Lack of funding could put the brakes on a good season for Tina Gordon and Brevak Racing
06-06-03




This year started out as a great one for Tina Gordon. After several years running part-time in the ARCA RE/MAX Series, she had landed a ride with Brevak Racing in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, a team that has been in the series since its inception. The team had enough funding to run several races and some good prospects for funding for the entire season. Unfortunately in the racing business, a good prospect is nothing more until a check is in hand.

The team has had a very good run so far with Gordon maintaining a spot in the Top 20 in the overall NCTS point standings and second place in the Raybestos Rookie of the Year race. She even led the rookie points for one week early in the season. All of these results are remarkable considering Gordon is a driver whose racing career began only eight years ago in a dirt-track powder puff race. She has come a long way since that race, including a Top 10 finish in her first NASCAR Busch Series race at Talladega in April of this year.

Owners Bob and Shelly Brevak have been paying the difference between what it costs to run a race and what they have gotten from sponsors. This is a fact Gordon does not take lightly and appreciates greatly. "Bob and Shelly (Brevak) have really done so much for me this year," said Gordon. "They have personally funded a lot of the races and have gotten me to this point."

Now, seven races into the 25-race season, the team finds itself faced with the reality of either finding funds quickly or sitting out the next few races. For Gordon, this is a tough pill to swallow. "I hate it because we have such a good team and such a good season going. I hate to see it end," said Gordon.

While the future is uncertain for the No. 31 Dodge at this point, Gordon and her team members realize how fortunate they are to have been able to attempt every race up to this point, while many teams have had to sit home. Gordon is thankful for the sponsorship she has gotten so far, but the reality is that it just isn't enough to carry through the season. "I've really appreciated all of the support we're getting from Microtel Inns & Suites and from 3M, but at this point it's still not enough to fund the team for the season," said Gordon. Both Microtel Inns & Suites and Scotch(R) Transparent Duct Tape have signed on for a few more races as co-primary sponsors, and Microtel is an associate sponsor for the entire season.

Team owner Shelly Brevak feels like the team has much to offer a potential sponsor. "We pride ourselves on going above and beyond the call of duty when it comes to making sure they (sponsors) are getting a good bang for their buck." Added Brevak, "Our team has 31 years of racing experience and a talented rookie driver that will be a tremendous asset to any company both on and off the track." Gordon agrees. "I feel like our team would be a great team for a company looking for a way to promote their products or services," Gordon said.

Everyone involved is diligently continuing the sponsorship search in hopes that some of the contacts they have made will soon pay off. "We need a first-class company that wants to partner with a first-class race team," said Brevak. The team's first priority is to find funding so that Gordon can continue to run for the Rookie of the Year title in the O'Reilly Auto Parts 200 on June 21 at Memphis Motorsports Park. "The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series is a good series for me to be in this year because it's put me on tracks I've not been to in the past. I'm getting a lot of seat time and gaining a lot of experience," Gordon said. "I've been fortunate to get to live out a dream this year, competing in one of NASCAR's top three series with some great drivers."

Anyone interested in sponsorship opportunities can contact Victory Lane Motorsports Management at 228 323 2119.



Erin Titman
Victory Lane Motorsports Management
phone: 228 323 2119
fax: 503 905 1662
email: etitman@aol.com