Jay Robinson’s Immediate Plans

By Dominic Aragon
3/26/2011

The new era of Nationwide cars has impacted the second-tier NASCAR series in many ways. With purses being cut and teams cutting back, the new changes have affected organizations in one way or another.

Yet, teams continue to survive with limited funding and restricted resources.

In a shaky economy, Jay Robinson Racing has managed to compete in the Nationwide Series well enough to survive the past few seasons. In the team’s first four races, the No. 28 Chevrolet of Derrike Cope has managed to put the team 24^th in owner points, twelve points “in the good.”

“Derrike’s been really solid. He just doesn’t make mistakes typically,” said Jay Robinson over the phone.

“For the level of operation we running, he’s done an excellent job for us.” After the first four races, the team has produced pairs of 23rd and 25th–place finishes.

Sponsorship for the 28 team couldn’t come at a better time. MAXelence, an energy beverage, is coming on board the No. 28 car for 12 races. This weekend’s race will be the first of the scheduled events. For the second entry, the No. 70 car, All American Sports Pouch will adorn the car this weekend.

Jay Robinson Racing is known to make the most out of the little that they have. For sponsorship, the team would like to run top-10, but Jay says the team can accomplish what the sponsor wants.

“We go beyond the car,” said Robinson. “We have a whole marketing department devoted to the sponsors … The lowest we are taking this year is $10,000. If [the sponsor] wants a top-10 type of effort, it’s $100,000. If they want a top-20 car, we can accomplish that at $25,000.”

Jay considers his team low budget this season, but he plans on completing the distance in every race for the 28 car. He is hoping that Derrike Cope can run the full schedule.

“If we are unsponsored for a few races, we would try to get all used tires. We would try to do it as economically as possible. That is why we can take a small sponsor and make the most of it, even though we can’t be competitive with a lot.”

Although Jay Robinson Racing is no stranger to the NASCAR Nationwide Series, Jay also gave details about going Cup racing this season—very soon.

“It’s not a matter of if, but when. We already have the car, the license, and the car number,” he said.

The team is hoping to within the next couple of months. Stay tuned for more on this.