Jim Beam Petition, Shirts Help Robby Gordon Appeal Penalties

By Michael Smith, Staff Writer, SportsBusiness Journal

Jim Beam Produces T-Shirts In Support Of Gordon's Appeal Of Penalty

Jim Beam has raised the bar for sponsor support. When Robby Gordon, driver of the Jim Beam No. 7 Sprint Cup car, met with NASCAR officials earlier this week to appeal a penalty, he took with him a petition signed by 13,000 fans who backed him. Beam used its Web site, jimbeam.com, to ask fans to sign the petition. Beam also produced “Rally for Robby” T-shirts for fans to wear next to the set of Speed’s “Trackside Live” show. Gordon’s primary sponsor was integral is generating support for Gordon, whose successful appeal left him 21st in owners points, meaning he will have a guaranteed spot in this weekend’s Sprint Cup race at Atlanta. If the 100-point penalty had been upheld, Gordon would have been 37th and would have been forced to qualify. The top 35 are guaranteed a spot in the race. Tom Flocco, president of Beam Global Spirits & Wine, also sent a letter supporting Gordon to NASCAR President Mike Helton.