Beam already has a presence in the rally sport with the Turkish team. Granted, it’s not as high a profile Robby because of name recognition and he being in the vehicle class vice the Turkish motorcycle squad but it is a presence non-the-less.

That aside, Robby’s entire NASCAR presence, to hear him tell it, is on performing well and maintaining his sponsors and gaining new ones if possible.

I don’t buy for a hot second slotting P.J. Jones into the #7 at Talladega will aid that effort in any way.

Two things. Mike Bliss is underrated as a driver,and I think I know at least one reason. We had him as a guest ON PIT ROW a few weeks ago. Very accomidating, knowledgable and obviously passionate about his - then - Fitz Motorsports team. But he just isn’t as pollished a public speaker as most of the other - many arguably less tallented - driver guests that we’ve had. I think that may have cost him opportunities do drive for better teams.

Second, I will cut Robby more slack on this than you. I am admittedly a Robby fan. Check out the story on the “show” page at Oonpitrow.com for one reason. I think that a large part of the sponsorship cash that RGM generated for the original Dakar in contingent on running whatever the 2008 Dakar becomes, which is the one you write about here. I spoke with a rep from Jim Beam at the recent Detroit Tiger opening day, of all places, and that company’s corporate love for Robby was VERY obvious. I’m betting that JB is behind Gordon’s decision in a supportive way. He is, I think, trying to live up to a sponsor commitment in the Dakar deal. Other sponsors will take notice.