Category: Other Series PR

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Florida (February 9, 2011) – – Gus Dean may not be a familiar face when racing begins this Friday night at New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway for the 45th Annual World Series. However, Dean will be surrounded by plenty of experience and knowledge, which should accelerate his learning curve and put him in contention in some of the tightest short track racing in the world over a period of nine days.

  Dean, a promising driver from Bluffton, South Carolina will be guided by USARacing Series Pro Cup veteran A.J. Frank, who for the last six months or so has managed the role as team manager at the shop and crew chief and driver coach at the race track. While Dean hasn’t competed in Annual World Series before, the rookie is taking his lack of experience in stride knowing that he has the comfort in one of the most respected short track racers in the Southeast.

  “I’m very blessed to have A.J. not only as my crew chief and driver coach but as my friend,” said Dean, who first started racing at the tender age of six. “He is such a joy to be around and really has made me become aware of my surroundings inside and outside of a race car. I feel very comfortable going to New Smyrna this week knowing that he’s on my side.”   Indeed, comfortable is a word that the former Allison Legacy Series (ALS) pilot can grasp. With nine tenacious nights ahead of him in all forms of short track racing, Dean plans to earn his respect while not forgetting the real reason that his Gus Dean Racing (GDR) team made the trip to the Sunshine State.

  “We are going to New Smyrna with the intentions that we can run strong and (hopefully) be a factor,” added Dean, who in 2007 earned American Kart Racing Association’s Junior II National Points Series Championship. “We’re sticking to our guns of knowing that if we can keep our nose clean and stay out of trouble, we should be able to improve over the course of the next week or so and let everyone know that we were there at least.”

  Frank praised his young driver’s ambition to get the job done behind the wheel. “Gus is a very smart and dedicated young man,” sounded Frank, who plans to return to racing himself in the USARacing Pro Cup Series in 2011. “He has that “want” when it comes to being a race car driver. Patience will probably be the most annoying word he will hear at New Smyrna, but there is a method to that madness. Keeping our car together will allow us to race more; thus giving Gus the seat time he needs.”   Frank, the Bluffton, South Carolina added, “Realistically, I think we can go run in the top-10 every night and surely you would like to think you can get a top-five or two and maybe even sneak in a win. These races won’t be a piece of cake though. They are short and very demanding races. Gus will learn a lot that will not only help him for the rest of his trip at New Smyrna but for the rest of the racing season as well.”

  In his lone short track venture at Concord (N.C.) Speedway last year, Dean entered the garage showing he meant business. Quickly gaining speed and comfort with the treacherous short track, Dean qualified his machine an impressive eighth and was running in the top six before the engine seized, yielding a disappointing finish.

  In the loosest sense of the word, Dean is hoping to make up for that lost momentum at New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway.

  “I know I would not be racing without the help of support of our sponsors,” the youngster said. “Whirlpool Cooling and Heating, MODOC Research Group and The CornerStone Grill have been huge supporters of this team and have allowed us the opportunity to go to New Smyrna and try and turn some heads. My goal is to try and bring them home a finish (no matter where that may be) that they will be satisfied with.”

  Ironically, Dean will be carrying the No. 56, the same signage for Frank in the USARacing Pro Cup Series. “The 56 was available and I respect A.J. a lot, so I’m running the number in his honor,” insisted Dean. “He has been a part of our family for a long time now. My family helped support his dirt racing career in the late 1990s and now he’s giving back by helping me. The circle in a racing family doesn’t get any better than this!”

  In addition to Late Model competition at New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway, Dean and Co. will run in the PASS South Series and other Super Late Model (SLM) events across the Southeast all year long.

  For more on Gus Dean, please visit GusDean.com.   For additional input on Whirlpool Cooling and Heating, please logon to WhirlpoolHVAC.com.

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida (February 8, 2011) – – For Benny Gordon, it’s an opportunity of a life time. For Grant Enfinger Racing (GER), it’s a chance to step up to the plate. This Saturday when the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards takes the green flag at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway, Gordon will pilot the No. 09 VSI Ford Fusion with all intentions of putting the Grant Enfinger-owned automobile in victory lane.

Set to make his ARCA debut at “The World Center of Racing”, Gordon, a famed competitor in the USARacing Pro Cup Series returns to the 2.5-mile superspeedway on the heels of setting the fastest time at the official ARCA DIS test just three weeks ago. Not to mention, Gordon will have his biggest cheerleader actually competing in the race as car owner Grant Enfinger will drive a car fielded by 2008 ARCA championship team, Allgaier Motorsports.

Howard Bixman, the team’s crew chief also hopes to guide Gordon to victory circle in his ARCA debut, the first time that would happen since Matt Hawkins succeeded in 2008 at Iowa Speedway.

“We’re hoping for a real strong weekend for the Grant Enfinger Racing Ford Fusion,” said Bixman. “Benny (Gordon) did a tremendous job last month along with this entire GER team. We have since put a lot of time into this car along with the ROUSHYATES Engine program to find a little more speed that will give us that little extra push for the race.”

He continued, “While our focus and attention will be on Benny and the No. 09 VSI Ford Fusion, we’re also going to be keeping our eyes on that No. 36 with Grant (Enfinger) and hoping that the two cars can work together and maybe pull off one of the best finishes in ARCA history.”

Bixman concluded by saying, “without a second thought, this will probably be one of the most competitive and most nerve racking ARCA races ever held at Daytona. The track is incredibly smooth since it’s been re-paved which pretty much throws handling and tires out the window. The race will be determined by smart driving and being at the right place at the right time.”

“It’s going to be fun racing against my own car,” said Enfinger, who nearly soared to victory lane in Gordon’s machine at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway last April. “I know Benny is going to do a great job for my team and our sponsors. Hopefully all the cards will pan out and we can hook-up at the end and be the duo that everyone is chasing.”

Enfinger concluded “I’m very thankful for all our marketing partners that support us, Beasley Allen Law Firm, ROUSHYATES Engines, ROUUSHYATES Performance Parts, FORD Racing and Stanley Industries.”  

The Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 at Daytona (80 laps / 200 miles) is the first of 19 events on the 2011 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards schedule. The 48^th ARCA race held at Daytona is a three-day show. Practice begins Thursday, February 10 with a four hour practice session planned from 1:00-5:00 p.m. Menards pole qualifying presented by Ansell is set for Friday, February 11 slated to begin at 2:00 p.m. A forty-five minute final practice session is etched in on Saturday, February 12^th from 10:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. The event will take the green flag later that day shortly after 4:30 p.m. The race will be televised live on SPEED with additional race coverage including live timing and scoring and radio broadcast through the ARCA Racing Network (ARN) online at arcaracing.com.  All times are local.

PHOTO CAPTION: The No. 09 VSI Ford Fusion for Grant Enfinger Racing (GER) powered by ROUSHYATES Engines driven by Benny Gordon.

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida (February 8, 2011) – – Louisville, Kentucky native Brian Rose will make an emotional return to Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway for the first time since 2002 Saturday afternoon when the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards waives the green flag on their 2011 season-opener for the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200.

Nearly 10 years ago, Rose made his impression in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) driving the No. 4 SunClear Energy Dodge Ram for Bobby Hamilton Racing (BHR). After qualifying a stout third, Rose led several laps and found himself in contention for his first career NASCAR victory. However, with less than 10 laps remaining, Rose found himself shuffled out of contention and had to settle for fourth.

Switching from trucks to cars and reuniting with his former crew chief Danny Rollins, the duo will look to pull off an upset Saturday afternoon when Brian Rose Motorsports makes its inaugural ARCA Racing Series debut in the No. 19 Team ASE / Harris Trucking Toyota Camry.

The team participated in the open ARCA test at the “World Center of Racing” last month and it was apparent that the sidekicks had not lost any of their momentum. After playing conservatively early, the team turned up the wick and immediately bolted one of the fastest laps of the week.

Deciding to play it safe, the team elected to load up their hauler and trek back home and make the final touches on their Japanese nameplate while also scooping out the perfect race strategy.

“I’m excited about this weekend,” said Rose, who holds 41 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts to his credit. “This is my first go-around in ARCA, but I really feel like we’re going to have a shot at winning the race on Saturday. Danny (Rollins) and the boys have done an incredible job with this Toyota and I’m looking forward to see how she performs under race conditions.”

What some might not know is that Rose was curious about what to expect when he climbed in his Team ASE / Harris Trucking Toyota Camry during the test. The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series did not require restrictor plates while the stock-cars of the ARCA Racing Series do which immediately demands a different driving style. It took Rose about two laps to be accustomed to the new challenge, but quickly that became something of the past.

“It was a little different at first,” said Rose referring to the restrictor plate, which is designed to decrease the speed of the cars. “Danny (Rollins, crew chief) was quick to get on the radio and let me know what I was doing wrong. Quickly, I figured it out.”

When asked about his fondest memory of Daytona, Rose quietly replied, “You can never forget the voice of Bobby Hamilton Sr.,” he said. “You knew he meant business and he was a racer. He told me what to do and I knew I had to do it. He was right because doing exactly what he told me to do delivered a strong finish at Daytona.”

Rose drove for Hamilton Sr. in 2002 before the NASCAR icon passed away in 2005 after a stint with neck cancer. The Brian Rose Motorsports team will race in his honor Saturday.

The ARCA season kicks off a busy season for the newly formed Brian Rose Motorsports. In conjunction with the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards, BRM will participate in select NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS), NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) and Late Model events all in hopes of a full-time touring schedule in 2012.

“In my books, the ARCA Racing Series opens the door to the new racing season. I’ve watched the series grow tremendously over the last couple of years and I expect nothing but a very intense and competitive race. The fans will be standing till the end, guaranteed.”

Lawton Insurance, Battomi and West Coast Autosource join Team ASE and Harris Trucking as associate marketing partners on the No. 19 Brian Rose Motorsports Toyota Camry.

The Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 at Daytona (80 laps / 200 miles) is the first of 19 events on the 2011 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards schedule. The 48^th ARCA race held at Daytona is a three-day show. Practice begins Thursday, February 10 with a four hour practice session planned from 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Menards pole qualifying presented by Ansell is set for Friday, February 11 slated to begin at 2:00 p.m. A forty-five minute final practice session is etched in on Saturday, February 12^th from 10:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. The event will take the green flag later that day shortly after 4:30 p.m. The race will be televised live on SPEED with additional race coverage including live timing and scoring and radio broadcast through the ARCA Racing Network (ARN) online at arcaracing.com.  All times are local.

More information on Brian Rose, Brian Rose Motorsports and marketing partnership inquiries, please visit the all-new BrianRoseMotorsports.com.

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida (February 8, 2011) – – The last time that Portland, Texas native Matt Merrell sat behind the wheel of a Win-Tron Racing race car he finished 13^th at Salem (Ind.) Speedway in the fall of 2009. The race ended a stretch of four races which included two career-best runner-up finishes at Berlin (Mich.) Raceway and Pocono (Pa.) Raceway which was followed by a 10^th place outing on the dirt at the Du Quoin State Fairgrounds.

It’s been a little more than a year since the former USARacing Pro Cup Series driver has been with the Lakeville, Minnesota-based team but the two are reuniting in hopes of rekindling the magic and success they achieved in 2009 at the “World Center of Racing” for Saturday’s Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 at Daytona.

Win-Tron Racing, arguably noted as one of the most competitive teams in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards will have to try and shield the rookie stripe of Merrell who despite his 13 career starts has yet to neither conquer nor tackle a restrictor plate track. 

Leaning on their No. 32 Red Line Oil Toyota Camry and the experience of Win-Tron wizard crew chief Mike Chaffee, the group is hoping to find themselves in the lead draft when the season-opener draws to a close at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway.

“I cannot begin to describe how excited I am about returning to Win-Tron Racing,” said Merrell, who in 13 contests has accumulated five top-fives and six top-10 finishes. “To get the call from Nate (Thiesse, Win-Tron Racing co car-owner) and Kevin (Cywinski, Win-Tron Racing co car-owner) to drive their piece in what undoubtedly will be the biggest race of my career is not only humbling but an honor.”

Despite a multi-million dollar re-pavement to the 2.5-mile superspeedway, the Win-Tron Racing team declined to participate in an open three-day open test session last month.    

“It really doesn’t bother me that we didn’t test,” offered Merrell. “I guess the biggest thing I will be lacking is drafting, but I’m assuming I’ll be able to do that in the two practice sessions leading up to the race. I know to some I’ll be fresh meat in the draft but I’m hoping that the respect that the Win-Tron Racing team has earned will off-set some of that lack of experience.”

For Thiesse, the decision to put Merrell back in the driver’s seat wasn’t hard.

“Matt showed in 2009 that he could get the job done,” sounded Thiesse. “He is an incredible kid with a lot of talent. When the seat became available, it wasn’t difficult to pin-point who we really wanted to put in the Red Line Oil Toyota. We feel that Matt will pick up right where he left off.”

The piece that Win-Tron Racing will sport in Saturday’s season-opener will have all the intentions of giving Merrell the prime opportunity to push his career to the next level. The team has elected to bring back the same Toyota Camry that their 2010 driver Justin Marks sat on the inside of row number two (third), hovered in the top-10 for the entire race before settling for ninth at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway last April.

“As always, the Win-Tron Racing team is giving me a car capable of winning,” offered Merrell. “As it stands right now, we’re only partnered for Daytona, so I would most definitely like to deliver them a good finish that will allow us or someone else to pick up the momentum in Talladega a short time later.”

Thiesse concluded by saying, “We’ve shown that we’re competitive and we can win with one driver or a multitude of drivers. We’re a development team for a reason and hopefully we’ll get the chance to continue that presence in 2011. While, we’re trying to nail down a more productive schedule with Matt, the seat is open following Daytona to breed the newest talent in one of the most diverse racing series available.”

Further information including driver opportunities with Win-Tron Racing is available by visiting win-tronracing.com or contacting Nate Thiesse at 952.469.1839.

The Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 at Daytona (80 laps / 200 miles) is the first of 19 events on the 2011 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards schedule. The 48^th ARCA race held at Daytona is a three-day show. Practice begins Thursday, February 10 with a four hour practice session planned from 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Menards pole qualifying presented by Ansell is set for Friday, February 11 slated to begin at 2:00 p.m. A forty-five minute final practice session is etched in on Saturday, February 12^th from 10:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. The event will take the green flag later that day shortly after 4:30 p.m. The race will be televised live on SPEED with additional race coverage including live timing and scoring and radio broadcast through the ARCA Racing Network (ARN) online at arcaracing.com.  All times are local.

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida (February 8, 2011) – – Mooresville, North Carolina-based Spraker Racing Enterprises is well known for bringing dreams to life. Once again, racing pioneer Jeff Spraker will do it again by looking to guide Scott Stenzel to his second consecutive top-10 superspeedway finish in his Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway debut in Saturday’s Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200.

After a hiccup in qualifying last year, Stenzel, the Orlando, Florida native just missed the season-opener, but Spraker, the former ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards competitor wasn’t about to let disappointment overcome determination. During the two-month break between Daytona and the final restrictor plate event at Talladega, a detailed plan was worked out for the young Stenzel to have another shot at restrictor plate racing and compete in the Talladega ARCA 250 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway.

Stenzel, the 30-year old entrepreneur by trade qualified his No. 42 Yellow Stripes Making The Driver Ford Fusion 28^th and mastered the 2.66 mile superspeedway during the 94-lap event to boast an impressive seventh place finish, all under the guidance of Spraker.

Testing extremely well, sixth overall at the newly re-paved 2.5-mile superspeedway last month, the duo has agreed to once again unite at the “World Center of Racing” and give Stenzel a shot at improving on his top-10 outing from last season.

“I’m looking forward to working with Scott this week,” said Spraker, who has also nurtured up and coming drivers from the NASCAR K&N Series and Late Models. “Scott is one determined young man and with our performance at the test in January, it was not a hard decision to give Daytona another shot.”

Stenzel offered similar sentiments about Spraker.

“Jeff Spraker has been instrumental to my success on and off the track,” sounded Stenzel. “His organization, Spraker Racing Enterprises, offers a lot more than just on track services, and for that I am very thankful. We are on year two of our relationship and look forward to many more years to come. Jeff stepped up our efforts for the Daytona race since the test, that means a lot, and he continues to exceed my expectations on and off the track. Nothing more, than bringing home a win, would express my gratitude toward the entire Spraker Racing team.”

Spraker added, “Obviously with the resurfacing of the track, I’m expecting the racing to be as tight as ever. I believe Scott showed at Talladega last year that he knows how to draft and knows when and when not to press the issue. He has worked hard for this opportunity and I know he’ll further gain the respect of his competitors on the track; as he has off the track.”

By pulling off another solid finish in Saturday’s season-opener, Spraker is hoping to open the door and spread the word that he has the equipment, manpower and affiliations to produce a solid race program at several different levels.

“I have a lot of cars, great guys and all of the other assets required to go racing competitively in any series,” offered Spraker. “I’ve always enjoyed working with young and upcoming drivers, whether they are males or females. At this point, we would love to work with Scott on a full-time basis but right now, this is just a one-race deal. We’re opening the doors at Spraker Racing though and letting everyone know we’re ready to go racing!”

Mike Bliss, Dexter Bean, Drew Brannon, Kerry Earnhardt, Joey Gase, Ron Hornaday Jr., P.J. Jones, Alex Kennedy, Steve Park, David Ragan, Scott Riggs, David Reutimann, Michelle Theriault, Darrell Waltrip and Smokey Yunick are just some of the drivers that Spraker, who also has starts for himself in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) and NASCAR Nationwide Series, has been affiliated with in one capacity or another through SRE.

The Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 at Daytona (80 laps / 200 miles) is the first of 19 events on the 2011 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards schedule. The 48^th ARCA race held at Daytona is a three-day show. Practice begins Thursday, February 10 with a four hour practice session planned from 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Menards pole qualifying presented by Ansell is set for Friday, February 11 slated to begin at 2:00 p.m. A forty-five minute final practice session is etched in on Saturday, February 12^th from 10:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. The event will take the green flag later that day shortly after 4:30 p.m. The race will be televised live on SPEED with additional race coverage including live timing and scoring and radio broadcast through the ARCA Racing Network (ARN) online at arcaracing.com.  All times are local.

For more information on Spraker Racing Enterprises (SRE) and its available programs, please visit sprakerracing.com.

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida (February 8, 2011) – – In 2002, Kelly Clarkson became the very first American Idol by stretching her vocal cords with her smashing debut hit, “A Moment Like This.” While Owensboro, Kentucky native Brett Hudson may not fit into her particular music genre; Hudson though admits that his “Moment Like This” will come this Saturday afternoon when the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards takes the green flag in the 2011 season-opener at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway.

Hudson, 23 will attempt to make his 22^nd career ARCA start at “The World Center of Racing” but his first ever at a superspeedway. In fact, the famed street-stock driver hasn’t participated in an ARCA race over a mile-long since 2008. So, when the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 at Daytona revs up this Saturday on SPEED, Hudson will be looking to make up for lost time.

With the help of veteran ARCA crew chief John Hayden, car chief Jared Bartlett, Joey Arrington and Tony Cola from Arrington Engines, Gene Patient of Gene Patient Fabrication and a host of volunteers, Hudson’s dream of competing on a restrictor plate track will come to life. The Brett Hudson Motorsports (BHM) team returns to the 2.5-mile monster on a waive of momentum after solid testing results last month proved that the team’s No. 94 Hudson Performance Drivelines Dodge Charger will be competitive.

While Hudson would like to think he has a shot at winning the biggest race of the season, the Bluegrass native is staying realistic and is just hoping to leave the track with a strong finish and security that he still can pedal to the front.

“This is a dream come true,” said Hudson, who carries a career-best finish of fourth at Salem (Ind.) Speedway in 2007. “We’ve been trying hard for so many years to make this dream a reality and with the help of so many people; we’re finally going to be able to make it happen.”

With the recent re-pavement of the Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway, Hudson won’t know what to expect compared to the old bumpy and decisive DIS, but he admits he has more than just the anticipation of new asphalt to worry about.

“I really don’t have a whole lot of drafting experience, so I’m optimistic to see how much everyone is going to work with me during the race,” Hudson explained. “The good thing is that our team has a lot of experience and I’ll have a great set of eyes from above in the spotter’s stand, so hopefully when it’s time to go, I’ll be ready and have a buddy or two.”

He continued, “Our biggest goal right now is to qualify strong, keep our No. 94 Hudson Performance Drivelines Dodge Charger on the yellow line and have a shot when that white flag is drawn.”

When asked what his 2011 racing season will consist of, Hudson replied with, “hopefully more than the past couple of years. It’s hard not to be able to race on a more consistent basis, but this is a family-owned team, so with sponsorship still being tough these days, we’re watching and saving our pennies. Hopefully if we leave Daytona clean, we’ll go to Talladega in April. If not, we’ll just see where we land.”

In addition to Hudson Performance Drivelines, Arrington Engines, G&A Trucking, Gene Patient Fabrication (GPF) and Warricktubing.com join the team as associate marketing partners in Saturday’s season-opener. 

Additional sponsorship opportunities are still available for this weekend’s activities. Interested parties are encouraged to contact Lisa Hudson of Brett Hudson Motorsports at 270.929.2160 or hudson00@adelphia.net.

The Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 at Daytona (80 laps / 200 miles) is the first of 19 events on the 2011 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards schedule. The 48^th ARCA race held at Daytona is a three-day show. Practice begins Thursday, February 10 with a four hour practice session planned from 1:00-5:00 p.m. Menards pole qualifying presented by Ansell is set for Friday, February 11 slated to begin at 2:00 p.m. A forty-five minute final practice session is etched in on Saturday, February 12^th from 10:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. The event will take the green flag later that day shortly after 4:30 p.m. The race will be televised live on SPEED with additional race coverage including live timing and scoring and radio broadcast through the ARCA Racing Network (ARN) online at arcaracing.com.  All times are local.

LAKE BALBOA, CALIF. (February 7, 2011) – The 2011 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards will be joined by talented 19 year-old rookie Joey Licata, Jr. driving for Cunningham Motorsports.

Licata, a member of the Ron Sutton’s Winner’s Circle driver development program, won back-to-back championship in the ASA TRUCK SERIES and also won his first career NASCAR Modified race in 2010.  Licata also made several starts for Tim Huddleston’s High Point Racing at TOYOTA Speedway in a NASCAR Late Model.

With crew chief Jonathan Davis at the helm, the Kerry Sherer-owned Cunningham Motorsports should be a threat right out of the box at Daytona.  Cunningham Motorsports is most notably known for its success in 2009 with Penske Development Driver Parker Kligerman, who finished second in the standings with nine victories as a rookie.

A litany of talented drivers has competed for the team over the years, including Josh Wise, Kevin Swindell, Scott Lagasse, Jr., and more.

Ron Sutton’s Winner’s Circle is a NASCAR-oriented driver development program that works with an international roster of talented drivers who have the commitment and potential to succeed in NASCAR racing.

The success Licata enjoyed throughout 2010 on the West Coast earned him the opportunity to test with Cunningham Motorsports last fall.  Licata impressed team representatives in the testing session and was offered the chance to drive for Cunningham in 2011.

Licata made his official ARCA Racing Series debut at Rockingham Speedway, where he practiced in the top-three all day for Marks Racing before a practice crash ended his weekend early.

Poised to make a big impact this season, Licata came out of the gate with a huge performance in the Daytona testing in January.  Although it was his first experience on the freshly repaved Daytona International Speedway, Licata ran sixth overall for the week out of nearly 60 competitors that participated.  His best speed was 185.670 miles per hour.

Licata is looking forward to competing in the “Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200” at Daytona, which will be live on SPEED on February 12.

“Winning the race isn’t that far fetched on this one with all the updates we have made since the test,” Licata said.  “It’s a privilege to be racing for Cunningham Motorsports and a big step in my career.”

Licata will be the first driver from Ron Sutton’s Winner’s Circle to compete in the ARCA Racing Series

“I truly feel that Joey has earned this opportunity and has the skills to make the most of it,” Driver Coach Ron Sutton said.  “Joey has the talent to race with the best of them and is very prepared to succeed in ARCA and beyond!”

Joey Licata, Jr. Racing and Ron Sutton’s Winner’s Circle thank partners: K&N Filters, Scribner Plastics, Allstar Performance, Sunoco Race Fuels, and Star Racing Supply.  Licata would also like to thank supporters Jordan Kidushim and Luke Forstmann.

Joey Licata, Jr. Racing is online at www.joeylicata.com

For more information on Ron Sutton’s Winner’s Circle, log on to www.winners-circle-racing.com

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida (February 8, 2011) – – Set to make his second-career ARCA Racing Series (ARS) presented by Menards start at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway this Saturday afternoon for the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200, ARCA newcomer Chad Hackenbracht is undoubtedly looking for some redemption.

The 19-year old rising star qualified for his first ever ARCA race last February after a previous year of grueling testing in preparation for his limited outings in 2010. Hackenbracht qualified his No. 58 Tastee Apple Chevrolet Impala SS on-time in the 31^st position. In the first two laps of the event, Hackenbracht had drafted into the top-25 but when an accident occurred on lap six, the fast speeds and close competition engulfed the CGH Motorsports team into the incident and relegated them to a disappointing 40^th place finish.

A year later, armed with a new Chevrolet Impala SS and rejuvenated confidence, the former Legends Car Series (LCS) driver returns to the “World Center of Racing” looking to prove that he can master the high banks of Daytona.

“I’m looking forward to Daytona this week,” said Hackenbracht, who aims to make his 10^th career ARCA start this weekend. “We came to the test and even though we produced a top-10 time in the overall session, it wasn’t enough. We’ve made some significant changes to our CGH Motorsports race car and I’m anticipating a solid start to the season for us.”

While it can be somewhat painful to rehash on the past, Hackenbracht admits he learned something last February and doesn’t plan to find himself in the same situation again. “That was my first ever restrictor plate race,” the New Philadelphia Ohio native recalled. “We had a good car and were steadily making our way through the field and all heck broke loose ahead of us. I tried to avoid it but we were swept into it along with some other cars. It stunk. It was hard to swallow. You cannot predict what is going to happen at a place like Daytona or Talladega, but being involved in the wreck did make me more aware of what is going on ahead of me.”

Hackenbracht continued, “With our team set to make a run at this championship, we know that we really can’t afford any errors. Our goals are much like the other teams. We want to qualify as near to the front as possible; then find our comfort zone in the race and be able to find ourselves at the right spot at the right time when the checkered flag is near. Hopefully, we used our mulligan at Daytona last year.”

In addition to Tastee Apple, Performance Vehicle Works (PVW) will join the Concord-North Carolina based team as an associate marketing partner for the ARCA season-opener at Daytona. PVW, also located in Concord, North Carolina is a full-service body and repair company owned by former Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates repair master head Timmy McKichan.

“I’m extremely appreciative of Timmy and his team for stepping up and helping out not only with the car but as an associate marketing partner this weekend at Daytona. I didn’t know Timmy before December, but once we were introduced, we really clicked and he really has been helpful in making sure that our team is heading in the right direction. We’re glad to have him on our side.”

Veteran spotter Tobi Whealdon will guide Hackenbracht as the frontstretch spotter for Hackenbracht’s third ever restrictor plate race Saturday afternoon. Current NASCAR driver and mentor J.C. Stout will serve as the team’s backstretch spotter on race day. 

In addition to Tastee Apple, Axel Fuel, the Official Energy Drink of CGH Motorsports, Metal Parts Manufacturing, Portable Shades, R2C Performance and Xflex Racers Tape join the family-owned team as associate marketing partners in Saturday’s season-opener. 

CGH Motorsports is actively seeking additional marketing partners for the full 2011 ARCA Racing Series schedule. Single, multi and full-season placements are available on the team’s No. 58 entries. Interested parties are urged to contact Jordan Dahl at 570.234.5449 or jordandahl@cghmotorsports.com.   

The Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 at Daytona (80 laps / 200 miles) is the first of 19 events on the 2011 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards schedule. The 48^th ARCA race held at Daytona is a three-day show. Practice begins Thursday, February 10 with a four hour practice session planned from 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Menards pole qualifying presented by Ansell is set for Friday, February 11 slated to begin at 2:00 p.m. A forty-five minute final practice session is etched in on Saturday, February 12^th from 10:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. The event will take the green flag later that day shortly after 4:30 p.m. The race will be televised live on SPEED with additional race coverage including live timing and scoring and radio broadcast through the ARCA Racing Network (ARN) online at arcaracing.com.  All times are local.

For more information on Chad Hackenbracht and CGH Motorsports, please visit ChadHackenbracht.com and CGHMotorsports.com.

About CGH Motorsports:

CGH Motorsports (CGHMotorsports.com), established in 2007 by Ohio entrepreneur Greg Hackenbracht is located in a 10,000 sq. foot facility located in Concord, North Carolina. CGH Motorsports is home of rising sensation Chad Hackenbracht, who competed in nine ARCA Racing Series races in 2010 after an aggressive ARCA testing schedule in 2009. Chad Hackenbracht is the 2008 National Asphalt Legends champion, winning 33 percent of his races and finishing in the top-10, 85 percent of the events he competed in. The team will step up their commitment from a partial schedule and prepare for a hopeful full-season ARCA championship assault beginning in February 2011.

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida (February 8, 2011) – – A lot is riding on the performance of Goshen New York’s Sean Corr and his Empire Racing team as the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards kicks off their 2011 schedule this Saturday afternoon at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway for the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 at Daytona.

However, the pressure of figuring out the core; or the foundation of the newly re-paved 2.5-mile speedway is far from the mind of expected ARCA full-time driver Corr when he climbs behind the wheel of his No. 82 Empire Racing Ford Fusion this week.

Displeased with their performance at the open ARCA Racing Series test last month at the famed Daytona Beach, Florida racetrack, the Empire Racing team led by team manager John Bellesfield and crew chief Richard Johns literally went back to the drawing board; to square one with a new game plan.

Following a private test at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway, which yielded better results, the team is optimistic about returning to the “World Center of Racing” for the first of 19 events this season.

“This plate racing is nerve racking,” offered Corr, who will attempt to run for the ARCA championship title in 2011. “The adrenaline starts running before you even leave the shop and continues until you cross underneath that tunnel for the ride home. Despite the tension though, I’m ready to go!”

To help ease his thoughts about the “what if’s”; Corr will strap himself into the driver’s seat of the 18-wheeler Empire Racing hauler and make the eight or so hour trip to the Sunshine State.

“Several of the “bosses” of the team are trying to get me away from driving the truck and concentrate on other things, but it’s my sanctuary,” joked Corr. “I dial in some good tunes, listen to what others are talking about on the C.B. radio and just head South. It relaxes me to drive the hauler and I know personally that the race cars and equipment are getting to the track. I’m sure I’ll get demoted to just the race car driver at some point this year, but I’m going to enjoy it (driving the hauler) as long as I can.”

When Corr’s real job begins on Thursday, with a four-hour practice session, the avid dirt pro stock competitor admits the fun goes away for a little at least, while the seriousness of what has to be done intensifies. Though, Corr confesses, he wouldn’t have it any other way.

“I’m a race car driver; that is what I do,” Corr sounded. “Obviously, we’ve done a lot of work since the Daytona test, but I think we’ll be just fine. We have to use the time allotted to us to our advantage. After qualifying is over on Friday afternoon, I’ll relax a little before buckling in on Saturday afternoon and hope to give the Empire Racing team a finish to shout about.”

The thoughts of capturing a top-five finish or even winning his first ARCA Racing Series race at Daytona is humbling, especially since the Empire Racing team elected to bring a different Ford Fusion back for the kickoff of Speedweeks 2011.

“We took two cars to Talladega and after lengthy discussions, we decided to go with the back-up car as our primary,” stated former Empire Racing crew chief now manager Bellesfield. “We know we have to go to Daytona with our ducks-in-a-row and most importantly get in the show. Once the green flag flies on Saturday, we have the up most faith that Sean and our spotter Keith Barnwell will put us in contention.”

The Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 at Daytona (80 laps / 200 miles) is the first of 19 events on the 2011 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards schedule. The 48^th ARCA race held at Daytona is a three-day show. Practice begins Thursday, February 10 with a four hour practice session planned from 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Menards pole qualifying presented by Ansell is set for Friday, February 11 slated to begin at 2:00 p.m. A forty-five minute final practice session is etched in on Saturday, February 12^th from 10:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. The event will take the green flag later that day shortly after 4:30 p.m. The race will be televised live on SPEED with additional race coverage including live timing and scoring and radio broadcast through the ARCA Racing Network (ARN) online at arcaracing.com.  All times are local.

For more on Sean Corr, Empire Racing and marketing opportunities for the 2011 racing season, please visit empireracingllc.com.