Gordon's wife wants materials from husband's rivals

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Lawyers for Jeff Gordon's wife have subpoenaed records from his competitors and NASCAR for use in their divorce case.

Geoff Smith, general manager of Roush Racing, said the team planned to file an order Friday to block Brooke Gordon's request in Wayne County Circuit Court in Michigan, where the company is headquartered.

Roush does not want to make public the individual contracts it has with its drivers and sponsors. Those deals are highly sensitive in NASCAR, where each car owner works out separate agreements with every individual.

Numbers are rarely talked about, preventing drivers from knowing how much their rivals receive in salary, percentage of winnings and souvenir sales.

Sponsor deals also are secret, lest a company should find out if it is paying extra for something another might get for free.

"Those are all the things that are the heart of our business," Smith said. "When we give it to Brooke, we're going to give it to Jeff. It's like having the Hendrick organization inside our team."

NASCAR spokesman Jim Hunter said the lawyers requested prize money information on Gordon, which it provided to the lawyers.

Gordon, a four-time Winston Cup champion, drives for Hendrick. Roush fields cars for Winston Cup drivers Mark Martin, Jeff Burton, Matt Kenseth, Kurt Busch and Greg Biffle.

Brooke Gordon's lawyer, Jeff Fisher, said they also have asked for documents from Joe Gibbs Racing, Robert Yates Racing, Richard Childress Racing and Evernham Motorsports.

Fisher told The Associated Press that the teams have refused to cooperate, and he called the situation a "conspiracy of silence," adding, "It has been very peculiar and frustrating that no one has worked with us."

The lawyer said the documents, which he insisted would be kept confidential, are being sought to determine Gordon's equity as a team owner at Hendrick Motorsports, and to look at the financial trends teams are experiencing.

"We cannot set a value on a Winston Cup team, because in NASCAR, you can't go to public records and get the information," Fisher said. "The only way to do it is to ask the teams. In NASCAR, no one talks about the numbers and it is very frustrating. They all have told us, 'Forget it, we're not going to talk to you."'

Jeff Gordon has unsuccessfully tried to get a Florida judge to require his estranged wife and anyone involved in his divorce to sign a confidentiality agreement.

The request was denied and Jeff Gordon had to turn over papers in November that estimated his worth at about $48.8 million and that he earned more than $18 million in 2001.

Brooke Gordon filed for divorce in March, citing "marital misconduct." The racer has countersued, saying he should not have to equally split the couple's estate because he risked his life to collect it.

Jeff Gordon had to reveal his worth in an affidavit filed to comply with a Florida law that requires assets amassed during a marriage to be split evenly.

Brooke Gordon has asked for exclusive use of their Highland Beach, Fla., mansion, valued at $10.2 million, as well as alimony, two cars and periodic use of their boats and an airplane. She also wants her husband to continue to pay the salaries of their housekeepers, maintenance workers and chef.