DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Team owner and driver Robby Gordon will appeal the penalty handed down against his team for an unapproved front bumper that was found on the No. 7 Dodge Feb. 8 prior to the Daytona 500 activities.
While the bumper was replaced and Gordon went on to finish eighth in the Daytona 500 with a legal car, he was penalized 100 owner and driver points and crew chief Frank Kerr was fined $100,000 and suspended for six races.
“I’m more than surprised at the severity of it to start with,” Gordon said. “Second would be the penalty in general because it was something we didn’t build, we didn’t make, we didn’t supply. It was completely a clerical error from the manufacturer and the manufacturer’s supply warehouse who delivered it to us and all we did was install it on the race car.  
“We’re going to jail for a crime we didn’t commit. It’s almost like putting yourself in the position where someone steals your car, robs a bank and because it’s your car, you’re going to jail. I don’t think this is a fair penalty and obviously we will have to appeal it.”
Gordon’s team made the switch from Ford to Dodge cars in the two weeks leading up to the start of Speedweek. According to Gordon, Dodge officials are taking responsibility for the mistake.
“That they made a mistake and they are willing to do whatever it takes.  I believe (Chrysler Chairman and CEO Robert) Nardelli himself has even had a conversation with (NASCAR President Mike) Helton explaining the situation,” Gordon said.
“Obviously, I have caused trouble in the past, but this time was not a causing-trouble issue. It was clearly the amount of time to get ready to go to the race track and compete at the highest level, which for us only having the car for five days before qualifying and qualifying as high as we did and racing as good as we did, it’s a huge disappointment.”
Kerr worked on the No. 7 at California, while the team waits for its appeal to be heard.
Gordon said the biggest issue with the penalty is: “Perception. Perception. Being labeled as a cheater where we have not cheated,” he explained. “Where the problem comes into play is with sponsors.  When you start impacting our sponsorship opportunities, you start getting into the root of the real situation here and we’re in trouble for something we didn’t do.”