Early Life and Racing Roots
Robert W. Gordon was born on January 2, 1969, in Bellflower, California. The son of off-road racer “Baja Bob” Gordon, Robby was immersed in motorsports from a young age. He started racing off-road vehicles in his teens and quickly made a name for himself, winning numerous championships in SCORE International and the Mickey Thompson Stadium Series. By the late 1980s, he had transitioned into road racing and open-wheel events, including IMSA and Trans-Am. Gordon’s early exposure to a wide range of vehicles laid the foundation for a career defined by adaptability and fearlessness. Whether behind the wheel of a trophy truck or an IndyCar, Gordon approached racing with unmatched intensity.
IndyCar, CART, and Road Course Success
Gordon entered the CART series full-time in the early 1990s and drove for top teams like Walker Racing and Chip Ganassi Racing. Though he never secured a championship, he was consistently fast and earned multiple pole positions. His best CART season came in 1995, when he finished eighth in points. He also competed in the Indianapolis 500 several times, with his most competitive showing coming in 1999 when he led late in the race before running out of fuel and finishing fourth. Known for his skill on road and street courses, Gordon was often a threat to win in non-oval events.
NASCAR Career
Robby Gordon moved into NASCAR in the late 1990s, competing in both the Cup Series and the Busch Series. He drove for multiple teams, including Richard Childress Racing and Morgan-McClure Motorsports, before launching his own team, Robby Gordon Motorsports, in 2005. In the Cup Series, Gordon captured three career victories—all on road courses, with wins at Sonoma and Watkins Glen. His aggressive style often led to clashes with competitors and officials, but also produced memorable moments. His independence and refusal to conform to the corporate NASCAR mold made him a polarizing but undeniably entertaining figure. Operating as an owner-driver, Gordon struggled to consistently compete with larger, better-funded teams, but he remained competitive, particularly on tracks that rewarded driver skill over raw horsepower.
Off-Road Dominance and Stadium Super Trucks
While Gordon earned respect in mainstream racing, he never strayed far from his off-road roots. He won the Baja 1000 multiple times and was a perennial favorite in the Dakar Rally, where he competed in custom-built Hummers. In 2013, Gordon founded the Stadium Super Trucks series, reviving the spirit of the old Mickey Thompson off-road stadium events. The series features high-flying trucks racing on mixed-surface circuits with jumps and tight turns, and it has developed a global following. Gordon himself remained a competitive driver in the series, even as he oversaw its promotion and expansion.
Career Earnings & Endorsements
Robby Gordon earned an estimated $40–50 million over his racing career through a combination of prize money, sponsorship deals, and team ownership. During his NASCAR years, he secured major sponsors like Menards, Jim Beam, and Red Bull, with additional backing for his off-road endeavors. While his independent status sometimes limited his access to top-tier endorsements, his dual role as a driver and entrepreneur allowed him to retain a larger share of earnings than many of his peers. His business ventures, including the Stadium Super Trucks series and off-road parts company Speed Energy, have helped him maintain financial success beyond the track.
Legacy and Impact
Robby Gordon’s career stands out for its breadth, risk-taking, and refusal to follow the expected path. While he may not have the championship hardware of some of his contemporaries, he earned immense respect for doing things on his own terms. His contributions to off-road racing, especially through the creation of Stadium Super Trucks, have left a lasting mark on the sport. Gordon’s life in racing is defined by innovation, audacity, and relentless competitiveness. Whether in the deserts of Baja, the streets of Long Beach, or the high banks of Daytona, he brought the same fiery energy that made him a fan favorite and a true original in the racing world.
