Tuesday

Stuart Kirby Anxiously Preparing For Return To ARCA RE/MAX Series

BOWLING GREEN, Kentucky (August 12, 2009) – - 28 year-old Stuart Kirby hasn’t raced in nearly four years but the waiting is almost over as the Bowling Green, Kentucky native announced today he has scheduled a return to the ARCA RE/MAX Series beginning with an open-test at Chicagoland Speedway on August 19.

Kirby, who has 15 ARCA RE/MAX Series starts to his credit will look to make his 16th career start when the series returns to Chicagoland Speedway on August 28th for the running of the Ansell Cut Protection 150.

And while the former NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) driver has drove for legendary ARCA car owner Bob Schacht his return from hiatus won’t be Schacht but instead with longtime ARCA car owner Bob Hendren.

Hendren has tapped the three-time Menards Pole by Ansell winner to drive the No. 66 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS under the direction of crew chief Walter Giles. Giles and Kirby have worked together when Kirby competed in the NSCS in 2005 driving the No. 51 Marathon American Spirit Motor Oil Chevrolet for owner Joe Auer.

“I cannot wait to get back in a car,” said Kirby, who also has experience in the NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. “I’ve been trying to get back to the racetrack for sometime and finally the hard work has paid off and I’ll be back doing what I love – racing. I appreciate everything that Bob Hendren is doing to get us to the track and to have the opportunity to work with Walter again is going to feel like old times.”

For Giles, he is equally excited about the opportunity to reunite with Kirby.

I am looking forward to the opportunity to be involved with Stuart again as I have not worked with him since we ran a limited schedule cup program together in 2005,” said Giles. “I recognized the immense potential he had right from our first Cup test together and he has always exceeded my expectations both as a driver and an ambassador for his team and sponsors. We are preparing for the Chicago ARCA test and race with the object of making a return to victory lane for our driver and team owner Hendren Motorsports. This race is very important to us as a team as we are in the process of establishing a fully funded team for 2010 and contending for the ARCA championship.”

The good news for the Illinois based team is that statistics show that Kirby has no problem maneuvering around Chicagoland Speedway but the successful entrepreneur is looking for his first top-10 finish at the 1.5-mile track.

“I won the ARCA pole in 2005 but we had a mechanical failure at the start of the race and we never were able to show our strength. Hopefully we can go to the test put our car up near the top and come back for the race and put on a show. I’m just excited about the opportunity. Surely, I want to make the best of it.”

He continued, “It sunk my heart when I had to leave racing because of funding issues. Since I’ve been away I’ve opened up a couple of businesses (Bruster’s Real Ice Cream) which has proven to be successful but I haven’t finished my goals in racing. I’m on a mission to get back to the highest level of racing. It’s not going to be easy but I’m ready for the challenges and the climb again.”

Currently, the team does not have any plans to run any remaining ARCA RE/MAX Series events following Chicagoland Speedway but the former late model driver is hoping that will change.

“Right now Chicago is it,” Kirby sounded. “We don’t really have any sponsors for the car, so we’re hoping to go to Chicagoland and put forth everything we have. I would like to do Kansas Speedway and maybe Rockingham to wrap up the year and then we’ll see what develops for next year. One thing is for sure, we don’t plan to leave anything on the table.”

In his 15 ARCA RE/MAX Series starts, Kirby has mounted six top-five finishes and posted eight top-10 runs. He has posted two career-best runner-up finishes at Lowe’s (N.C) Motor Speedway (’01) and Kansas Speedway (‘02) respectively. He has controlled the ARCA field five times for 39 laps.

For additional input on Stuart Kirby, please visit StuartKirby.com.

- Stuart Kirby Racing Enterprises Press Release