Gordon

After getting off to a great start when the No. 31 Cingular Wireless and the No. 29 GM Goodwrench Service teams swapped crews in June, we've all been struggling a bit lately at Richard Childress Racing. But Kevin Hamlin and the guys worked hard Sunday at North Carolina Speedway and we came within a hair of scoring another top-10 finish in the Cingular Wireless Chevrolet.

We were pretty good in the opening laps and gained a couple of positions to move into 10th. But the Cingular Wireless car soon tightened up and we fell to the 20th spot by lap 83. Team Cingular made a green-flag pit stop on lap 109 for four tires, fuel and air pressure adjustments to loosen up the car. But the RCR machine wasn't as good on new tires and didn't really handle well for me until the tires worked themselves in. So, my crew chief Kevin called for four fresh tires, fuel and chassis adjustments on lap 198. That made us much better and I started passing cars and was 13th by lap 198. But we went too far in that direction and the car got loose on older tires.

We pitted under caution on lap 258 for four tires, fuel and chassis adjustments. The Cingular pit crew busted off a great stop and gained me three spots for 15th. The car was much better after that pit stop and we moved into 13th by lap 379. Hamlin decided to gamble on fuel mileage and not pit again, knowing the Cingular Wireless Chevrolet could run out of fuel on the final lap. I think we were pretty much holding our breath on the fuel mileage, although Hamlin didn't tell me that during the race. I guess he didn't want me worrying. But that gamble paid off and we picked off a couple of cars late in the race to cross the finish line in 11th.

I really wanted a top-10 at Rockingham, but we'll take an 11th. It's just nice to be able to put another top-10 finish in your stats. But we're going to Phoenix this weekend and I love racing at Phoenix. It is one of my favorite tracks on the circuit. I won a CART race at Phoenix a few years ago. The No. 31 team had a great run there last November that gave us a lot of momentum heading into the final race at Loudon. I've always liked Phoenix because it's a lot of fun to race there. There are a lot of opportunities to pass at Phoenix, especially if you are on the high groove. There are two lines, maybe three lines to race on. Phoenix makes for a great race every year.

It's a pretty flat track and the Cingular team tends to do well on flat tracks. Phoenix is kind of a tri-oval the way it goes through the back straight. It's a lot of fun. The No. 31 team finished seventh at Phoenix last season and it was the first top-10 we'd had as a team since I stepped in for Mike Skinner. Then I didn't race Homestead, Fla., because of my prior commitment to the Baja and we came back and won at Loudon in November. I think Phoenix was a good shot in the arm for us last year. I'm expecting a good qualifying effort for the Cingular team and hopefully a great finish Sunday. If we play our cards right, I think we have a chance to pull into Victory Lane.

I'm going to pre-run in Baja California for the Baja 1000 early this week before I go to Phoenix. I'm going with my navigator Gregg Till and the session will give us the opportunity to learn the lay of the land and learn where all the potholes, sharp turns and other obstacles are. I don't even test the Trophy Truck I'll be racing this week -- we just take another truck. This preparation makes the Baja a lot safer for all the competitors. Then I'll fly to Phoenix on Thursday, race the Cingular car during the weekend, and then fly back to Baja for the second test session with my truck next week.

This is one of my favorite times of the season because I get to race at Phoenix and prepare for the Baja. Plus, I've got a lot of family and friends on the West Coast I get the opportunity to visit with and I have a house in Arizona. I've got a lot going on between the Cingular car and my Baja truck, but I'll make sure I take the time to enjoy it. After all, there are only two races left this season and I know I'll miss it once it ends at Homestead next weekend. But it will be much easier on us if we get a win before the season is over. That's the focus of the Cingular team the next two weeks.

Robby Gordon drives the No. 31 Cingular Wireless Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing. He is providing a diary to ESPN.com throughout the Winston Cup season.