Wheels & Deals: Ford Adds Robby Gordon To Stable

In Atlanta, Jeff Hood reported Robby Gordon Motorsports will “sever ties with Chevrolet in November and campaign a Ford Fusion” in ’07. Ford Racing Technology Dir Dan Davis: “Robby has, in my opinion, the top single-car effort out there in a world of multicar teams” (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 10/15). But Davis said, “We aren’t embarking on this for a single-car effort. This will, hopefully, be a multiple-car team.” Davis added, “We have a goal of 10 championship-level teams and we aren’t there now. We’re probably halfway there now with the (five-car) Roush team.” He added Robert Yates Racing losing Dale Jarrett and Elliott Sadler is a “disappointment. We’ve been addressing that with them to try to help them with that. But, even with that, you don’t get to 10. We’ve got to bolster the overall number of championship-level teams” (AP, 10/14).

Hornish Jr. Reportedly To Make Jump To NASCAR In ‘08

OPEN SEASON: In Charlotte, Jim Utter reported IRL driver Sam Hornish Jr. is the next “open-wheel driver expected to join the NASCAR ranks.” Sources said that Hornish will make his NASCAR debut in the November 11 Busch Series race at Phoenix Int’l Raceway for Penske Racing South. In ’07, Hornish will compete in the IRL “while running a mixed schedule of [ARCA], Busch Series and possibly Nextel Cup races.” Hornish is “expected to make a full-time debut in the Nextel Cup Series” in ’08 (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 10/14).

TWO IN THE BUSCH: In a separate piece, Utter reported Busch Series teams Braun Racing and Biagi Brothers Racing are “expected to join Toyota’s entry into the series next season.” Braun fields Chevrolets for driver Jason Leffler and a part-time ride with Dave Blaney; Biagi fields the No. 4 Dodge with Auggie Vidocich (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 10/15).