DEI pushes Robby to the front.

Robby Gordon's decision to use Dale Earnhardt Inc. prepared engines for the final two races of the 2005 season resulted in him taking his best oval course finish of the year on Sunday at the Phoenix International Raceway.

Gordon and main engine supplier John Menard mutually agreed to use DEI engines for the races in Phoenix and Homestead after Gordon failed to qualify for the previous two races in Atlanta and Texas. In his first season as an owner/driver since 2000, Gordon has failed to qualify for seven races and suffered engine failures in nine of the 28 races he has made.

Although Gordon scored a second place finish at Watkins Glen, prior to Sunday's eighth place finish in the Checker Auto Parts 500, Gordon's best oval finish of the year had been a 20th place effort at Martinsville in April.

"We were pretty good there," commented Gordon after a great late race scrap with championship contender Jimmie Johnson, which was resolved in Johnson's favour on the very last lap. "I think we could have got all the way up to about the #20. I was just being so cautious around the championship guys. I didn't want to cause any problems, you know?

"The guys gave me a great race car. We were better than the #48. We passed the #48. Me and Jimmie go a long ways back so I figured I'd help him out if I could."

While no decision has yet been made regarding the status of his 2006 engine programme, Gordon was quick to exonerate John Menard of any blame for his 2005 misfortunes.

"You know, John Menard has been a big supporter of my career all the way along. And I'm going to do everything I can to help him with this programme. It shows that we've kind of been a top 10 car all year long. We just haven't made it to the finish line. There's been plenty of races where we've been running top 10 and we blow up or something freaky will happen.

"It's been a tough six weeks and to come back with a single-car team and finish up there with all those two- and three-car teams-I'm really proud of the guys we have here. And we're going to do everything that we can to keep them for next year."

Gordon, whose #7 team is currently 38th in the Nextel Cup owner standings, will continue to have to fight his way into the field in the first five races of the 2006 season as he is more than 700 points out of the top 35.