Catchfence

INDIANAPOLIS – Dec. 8, 2009 - Sarah Fisher Racing’s (SFR) Jay Howard returns to the PRI CKI All-Star Karting Classic on Dec. 10 in Orlando, Fl., looking to defend his 2008 title. Howard, who is currently stationed as a driver coach at Palm Beach International Raceway (PBIR) in Jupiter, Fl., will also be representing the track at the Performance Racing Industry Trade Show (PRI), the world’s largest racing trade show, as a celebrity guest in the track’s 400 square foot booth during the three-day tradeshow.

“I am excited to be returning to the PRI Show,” said Howard, who will participate in a tailored 2010 IZOD IndyCar® Series schedule with backing from Tire Kingdom. “I’m looking for a repeat performance from 2008 in the Karting Classic and I hope to take the trophy home with me again this year. To return with the Maranello chassis and H Power engine will hopefully make us as quick as we were last year.”

PRI and Championship Karting International (CKI), a new, national kart series launched this past year, organized the 4th annual Karting Classic. While Howard took the checkered flag in last year’s Classic, Grand-Am driver, Joey Hand of Kartel Motorsports, took a close second place and former F1 driver and current NASCAR driver, Scott Speed, of Tony Kart, finished third.

After wrapping a four-week driving challenge promotion on MTV just last month, Howard will be joined in the Karting Classic by other professional drivers such as, fellow IZOD IndyCar Series driver, Graham Rahal, 2004 Indianapolis 500 and 2009 Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona winner, Buddy Rice, NASCAR’s Jamie McMurray and Grand-Am’s Memo Gidley. More than 20 drivers are expected to be announced in the All-Star division, which is comprised of the best drivers in all of motorsports.

The green flag waves for the Thursday night Karting Classic event at 7:00 p.m. EDT on the tight 6-turn track adjacent to the North/South Building of the Orange County Convention Center, which houses the PRI Trade Show. Admission to the event is free.

About Jay Howard:

While closing out his 2009 racing schedule, Howard signed a deal to complete a tailored IZOD IndyCar® Series schedule that would include four events for Sarah Fisher Racing (SFR) in 2010, driving the No. 66 Honda-powered Dallara with backing from Tire Kingdom. He’ll attempt to qualify for his first Indy 500 on May 15, 2010. In 2006, the England-born driver won the Firestone Indy Lights championship, an essential step into the top-level of open-wheel racing, the IZOD IndyCar Series. Howard won the championship by four points, marking the closest margin in the Series’ history. That same year, he won two races, had five podium finishes and won two pole positions. He ran five events for Roth Racing in the IndyCar Series in 2008, with a best start of 14th and a best finish of 13th. He competed in three Firestone Indy Lights events in 2007, and took home the U.S. Formula Ford Zetec Championship and Rookie of the Year Honors in 2005; breaking Indy 500 winner Dan Weldon’s Series record, with nine wins. That year, he captured six pole positions and established a Series record, with six consecutive victories. Howard has been a guest or profiled on national platforms such as MTV’s Real World Road Rules Challenge. For more information, pleas visit Jay Howard online at http://www.jayhoward.co.uk

About Sarah Fisher Racing:

Sarah Fisher Racing (SFR) is an auto racing team that competes in the IZOD IndyCar® Series, founded by IZOD IndyCar Series veteran racer, Sarah Fisher. Fisher announced plans to become the IZOD IndyCar Series first female owner/driver and the youngest team owner on February 27, 2008, at Homestead-Miami Speedway (HMS). The team competed in three events in 2008, grew 100 percent in 2009 to six races and will compete in nine events in 2010 with backing from Dollar General. The team also announced plans to run a tailored schedule in 2010 for 2006 Firestone Indy Lights Champion Jay Howard in the No. 66 Tire Kingdom-sponsored Honda powered Dallara at four events, including the 94th running of the Indy 500, giving the team it’s first two-car entry in it’s two-year existence. For more information, please visit Sarah Fisher Racing online at http://www.sarahfisherracing.com.

- Sarah Fisher Racing Press Release