BAM 49 Fans

Tire Problem, Crash Ends Day Early For Gordon:

Atlanta, GA (March 7, 2010) – A blown tire on lap 3 led to an immediate accident and an early exit for Robby Gordon and the BAM Racing, Blake Shelton Toyota Camry.

Race morning started out cheerful and upbeat, with most of the Warner Music Nashville crew feeling loose – anticipating a strong run and a good finish. Final practice had ended with Robby being very happy with the car’s handling and looking forward to his prospects; “We may not have a race-winning car, but we definitely have a top 15 car!”

As if psychic, veteran crew chief Larry Carter was the only member of the No. 7 team that seemed concerned. When asked why he wasn’t smiling Larry responded, “I’ve just got 900 different things running through my head; all the what-ifs depending on what may happen during the race.”

When the field fired their engines and began rolling off pit road, BAM Racing owner Beth Ann Morgenthau encouraged the team, “Good luck today guys. Do a good job for us, thank you very much!”

Robby replied, “You got it, Beth Ann!”

With Robby approaching his pit stall, spotter Ron prompted, “Ten away” (meaning Robby was ten pits away from his assigned space).

Then Larry picked him up as he came closer, “Spot 5 right there . . . here we are.”

As is typical, Robby spent this relatively quiet time to try to improve his car, saying “I got a minor point. On the heel support brace, my right heel gets caught on it just a little bit. We need to check that.”

Iain Watt replied, “10-4.”

Larry then asked, “Is your pit road speed box working?”

Robby reported back, “They’re working and we’re operable. All systems go.”

Ron, the spotter reminded Robby of a note that NASCAR had stressed earlier in the Driver’s Meeting, “Remember on the start to stay in line until after you cross the Start/Finish Line.”

Robby replied, “10-4.” Then . . . “I have switched to Battery 1, copy?”

Larry confirmed, “Copy.”

Robby added, “Please make a note of that every time.”

Larry reassured him, “10-4.”

Just before the green flag, Larry Carter added his own words of encouragement to the crew, “Like we talked about guys (in the team meeting held one hour prior to the start of the race in the team transporter) be on your toes and be ready for anything.”

When the green flag flew, Ron jumped into high gear informing Robby where other cars were positioned in relation to his car: “High” . . . “Got one inside.” . . . “Three wide there!”

After starting 39th, Robby moved up to 36th at the end of lap one. When Greg Biffle passed him low out of turn four, Robby reported, “When he got down underneath me it got tight.” Then on lap two, with a little bit more urgency in his voice he added, “Got tight on corner exit.”

Then, on the beginning of lap three just as he was “thinking about turning in” the left rear tire came apart and violently turned the car sharply to the left. Still traveling at over 190mph and now completely out of control, all Gordon could do was hold on tight as the Warner Music Nashville Camry slammed into the wall, badly mangling the body beyond repair.

Ron immediately asked, “Are you alright there Robby?”
Robby replied, “It’s a crying (frigging) shame.”
Ron added, “It looked like the whole casing came off the left rear.”
Robby responded, “(Crap) – no luck at ALL!”

As the race progressed, ours was not the only car that experienced tire problems. Our pressures were all at or above the NASCAR-mandated minimums, but “stuff” happens. In auto racing there are no “do-overs”, there are no time-outs and there are no substitutions. One stroke of bad luck and you’re out of the race and a brand spanking new, gleaming, immaculately prepared $150,000 racecar is completely destroyed. This can be a cruel sport at times.

Before leaving the track, tire man Glen went up and down pit road trying to unload our unneeded sets of Goodyear tires. Goodyear leases teams their tires at about $1,600 per set, but only credits you back 50% when you turn back in brand new, sticker tires. By selling off our excess inventory, Glen was able to save the team quite a bit of money.

The rest of the team had one of two duties. One group busied themselves with loading up all the pit equipment and the pit box. The other group had the thankless task of cutting parts and pieces off the wiped out car so that it could roll and be loaded up on the transporter. Then our truck driver, Randy could take the expensive carcass back to Robby Gordon Motorsports to be stripped down and completely rebuilt.

The next race for the BAM Racing Warner Music Nashville Camry will be the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, TN in two weeks on March 21.

Gordon to Drive No. 7 WMN Toyota Camry in Select 2010 Races:

Charlotte, N.C. (February 9, 2010) – Today BAM Racing owner Beth Ann Morgenthau announced Robby Gordon as driver of the No. 7 Warner Music Nashville Toyota Camry for the following races: the Auto Club 500 at Auto Club Speedway on February 21; the Kobalt Tools 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on March 7; and the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway on March 21.

“We are thrilled to be associated with such a talented driver as Robby Gordon,” stated Morgenthau. “After Daytona, BAM Racing and Robby Gordon Motorsports will jointly field the No. 7 at select races. While Tony and I will miss our beloved No. 49, it will be good for our sponsor, Warner Music Nashville, to have a car that is guaranteed a starting position in the first five races.”

Robby Gordon added, “I am very excited to drive the No. 7 Warner Music Nashville Camry. I am committed to drive the car through Bristol, while continuing to work on several options for the rest of the year. The alliance with BAM Racing and the addition of Warner Music Nashville to our growing roster of sponsors will help us with our 2010 season.”

After evaluating the joint venture between BAM Racing and Robby Gordon Motorsports which was announced earlier this year, it was decided to consolidate the effort by running one car with Robby Gordon as the driver of the joint BAM/RGM entries.

“This is the best plan for everyone,” commented Gordon. “By running one car in the next few races, it will allow us to build our fleet and prepare our equipment to the highest industry standards. When we do decide to run two cars later in the year, we will be fully prepared to do so.”

Beth Ann also announced an association with Wounded Warrior Family Support, an organization that helps families by providing them with vacations and retreats at no cost.

“Starting in Daytona, our car will feature a Wounded Warrior decal,” commented Morgenthau. “This is an organization for veterans with two stipulations: they must have been wounded in combat, and they must have dependent children. Colonel John Folsom, founder of Wounded Warriors Family Support, will be our guest at Daytona, and we look forward to supporting this worthwhile organization this season.”

Warner Music Nashville stars – Larry the Cable Guy, Blake Shelton, Gloriana, Whitney Duncan, Jessica Harp, James Otto, Jason Jones, and others yet to be named -- will be featured on the No. 7 BAM/RGM Toyota Camry and in the BAM Racing/Warner Music Nashville VIP Fan Experience during the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Season. The VIP Fan Experience allows fans unprecedented access to Warner Music Nashville recording artists and the NASCAR Sprint Cup Race Team. For more information, please visit www.VIPFanExperience.com.

About BAM Racing

BAM Racing was formed by Beth Ann and Tony Morgenthau in 2001 and will enter its eighth season in NASCAR Sprint Cup Racing in 2010. Beth Ann Morgenthau, whose initials make up the name BAM Racing, continues to be the only hands-on female owner in motorsports to have started a team without family connections. The Morgenthau’s are investment bankers from Coral Gables, Fla. who specialize in positioning companies to reach their maximum potential. Their business acumen gives them a distinct advantage when it comes to providing maximum exposure and results for their sponsors. For more information, visit www.BAMracing.com.

About Robby Gordon Motorsports

Since 2005, Robby Gordon Motorsports (RGM) has been the most successful single car team in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Owned and operated by driver Robby Gordon, RGM will be entering its sixth year of NSCS competition and is headquartered in Charlotte, NC. An additional location in Anaheim, CA oversees the off-road racing efforts, which includes both the SCORE Desert Series and the internationally-renowned Dakar Rally endurance race. This location is also responsible for the organization’s successful after-market wheel business. For more information, visit www.robbygordon.com.

About Wounded Warriors Family Support

Our mission is to provide support to the families of those who have been wounded, injured or killed during combat operations. These families suffer in many ways: some financially, some psychologically. Wounded Warriors Family Support mitigates their trauma by allowing them to find peace and solace as a family once more in family-friendly resorts that we provide free of charge. The group also provides free tickets to sporting events thanks to generous donations and is excited to expand this program to NASCAR events this season.

For more information about Wounded Warriors Family Support and how you can help please visit www.woundedwarriorfamilysupport.org.

BAM Racing names Gilliland as driver for the Daytona 500:

Charlotte, N.C. (January 19, 2010) - BAM Racing announced today that David Gilliland will drive the No. 49 Warner Music Nashville/Larry the Cable Guy Toyota Camry at the 2010 Daytona 500. This season marks Gilliland’s fifth year in the Sprint Cup Series.

“We’re thrilled to have David driving for BAM,” commented Beth Ann Morgenthau, owner of BAM Racing. “He’s shown himself to be a competitive racer during his Sprint Cup career, and I am excited to have him drive the No. 49 Warner Music Nashville Camry at the Daytona 500. The combination of David’s driving ability and the technical alliance with Robby Gordon Motorsports should produce great results at this year’s Daytona 500!”

Gilliland has 118 starts in the Sprint Cup Series and has completed 29,875 laps. Throughout his career, superspeedways have proven to be one of the most competitive and successful track formations for Gilliland. He has captured the top starting position twice in his career and both have been at superspeedways – the 2006 October Talladega race and the 2007 Daytona 500. In eleven superspeedway starts, Gilliland has one top-5 and three top-10 finishes

According to Gilliland, “I’m really looking forward to competing for Beth Ann and the BAM Racing organization in the 2010 Daytona 500. I was excited after our meeting in Homestead when I learned that I was on their short list of potential drivers. Now that they announced their new affiliation with Robby Gordon Motorsports, I am confident that we will have a competitive team for the 500 and produce a great finish. Daytona has always been one of my favorite tracks, and I can’t wait to take the green flag!”

Gilliland is also excited about BAM Racing’s sponsorship from Warner Music Nashville and having the opportunity to meet some of his favorite recording artists at Daytona International Speedway. “I know the goal is to provide unprecedented access to these talented artists for the fans, but I am pretty excited that I get to meet them as well,” commented Gilliland. Warner Music Nashville stars Larry the Cable Guy, Blake Shelton, Gloriana, Whitney Duncan, Jessica Harp, James Otto, Jason Jones, and others will be featured on the No. 49 BAM Racing Toyota Camry and in the BAM Racing/Warner Music Nashville VIP Fan Experience throughout the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Season.

About BAM Racing

BAM Racing was formed by Beth Ann and Tony Morgenthau in 2001 and will enter its eighth season in NASCAR Sprint Cup Racing in 2010. Beth Ann Morgenthau, whose initials make up the name BAM Racing, continues to be the only hands-on female owner in motorsports to have started a team without family connections. The Morgenthau’s are investment bankers from Coral Gables, Fla. who specialize in positioning companies to reach their maximum potential. Their business acumen gives them a distinct advantage when it comes to providing maximum exposure and results for their sponsors. For more information, visit www.BAMRacing.com.

About Robby Gordon Motorsports

Since 2005, Robby Gordon Motorsports (RGM) has been the most successful single car team in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Owned and operated by driver Robby Gordon, RGM will be entering its sixth year of NSCS competition and is headquartered in Charlotte, NC. An additional location in Anaheim, CA oversees the off-road racing efforts, which includes both the SCORE Desert Series and the internationally-renowned Dakar Rally endurance race. This location is also responsible for the organization’s successful after-market wheel business. For more information, visit www.robbygordon.com.

BAM Racing Forms Alliance with RGM:

Charlotte, N.C. (January 7, 2010) – BAM Racing announced today that they have formed an alliance with Robby Gordon Motorsports, who will provide technical support, race cars, and personnel. A formal driver announcement is expected soon.

The alliance with Robby Gordon Motorsports positions BAM Racing for a successful and competitive return to Sprint Cup racing and enhances the team’s partnership with Warner Music Nashville. Warner’s stars including: Larry the Cable Guy, Blake Shelton, Gloriana, Whitney Duncan, Jessica Harp, James Otto, Jason Jones, and others to be named soon will be featured on the BAM car and in the BAM Racing/Warner Music Nashville VIP Fan Experience.

“After the Warner Music Nashville partnership was finalized, we felt that the best way to reenter Sprint Cup Series competition was to align ourselves with an established team inside the Top-35. Positioning ourselves with Robby Gordon Motorsports gives us a solid foundation entering next month’s race in Daytona and provides an excellent marketing platform to feature Warner Music Nashville artists,” said Tony Morgenthau, Co-owner of BAM Racing.

“We are absolutely thrilled to be returning to the racetrack,” commented Beth Ann Morgenthau, Owner of BAM Racing. “Racing is my passion, and I can’t stress how deeply I have missed attending all the races and being part of the Sprint Cup Series. I am excited for the opportunity that Robby Gordon Motorsports has provided us. For a single car team, Robby Gordon Motorsports has made huge strides, and their personnel and equipment are first class.”

BAM Racing and WMN Announce Six New Artists:

Charlotte, N.C. (January 7, 2010) – Warner Music Nashville (WMN) and BAM Racing (BAM) announced today that six more recording artists from the WMN roster will join Larry the Cable Guy in their VIP Fan Experience, a joint venture that gives fans unprecedented access to their favorite Warner Music Nashville recording artists and BAM’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Team. The six artists joining the VIP effort span the breadth of Warner Music Nashville’s roster, including, one of country music's top male vocalists, Blake Shelton, singer/songwriter, Whitney Duncan, AMA “Breakthrough Artist of the Year,” Gloriana, Jessica Harp, one-half of the GRAMMY nominated duo, The Wreckers, up-and-coming artist, Jason Jones, and ACM & CMA Award winner, James Otto.

Team owner Beth Ann Morgenthau was delighted with the development, following the initial unveiling of the Larry the Cable Guy paint scheme in November. “It’s been a whirlwind couple of months, with our unveiling at Homestead, then the holiday season and now six more artists getting involved,” Morgenthau said. “The response from fans at www.VIPFanExperience.com has been terrific. We’re going to have to get really busy scheduling which artist’s paint scheme can run at which event in 2010. We’ve already been contacted by several tracks about these artists and how to best utilize their talent. I expect to see several pre-race concerts in 2010. Then they’ll walk down to the BAM pits, climb up on the pit box with two lucky fans and watch their car compete! I wish the season started tomorrow!”

“One of the most important roles we perform for our artists is to help them develop and sustain the kind of deep, ongoing and interactive connections their fans crave, so I’m proud to announce that these six additional Warner Music Nashville artists have joined the VIP Experience,” said John Esposito, President of Warner Music Nashville. “It’s great to have such an enthusiastic and dedicated partner working with us to enhance our artists’ relationships with their fans and we look forward to developing this experience even further as move forward.”

Ms. Morgenthau added, “Everywhere I go fans are asking me about the VIP Fan Experience. There’s never enough time to tell them all the insider experiences it has to offer so I simply recommend they visit www.VIPFanExperience.com to see what all of the excitement is about!”

About BAM Racing

BAM Racing was formed by Beth Ann and Tony Morgenthau in 2001 and will enter its eighth season in NASCAR Sprint Cup Racing in 2010. Beth Ann Morgenthau, whose initials make up the name BAM Racing, continues to be the only hands-on female owner in motorsports to have started a team without family connections. The Morgenthau’s are investment bankers from Coral Gables, Fla. who specialize in positioning companies to reach their maximum potential. Their business acumen gives them a distinct advantage when it comes to providing maximum exposure and results for their sponsors. For more information, visit www.bamracing.com.

About Warner Music Nashville

Warner Music Nashville was created in 2009 with the goal of expanding the presence WMG and its family of labels has had in the Nashville music community for more than 60 years. The division is home to Warner Bros. Nashville, Word Label Group and the re-launched Atlantic Nashville.

Larry the Cable Guy on No. 49 for '10 Daytona 500:

HOMESTEAD, FL. (November 22, 2009) – Warner Music Nashville (WMN) and BAM Racing (BAM) announced today that Larry the Cable Guy will be the featured artist on the BAM Toyota Camry No. 49 NASCAR Sprint Cup racecar for the 2010 Daytona 500. In addition, both WMN Vice President of Marketing, Kelli Cashiola and BAM Racing owner, Beth Ann Morgenthau discussed details of the partnership’s new VIP Fan Experience. The VIP Fan Experience is a fan-centered project that allows enhanced access to the NASCAR Sprint Cup race team and WMN recording artists. Fans can immediately sign up in the VIP program at www.VIPFanExperience.com. Larry the Cable Guy, in a prepared statement, used the following analogy to describe the level of access for the VIP Fan Experience, “If you were anymore ‘inside’ you’d be a roadie and ridin’ shotgun at 190mph!” Included in the press conference was SPEED TV’s Bob Dillner’s announcement of BAM Racing’s new 30-minute, weekly internet radio show “BAM Spirit . . . the BAM Racing Story” available at www.RaceTalkRadio.com.

In a prepared statement, WMN President, John Esposito said, “I can’t think of a better partner to be associated with than BAM for our first NASCAR tie-in. They have a clear vision and a relentless drive for success, which makes them a terrific strategic partner, while their passion for racing and dedication to the community is a wonderful addition to Warner Music Nashville’s own efforts to promote our artist and reach the fans who love them most.”

Ms. Morgenthau added, “We’re thrilled to be able to have this dual unveiling before the end of the year to give fans a hint of what’s in store form Warner Music Nashville and BAM Racing for 2010. The new fan program has already generated a lot of interest, and I’m also delighted to be able to introduce the fist artist so soon. It’s exciting to think that this is just the first of many entertainers who will be featured on our racecars throughout the year.”

Veteran NASCAR announcer Bob Dillner made the following statement regarding BAM Racing’s new 30-minute weekly radio show, “BAM Racing’s re-emergence is one of the feel-good stories of the year. Here is an independent team that’s not a start-and-parker who is planning a return to the track in Daytona with their new partner Warner Music Nashville. I’m happy to report that Race Talk Radio is crafting a weekly, 30-minute show called ‘BAM Spirit’ exclusively around BAM Racing and their creative, competitive, never-give-up spirit. We plan to cover every aspect from the team gearing back up and hiring new employees to the racetrack and beyond. In addition, we want to work closely with Warner Music Nashville to provide additional exposure for their artists. We’re expecting great things from BAM Racing and WMN in 2010. Tune in to BAM Spirit at www.RaceTalkRadio.com to follow their progress.”

In response to what seems to be the most pressing question, Beth Ann Morgenthau released the following statement concerning the driver of the BAM Racing No. 49: “We are currently talking to a number of drivers who aren’t under contract for 2010. At this point we haven’t eliminated from consideration any driver who is a free agent.”

BAM Racing to return in 2010:

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (October 27, 2009) – BAM Racing and Warner Music Nashville (WMN) announced today a strategic marketing alliance that will give WMN exclusive promotional opportunities with the NASCAR Sprint Cup racing team. Under the agreement, WMN artists will have the opportunity to participate in branding and promotional programs at NASCAR events, including artist tie-ins, sponsorships and promotional appearances, as well as exclusive positioning for their images and branding on BAM’s No. 49 racecar, show cars, transporter and pit equipment.

In making the announcement, BAM racing owner Beth Ann Morgenthau said: “Our team has gone through an extensive renovation. We are rebuilding from the bones up. By partnering with Warner Music Nashville, their stable of artists and the staggering buying power of the country music fan base, we are looking forward to an extremely successful 2010 both on and off the racetrack.”

“This is a unique opportunity to extend our artists brands to the vibrant NASCAR community, allowing us to tap into the natural synergy that has developed between the racing world and Country music fans,” said John Esposito, President of Warner Music Nashville. ”We’re excited to have this opportunity to link our artists with one of NASCAR’s most professional teams and look forward to exploring innovative ideas to make those synergies work for everyone involved.”

The first BAM promotional event with WMN artists is scheduled to take place on February 6th, 2010 at the Daytona International Speedway.

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