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Robby Mires in Mud at Stage One / Tractor tows him from Muck!

   
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Courtesy of the Associated Press:

PORTIMAO, Portugal (AP) January 6, 2007 - Robby Gordon is the only NASCAR driver competing in the Dakar Rally, an off-road road race from Portugal to Dakar that covers 4,918 miles. In 2005, he became the first American to win a stage of the grueling event.

This year's edition, the 29th, has a record number of competitors, with 525 teams and 42 nationalities represented, including 250 motorcycles, 187 cars and 88 trucks.

STAGE 1: Gordon had a successful first day, completing the 288 miles in 13th place.

``Off-road racing is a lot different than NASCAR and other racing in the U.S. because we have luck to deal with,'' Gordon told The Associated Press. ``It's all luck of the draw when it comes to starting, and we drew the 20th starting spot. We could have been somewhere around 80th or 90th, so we were lucky.''

Driving his all-black H3 Hummer from Lisbon to Portimao, Gordon finished eight minutes behind Dakar leader Carlos Sousa.

``He's from Portugal, so he knows these roads very well,'' Gordon said. ``We expected him to do well.''

GRINDING TIRES: Gordon hit one obstacle when his H3 became stuck in the mud. Because spectators had clogged the route, Gordon was one of many drivers to slow down in an attempt to navigate the crowd.

His caution came at a price when he found his car couldn't escape the mud.

``I had to get towed out by a tractor,'' Gordon said. ``But a lot of guys had trouble and they must have known there was going to be mud there because the tractors were prepared. I just jumped back in the car and took off after that.''

The mud did cause slight damage to the H3: Gordon has to change the clutch on it after the conclusion of Stage 2.

 
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