Catchfence

Mooresville, NC (August 16, 2010) Key Motorsports and driver Mike Bliss continue to display consistency and results, earning the teams 7th consecutive top 20 finish after taking the green flag in Saturday’s CARFAX 250, NASCAR Nationwide Series event from the 34th position, and finishing a solid 19th at Michigan International Speedway. The Westerman Companies No. 40 “new version” of the NASCAR Nationwide Series car debuted last month at Daytona finishing 19th, proving the consistency with another 19th place finish in the cars second event of the season Saturday. Key Motorsports, an independent team, built this car “in-house” from the ground up and are able to compete with fully funded multi-car teams, a true testament to Key Motorsports’ dedication and performance abilities in the upper ranks of NASCAR racing.

Drivers were faced with many challenges on Saturday when the green flag dropped as four wide racing was seen throughout the field on the 1st lap of the 125 lap race. Bliss wasted no time moving the Key Motorsports No. 40 Chevrolet Impala forward, gaining 8 positions by lap 3; being scored 26th. By lap 25, veteran Mike Bliss had gained another 5 spots being scored 21st with the “new version” of the NASCAR Nationwide Series car. Patience did not appear to be the strategy in the early stages of the CARFAX 250; the 43 car field was battling as if it was the final lap of the race. Bliss was no exception as he took advantage of the team’s success in finding the balance the car needed to be competitive in turns 1, 2 as well as turns 3, 4, while many teams found the balance for one or the other, Key Motorsports crew members found the combination necessary to make gains all the way around the 2 mile superspeedway in Michigan.

Mike Bliss and the Key Motorsports pit crew were able to hold their ground as the first round of pit stops cycled through green flag conditions around lap 50 of the 250-mile event. The first caution flag of the CARFAX 250 came soon after, teamwork and chemistry allowed the No. 40 Westerman Companies Chevrolet to hold their 21st spot for the restart on lap 65. With the final pit stops cycling through green flag conditions for the second time of the day, and only 25 laps to go, the Key Motorsports pit crew serviced the Westerman Companies No. 40 Chevrolet Impala with finesse, maintaining their position and proving once again momentum fuels the success of teamwork. The final caution flag of the day flew on lap 113. Bliss restarted 20th on lap 116, making a pass on lap 119 moving up to 19th, where he would hold off the competition and take the checkered flag.

“I would like to thank Westerman Companies and Key Motorsports for all of their hard work, it makes my job so much easier” said Bliss. “Curtis Key, Crew Chief Gary Showalter and the entire Key Motorsports crew are dedicated to this sport and work very hard to give me the equipment to bring in consistent results. The “new version” of the NASCAR Nationwide Series car has a few teams struggling, while Key Motorsports has not missed a beat,” said Mike Bliss after the CARFAX 250 on Saturday at Michigan International Speedway. Bliss also stated, “A good race car doesn’t always qualify up front, we have a good race car that has built in adjust ability and set-up for the long runs.”

Team owner Curtis Key was pleased with another top 20 finish. “This team is committed to performance” said Key. “I am very happy with the chemistry that has jelled in our team. We are running with teams that have resources that are not available to us, we have the right people in the right places. Gary Showalter has done an excellent job with our crew and equipment, when we are fortunate enough to find full-time funding our results will step up to the top 10, the victories will soon follow.”

Key Motorsports is standing tall in the 22nd position of owner points in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, while driver Mike Bliss occupies the 16th spot in driver point standings.

Mike Bliss will return to NASCAR Nationwide Series action with Key Motorsports and the No. 40 Chevrolet at Bristol Motor Speedway Friday August 20, 2010. The spring race at Bristol marked the team’s best result of the season with an 8th place finish. The momentum that Key Motorsports carries to Bristol on Friday could earn them the top 5 they deserve.

- Key Motorsports Press Release