment Line Violation, Tail of Field
Race 8 - Pre-Race to the rear, Time Disallowed; Pre-Race to the rear, Driver Change; Pre-Race to the rear, Adjustments after Impound
Race 15 - Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
Race 27 - Pre-Race to the rear, Engine
Race 32 - Safety violation, pit, gear oil; Pitting before pit road is open, tail end, garage
Race 33 - Pitting before pit road is open, Y, tail end, garage