ADELAIDE, South Australia (March 5, 2016) – Burt Jenner out dueled 2016 Dakar Rally Motorcycle Champion Toby Price in Saturday’s thrilling second round of the SPEED Energy Stadium SUPER Trucks Presented by TRAXXAS at the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide, South Australia.

Second place starter Matt Mingay of Gold Coast, Queensland quickly stole the attention of the more than 77,400 spectators whom lined the 14-turn 2.012 (3.219 km) street circuit when his Hot Wheels/ Castrol EDGE truck hit the McDonald’s ramp awkwardly and barrel rolled 5 times landing the No. 2 on its side. The uninjured driver would climb on top of his battered race machine much to delight of the loud raucous cheers of the massive Australian crowd.

Ironically the two drivers who led laps in Friday’s opening round, but encountered problems found themselves in the top two spots on Saturday battling hard with one another for the victory.

Toby Price of Aberglasslyn, New South Whales started in the first position and jumped out to the early lead ahead of Mingay and Los Angeles, Calif. driver Burt Jenner driving the SPEED Energy/ Toyo Tires/ TRAXXAS Truck.

Inheriting the second position after Mingay’s violent accident, Jenner and Price would race hard and clean for the next two laps before Jenner would find an opening and drive the No. 50 deep in the corner working his way past Price.

The Australian motorsports hero kept pace with the ultra quick Jenner the final two laps, but would never be able to make a move to regain the lead.

Following Saturday’s second race of the season, Jenner considered Saturday’s victory sweet redemption from a podium finish being taken away from him on Friday. While leading the race second place Creed would make heavy contact with rear of Jenner’s No. 50 forcing him to spin loosing multiple positions.

2015 Stadium SUPER Trucks Champion Sheldon Creed from Alpine, Calif. finished fourth in the TRAXXAS backed entry, while Gold Coast, Queensland racer Matt Brabham rounded out the top five in his United Fiber and Data No. 83 truck for the second straight day.

Crandon, Wisc., driver Keegan Kincaid was sixth in his TRAXXAS NO. 47, followed in seventh by Norwell, Queensland racer Paul Morris driving the SuperCheap Auto/ Hungry Jack’s truck. Making his first start in an SST, Rob Cowie would finish the Move Yourself Trailer and Ute Hire entry in the eighth position, while Robbie Pierce from Santee, Calif. driving the Royal Purple Synthetic Oil truck was credited with ninth.

United Fiber and Data/ LIVE driver Bill Hynes of Nazareth, Penn. would go on to finish the eight lap event in the tenth position ahead of Penola, South Australia’s Greg Gartner who would encountered contact with Pierce after the restart loosing valuable ground to the lead pack. The No. 500 would be recorded in the eleventh position at the completion of the eight laps.

After his jaw-dropping accident Mingay’s Hot Wheels/Castrol EDGE/ Go Pro No. 2 would be credited with the twelfth and final position.

The third and final round of the SPEED Energy Stadium SUPER Trucks Presented by TRAXXAS at the 2016 Clipsal 500 will take place Sunday at 12:05 PM local time just prior to the V8 Supercar finale in Victoria Park in front of another anticipated record crowd.

RACE No. 2 RESULTS:

1. Burt Jenner; No. 50 Los Angeles, Calif.; SPEED Energy/ Toyo Tires/ TRAXXAS

2. Toby Price; No. 87 Aberglasslyn, New South Whales, Aus.; Trojan Security/ KTM/ CASE Equipment

3. Robby Gordon; No. 7 Orange, Calif.; Arctic Cat/ SPEED Energy/ Toyo Tires / TRAXXAS

4. Sheldon Creed; No.1 Alpine, Calif.; TRAXXAS

5. Matt Brabham; No. 83 Gold Coast, Queensland, Aus.; United Fiber & Data/ LIVE/ Think Loud Development

6. Keegan Kincaid; No. 47 Crandon, Wisc.; TRAXXAS

7. Paul Morris; No. 67 Norwell, Queensland, Aus.; SuperCheapAuto.com/ Hungry Jack’s

8. Rob Cowie; No. 25 Adelaide, South Australia, Aus.; Move Yourself Trailer & Ute Hire

9. Robbie Pierce; No. 30 Santee, Calif.; Royal Purple Synthetic Oil/ Impact by Mastercraft Safety

10. Bill Hynes; No. 57 Nazareth, Penn.; United Fiber & Data/ LIVE/ Think Loud Development

11. Greg Gartner; No. 500 Penola, South Australia, Aus.; R&J Batteries/ Delkor Calcium Battery/ Fuchs

12. Matt Mingay; No. 2 Gold Coast, Queensland, Aus.; Hot Wheels/ Castrol Edge / GoPro

ADELAIDE, South Australia (March 4, 2016) – 2015 SST Champion Sheldon Creed left off right where he did last November, going on to win the SPEED Energy Stadium SUPER Trucks Presented by TRAXXAS opening event of 2016 in thrilling fashion Friday afternoon.

With most drivers struggling to hit their marks on the fast and technical temporary street circuit that makes up the 14-turn 2.012-mile (3.219 km) street course built for the V8 SuperCars.

Paul Morris of Norwell, Queensland and Alpine, Calif. driver Sheldon Creed aggressively charged past truck after truck from their tenth and eleventh starting positions to the withstand a plethora of contact and spinning trucks to place themselves in a shootout for the win the final two laps.

2016 Dakar Motorcycle Champion Toby Price of Aberglasslyn, New South Whales would lead the field on Lap Six, but would suddenly run into trouble as Price’s truck would bicycle around a corner nosing it into the wall suffering extensive damage to his No. 87 Trojan Security/ KTM Motorcycles truck.

The ultra conservative Morris would capitalize on the accident by Price taking his SuperCheap Auto / Hungry Jack’s No. 67 SST truck to the front of the pack, while Creed wasted no time pressuring Morris for the lead nearly beating the rear bumper off of the Morris truck corner after corner.

The final lap would see Morris and Creed put on driving clinic for the ecstatic fans as Creed would pass Morris for the lead in a daring move to the inside. Morris however would use his dirt track racing experience to throw a slide jump on Creed coming to the final corner, Creed well knowing that move was coming rotated the truck and drove back underneath Morris sending the two trucks off the first front stretch ramp side by side.

Morris would get crossed up missing the second ramp-allowing Creed to capture the checkered flag much to the delight of 65,100 Australian motorsports fans.

TRAXXAS racer Keegan Kincaid of Crandon, Wisc., never paid a ticket, but had the best seat in the house to view the Morris Creed duel. Kincaid would cross the finish line behind Morris in the third position.

Veteran Off-Road competitor Robby Gordon from Orange, Calif. finished fourth in the Arctic Cat Wildcat/ Toyo Tires backed entry, while Gold Coast, Queensland racer Matt Brabham rounded out the top five in his United Fiber and Data No. 83 truck.

Penola, South Australia driver Greg Gartner was sixth in his R&J Batteries/Delkor Calcium/ Fuchs NO. 500, followed in seventh by first time SST racer Travis Milburn driving the Move Yourself Trailer & Ute Hire truck. Early race leader Jenner would cross the line in the eighth position, while Robbie Pierce from Santee, Calif. driving the Royal Purple Synthetic Oil truck was credited with ninth in his second ever SST start.

Making contact with multiple objects on the racecourse and suffering a flat tire Gold Coast, Queensland driver Matt Mingay would be recorded with the tenth position. First position starter Bill Hynes of Nazareth, Penn. would encounter mechanical issues at the beginning of the race setting the United Fiber & Data entry back multiple laps off the start. The No. 57 would be recorded in the eleventh position at the completion of the eight laps.

Australian motorsports 2-wheel legend Price who would lead field early in the event, would go on to be credited with twelfth finishing position after failing to complete the scheduled eight laps.

The SST trucks will return to the Adelaide Street Circuit for there second round of the Clipsal 500 on Saturday at 3:30 pm local time in front of an anticipated capacity crowd of over 150,000 motorsports fans.

RACE No. 1 RESULTS:

1. Sheldon Creed; No.1 Alpine, Calif.; TRAXXAS

2. Paul Morris; No. 67 Norwell, Queensland, Aus.; SuperCheapAuto.com/ Hungry Jack’s

3. Keegan Kincaid; No. 47 Crandon, Wisc.; TRAXXAS

4. Robby Gordon; No. 7 Orange, Calif.; Arctic Cat/ SPEED Energy/ Toyo Tires / TRAXXAS

5. Matt Brabham; No. 83 Gold Coast, Queensland, Aus.; United Fiber & Data/ LIVE/ Think Loud Development

6. Greg Gartner; No. 500 Penola, South Australia, Aus.; R&J Batteries/ Delkor Calcium Battery/ Fuchs

7. Travis Milburn; No. 25 Adelaide, South Australia, Aus.; Move Yourself Trailer & Ute Hire

8. Burt Jenner; No. 50 Los Angeles, Calif.; SPEED Energy/ Toyo Tires/ TRAXXAS

9. Robbie Pierce; No. 30 Santee, Calif.; Royal Purple Synthetic Oil/ Impact by Mastercraft Safety

10. Bill Hynes; No. 57 Nazareth, Penn.; United Fiber & Data/ LIVE/ Think Loud Development

11. Matt Mingay; No. 2 Gold Coast, Queensland, Aus.; Hot Wheels/ Castrol Edge / GoPro

12. Toby Price; No. 87 Aberglasslyn, New South Whales, Aus.; Trojan Security/ KTM/ CASE Equipment

Arctic Cat Inc. (ACAT) today announced it is launching the “Race and Ride with Robby Gordon” contest. The Grand Prize winner will race an Arctic Cat Wildcat™ X with Robby Gordon during the Stadium Super Trucks race at the Sand Sports Super Show in Costa Mesa, Calif., on September 16-18, 2016. The Grand Prize also includes a two-night stay in Orange County, Calif., for the winner and a guest.

This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160229006888/en/

Commented Arctic Cat Chief Marketing Officer Greg Williamson: “We continue to look for ways to give our dealers and customers the ultimate off-road driving experience. We can’t imagine a more thrilling way to do this than to give them the opportunity to race one of our exciting 2016 Wildcat X machines, alongside a legend like Robby Gordon and in front of thousands of race fans.”

The “Race and Ride with Robby Gordon” contest starts on March 1, 2016, and ends on July 30, 2016. It is open to U.S. and Canadian residents who are 21 years of age or older at the time of entry. No purchase is necessary to win. All contest ballots will be available at participating Arctic Cat dealerships and online at www.arcticcat.com/race-and-ride, where fans may download the entry form and get a glimpse of this exciting opportunity by watching video highlights from last year’s race. Completed ballots must be placed into a ballot box found only at participating Arctic Cat dealerships to be entered for a chance to win. Contest information and rules will be posted on Arctic Cat’s website and in participating dealerships.

The Arctic Cat Stadium Side-by-Side (SXS) Racing Series was launched last year with overwhelming success, as the undercard, or lead-in race, to the main event at Robby Gordon’s wildly popular Stadium Super Truck (SST) Series events. The Arctic Cat Stadium SXS Series features 10 Arctic Cat Wildcat side-by-sides driven by Action Sport Athletes, fans, and dealers who will use the same track as the Stadium Super Trucks.

Adelaide, South Australia ( February 25, 2016) – Clipsal 500 Adelaide organizers announced the full driver line-up for the Toyo Tires Stadium Super Trucks Presented by Traxxas (SST) race.

The Toyo Tires Stadium Super Trucks race will see high profile local and international drivers racing side by side in 11 high powered off-road trucks. The trucks approach speeds of up to 140 mph and ramps can launch the trucks 20 feet into the air and 150 feet down the track.

The starting line-up for the return of the SST Series in Australia includes American drivers Robby Gordon, 2015 Clispal 500 Race #3 winner Keegan Kincaid, Bill Hynes, Robbie Pierce and the 2015 Stadium SUPER Trucks champion Sheldon Creed.

The Australian contingent consists of; 2016 Dakar Rally motorcycle champion Toby Price, former V8 Supercars driver Paul “The Dude” Morris, Australia’s most prolific stunt rider Matt Mingay, off road racer Greg Gartner, rising stars Matt Brabham, Travis Milburn & Rob Cowie.

Although accustomed to off-road racing on two wheels, Toby Price will be on a high heading into the Clipsal 500 Adelaide after recently becoming the first Australian to win the Dakar Rally.

The SST’s will hit the track at the 2016 V8 Supercars season opener on Thursday, March 3rd, with specially designed jumps added to the iconic Adelaide street circuit and racing scheduled to run over four days..

Toyo Tires has acquired the naming rights sponsorship of the Australian debut of Stadium Super Trucks presented by TRAXXAS at the Clipsal 500 Adelaide.

Competition on track is set to be fierce as the trucks literally fly through Victoria Park, featuring drivers from a variety of disciplines and backgrounds.

1 – Sheldon Creed (USA)
2 – Matty Mingay (AUS)
5 – Matt Brabham (AUS)
7 – Robby Gordon (USA)
25 – Travis Milburn/Rob Cowie (AUS)
30 – Robbie Pierce (USA)
47 – Keegan Kincaid (USA)
57 – Bill Hynes (USA)
67 – Paul “The Dude” Morris (AUS)
87 – Toby Price (AUS)
500 – Greg Gartner (AUS)

The 2016 Stadium SUPER Trucks season opener takes place March 3-6 in Adelaide, Australia at the Clipsal 500.

The field will increase from 10 to 12 trucks with an equal share of American and Australian drivers.

Australian Stuntman Matt Mingay, who finished an impressive fourth overall in his Stadium Super Trucks debut, will again be joined on the grid in 2016 with off road motorcycle star and 2016 Dakar winner Toby Price.

Robby Gordon and the 2015 SST champion Sheldon Creed won’t be making it easy for the Australians. Their fast flying finish to the final race made highlight reels all over the world, with Creed tumbling across the finish line in third place after ending up on his roof following a dogged battle with Gordon.

In 2016, it will be even easier to see thanks to major infrastructure upgrades including bigger grandstand seating and new super screens.

To purchase tickets, please visit the official Clipsal 500 Website.

SAN JUAN, Argentina (January 14, 2016) – Robby Gordon and Kellon Walch survived another very difficult special on Thursday, during Stage 11 of the 38th Annual Dakar Rally. Navigating the specially built HST Gordini Supercar through complex portions of heavy sand, high-speed gravel roads, and dust the duo safely reached the stage finish in the eleventh position.

Starting the challenging stage in the fifteenth position, Gordon raced out to a blistering pace tearing through the bumps and dust to advance comfortably into the ninth position by km 100.

“The course started rough, almost like whoops, and it really favored the Gordini with the big Toyo Tires on it,” explained navigator Kellon Walch. “Then we started to get into the bottom of river beds and the route was faster and smoother.”

Flirting with the top ten throughout the special Gordon kept a consistent pace of the leaders, not taking any risks of damaging the Toyo Tires/TRAXXAS Gordini. As any experienced Dakar racer knows taking the checkered flag in Rosario on Saturday to finish the 13-stage race is just as important and claiming a stage victory.

Gordon finished the stage in the eleventh position, with a time of 5 hours, 11 minutes, and 54 seconds. Only 22 minutes, and 38 seconds behind defending Dakar Rally Champion Nasser Al-Attiyah of Qatar, whom claimed his second stage win of 2016, finishing Stage 11 in a time of 4 hours, 49 minutes, 16 seconds.

Early overall leader Sebastien Loeb claimed the second spot with a time of 4 hours, 55 minutes, 08 seconds. While Mikko Hirvonen of Finland rounded out the podium with a time of 4 hours, 56 minutes, and 17 seconds. Frenchman Stephan Peterhansel was credited with fourth in a time of 4 hours, 57 minutes, 21 seconds, with Saudi Arabia driver Yazeed Alrajhi would claim his second top-five of the rally with a time of 5 hours, 1 minute, and 13 seconds.

After eleven grueling stages of the 2016 Dakar Rally, Peterhansel holds the overall lead over second place Al-Attiyah by 51 minutes, and 55 seconds. While South African Ginel De Villers claim’s the third position 1 hour, 17 minutes, 24 seconds back, followed by Hirvonen in the fourth position 1 hour, 22 minutes, 47 seconds behind. LeeRoy Poulter rounds out the top five with a time of 1 hour, 33 minutes, 58 seconds.

Robby Gordon’s eleventh place finish today moves into the twenty-seventh position in the overall standings 10 hours, 38 minutes, and 55 seconds behind the winning pace of Peterhansel.

Friday the cars will race from San Juan to Villa Carlos Paz in Stage 12. The longest stage of rally (900 km) will start with an exceptionally long liaison, which despite the slower speeds, will still put additional stress on the already strained race engines and drivers. The first transfer section is followed by the 481-kilometer timed race through the semi-mountainous terrain, lined with vegetation on both sides of the course making it super tight in locations.

Follow the quest for an American finish in the 2016 Dakar Rally for Team SPEED through live timing and scoring as well as live updates with chat at http://www.planetrobby.com and https://stadiumsupertrucks.com

NBC Sports Network (NBCSN) will provide daily highlights after each stage of the 2016 Dakar Rally at 5:30 p.m. ET. Check your local listings for exact time and channel for availability.

LA RIOJA, Argentina (January 13, 2016) – Robby Gordon continued to improve positions at the 38th Dakar Rally Wednesday, bringing his Traxxas/Toyo Tires HST Gordini Supercar home in fifteenth-place of the weather shortened 244 Km special.

As the heat of the day increased, so did Gordon’s intensity, as the twenty-sixth starter wasted no time working his way past competitors into the ninetieth position thru Km 140 with no troubles. When many of the other drivers were finding themselves stuck, over heating or experiencing navigational issues, Gordon and navigator Kellon Walch pressed thru in the Toyo Tires/TRAXXAS Gordini all the way up to the seventieth position by Km 180.

Knowing the stage was being cut short 34 Km, Gordon would set a consistent pace the last 30 Km with no mistakes to finish the Stage in 4 hours, 51 minutes, 28 seconds.

Gordon’s recorded time would be logged as the fifteenth quickest of the day only 52 minutes, 56 second behind the leaders.

Despite Gordon’s trouble-free free run, the tenth stage was topped by two Frenchman. As Stephan Peterhansel picked up his third win of 2016, winning the shortened Stage in a time of 3 hours, 58 minutes, 22 seconds, he was followed in second by fellow countryman and teammate Cyril Despres with a time of 4 hours, 4 minutes, 12 seconds. Claiming his first podium of the 2016 Rally, Vladimir Vasilyev of Russia completed the stage in 4 hours, 11 minutes, and 28 seconds to finish third, while Spaniard Nani Roma was credited with fourth with a time of 4 hours, 13 minutes, 5 seconds. Three-time Stage winner Sebastien Loeb would re-group after his Stage eight crash to round out the top five with a time of 4 hours, 16 minutes, and 12 seconds.

After ten stages of the 2016 Dakar Rally, Peterhansel has moved back into the overall lead opening up a gap 1 hour ahead of second place Qatar driver Nasser Al-Attiyah. South African Ginel De Villers would claim the third position 1 hour, 12 minutes, 31 seconds back, followed by Mikko Hirvonen of Finland in the fourth position 1 hour, 23 minutes, 51 seconds back. LeeRoy Poulter slides back into the top five 1 hour, 33 minutes, 58 seconds behind.

Robby Gordon’s fifteenth place finish today would move him up into the twenty-eighth position in the overall standings 10 hours, 24 minutes, and 22 seconds behind the winning pace of Peterhansel.

The level of difficulty for Thursday’s Stage 11 will remain the same as the last few days, as Gordon and the HST Gordini will tackle different varieties of terrain throughout the special, including the famous fesh-fesh of Argentina. Fesh-Fesh, a heavy form of sand will test the patience of Gordon and navigator Kellon Walch as they try to navigate that section without getting stuck. Other portions of the special will feature quick straight gravel sections that are more suited for cars that are set-up to excel on the WRC style course, the HST Gordni being one look for Gordon to cut more time off the overall deficit today.

Follow the quest for an American finish in the 2016 Dakar Rally for Team SPEED through live timing and scoring as well as live updates with chat at http://www.planetrobby.com and https://stadiumsupertrucks.com

NBC Sports Network (NBCSN) will provide daily highlights after each stage of the 2016 Dakar Rally at 5:30 p.m. ET. Check your local listings for exact time and channel for availability.

BELEN, Argentina (January 10, 2016) – After a disastrous Stage 8 on Monday, Team SPEED teammates Robby Gordon and Sheldon Creed looked to come back with a strong effort on Tuesday, and gain some time back on the leaders as the rally would move into the dunes for the first time.

The common theme of the 2016 Rally is weather, and once again it would become a major factor. This time not for heavy rain or hail, but extreme heat with temperatures exceeding 120 degrees, ASO officials decided the Special would be shortened by 100 km.

Toyo Tires/TRAXXAS driver Robby Gordon would start among the top 20 in the car division for Tuesday’s race after using his second elite driver professional. As gear issues in the previous stage relegated him to a disappointing 60th-place finish. The Stage 9 course presented many challenges with dust and complex navigation, but Gordon and navigator Kellon Walch were able to successfully race their way through the timed section and finish in a time of 4 hours, 21 minutes, 23 seconds which recorded them in the twenty-fifth position of the shortened special.

“Today’s special was one of the hardest I have scene in all of my Dakar’s, I’m just glad we were able to finish with no major issues,” Gordon stated after the completion of Stage 9.

However the story of the day for Team SPEED, would be the notification from ASO officials of the disqualification of Sheldon Creed from the 2016 Rally. Creed, the youngest starter ever in the Dakar’s history would encounter clutch troubles during Stage 8 after getting stuck, while stopped his Toyo Tires/KMC Wheels Gordini would get hit by two other competitors causing extensive damage to the right and left side.

Knowing his race vehicle was beat up, and the crew needed to get started on repairs right away for Stage 9, Creed bypassed a couple waypoints knowing he would be assessed a penalty. To the Team SPEED’s surprise today ASO officials determined his actions were severe enough to disqualify him from the rest of competition.

In his first rally race at the bright age of 18-years old, Creed the 2015 Stadium SUPER Trucks Champion, proved to everyone he is a driver that is able to compete at the highest of levels with the best drivers in the world, and will be a consistent contender for the win in any form of racing he competes in well into the future.

Creed went on to say, “I would like to thank Toyo Tires and Robby Gordon for believing in me, and giving me the opportunity to showcase my driving skills on a world-wide scale. This has been an absolute blast, and an experience I will remember for a lifetime. Looking forward to getting the 2016 Stadium SUPER Trucks season started in Australia in little over a month.”

In the front of the pack Spaniard Carlos Sainz picked up his second Stage win of 2016, winning the shortened Stage 9 in a time of 2 hours, 35 minutes, 31 seconds. Followed closely in second by Dutchman Erik Van Loon capturing his first podium finish of the 2016 Rally at 2 hours, 35 minutes, 41 seconds, just 10 seconds behind Sainz. Mikko Hirvonen of Finland completed the stage in 2 hours, 35 minutes, and 48 seconds to finish third, while South African Giniel De Villiers was credited with fourth with a time of 2 hours, 36 minutes, 9 seconds. Stage 8 Winner Nasser Al-Attiyah would round out the top five with a time of 2 hours, 37 minutes, and 35 seconds.

After nine stages of the 2016 Dakar Rally Sainz has moved back into the overall lead 7 minutes, 3 seconds ahead of second place Peterhansel. Al-Attiyah would claim the third position 14 minutes, 38 seconds back, followed by Hirvonen in the fourth position 34 minutes, and 50 seconds back, while South African De Villers holds the fifth position 53 minutes, 18 seconds behind.

Robby Gordon’s top twenty-five finish today would move him up to the thirtieth position in the overall standings 9 hours, 38 minutes, and 29 seconds behind.

Wednesday’s decisive tenth stage of the rally will bring competitors through the Fiamblala dunes, on the longest dune section in the history of the Rally. Traditionally the HST Gordini Supercar’s are very good in the dunes, but don’t look for Gordon to take any risky maneuvers that may take him out of contention of finishing the rally in the Top-25 with only four stages remaining.

BELEN, Argentina (January 9, 2016) – Following a respectable eleventh-place finish in the seventh stage of the 38th Dakar Rally, Robby Gordon and Team SPEED would have high hopes for the second half of the rally following the rest day on Sunday. However, those hopes were put to the side early on in Stage 8 as both Robby Gordon and Sheldon Creed would encountered major set backs costing them valuable time on track.

Robby Gordon would start the stage in the eleventh position, within striking distance of the dominant leaders, but shortly after the start of the stage Gordon would make contact with a large rock causing extensive damage to the right front wheel. Teammate twenty-second starting Sheldon Creed would need to stop on course to assist Gordon with the repairs to his HST Gordini.

Although Gordon and navigator Kellon Walch were able to repair the damaged right front and get back up to race speed, the Toyo Tires/TRAXXAS HST Gordini lost over an hour of time and was passed by majority of the vehicles on the course during maintenance.

Shortly after assisting Gordon, Sheldon Creed would ran into his own problems as he became stuck in the sand, and would burn up the clutch, requiring additional assistance. As Creed and navigator Jonah Street were assessing the situation and attempting to make repairs with their distress beacon on, another competitor would come barreling through where they were and strike the Toyo Tires/KMC Wheels Gordini, causing extensive right and left side damage. Between the clutch issues and damage to the vehicle Creed was left significantly behind on the racecourse, but still able to press on once all was repaired.

Gordon who was able to press on and run nearly 300 km smoothly after repairs, would come to a rest again just kilometers from the finish with another issue. In the process of pushing the Gordni so hard to gain time back on the leaders, Gordon would over work the transmission and burn up the gears. Unable to get the car to move again, Gordon would look for a tow back to the bivouac. Luckily a T4 truck competitor strapped on, and towed the Toyo Tires/TRAXXAS HST Gordini to the finish at a blistering pace of nearly 80 mph. Despite being towed, Gordon will be able to start the ninth stage of the Rally on Tuesday provided there are no terminal engine issues.

Gordon would finish the stage in the sixtieth position, 7 hours, 54 minutes, and 46 seconds behind the leader, while Sheldon Creed would limp his beaten and battered Gordni home in the sixty-sixth position spot, 5 hours, 39 minutes, and 17 seconds behind.

Qatar driver Nasser Al-Attiyah picked up his first Stage win of 2016, winning Stage 8 in a time of 4 hours, 12 minutes, 23 seconds, followed closely by Spaniard Carlos Sainz at 4 hours, 12 minutes, 35 seconds, just 12 seconds behind. French drivers Stephan Peterhansel completed the stage in 4 hours, 12 minutes, and 54 seconds to finish third, while fellow countryman Cyril Despres finished fourth with a time of 4 hours, 17 minutes, 3 seconds. Mikko Hirvonen of Finland would round out the top five with a time of 4 hours, 19 minutes, and 5 seconds.

After eight stages of the 2016 Dakar Rally Peterhansel has moved back into the overall lead today after Stage 7 overall leader Loeb would flip over and loose over an hour making repairs. Sainz would claim the second position 2 minutes, 9 seconds back, followed by Stage 8 Winner Al-Attiyah in the third position 14 minutes, and 43 seconds back. Hirvonen holds the fourth position trailing 36 minutes, 42 seconds, while South African Leeroy Poulter holds the fifth position 49 minutes, 32 seconds behind.

The troubles Robby Gordon had in Stage 8 dropped him considerably in the overall standings to thirty-seventh place 7 hour, 54 minutes, and 46 second behind. Creed would also drop to the forty-second spot 9 hours, 12 minutes, 1 second back. Luckily for Team SPEED there is still five stages left to cut into their deficit in hopes of a top twenty overall finish and a Stage win.

Tuesday’s ninth stage of the rally will bring competitors on their second marathon stage, on a loop northwest of the city of Belen, Argentina through scattered dunes, river beds, and harder terrains and back to the bivouac in Belen before night fall. The scenario of Stage 9 is highly suited for the HST Gordini to do well, as long as navigators Kellon Walch and Jonah Street are able to keep a clear head and make the right navigational choices, you will see driver Gordon and Creed move up considerably from their deep in the field starting positions.

Follow the quest for an American podium finish in the 2016 Dakar Rally for Team SPEED through live timing and scoring as well as live updates with chat at http://www.planetrobby.com and https://stadiumsupertrucks.com

NBC Sports Network (NBCSN) will provide daily highlights after each stage of the 2016 Dakar Rally at 5:30 p.m. ET. Check your local listings for exact time and channel for availability.

SALTA, Argentina (January 9, 2016) – American driver Robby Gordon successfully rebounded from his disappointing finish on Friday in the 38th Dakar Rally with a solid 11th-place finish in his HST Gordini during Stage 7.

Slated to start 50th after a troublesome sixth stage, where Gordon and navigator Kellon Walch was running in the sixth position, became stranded on course out of fuel with less than 50 km left of the stage. Gordon rated as a Dakar Elite driver is allowed to use a mulligan for a poor finish the day before to regain a better starting position.

Electing to use his mulligan Gordon started the seventh stage in the 16 position and raced out to a quick pace keeping with the leaders through KM 150. Knowing once arriving in Salta this evening Gordon and Walch would be able to re-group with the Rest Day scheduled for Sunday, Gordon pressed through the stage looking to keep the Toyo Tires and TRAXXAS backed HST Gordini in the striking distance of the leaders without damaging the race vehicle.

As been the constant theme of the 2016 Dakar, weather once again became a factor in the stage as heavy rain moved in affecting the competitors near Km 200. Gordon known for having a good runs after poor finishes flirted with top-ten the entire stage holding his ground through the challenging terrain and crossing rivers. Gordon finished the Stage in the eleventh position with a time of 3 hours, 29 minutes, 4 seconds, just 10 minutes, and 1 second behind the stage winner. A huge moral booster for Team SPEED after the disappointment of Friday, as the team looks to prepare for the second half of the rally.

Team SPEED teammate Sheldon Creed would start stage 7 in the 38th position after stopping to assist Robby Gordon in the previous stage, really showing positive driving that he has done throughout the rally, Creed would finish the seventh stage in a time of 3 hours, 43 minutes, and 18 seconds in the 21 position, just 24 minutes and 15 seconds behind the winner.

Spains’s Carlos Sainz picked up his first Stage win of 2016, winning Stage 7 in a time of 3 hours, 19 minute, 3 seconds, followed closely by Sebastien Loeb at 3 hours, 19 minutes, 41 seconds, just 38 seconds behind. Qatar driver Nasser Al-Attiyah completed the stage in 3 hours, 22 minutes, and 25 seconds to finish third. Stephan Peterhansel finished fourth with a time of 3 hours, 22 minutes, 30 seconds, while Mikko Hirvonen of Finland would round out the top five in 3 hours, 23 minutes, and 10 seconds.

After seven stages of the 2016 Dakar Rally Loeb has moved back into the overall lead today over Peterhansel by 2 minutes, 22 seconds, followed by Carlos Sainz in the third position 4 minutes, and 50 seconds back. Al-Attiyah holds the fourth position trailing 17 minutes, 36 seconds, while Hirvonen holds the fifth position 32 minutes, 53 seconds behind.

Sunday the eighth consecutive day of the rally, will give Team SPEED a much-needed break in the historic colonial city of Salta. However this is no vacation, the crew will carry out full service of both HST Gordini’s to insure they are prepared to perfection to continue strong the last six stages.