Category: Other Series Racing

[media-credit name=”ARCA Racing Network” align=”alignright” width=”180″][/media-credit]Concord, NC (May 1, 2012) — 15-year-old Rookie, Erik Jones did more than impress fans today with a fifth place finish at Salem Speedway in only his second career start in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards.

Jones made history in March at Mobile Int’l Speedway by becoming the youngest driver to ever race in the prestigious series. Age not being a factor, the Byron, Michigan native qualified his No. 55 CJ Solar Band/Paragon Corvette Reproductions Chevrolet in the tenth position for the Kentuckiana Ford Dealers 200. 

“Never racing at Salem before I really didn’t know what to expect,” stated Jones. “You can’t compare it to anywhere else because of all its character. I wished we would have qualified a little better but I was confident in the car the Venturini crew gave me and I think that showed in the end.”

At the drop of the green flag Jones quickly found his groove and settled into the ninth position. Demonstrating his veteran mentality, he took the race lap by lap and found himself in the third position at the halfway point. As the race went on, Jones effortlessly dodged all ten cautions that seemed to happen right in front of him. Out of the 33 drivers to start the race, ten remained on the lead lap at the end. Jones ended his day successfully in fifth.

“You really have to be on the wheel the entire time while racing here,” joked Jones. “If you fall out of your seat for one lap you could go backwards in a hurry. I was really happy with how things turned out today. The No. 55 Venturini crew did a great job on my pit stops and I can’t thank them enough for assisting me in bringing home the top five finish.”

Jones’ next Venturini Motorsports ARCA appearance will be at the familiar Toledo Speedway on Sunday, May 20. The 2011 JEGS/CRA All-Star Tour champion finished third when he visited with that series at the track last April. In between time he will be making appearances in his CRA Late Model at Winchester Speedway on May 5 and Berlin Raceway on May 12.

For more media information please contact Stephanie Bigelow, sbigelow@erikjonesracing.com

Official: www.ErikJonesRacing.com  |  Twitter @erik_jones  |  Facebook: Erik Jones Racing

About Venturini Motorsports 
Venturini Motorsports (VMS), fielding cars in the ARCA Racing Series, is one of the premier NASCAR driver development programs in the country. The 2012 season marks the teams 30th Anniversary of competition in the ARCA Series. Multiple team championships and consistent on-track success, VMS has evolved into one of the most recognizable names in motorsports.

Since 2007, VMS has assisted in the career development of notable NASCAR drivers such as Joey Logano, Justin Allgaier, Steve Arpin, Brian Scott, Max Gresham, Miguel Paludo, Josh Richards, Ryan Blaney, and Scott Lagasse, Jr.

Official: www.VenturiniMotorsports.com  |  Twitter @VenturiniMotor  |  Facebook: Venturini Motorsports

TALLADEGA, Alabama (May 2, 2012) – – Fresh off their first top-10 of the 2012 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards season at Salem (Ind.) Speedway last weekend, Josh Williams and his team, Josh Williams Motorsports (JWM) turn their concentration towards Friday afternoon’s International Motorsports Hall of Fame 250 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway as an opportunity to keep the team moving in the right direction.

After a less than desirable start in the first two races of the year at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway and Mobile (Ala.) International Speedway respectively, the Concord, North Carolina-based team has poured countless hours into their program hoping to improve their presence on the track. If last weekend’s race was an indicator, the hard work is paying off.

Williams had high hopes for his restrictor plate debut at Daytona in February, but when the driver of the No. 02 Southwest Florida Cable Construction Ford Fusion found the vehicle to be more than just a handful, the team immediately went back to the drawing board in order to improve the car for Friday’s anticipated thriller.

The team completely stripped their blue oval, worked closely with Performance Vehicle Works (PVW) on the overall body appearance and much more. With most of the changes complete, the family-owned operation elected to participate in the open-test session at the 2.66-mile superspeedway where overall, the team was pleased about the direction of their superspeedway program.

“Believe it or not, Talladega’s an important race for us,” offered the 18-year old driver. “We spent a lot of last year building on the opportunity to go plate racing and after the disappointment at Daytona, we knew we had to get back to work and do whatever we could to make our No. 02 Southwest Florida Cable Construction Ford Fusion a little more competitive. Thanks to people like Timmy McKichan (Performance Vehicle Works), our chances to improve on our Daytona effort increase tremendously. I can’t also thank RoushYates Engines enough for everything that they do for our team too. We’re just a little group trying to make big things happen.”

From his experience at Daytona and watching prior races at Talladega, Williams is well aware that restrictor plate racing is unpredictable.

“You can try and predict what’s going to happen on Friday, but for me, I just have to go with the flow,” sounded Williams. “I know it’s going to be important to stay in the lead draft and work with the cars that I’m most comfortable with. Hopefully, we can escape any “big one” that may occur and be around for the final laps of the race and bring home back-to-back top-10 finishes for our JWM team.”

Picking up 10 additional positions in the ARCA Racing Series championship standings since Salem to 13th overall has given the team some light – but Williams is tuned on moving JWM up the ladder.

“We’ve picked up 20 spots over the course of the last two races, that’s a lot,” Williams said. “Our goal is to hopefully leave Talladega either inside the top-10 or just outside that and keep our JWM team chugging forward as the season presses on.”

The International Motorsports Hall of Fame 250 (94 laps / 250 miles) is the fourth of 20 events on the 2012 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards schedule. The 50th ever ARCA race at Talladega Superspeedway is a two-day show. Practice begins Thursday, May 3rd with a three hour practice session planned from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Menards pole qualifying presented by Ansell is set for later in the day slated to begin at 5:05 p.m. Coverage of time trials is available online through the ARCA Racing Network (ARN) online at arcaracing.com in collaboration with Alabama’s local WTDR Thunder 92.7 FM. A 45-minute final practice has been etched in on Friday, April 4th from 10:00 a.m. – 10:55 a.m. The event will take the green flag that afternoon shortly after 4:00 p.m. The race will be televised live on SPEED with additional live broadcasting available through the ARCA Racing Network (ARN) online at arcaracing.com in collaboration with Alabama’s local WTDR Thunder 92.7 FM. All times are local (Central).

For more information on Josh Williams, his Josh Williams Motorsports team and sponsorship opportunities for the 2012 season please connect to the team’s official website at Joshwracing.com.

“Hessert In Search Of Fourth Top-10 In A Row At ‘Dega”

TALLADEGA, Alabama (May 2, 2012) – – When it comes to restrictor plate racing a racecar driver will tell you they either love it or hate it. For Tom Hessert III, driver of the No. 52 Federated Auto Parts Toyota Camry he will tell you that the intense racing that you can expect in Friday’s International Motorsports Hall of Fame 250 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway will be something he looks forward to.

The Cherry Hill, New Jersey native will look to improve on his 10th place run in the season-opening restrictor plate race at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway and put his Ken Schrader Racing (KSR) team on the map. The veteran ARCA driver will make his fifth start at the 2.66-mile superspeedway and look to mount his fourth consecutive top-10 at the facility.

To help Hessert pull off the feat, the KSR team led by veteran crew chief Donnie Richeson participated in the open-test session a few weeks ago where the team concentrated on several areas to help produce speed in their No. 52 Federated Auto Parts Toyota Camry. With race week now upon them, Hessert is eager to see what the team has produced.

“We were content with the way we tested, but we knew we still had some work to do, so the guys have been thrashing on our Toyota Camry getting it ready for Friday,” said Hessert, whose best finish at Talladega occurred last April with KSR when he finished sixth. “We don’t get to run Toyota much but this speedway car always seems to step up to the plate and provide some muscle under the hood when we need it. The biggest area we’ve concentrated on is getting the car to draft better. Ultimately, I think that’s what we’re going to need at the end of the day to have a shot at a good finish.”

He added, “I really think with the cars that are planning to be there, we’re going to see an intense race. It’s going to be a strong field, just like Daytona. The action tends to get tenser when we come to Talladega for whatever reason, but that fans love it and that’s what really matters. No one wants or really cares for a single-file race. I don’t expect that, I think you’ll see a lot of side-by-side racing and three and maybe four-wide racing in the closing laps. I just hope that when push comes to shove, we’re around when it counts the most.”

With a top-five finish escaping the team last weekend at Salem (Ind.) Speedway, the former NASCAR Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car driver is eager to rebound and produce the team’s third top-10 in four races.

“Really, circumstances beyond our control kept us from scoring our first top-five of the year, but I’m really proud of the efforts by the team. They gave me a really strong racecar and that’s a positive feeling as we keep marching forward,” Hessert noted.

Hessert has been able to prove over the last three years that if you’re able to stay out of the chaos that sometimes erupts during the course of a restrictor plate race; you can find yourself in a prime position when the last lap arrives.

“I came really close to winning at Talladega in 2010, but all heck broke loose on the last lap and I had the win literally stolen from me within the last mile or so of the race,” he recalled. “It definitely was heartbreaking, but I’ve been itching for a fair rematch since. We tried last year, but came up short. This year, we’re going all in. It would be big to win at a place like Talladega. It’s ARCA 50th trip there. That’s a milestone in its own. If we were able to pull off the task of winning – that’s a bit of Hall of Fame material in my eyes.”

Three races down, 17 to go; Hessert currently ranks fourth in the championship standings, 75 points behind the leader and 30 points behind second. “Talladega is one of those pivotal races as far as the championship standings is concerned. I think we’ve already made up our minds that we’re going to try and obtain some bonus points. Who knows that could determine the overall outcome when Kansas rolls around in October,” Hessert said.

The International Motorsports Hall of Fame 250 (94 laps / 250 miles) is the fourth of 20 events on the 2012 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards schedule. The 50th ever ARCA race at Talladega Superspeedway is a two-day show. Practice begins Thursday, May 3rd with a three hour practice session planned from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Menards pole qualifying presented by Ansell is set for later in the day slated to begin at 5:05 p.m. Coverage of time trials is available online through the ARCA Racing Network (ARN) online at arcaracing.com in collaboration with Alabama’s local WTDR Thunder 92.7 FM. A 45-minute final practice has been etched in on Friday, April 4th from 10:00 a.m. – 10:55 a.m. The event will take the green flag that afternoon shortly after 4:00 p.m. The race will be televised live on SPEED with additional live broadcasting available through the ARCA Racing Network (ARN) online at arcaracing.com in collaboration with Alabama’s local WTDR Thunder 92.7 FM. All times are local (Central).

Entering Talladega, Hessert has 86 career ARCA Racing Series starts. In those outings, he has maneuvered two poles, one win, 19 top-fives and 45 top-10s.

For more on Tom Hessert III, please visit tomhessert.com.

Hessert has joined the Twitter crave. Follow and connect with him @TomHessert.

[media-credit name=”twitter.com/CoulterMtrsprts” align=”alignright” width=”300″][/media-credit]ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards

Race: International Motorsports Hall of Fame 250

Track: Talladega Superspeedway

Joey Coulter No. 61 Rip It Energy Fuel Chevrolet

International Motorsports Hall of Fame 250 Pre-Race Report

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (May 1, 2012) – NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver Joey Coulter returns to the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards Friday in the No. 61 Rip It Energy Fuel Chevrolet for the International Motorsports Hall of Fame 250 at Talladega Superspeedway.

Coulter, the 2011 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series rookie of the year, is no stranger to ARCA competition, as it marks the place where he got his professional racing career start. In Coulter’s two full-time seasons in the series, he earned nearly two dozen top 10s including a win at Berlin Raceway in 2010.

In three ARCA Racing Series starts at the 2.66-mile Talladega Superspeedway, Coulter has a best finish of eighth coming in his rookie season in 2009. He returns to the high banks this weekend with crew chief Harold Holly, a Pell City, Ala., native, who leads his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team with Richard Childress Racing.

Coulter will be piloting the No. 61 Rip It Energy Fuel Chevrolet which will be adorned with a special Power paint scheme representing the energy drink’s 15 awesome flavors consumers can choose from. Rip It also will be on board with Coulter’s three remaining ARCA races in 2012 at Toledo Speedway, Michigan International Speedway and Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis.

“I’m looking forward to representing Coulter Motorsports and Rip It Energy Fuel in the ARCA Racing Series again this weekend,” Coulter said. “Talladega Superspeedway always produces some adrenaline-filled, highly competitive racing and I’m excited to be a part of that.”

Talladega Superspeedway’s ARCA Racing Series activity begins Thursday with practice from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and qualifying at 5:05 p.m. A final practice precedes the main event on Friday (10 – 10:55 a.m.) and the International Motorsports Hall of Fame 250 will officially get underway at 4 p.m. (All times Central.)

You can get LIVE updates wherever Coulter Motorsports travels by following on Twitter at http://twitter.com/CoulterMtrsprts

Facebook at www.facebook.com/CoulterMotorsports

Also please be sure to support Coulter Motorsports’ sponsors at:

Shell Shock: shellshock.homestead.com

Tempest Cycles: www.tempestcycles.com

WileyX: www.wileyx.com

About Rip It Energy Fuel:

www.RipItEnergy.com

Rip It Energy Fuel by National Beverage Corp. (NASDAQ: FIZZ) is available in fifteen exhilarating flavors, including three sugar-free varieties. Great-tasting and power-packed, Rip It provides REAL energy for REAL people at a REAL value. In an office, on the job, on a mountain, riding waves, doin’ flips, doin’ tricks, jammin’ all night, crammin’ all night, whatever your life calls for, Rip It is there to fuel you.  Crack open an ice-cold Rip It Power and Feel the REAL Taste of BOLD energy surge through your body. Or maybe you prefer the sweet taste of Sugar FREE Citrus X to slap your tongue back to life. Rip It Energy Fuel has the complete line of Regular and Sugar FREE flavors in both 16 oz cans and 2 oz shots to make Rip It a REAL part of your everyday life.

About Darrell Gwynn Foundation (DGF)

www.darrellgwynnfoundation.org

The Darrell Gwynn Foundation (DGF) is a certified non-profit 501(c) 3 agency. DGF exists to prevent, provide for and ultimately cure spinal cord injuries and other debilitating illnesses. To expedite specific cures, the Foundation assists in the funding of targeted research. DGF is also dedicated to injury prevention, with special emphasis on programs targeting children. The Foundation helps improve the quality of life for those already afflicted with injury or illness, by providing necessary equipment or special services. DGF is an official charity of the Barrett-Jackson Auto Auction, National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) and has a close affiliation with NASCAR and the NASCAR Foundation.

[media-credit name=”RogerCarter2Racing.com” align=”alignright” width=”282″][/media-credit]TALLADEGA, Alabama (May 2, 2012) – – The final restrictor plate race of the season is upon the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards and Carter-2-Motorsports, one of the full-time teams on the tour will field four Dodge Chargers in Friday’s International Motorsports Hall of Fame 250 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway.

On the heels of their season-best finish last Sunday afternoon at Salem (Ind.) Speedway, the Mooresville, North Carolina-based team is hoping to turn the finish into some momentum at the 2.66-mile superspeedway.

Larry Barford Jr., will play the lead role for the C2M team on Friday behind the wheel of the No. 04 First (1st) Mariner Bank / Trauma Doc Dodge Charger while team owner Roger Carter II takes his turn behind the wheel for the first-time in 2012 behind the wheel of the No. 67 Ron Paul 2012 Dodge Charger.

Superspeedway veteran Donnie Neuenberger returns to the series vying for a starting spot in the No. 97 Eagle Convenience Stores Dodge Charger and the team welcomes newcomer Greg Hutto Jr., a native of Grand Bay, Alabama behind the wheel of the No. 40 Affordable Auto Glass / Suncoast Auto Sales Dodge Charger.

“It’s definitely going to be our busiest weekend yet,” offered Carter II. “But, we’re happy to be going to Talladega with four Dodges and the prospects of getting all them into the field look good, so that’s a good feeling. Realistically, we know it’s going to be a stout field, so our expectations and goals for the race are feasible, take the green flag and see the checkered flag. If we can all finish somewhere competitively inside the top-25, we’ll all be tickled.”

Barford Jr., a rookie on the ARCA Racing Series tour finished 19th at Salem Speedway last weekend and turns to Talladega as an opportunity to sharpen his superspeedway skills and improve on his Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway finish.

“I’m looking forward to getting behind the wheel of our No. 04 First (1st) Mariner Bank / Trauma Doc Dodge Charger,” said Barford Jr. “As a team, we’ve made incredible strides early on in the season and I only see us moving forward. Racing at Talladega is something I’ve always wanted to do and I’m thankful for the opportunity. We just need to keep our Dodge Charger tucked in the draft and stay out of trouble and we should come home with a solid finish.”

For Hutto, an accomplished local racer, his dream of competing in a stock-car at ‘Dega is coming to fruition. “I can’t begin to thank everyone on the Carter-2-Motorsports team for the opportunity to race at Talladega. I especially want to thank Affordable Auto Glass and Suncoast Auto Sales for jumping on-board, it really means a lot to me.”

Carter will look to make his fourth career ARCA start, while Barford Jr. aims for his third with Hutto and Neuenberger look to make their inaugural run.

The International Motorsports Hall of Fame 250 (94 laps / 250 miles) is the fourth of 20 events on the 2012 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards schedule. The 50th ever ARCA race at Talladega Superspeedway is a two-day show. Practice begins Thursday, May 3rd with a three hour practice session planned from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Menards pole qualifying presented by Ansell is set for later in the day slated to begin at 5:05 p.m. Coverage of time trials is available online through the ARCA Racing Network (ARN) online at arcaracing.com in collaboration with Alabama’s local WTDR Thunder 92.7 FM. A 45-minute final practice has been etched in on Friday, April 4th from 10:00 a.m. – 10:55 a.m. The event will take the green flag that afternoon shortly after 4:00 p.m. The race will be televised live on SPEED with additional live broadcasting available through the ARCA Racing Network (ARN) online at arcaracing.com in collaboration with Alabama’s local WTDR Thunder 92.7 FM. All times are local (Central).

The official website of Carter-2-Motorsports is in the process of a complete makeover for the official kickoff of the new season, but for the latest on the team, drivers and sponsors, please log onto RogerCarter2Racing.com.

For more on Ron Paul and his mission to “Restore America Now”; please log onto ronpaul2012.com.

[media-credit name=”ARCA Racing Network” align=”alignright” width=”180″][/media-credit]TALLADEGA, Alabama (May 1, 2012) – – The fourth race on the 2012 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards tour treks to Talladega (Ala.) International Speedway for the running of the International Motorsports Hall of Fame 250 and the entire Andy Belmont Racing (ABR) team including driver Mikey Kile cannot wait for their No. 1 ModSpace Ford Fusion to hit the pavement on Thursday.

ABR, a long-time fixture in the ARCA Racing Series has strengthen its restrictor plate racing program over the years and with impressive results in a recent test session at the 2.66-mile speedway, Kile leads the team in an upbeat demeanor about their chances for a strong performance if not victory in Friday afternoon’s contest.

“I’ve felt real good about Talladega; even before the test,” said Kile, who has two top-five finishes in two prior starts at the Alabama-based racetrack. “Without question, we had a top-five car at Daytona, but if not for that late-race stop for fuel, we would have been right there in the hunt near the end. I’m really stoked though about our chances for Friday.”

To be in contention for his second-career ARCA victory but first with ABR, the Westlake, Louisiana native knows that he has to play it safe and keep the fenders on his No. 1 ModSpace Ford Fusion.

“Like Daytona, I’m expecting a little excitement at Talladega, but I think we’re prepared for anything that may and try and thwart our efforts,” Kile explained. “Believe me, the goal is to keep our ModSpace Ford Fusion glued to the bottom of the racetrack until its go time and then (it’s) game on. We’ve had a solid start to our season and definitely a worthy run on Friday afternoon will continue to keep everyone looking at our No. 1 as contenders all year long.”

When asked about his prior success at Talladega, Kile described his finishes as being at the right place at the right time. “A fourth and a fifth at Talladega is good, but a win would be so awesome,” sounded Kile. “Our car really seems to hook-up well in the draft and if we can get the right partner (drafting) behind us, who knows what we’re able to do. It’s all about positioning and timing. I just have that gut feeling that our ModSpace Ford Fusion is going to be stout.”

Team principal Andy Belmont likes his driver’s optimism for Friday’s race and shares similar feelings about their chances. “It’s Talladega and anything can happen, but Mikey has been hyping on this race since climbing out of the car at Daytona,” Belmont commented. “Jeff (McClure, crew chief) and Mikey have really seemed to connect over these last three races and the trust is there together, so that’s a good element for a race like we’re expecting on Friday afternoon. Hopefully, we’ll be like Mikey said at the right place at the right time and we can get this ModSpace Ford Fusion back in victory lane!”

After finishing a respectable 12^th in the most recent race at Salem (Ind.) Speedway, Kile sits fourth in the championship standings entering the fourth race of the season, 75 points behind leader Brennan Poole.

“Another reason to play it safe until near the end of the race is that Talladega is a crucial race as far as the point standings are concerned. There’s going to be a lot of cars and you either can gain or potentially loose a bunch of points if something goes amuck. This early into the season, we’re sitting okay as the championship is concerned, but we definitely need to make some ground up on the guys ahead of us and I’m hoping that’s where experience will come into play.”

“ModSpace Motorsports looks forward to this weekend at Talladega with ABR and the No. 1 Ford Fusion,” stated William Mann, Vice President of Motorsports for ModSpace. “The team had a great run at Daytona and has a strong superspeedway program. They will be contenders for the win this weekend.”

For the third time this year, Kile will have a teammate at ABR as rookie Thomas Praytor will steer the No. 2 Realtor Ford Fusion in the final restrictor plate race of the season.

The International Motorsports Hall of Fame 250 (94 laps / 250 miles) is the fourth of 20 events on the 2012 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards schedule. The 50^th ever ARCA race at Talladega Superspeedway is a two-day show. Practice begins Thursday, May 3^rd with a three hour practice session planned from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Menards pole qualifying presented by Ansell is set for later in the day slated to begin at 5:05 p.m. Coverage of time trials is available online through the ARCA Racing Network (ARN) online at arcaracing.com in collaboration with Alabama’s local WTDR Thunder 92.7 FM. A 45-minute final practice has been etched in on Friday, April 4^th from 10:00 a.m. – 10:55 a.m. The event will take the green flag that afternoon shortly after 4:00 p.m. The race will be televised live on SPEED with additional live broadcasting available through the ARCA Racing Network (ARN) online at arcaracing.com in collaboration with Alabama’s local WTDR Thunder 92.7 FM. All times are local (Central).

For more on Mikey Kile, please visit him online at MikeyKile.com and through Twitter @MikeyKile.

Additional information on Andy Belmont Racing is available by logging on to AndyBelmont.com.

About ModSpace:

Modular Space Corporation (ModSpace), based in Berwyn, Pa., is a leading provider of modular buildings, portable storage and services for temporary and permanent space needs. With more than 40 years of experience, ModSpace serves a diverse set of customers and markets through a network of 80 branches throughout the United States and Canada. Further information is available by visiting .

About Andy Belmont Racing (ABR):

Andy Belmont Racing (AndyBelmont.com) is a competitive and respected motorsports operation who fields race cars in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards. ABR has been serving the motorsports community and winning for nearly 25 years. Currently, the team fields a full-time ARCA Racing Series program for series winner Mikey Kile in the No. 1 ModSpace Ford Fusion.

[media-credit name=”ARCA Racing Network” align=”alignright” width=”180″][/media-credit]TALLADEGA, Alabama (May 1, 2012) – – ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards driver Chad Hackenbracht may be one of the busiest drivers leading into Friday’s International Motorsports Hall of Fame 250 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway.

But, the New Philadelphia, Ohio native will be the first to tell you, he doesn’t mind the hectic schedule. In fact, he embraces it. While his CGH Motorsports team will be doing their due-diligence on Wednesday at the track, Hackenbracht will be off-site partaking in some pre-race activity.

His first stop mid-week commences with a trip to WTDR Thunder 92.7 FM studios in Oxford, Alabama where Hackenbracht will be on-hand for the station’s “Wake Up Show Pit Crew Challenge” where listeners will earn the opportunity to be an on-site correspondent for WTDR Thunder 92 while also be an honorary CGH Motorsports crew member for the fourth race of the season.

From Oxford, Hackenbracht will head to Fort Rucker where he will spend several hours with members of the Armed Forces (United States Army), returning from stations all over the world. Fort Rucker is known as the home of “Army Aviation.” Following his visit, he will retreat to spend the evening with his team and prepare for practice and qualifying on Thursday.

His off-track duties will shift into overdrive following his third start at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway on Friday night as he will attend an event in support of the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind located at the SPEED Dome near the International Motorsports Hall of Fame, just outside the race track. The popular driver will be attending the “Race Fever” event as an opportunity to meet and mingle with the race fans and sign autographs.

“I really enjoy the off-track appearances,” offered Hackenbracht. “It’s a good opportunity to not only spend time with your current fans but also have the chance to make new ones too. Everyone loves Talladega, myself included. I’m doing a little bit of everything this week, so I get the opportunity to meet so many fans on a variety of levels; it really just makes you appreciate the privilege you have to drive a racecar.”

Beyond the glamour, Hackenbracht knows he still has a job to do on Thursday and Friday and with the support of his crew chief Kevin Reed, the duo looks to make some noise and flex their muscle during the race in the No. 58 Tastee Apple Chevrolet Impala.

“We’re bringing the same car we had at Daytona,” Hackenbracht said. “It was a top-10 car all day at Daytona, unfortunately, we just found ourselves shuffled back near the end of the race and didn’t have enough laps to get ourselves back to the front. We haven’t made a lot of changes, but we’ve made some to see if we can get our No. 58 Tastee Apple Chevrolet Impala faster, because I sure would like to arrive at “Race Fever” calling ourselves a first-time winner in the ARCA Racing Series.

The 20-year old knows that winning the International Motorsports Hall of Fame 250 is going to be a huge task, but it’s one that his team is more than ready to contend for. “We’ve shown for a while now that we have built our team into a competitive fixture each weekend in the ARCA Racing Series,” he said. “Everyone also knows that we’ve put a lot of time and effort into our superspeedway program and a win would just make all of that hard work pay off. Plus, it’s Talladega!”

Another reason that Hackenbracht and his Mooresville, North Carolina-based CGH Motorsports are eyeing a breathtaking performance in Friday’s contest – sponsorship. The team is still hunting for a marketing partner to join their operation that will help them continue to have a presence on the tour and more importantly an opportunity to surge towards an ARCA championship.

“It’s no secret, that we’ve been looking for some help for a while now,” Hackenbracht commented. “This is a great team. We’re full of energy, ideas and ambitions. I know if we can just find that right sponsor, we can definitely make bigger and better things happen for all of us.”

While many of the ARCA Racing Series drivers are expected to trek back home for a much deserved week off, Hackenbracht will remain in Talladega where he will continue to show his support for the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind by providing NASCAR Nationwide Series pit tours and making an appearance on behalf of Armour Vienna Sausages on Saturday.

The International Motorsports Hall of Fame 250 (94 laps / 250 miles) is the fourth of 20 events on the 2012 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards schedule. The 50^th ever ARCA race at Talladega Superspeedway is a two-day show. Practice begins Thursday, May 3^rd with a three hour practice session planned from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Menards pole qualifying presented by Ansell is set for later in the day slated to begin at 5:05 p.m. Coverage of time trials is available online through the ARCA Racing Network (ARN) online at arcaracing.com in collaboration with Alabama’s local WTDR Thunder 92.7 FM. A 45-minute final practice has been etched in on Friday, April 4^th from 10:00 a.m. – 10:55 a.m. The event will take the green flag that afternoon shortly after 4:00 p.m. The race will be televised live on SPEED with additional live broadcasting available through the ARCA Racing Network (ARN) online at arcaracing.com in collaboration with Alabama’s local WTDR Thunder 92.7 FM. All times are local (Central).

CGH Motorsports still has marketing partnerships available for the 2012 ARCA Racing Series season. Interested parties can contact Jordan Dahl atJordan@cghmotorsports.com or 570.234.5449.

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

To purchase the popular “What’s A Chad Hacken-Something” tee-shirt, please log on to store.cghmotorsports.com or CGHMotorsports.com.

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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 Mooresville, 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 has stepped up their commitment from a partial schedule in 2010 and ran a full-effort in 2011, and will attempt another full season of competition in 2012.

[media-credit name=”IZOD IndyCar Series” align=”alignright” width=”287″][/media-credit]Today’s IZOD IndyCar Series, Firestone Indy Lights and Mazda Road to Indy headlines:

1.      Servia making up ground in a hurry

2.      Carpenter to serve as starter of 500 Festival Mini Marathon

3.      INDYCAR to offer IZOD IndyCar Series races on YouTube

4.      Fan Force United to field entry for Newton-John

5.      USF2000 back on track with series of tests

6.      INDYCAR, Lucas Oil team up with Indianapolis Motor Speedway to hold Indy 500 Soiree

1. Servia making up ground in a hurry: Oriol Servia has been on the move in the first four races this season. Now all he has to do is earn a decent qualifying position to be a podium contender.

Servia gained 12 positions relative to his starting spot in the Itaipava São Paulo Indy 300 presented by Nestle to finish a season-best 11th. Overfour races, he’s advanced 39 spots.

The rundown (all races with 26-car fields):

St. Petersburg — Started 23, finished 16

Barber — Started 26, finished 13

Long Beach — Started 23, finished 16

Brazil — Started 23, finished 11

“Life, especially in racing, is very interesting,” said Servia, who was driving the No. 22 WIX Filters car for Lotus DRR that received a fresh engine after qualifications. “We almost didn’t make the start of the race. The guys did an amazing job. They were working until the last second putting the engine together and we didn’t think that we were going to make it.

“Somehow we picked up the best result of the year and we’ll take it. The engine got up and running, but it was definitely challenging as we lacked top speed on the straights, which made it difficult. I knew that I just had to survive and stay out of trouble. I was hoping to not get hit and we were lucky that didn’t happen.”

It was the final race of Dreyer & Reinbold Racing using the 2.2-liter, twin turbocharged V-6 engine supplied by Lotus through Engine Developments Ltd. Earlier in the week, the team and Group Lotus reached an amicable agreement to terminate the engine lease agreement. The team, which is in its 13th full-time season in the IZOD IndyCar Series, is expected to announce this week its engine plans for the Indianapolis 500 and the remainder of the season.

“We are now turning the new chapter,” Servia said. “This rough beginning of the season has helped us to mature together. We’ve grown a lot, very fast and it will be a great way to proceed for the rest of the season.”

2. Carpenter to serve as starter of 500 Festival Mini Marathon: IZOD IndyCar Series team owner/driver Ed Carpenter will be an honorary starter for the 36th OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon in Indianapolis on May 5.

The “Mini” is the nation’s largest half-marathon with 35,000 participants.

Carpenter will join OneAmerica Chairman, President and CEO Dayton Molendorp, Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard and 500 Festival Board of Directors member Scott Thiems as starters for the 13.1-mile event.

“The ‘Mini’ really gets things going in Indianapolis for the Month of May,” Carpenter said. “It is a great event, and a spectacular view at the start downtown and at the Speedway with all of the runners.”

3. INDYCAR to offer IZOD IndyCar Series races on YouTube: INDYCAR announced today that it will offer IZOD IndyCar Series races to fans for the first time ever on the INDYCAR YouTube channel.

Starting with the Itaipava Sao Paulo Indy 300 presented by Nestle, which took place this past Sunday on the streets of Sao Paulo, full broadcast or specially-customized broadcast versions of each 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series race will be posted on YouTube for fans in the U.S. to view within 36 hours after the telecast.

“This is more than merely a great opportunity for INDYCAR to populate its YouTube channel with more racing footage,” said Randy Bernard, CEO of INDYCAR.  “It’s a chance for our drivers, teams and sponsors to receive more brand exposure and recognition and an opportunity to bring the thrill of INDYCAR racing to new audiences.”

In addition to making current IZOD IndyCar Series races available, INDYCAR will also bring archival footage, like historical fan-favorite races, to INDYCAR’s YouTube Channel.

To view the Sao Paulo Indy 300 online, visit INDYCAR’s YouTube Channel at www.youtube.com/indycars.

4. Fan Force United to field entry for Newton-John: The Indianapolis 500 isn’t the only race hardcore open-wheel fans look forward to in the month of May. The Freedom 100, the premiere Firestone Indy Lights race of the season, is the feast of feasts for audiences looking to scope out the best of INDYCAR’s future stars, and the entry list just got one driver better.

Fan Force United announced that Emerson Newton-John, nephew of actress/singer Olivia Newton-John, will be joining the team in its second car for the Freedom 100 alongside season regular Armaan Ebrahim. The race will mark the new team’s first endeavor on an oval.

Newton-John brings a wide span of experience into Firestone Indy Lights. Most notable was his time in the Australian open-wheel Formula Holden Series, former stomping grounds of current IZOD IndyCar Series driver Will Power.

“As my goal is to compete in the [IZOD] IndyCar Series within the next two years, the Firestone Indy Lights series just makes complete sense for me,” Newton-John said, “and the Freedom 100 is the best way to kick off my return to the sport.”

The Charlotte, N.C., resident recently tested a Firestone Indy Lights car with the team at Putnam Park Raceway, just west of Indianapolis. His first effort impressed team principals Scott Williamson and Tyce Carlson, especially with poor weather conditions.

“All of our guys at the test were impressed with his feedback and how he got up to speed. He didn’t bobble at all and that shows good composure,” Williamson said. “He was aggressive and confident. He was really pushing, braking very deep in the corners. It was windy and cold and we didn’t have a lot of tire temperature. Still, he was focused on getting up to speed regardless of the conditions. Very impressive.”

Before Newton-John can hope to participate in the race, he must pass the rookie oval test and gain his license. All rookie drivers will head to Iowa Speedway to make the final preparations for their oval debut.

Newton-John is confident that his past experience will make for a smooth transition into the series, and noted that his time in the Formula Holden Series helped him ease into the Firestone Indy Lights car. It’s not an easy task to enter a new series in the largest event on its schedule at one of the most famous racetracks in the world, but he has set goals that he fully plans on accomplishing.

“My goals for the race are to stay out of the crashes that are bound to happen, and to finish in the top 6,” Newton-John said. “Don’t get me wrong though…if I can figure that magical place out quickly, then there is no reason why I won’t push for more.”

5. USF2000 back on track with series of tests: The Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda is back in action this week as a field of 24 drivers will take to the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course tomorrow for a pair of official series test days on the 2.258-mile, 13-turn permanent road course.

The outing will offer 15 total hours of track time to prepare drivers for Rounds 6 and 7 of the championship when the series returns to the Lexington, Ohio-based circuit on August 4 and 5, and additional road courseevents at Road America and Virginia International Raceway.

On Friday, drivers will travel to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the second annual Mazda Road to Indy Oval Clinic, joining their fellow competitors in the Star Mazda Championship Presented by Goodyear and Firestone Indy Lights. Hosted by INDYCAR’s Director of Grassroots Initiatives Jason Penix and led by multiple driving champion and USF2000 driving coach Gerardo Bonilla, the clinic covers all aspects of oval racing with the intricacies supported by video footage.

The panel of experts who will be sharing their oval racing knowledge include INDYCAR President of Competition Beaux Barfield, IZOD IndyCar Series driver and team owner Ed Carpenter, former Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year and Elite Engines owner Steve Knapp, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing team owner and former Indy 500 winner Bobby Rahal, and former driver, INDYCAR race steward and Cooper Tires Technical/Driver Consultant, Performance Advisor and spokesman Johnny Unser.

Drivers – many of whom will be turning their first oval laps – will have the opportunity to put these lessons to practice the very next day during a test at nearby Lucas Oil Raceway on Saturday, May 5. Sharing the track with Star Mazda, USF2000 drivers will have five hours of testing on the 0.686-mile oval in preparation for the popular “Night Before the 500″ on May 26 – Round 5 of USF2000 competition and the only oval event on the series calendar.

“May is always a great month of learning for our drivers,” said Dan Andersen, President and CEO of Andersen Promotions, the series promoter. “With 20 hours of testing, the oval clinic and Mazda Road to Indy Summit activities around the Indy 500, the goal is to provide our drivers with all the tools to be successful on track, gain exposure and move up the racing ladder. INDYCAR is a tremendous supporter of the next generation of talent as witnessed by these programs and they are continually striving to bring more to the table. The entire ladder system is just a fantastic program.”

Summit activities surrounding the Indianapolis 500 include an autograph session on Community Day, a shop tour of Andretti Autosport hosted by Michael Andretti, track laps at the famed Brickyard, a driver fitness and wellness course by PitFit Training, a meet-and-greet with IZOD IndyCar Series and Firestone Indy Lights team owners as well as the opportunity for the winners of the “Night Before the 500″ in USF2000, Star Mazda and Firestone Freedom 100 races to be interviewed on  victory podium minutes before the start of the Greatest Spectacle in Racing.

6. INDYCAR, Lucas Oil team up with Indianapolis Motor Speedway to hold Indy 500 Soiree: INDYCAR and Lucas Oil Products announced today that they have partnered with Indianapolis Motor Speedway to celebrate one of Indianapolis’ richest traditions, the Indianapolis 500, and give back to the community with the Indy 500 Soiree presented by Lucas Oil.

The Indy 500 Soiree presented by Lucas Oil will be an evening filled with distinctive entertainment, gourmet food, cocktails, live music, dancing and other surprises. It is scheduled to take place at the Lucas Estate, Friday, May 25 at 7 p.m. This annual event will raise money for charities which support Indianapolis and the surrounding community. Garth Brooks’ Teammates for Kids Foundation and its Riley Hospital for Children Child Life Zone project will be the beneficiary of the proceeds raised during this year’s party.

“We wanted to give Indianapolis a spectacular event that residents could look forward to each year and also support the community that has loyally followed Indy car racing and the ’500′ for decades,” said Randy Bernard, CEO of INDYCAR. “With each annual soiree, we plan to celebrate the Indy 500 and champion a cause worthwhile to our community. Teammates for Kids’ Child Life Zone at Riley Hospital for Children is the first of many causes we hope to benefit.”

“The Indianapolis 500 is one of Indiana’s most celebrated traditions. What better way is there to join the celebration than to get the community involved in such a meaningful initiative that we hope to pull off successfully for Riley Hospital,” said Forrest Lucas, president and CEO of Lucas Oil Products. ”As a proud board member of this organization, I am thrilled that Teammates for Kids has committed to improve Riley Hospital by bringing their Child Life Zone to our community. Charlotte and I are so excited to open our private estate and welcome everyone who chooses to partake in the exciting festivities that the Indy 500 Soiree presented by Lucas Oil will bring. We are honored to be given this opportunity to help Riley Hospital reach its goals as one of our many efforts in this community!”

Brooks co-founded the Teammates for Kids Foundation in 1999 to develop and implement innovative concepts that generate funds for the benefit of children’s charities. The foundation partnered with the Troy Aikman Foundation to build Child Life Zones in hospitals across the country. These zones are state-of-the-art therapeutic and educational environments for children and families filled with high-tech electronics/games, a multi-use theatre, performance stage, interactive broadcast studio, kitchen/eating area and a therapeutic craft and play center. To date, the partnership has built seven Child Life Zones throughout the United States. Riley Hospital for Children is one of the next recipients.

“Teammates is honored to team with Riley Hospital for Children in bringing the Child Life Zone to the great city of Indianapolis,” Brooks said. “Not only will the Zone improve the lives of Indiana’s children, it will also improve the lives of children around the globe. Teammates is a large believer in Child Life programming, and we look forward to the many great opportunities the Zone at Riley Hospital for Children will create.”

Said Dr. Jeff Sperring, president and CEO of Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health: “We are honored and grateful that Teammates for Kids has selected Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health as one of the next children’s hospitals to receive their gift of a Child Life Zone. Teammates for Kids recognizes the important role Child Life plays in children’s healing. The Teammates for Kids Child Life Zone at Riley at IU Health will feature spaces where children and their families will be able to receive therapy together. We know the space will be incredible. Even more incredible, however, will be how our Child Life professionals use this space to produce better outcomes for our Riley patients and families. We’re very thankful to INDYCAR, Lucas Oil and IMS for working with Teammates for Kids to put on the Indy 500 Soiree for our benefit.”

The Indy 500 Soiree presented by Lucas Oil will offer an exclusive VIP reception with red carpet for guests to mingle with Brooks, Indy 500-qualified drivers, and other celebrities from 6-7 p.m. The doors for general admission guests open at 7 p.m. For opportunities to support the event through sponsorship or donations, or for more information, please visit www.lucasoil.com/indy500soiree or call Detail & Design at 317 423 3590.

***

The next IZOD IndyCar Series race is the Indianapolis 500 Mile on May 27 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The race will be televised by ABC at 11a.m. (ET) and broadcast by the IMS Radio Network on SiriusXM (XM 94 and Sirius 212). The next Firestone Indy Lights race is the Firestone Freedom 100 on May 25 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The race will be televised live by NBC Sports Network at Noon (ET).

[media-credit name=”ARCA Racing Network” align=”alignright” width=”180″][/media-credit]TALLADEGA, Alabama (May 1, 2012) – – For part-time ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards competitor Steve Blackburn every race has a meaning. After his most recent start in the season-opening Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway, Blackburn is more than eager to prove that his team’s performance was no fluke in Friday afternoon’s International Motorsports Hall of Fame 250 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway.

Before February’s performance at “The World Center of Racing”, Blackburn had experienced his fair share of disappointment in restrictor plate racing. Now with a new outlook based on his fourth place finish nearly three months ago, Blackburn is ready to get behind the wheel of the No. 94 Harley Davidson Pikeville / Pop’s Chevrolet Buick Cadillac Honda of Prestonsburg Chevrolet and contend for the win.

“I’ve been slowly counting down the days to Talladega since February,” said Blackburn, a native of Prestonsburg, Kentucky. “We made a huge change in our program between the 2011 and 2012 seasons and we were finally able to prove our worth at Daytona. We’re keeping our heads clear heading to Talladega this week, but I would be lying if I said we weren’t pumped about racing on Friday afternoon.”

Armed with the same Chevrolet Impala from Daytona and steam under the hood from Earnhardt-Childress Engines (ECR), Blackburn knows that he’ll have to exercise the same type of patience but rely heavily on the calls from his spotter and crew in order to be near the front when the white flag waives this week.

“The finish to Daytona was wild,” recalled Blackburn. “Imagine if that happened at Talladega, where the start-finish line is way down near towards turn one. It could happen again, but we’re not going to take any chances like some of them did at Daytona. By playing it safe, we found ourselves in the hunt for a top-five and our goal is to do the same at Talladega.”

Blackburn, poised to make his 10th career ARCA start Friday afternoon mentioned about the spark of interest from his hometown following Daytona and how it will affect his Steve Blackburn Motorsports (SBM) team.

“We’ll have a lot of support for Talladega. From Alabama to all the way back to Kentucky, we have a lot of people rooting for us and that’s a good feeling,” Blackburn said. “We’re extremely thankful to have Harley Davidson of Pikeville (Kentucky) and Pop’s Chevrolet Buick Cadillac Honda of Prestonsburg back on-board.”

Like Daytona, Gary Hostettler will assume the primary role as crew chief while NASCAR veteran Mike Abner will join the team in a consultant role. Lorin Ranier, who spotted for Blackburn at Daytona, will return in the same role this week putting all the key ingredients back together for the final restrictor plate race of the year.

“Right now, this is our final race of the year, so we would like to go out on top (if we can),” added Blackburn. “I feel like we have a great group of guys who all deserve one thing, winning. With a little luck, we’ll have a similar if not better run than Daytona.”

Since 2005, Steve Blackburn has competed in nine ARCA Racing Series races. In addition to Daytona and Talladega, Blackburn also has made three starts at Kentucky Speedway and one at Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway respectively. In those nine outings, Blackburn has delivered a best starting position of third at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway (2012) and backed it up the same weekend with a career-best finish of fourth in the same weekend.

The International Motorsports Hall of Fame 250 (94 laps / 250 miles) is the fourth of 20 events on the 2012 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards schedule. The 50th ever ARCA race at Talladega Superspeedway is a two-day show. Practice begins Thursday, May 3rd with a three hour practice session planned from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Menards pole qualifying presented by Ansell is set for later in the day slated to begin at 5:05 p.m. Coverage of time trials is available online through the ARCA Racing Network (ARN) online atarcaracing.com in collaboration with Alabama’s local WTDR Thunder 92.7 FM. A 45-minute final practice has been etched in on Friday, April 4th from 10:00 a.m. – 10:55 a.m. The event will take the green flag that afternoon shortly after 4:00 p.m. The race will be televised live on SPEED with additional live broadcasting available through the ARCA Racing Network (ARN) online at arcaracing.com in collaboration with Alabama’s local WTDR Thunder 92.7 FM. All times are local (Central).