Laughlin: Robby Gordon preview

Charlotte, NC (January 14, 2011) -- Due to an early departure from the Dakar Rally, Robby Gordon will be participating in all three days of the Laughlin Desert Challenge this coming weekend, January 14-16. Gordon will be piloting the No. 77 SPEED Energy / Toyo Tires Chevy CK1500 trophy truck in three-day event that kicks off the SCORE Desert Series 2011 season.

Recognized as one of the best off-road racers in the world, Gordon will qualify the No. 77 SPEED Energy / Toyo Tires trophy truck on Friday afternoon by running one complete lap around the 6.25-mile loop. Robby will then compete in Saturday's 8-lap race, which will determine his starting position for Sunday's main feature.

For the 17th year, the racers from all over the world will gather in the Colorado River resort town of Laughlin, NV, to compete in the first major motorsports event of the year in the United States. The elite field of 29 SCORE trophy trucks entered in the Challenge will draw fans from all over the United States, Mexico, Canada and Europe. The featured SCORE Trophy-Truck division will run 8 laps over the 6.25-mile course at 1 p.m. each day. The combined elapsed time and number of laps completed from both days will determine the final finishing position for each vehicle.

The highly anticipated "Laughlin Leap" will kick off the race weekend on Friday at 7 p.m. The daring competitors will attempt to break the record of 161' 6" set by Larry Roeseler in 2009.

Winner of the 2009 Laughlin Challenge, Gordon says, "I'm really looking forward to Laughlin and getting back in the Chevy trophy truck." "We have a great history at Laughlin, it's a fun race and I'm looking forward to introducing SPEED Energy to the off-road fans," continues Gordon. The 2009 SCORE Desert Series Champion comments, "I'm excited to get the 2011 season off to a great start at Laughlin and racing for another championship."

-source: rgm