PHOENIX OFF-ROAD RACE : Gordon Wins in Dirt, Plans to Get Out

Some have suggested that it’s about time Robby Gordon stop playing in the dirt.

Gordon scored two runaway victories Sunday in the 17th SCORE Off-Road World Championships at Phoenix International Raceway in what may have been his final appearance in off-road racing.

“Don’t be surprised if I’m back at this track on the asphalt driving in a NASCAR race before the year is over,” Gordon said. “It’s a good possibility.”

Gordon, a talented 21-year-old from Orange, made a successful road racing debut earlier this year by winning the 24 Hours of Daytona in IMSA’s GTO series. Many predict he will follow the path of former off-road champion Rick Mears and become a winning oval-track driver.

Gordon showed he certainly had no peers in the dirt Sunday, winning the unlimited single-seat dune buggy and pickup truck classes before a sparse crowd of 4,200. He barely got his racing suit dirty over the weekend, winning every qualifying heat and race he entered.

Driving a 650-horsepower Ford pickup truck, Gordon fell behind veteran Walker Evans of Riverside in the eight-lap feature race but passed Evans on the second lap when Evans’ Dodge had a broken steering gear.

Evans spun out in the middle of a series of turns off the front straightaway, and Gordon slammed into the 51-year-old veteran. Gordon continued racing while Evans pulled out of the race.

“It was one of those racing things where Walker was stuck and I had nowhere to go,” Gordon said. “I put the brakes on, but it was too slick to stop. I’m sure he’s mad right now, but honestly, I had nowhere to go.”

Gordon’s victory in the dune buggy race wasn’t quite as easy as his win in his pickup truck. He had to survive a restart when the race was red-flagged after a fire crew member, Tom Prewett, was hit by driver Paul Simon. Prewett had a hip injury and was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital in Phoenix.

Gordon took the lead on the restart and held off Sage Council Racing Team members Greg George of Colton and Jerry Whelchel of Mission Viejo.

Whelchel won the 1600cc Baja Bug class with a fitting co-driver on Mother’s Day. LaDonna Sukut of Laguna Hills, whose husband, Lloyd, owns the Sage Council Racing Team, was the co-driver for Whelchel in her first closed-course race.

“We came here thinking the race would be limited to one person in the car,” Whelchel said. “When they told us we needed two, she was the lightest person around, so she went along for the ride.

“She’s the best co-driver I’ve ever had. She was waving her arms all over the place and really got me pumped up to win the race.”