Caleb Holman

Holman and Henderson Motorsports have competed in the CARS Pro Cup Series full-time since 2007. Up until that point, Henderson Motorsports had been the longest running team in the Nationwide Series with team owner Charlie Henderson.

“The Truck Series is a great opportunity for us to get back into NASCAR. We are excited about it and think it’s a good fit for us,” said owner Charlie Henderson.

Holman, who is also an Abingdon native, has been with the Henderson’s since 2002 starting out as a rear tire changer with driver Jay Sauter behind the wheel.

“I had just graduated high school and had been working at Morgan McClure Motorsports through school, while also driving my Dad’s late model. Charlie needed a rear tire changer. I thought, ‘well maybe if I go work for him he might let me drive one of his racecars one day’ and here we are 10 years later. I am extremely thankful for all of the opportunities he’s given me. It’s hard to believe it’s been a decade since I began working for him,” said Holman.

Throughout the winter months the Henderson’s and Holman have worked close with Mike Hillman Racing, purchasing their race trucks from them for this coming season.

“I’ve got to give a big thanks to Mike Hillman and all of his guys. When we bought these trucks we needed some guidance and they have been there every step of the way. We couldn’t have got all this together in this amount of time without their help and support along the way,” said Holman.

Henderson Motorsports plans to make their Camping World Truck Series debut with Holman at Martinsville Speedway in March.

“Martinsville cannot get here soon enough! I am just overjoyed and thankful for the opportunities I’ve been given. Charlie and Don Henderson have always believed in me and trusted me to represent them and their company and I can’t thank them enough,” said Holman.

The Kroger 250 at Martinsville Speedway is set to take place on March 31st, 2012.

- Henderson Motorsports Press Release

JR Motorsports

Speedco joins the No. 88 late model team and 21-year-old driver Josh Berry. Berry was recently named the 2011 recipient of the Speed51.com / AR Bodies Late Model Most Popular Driver award, a competition which encompassed multiple late model drivers across the United States and Canada. His on-track performance last year netted one win, nine top fives, and 16 top-10 finishes.

Speedco is also returning for its second season sponsoring L.W. Miller in the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour. In addition to his driving duties, Miller will serve as crew chief and team manager for the No. 88 late model team this season.

“Having Speedco join JR Motorsports in support of all our racing programs is a privilege,” Kelley Earnhardt said. “Our company is greatly appreciative of their involvement. Speedco has been a phenomenal supporter of local racing, and now we’re proud to showcase their brand at both the local and national level.”

In the NASCAR Nationwide Series, Speedco receives b-post placement on the No. 5, 7 and 88 Chevrolets. The cars will be piloted by Dale Earnhardt Jr., Danica Patrick and Cole Whitt, respectively. Patrick and Whitt are competing for the series championship, while Earnhardt Jr. will race sporadically throughout the season starting at Daytona International Speedway on Feb. 25.

“I am thankful for the opportunity to continue working with Speedco and look forward to building a relationship with everyone at JR Motorsports and our Speedco late model driver Josh Berry,” said Darin Odle, director of motorsports for Speedco. “I especially want to thank my good friend, L.W. Miller, for helping put our program together for 2012.”

ABOUT SPEEDCO

Speedco Truck Lube and Tire is a provider of on-highway truck lubrication and routine tire services to commercial truck owner-operators and fleets. Speedco is owned by Bridgestone Bandag, LLC, which has an 87.5 percent interest in Speedco, Inc. Bridgestone Bandag, LLC is part of Bridgestone Bandag Tire Solutions (BBTS), an operating unit of Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC. BBTS provides new Bridgestone, Firestone and Dayton brand medium and heavy duty truck tires, and Bandag brand retreading materials and equipment to more than 2,500 dealers, truck stops and franchised Bandag retreaders throughout the U.S. and Canada.

ABOUT JR MOTORSPORTS:

Based in Mooresville, N.C., JR Motorsports is the management company and racing operation for Dale Earnhardt Jr., NASCAR’s nine-time Most Popular Driver and winner of more than 40 NASCAR-sanctioned races. JR Motorsports competes in multiple racing divisions, including the NASCAR Nationwide Series where the team owns 10 victories. To learn more about the organization and its stable of drivers which include Earnhardt Jr., Danica Patrick and Cole Whitt, visit www.JRMracing.com. The JR Motorsports facility also houses the JR Nation retail store, Hammerhead Entertainment and JRM Licensing.

- JR Motorsports Press Release

Roush Racing’s No. 61 Ford Mustang Boss 302R GT

(Clover, SC) January 31, 2011 -

Winning GRAND-AM teams and drivers know the secret. Johnson and Roush Jr. celebrated their win on Friday in the first race of the 2012 Continental Sports Car Challenge Series at Daytona. Roush Racing’s No. 61 Ford Mustang Boss 302R GT was equipped with Performance Friction ZERO DRAGTM ZR54 calipers, ZRated® race discs, and Carbon Metallic® brake pads.

“I love this track. There is a lot of history. It’s a very special race to win. I can’t be happier.” Roush Jr. said. The victory was the first GRAND-AM victory for Jack Roush at Daytona. Other notable finishers included BimmerWorld Racing with a podium spot in ST while utilizing PFC race discs and Carbon Metallic® Race pads.

Despite Friday’s rapidly changing track conditions, Roush teammates, Billy Johnson and Jack Roush Jr. were able to hold off the 82- car field and outperform the competition in every braking zone. The track was wet for most of the race from a persistent light rain, but the rain didn’t slow the two Roush drivers down. There were 6 cautions, for a total of 25 laps, as the track conditions transitioned from an overcast rain to bright sunshine. After 41 laps Roush Jr., who started the car, hit pit lane for the driver change. Billy Johnson climbed aboard and took the No.61 to the lead. Johnson led the final 18 laps and secured the win with two Fall-Line Motorsports BMWs in pursuit.

With a huge win to kick off the 2012 season, Johnson and Roush Jr. now have their sights set on the championship. The next race for the GRAND-AM Series Continental Sports Car Challenge Series is March 30-31 at Barber Motorsports Park.

About Performance Friction At Performance Friction, every employee has a “passion for the product.” And it shows. PFC brakes are the top choice in motorsports, winning more championships than any other brake on the market and the company also makes application specific upgrades for hundreds of domestic and import models. PFC brakes are specified on more fleets nationwide including 40,000 police cars in North America.

Source: Performance Friction, Press Release

No 8 Starworks Autosport Ford Riley DP - Photo Credit: Catchfence.com Open Wheel Editor, Paul Powell

THE PLOT:

The Fort Lauderdale-based team turned up a sensational effort against the odds to make the second step of the podium in Florida.

They finished just 5.1 seconds behind Michael Shank Racing. But they had been in the running for a magnificent win for most of the 24 hours.

After epic stints from Allan McNish and Venezuelans Enzo Potolicchio and Alex Popow, the team changed the strategy at the 22-hour mark. While their rivals kept their drivers in the car, Starworks put in Lucas Luhr so that Ryan Dalziel would be kept fresh for the final charge. He gave it everything, but eventually the team had to settle for second.

The #2 car, with Ryan Hunter-Reay, Michael Valiante and Marco Andretti, finished in tenth place.

THE QUOTES:

Team owner Peter Baron: “It is an immense bitter-sweet feeling. We got a car two weeks ago and it was almost a build up from scratch. The team did an awesome job, fielding two cars that ran perfectly. The #2 car had a driveshaft failure that wasn’t their fault and the new car did not have one installation fault. It ran like clockwork.

“I have never been so confident midway through a race, thinking this is ours – but I guess it wasn’t.”

Ryan Dalziel, Orlando – originally from Lanarkshire in Scotland: “It is disappointing. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed. We were the car to beat and it was nice to lead so many laps, but leading so many laps sometimes makes it feel worse when you don’t take the checkered flag.

“On the plus side, it was an amazing race and the perfect way to mark the 50th running for Daytona. Starworks did an awesome job. Peter put together an amazing crew and we will now focus on the rest of the year.”

Enzo Potolicchio, Venezuela: “We have all worked really hard since the end of last season. We hired the right people, so you can see how the team has grown. We are really proud of all the people Peter has put together. It is amazing how it has all come together. And I am delighted to have Ryan as a team-mate.

“Ryan is also my coach. Last year was our first year in DPs and we learned a lot about driving these difficult cars. But with all the work we have done in the off-season, we can show others now we are one of the teams to beat.”

Alex Popow, Venezuela: “I did a good job. Enzo and I were doing good lap times. We can go out there and hang with the other guys, but we didn’t have the experience to fight at the end and we didn’t want to risk it. It is the 50th running of the Daytona 24 and we wanted to win.

“We have done such a good job – not just for this race, but since last year. It is a big turnaround for Starworks. We have a two-car team and that will last all season. We are going to fight for the championship. Last year we were rookies, this year we are saying we can try for the championship and we are going for it.”

Lucas Luhr, Germany: “I really had to push hard in the final stint. I knew I was only doing a single stint because our strategy was to put Ryan in at the end against drivers who had been in a long time. The car was solid and I just pushed as hard as I could.”

Allan McNish, Dumfries, Scotland: “It is never smooth in 24-hour racing. The important thing is to stay in there fighting and wait on it coming back to you. The car ran very well, without any mechanical issues. It has been fast. I never thought it would be fun because it is a job and these Daytona Prototype cars are so different from what I am used to.

“I said to Peter that he should be very proud of what he has put together and the performance of the whole team because I am proud of what he has put together. He has a shoestring budget compared with the Ganassis and the other big boys, so what he has done is quite sensational.”

THE FACTS: Starworks Motorsport won the final round of the 2011 Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car championship at Mid-Ohio. Ryan Dalziel and Enzo Potolicchio were the drivers that day.

The next round is of the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series is at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama on March 31.

Source: Starworks Motorsport, Press Release

Bryan Herta Autosport

Indianapolis, IN – January 31, 2012 –

Bryan Herta Autosport will campaign at least two cars in the twelve race 2012 F1600 Formula F Series, competing in the Mygale SJ11 chassis with Honda power. The Series was introduced to the U.S. in 1969 and has been a training ground ever since for future professional drivers.

“F1600 and F2000 are time tested and proven steppingstones to the highest level of motorsports.  Mygale has become the worldwide leader for these chassis, as well as multiple other championships, so the opportunity for Steve Newey and myself, along with Jeff Mark, to create a company that can distribute these winning cars to the North American market, while also creating a factory team to campaign works Mygale SJ11-Honda cars was extremely attractive,” according to Herta.

Mygale was originally established in 1989 by CEO, Bertrand DeCoster. Recognized as the worldwide leader of the Formula F1600 series, Mygale designs and manufactures a variety of race cars, including F2000, Formula 3, Formula BMW, and several other types of ultra high-performance race cars.

“We realized immediately it was a huge opportunity to work with one of the most professional teams in the USA,” said Mygale CEO, Bertrand DeCoster. “We understood that we needed to come on board with the best organization and staff for our customers. Naturally, we started to discuss with Bryan and Steve the idea to distribute Mygale cars and offer quality spare parts service in North America.  I personally believe that the Formula F1600 series will grow, as the USA needs a strong regional and national junior category. We are already in contact with some other clients to join the Mygale family in the USA and Canada, and have just launched a production batch of five new cars. Both companies realize that there are many projects in the USA where we could come with a fresh and powerful package for the future.”

Customers, teams, and drivers interested in information and pricing for the multiple championship winning SJ11 should contact Emily Jones at (317) 295-8070 or ejones@bryanhertaautosport.com. 

About Bryan Herta Autosport
Founded by veteran driver Bryan Herta and noted race engineer and team manager Steve Newey, Bryan Herta Autosport (BHA) has been a race-winning team in Firestone Indy Lights competition since 2009 and recently won the 2011 Indianapolis 500 with driver Dan Wheldon in only its second IZOD IndyCar Series start. The Indianapolis, Ind.-based team made its IndyCar debut in 2010 contesting the Indianapolis 500. For more information, visit www.BryanHertaAutosport.com.

Source: Bryan Herta Autosport, Press Relese

Daniel Hemric Logo

“It was a real exciting race,” said Hemric, of Kannapolis, North Carolina. “All in all I have to thank Scott Neal for all his hard work. He’s a very talented crew chief. Big thanks to Richard Clarke for letting me run his car and to Hoyt Demis, Darren Ruston and everyone else for all their help this weekend. I wouldn’t have been out here without them.”

Hemric, who celebrated his 21st birthday on Friday, battled with 19-time Late Model winner in 2011 Bubba Pollard, defending Snowball Derby winner and Hendrick Motorsports development driver Chase Elliott and more short track talents from across the country in the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour portion of Speedfest 2012 weekend. While Hemric put himself in position for a strong finish towards the end of the race, a wild finish to the Rheem 150 opened the door for a podium spot at the checkered flag.

After Hemric and the other leaders started the final lap of the race, several cars near the back of the pack spun in turn four of the Cordele, Georgia track. Series rules indicate that once the leaders have taken the white flag, they are to race back to the checkered flag. Without a stoppage in the action due to the spin, Hemric and the other frontrunners had to dodge the spun cars as they came to the finish. It was in that wild end to the race that Hemric was able to gain an additional spot in the finishing order.

Daniel Hemric

With a podium finish under his belt in his first short track race of the 2012 season, Hemric is now setting his sights on his NASCAR Modified efforts with Hillbilly Racing. Hemric will kick off the new season in the number-79 Modified during the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing at Florida’s New Smyrna Speedway. The nine-night short track event kicks off on Friday, February 17th.

For more information on Daniel Hemric, be sure to visit DanielHemric.com. Follow Hemric on Twitter at @danielhemric or on Facebook via facebook.com/danielhemric.

- 51 Sports Press Release

EASLEY, SC (January 30, 2012) – If race officials at SpeedFest 2012 kept gave an award for the most cars passed through the course of Sunday’s event at Georgia’s Watermelon Capital Speedway, 14-year-old Kyle Benjamin would be the run-away winner. Between the CRA Super Series’ 200-lap Super Late Model feature and the Rheem 150 JEGS /CRA All-Stars Tour Pro Late Model race on January 29th, Benjamin came from the back of the pack four times for various reasons en route to two solid finishes.

Whether it was from an early tangle and subsequent lost lap in the Pro Late Model race or a pit road malady in the Super Late Model run, Benjamin had to slice his way back to the front pack with the precision of a veteran. The charges to the front worked out well in both races, as he started the day off with a 12th-place finish in the Pro Late Model race, then followed it up with an impressive seventh-place result in his first-ever Super Late Model event, the SpeedFest 200.

“I’m really proud of our effort,” said Benjamin. “It was my first Super race and there were a bunch of Cup drivers like Kyle Busch and David Ragan in it. It was like a professional race in Super Late Models. I learned a ton all weekend and I’m really pleased with how we ran.”

SpeedFest feature day nearly got off to a disastrous start in the Pro Late Model 150-lapper. A first-lap tangle resulted in Benjamin getting stuck against the inside wall and having to make a series of pit stops to get back into contention.

“We got caught up in an early wreck and that wasn’t a good way to start that race,” added Benjamin. “We had to go to the back, but we were able to get the Lucky Dog and got back on the lead lap. Between the stops and the Lucky Dog, we were able to get to the front three separate times. By that point, the tires were gone, but I’m happy with the way we finished that one.”

The Super Late Model race was as good of a learning experience as the 14-year-old could have asked for. Racing against NASCAR stars in a 200-lap test of endurance, Benjamin didn’t fold against the competition. He ran inside the top-10 most of the race before a pit penalty prior to halfway put him to the rear of the field one more time.

But, since he had already come from the back three times in a 150-lapper earlier in the day, doing it one more time was a piece of cake for the young racer.

“The Super race was a lot of fun. We got sent to the back because Freddie (Query, crew chief) made a call to come in for tires before the halfway break. We weren’t allowed to do that. We were able to overcome that setback and came back for a good finish.”

While the finish will look good on the stat sheet, the seventh-place run also was a valuable learning tool

“I learned a lot of throttle control and some techniques to use from other people I got to race around with the Super Late Model. There was a lot of things I learned running the Super that I didn’t know by running the Pro. It’s just a lot of new stuff that will be very helpful as we go through the season.”

Benjamin’s 2012 schedule will continue in the Super Late Model division during the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing at Florida’s New Smyrna Speedway. Benjamin will make his first appearance in a Super Late Model at the nine-night racing extravaganza during Florida Speedweeks. The World Series event kicks off on Friday, February 17th, but Benjamin and his number-71 team will likely begin competing on Tuesday, February 21st. Action continues through Saturday, February 25th.

For more information on Kyle Benjamin, be sure to visit an all-new KyleBenjamin.com coming soon.

- 51 Sports Press Release

CONCORD, NC (January 30, 2012) – Bubba Pollard won 19 races in 2011, but beating NASCAR driver Kyle Busch in the closing laps of a short track race would have trumped those feats as Busch is has proven to be nearly unbeatable in Super Late Model events in recent seasons.

Pollard traded the lead with Busch several times over the 200-lap SpeedFest event at Watermelon Capital Speedway (GA). Pollard may have had more experience at Watermelon Capital than Busch, who was making his first-ever start there, but Busch wasn’t going to be denied. Busch made the final pass on lap 184 to finish ahead of Pollard at the checkered flag.

“I wish I was doing that,” said Pollard as he pointed to Busch’s burnout in victory lane.

Pollard managed to smile after finishing second to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series star because he knew he had been beaten by one of the best in the business.

“Our car was real good on the short run and I could get by him on the restarts,” added Pollard. “He had a much better car on the longer runs, but I wanted to get out in front of him on that last restart and let him know I could race with him and I had a lot of fun doing it.”

Finishing second found Pollard in front of fellow Georgian and NASCAR driver David Ragan. Also in the mix were defending race winner Chase Elliott, Ross Kenseth, Erik Darnell, Johnny Sauter, Clay Rogers and several other top drivers in the Super Late Model world.

“That’s the best in the country,” said Pollard motioning to Busch. “We hung with him pretty good today and we can’t hold our heads down after a strong run like this. We made a few adjustments at halfway and we came up a little short at the end. It’s pretty fun to race against these guys.”

Pollard ran the Pro Late Model race as well and led the first 76 circuits before giving up the lead. He would end up finishing fourth after a last lap scramble cost him a podium finish.

The two top-five finishes go along with his pair from the 2011 SpeedFest events and his average finish for the last four events at SpeedFest is a 2.75 at two different venues in the state of Georgia.

Pollard’s next schedule race is the Rattler 250 and the Pro Rattler 125 at South Alabama Speedway. Pollard is the defending Viper Series Champion at the track and is looking to capture the track’s biggest events.

For more information on Bubba Pollard visit his website at www.BubbaPollard.com.

- 51 Sports Press Release

TJ Reaid

Reaid, the 22-year-old former All-American 400 winner, bided his time in the CRA Super Series event at the Cordele, Georgia track. He moved from his 22nd-place starting position into the top-15 when the halfway break jumbled the field at lap 100. Still desiring more from his number-41 machine, Reaid and his Jim Barfield-led crew from Bill Elliott Racing made the necessary adjustments at halfway to move into the top-five when the checkered flag flew.

“We just paced ourselves all day and missed what seemed like about a dozen or so wrecks all day,” said Reaid. “We put ourselves in position to race up front at the end. Where we were at halfway, it was a no-brainer to take four tires. If we would’ve had a caution with maybe 10 or so to go, I don’t know if I would’ve had enough for Kyle (Busch, winner) or Bubba (Pollard, second-place), but I feel like I could’ve gotten around David Ragan and Casey Smith (third and fourth, respectively). But that’s one of those ‘if’ deals. All in all, it was a really good weekend for us. It was great to get a top-five finish so we can go on to The Rattler in a month or so.”

The 22nd-to-fifth run in a stout field of short track champions and NASCAR superstars like Kyle Busch, David Ragan and Johnny Sauter is impressive. Considering Reaid did it in his first run for a new team in a brand of racecar foreign to him, the result is even more notable.

“We went down to Cordele the Sunday before to try to test and it rained. The whole next week was hit or miss with the rain and we weren’t able to work together before the race, so I really feel like it was an outstanding weekend.

“I went into the weekend kind of blind. I had never driven those (Grand American Race Cars chassis) cars before and didn’t know what to expect them to do. We had to make a couple changes as far as driver comfort for me, but to come out of the deal with the car in one piece and a top-five was definitely like a win for us.”

Reaid’s first start as part of the Bill Elliott Racing team came as a breath of fresh air after not achieving the success he hoped for in 2011. After winning races over the past few seasons with his own family team and then with Kyle Busch Motorsports through 2010, Reaid was shut out of victory lane in 2011. With a new, focused-on-fun, approach, Reaid is hoping to parlay the strong SpeedFest run into a trip to victory lane in 2012.

“It definitely was a lot of fun this weekend,” added Reaid. “Last year, running for KBM, there was a lot of pressure. You’re sitting in the best seat. Kyle showed it again yesterday by winning the race. Now I’ve gotten back to having fun.

“The Bill Elliott Racing team is definitely a first-class operation. I can see now why they’re tough everywhere they go. Every guy there works beyond their potential. They enjoy doing it and we had a lot of fun. I’m definitely looking forward to working with Jim (Barfield, Reaid’s SpeedFest crew chief) and Ricky (Turner, crew chief for Reaid’s teammate Chase Elliott) and all the rest of the guys more this year. They seemed really pumped at the end of the race and I think that’s a good start to the year for us.”

Reaid’s fifth also gives the young racer momentum for what he hopes will be more opportunities to drive for the BER team in 2012.

“We’ve got The Rattler scheduled for sure with them. I’d like to do the rest of the big races with them. Then in the races where Chase runs or when they’ve got other people scheduled, roll our car out there just to stay in the seat and not get rusty.”

The Rattler will take place March 2nd through 4th at South Alabama Speedway in Opp, Alabama.

For more information on TJ Reaid, visit www.tjreaid.com.

- 51 Sports Press Release

Casey Smith

“It’s been forever since I’ve raced here so I really didn’t know what to think when we showed up, but we got up to speed pretty fast. The car felt good in practice so I knew I had a good racecar underneath me. I can’t explain how good it feels to finish fourth in our first race of 2012; we went all year without finishing in the top five last season so to get this finish means a lot for this team’s confidence right now,” said Smith after the race.

It didn’t take long for Smith to showcase the speed his #99 SealMaster of Austin Chevy Impala had in it as he quickly made his way just outside the top five after qualifying seventeenth in less than sixty laps. At the events halfway break on lap 100 Casey positioned himself in the third position just behind eventual winner, NASCAR Sprint Cup series driver Kyle Busch.

It soon became a four car breakaway battle for the lead with Casey right in the middle of it all. With laps winding down and Busch in the lead Smith battled fellow super late model regular Bubba Pollard for the second place position before slight racing contact sent Smith back to third. In the final few laps it would be another NASCAR Sprint Cup series driver in the form of David Ragan who would come between the #99 machine and the top spot as the checkered flag waved.

“Anytime you can say you race with Kyle Busch and David Ragan for the win your saying a lot. I really thought though we might have something for Kyle, but then I was trying to get around Bubba for second and we made some contact that cost us a few car lengths on them both,” added Smith. “It was just one of those racing deals I guess but it cost us in the end I think. Regardless I couldn’t be happier with our finish and can’t wait for the Rattler in March.”

For more information on Texas super late model driver Casey Smith and his Casey Smith Racing team visit his website at www.caseysmithracing.com.

- Tex Motorsports Marketing Press Release

TELMEX Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (January 30, 2012) –

The No. 02 DP driven by 2006 Race Winner Scott Dixon and co-drivers Dario Franchitti (2008 Winner), Juan Pablo Montoya (2007, 2008 Winner) and NASCAR star Jamie McMurray had trouble in the overnight portion of the race when the team had to repair a broken shifter. The car headed to the garage area at 2:44 a.m. ET and returned to the track in ninth position and four laps down to the leader after a five-minute repair. The team was able to gain three laps back in the final two hours of the event to finish fourth with Montoya behind the wheel in the final stint.

After contending in the top three overall for most of the 24-hour race, four-time and defending Rolex 24 At Daytona Winner Scott Pruett and co-drivers Memo Rojas (2008, 2011 Winner), Graham Rahal (2011 Winner) and Joey Hand (2011 Winner) were running in second with just over an hour to go in the race when the No.01 DP encountered gear box issues and were forced to come pit road. The team lost ground after having to replace the gear box and rejoined the race in sixth and four laps down with just under 50 minutes until the checkered flag. With little time remaining to make up the time lost, the No.01 crossed the finish line sixth with Pruett behind the wheel in the final stint.

NOTES OF INTEREST:

- The 50th running of the Rolex 24 At Daytona had a total of 14 caution flags for 58 laps

- There were 10 total leaders over the course of the 24 hours

- The No. 01 TELMEX/Target Dinan-Prepared BMW Riley led a total of 96 out of 761 laps

- The No. 02 Target/TELMEX Dinan-Prepared BMW Riley led a total of 52 out of 761 laps

- Pruett led the most laps for CGRFS with a total of 79

- CGRFS has earned 10 top-five finishes in each Rolex 24 At Daytona since first competing in the race in 2004

- The race marked the first Rolex 24 At Daytona since 2005 that CGRFS finished off of the podium

- Pruett still holds the all-time class victory mark at the Rolex 24 At Daytona with nine (1987, 1988, 1992, 1993, 1994, 2002, 2007, 2008, 2011).

- Pruett has a record 37 overall GRAND-AM Rolex Series wins in addition to four overall wins at the Rolex 24 (1994, 2007, 2008, 2011)

- CGRFS still holds the greatest six-race stretch in Rolex 24 At Daytona history with four wins (2006, 2007, 2008, 2011) and two second-place finishes (2009, 2010) dating back to 2006

- CGRFS has five championships (2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2011) and 37 race wins since their introduction to the circuit in 2004– all GRAND-AM records

- Pruett and Rojas continue to be the most successful driving duo in series history with 23 GRAND-AM race wins

CGRFS QUOTEBOARD

SCOTT PRUETT – (No.01 TELMEX/Target Dinan-Prepared BMW Riley)

“What a race. You really never know what is going to happen here. This is the big one that we all love to win in sports car racing in America. We had a great car and even with the fact we had to overcome a gearbox issue near the end, I’m just not sure we had anything for the two Fords up front. It was a total team effort like always from the Ganassi team, and Memo and I are looking forward to Barber in March.”

JUAN PABLO MONTOYA – (No.02 Target/TELMEX Dinan-Prepared BMW Riley)

“We gave it all we had. For the second year in a row we just couldn’t make it happen. It’s disappointing what happened in the middle of the night. I really enjoy running this race with this group of guys (Dixon, Franchitti and McMurray). One of these days we’ll get this right and win it again.”

The next GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series race for the CGRFS season-long effort in the No.01 TELMEX Dinan-Prepared BMW Riley with Pruett and Rojas will be at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Al on March 31. The Porsche 250 will air on SPEED at 4:00 pm ET.

About Chip Ganassi Racing Teams

Chip Ganassi has been a fixture in the auto racing industry for over 25 years and is considered one of the most successful as well as innovative owners the sport has anywhere in the world. Today his teams include four in the IZOD IndyCar Series, two cars in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, and one Daytona Prototype in the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series. Overall his teams have 14 championships and 145 victories, including three Indianapolis 500s, a Daytona 500, a Brickyard 400 and four Rolex 24 At Daytonas. Ganassi boasts state-of-the-art race shop facilities in Indianapolis and Brownsburg, Ind. and Concord, N.C., with a corporate office in Pittsburgh, Penn.

For more information log onto www.chipganassiracing.com

Source: Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates, Press Release

Ben Keating also drove for TRG at last year's Petit Le Mans event. © NARRA

For more information on NARRA, the USGTC, Whelen USTTC and USPDE visit NARRAonline.com . 

 Source: NARRA, Press Release

No 8 Starworks Autosport Ford Riley DP - Photo Credit: Catchfence.com Open Wheel Editor, Paul Powell

THE PLOT:

Orlando-based Ryan, originally from Lanarkshire in Scotland, had put the Starworks Motorsport car on pole position on Thursday.

Then he turned in a flawless opening stint as the Fort Lauderdale-based team showed they had the power to take on the Grand-Am Sports Car Series big guns.

Ryan was just as good in his other stints and was perfectly backed up by Venezuelans Enzo Potolicchio and Alex Popow, fellow Scot Allan McNish and German Lucas Luhr.

But their stunning efforts were not enough as they finished just 5.1 seconds behind the winners.

THE QUOTES: “It is disappointing. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed. We were the car to beat and it was nice to lead so many laps, but leading so many laps sometimes makes it feel worse when you don’t take the checkered flag.

“On the plus side, it was an amazing race and the perfect way to mark the 50^th running for Daytona. Starworks did an awesome job. Peter put together an amazing crew and we will now focus on the rest of the year.

“To win this race it takes an incredible car – and we had that.

“I have never been in such a dominant position before and not won the race. We were the dominant car and that is the hardest thing to take. We had the car to beat, but sometimes things do not go your way.

“Second place is great. We will probably appreciate it a bit more after a little time.

“We thought that we had something in the final stint. We had some damage and we bumped into things. But the last two stops, we made three seconds each time over the Shanks car. It was almost a fairytale ending to a tough two weeks for us.

“We qualified on pole, had the fastest lap but we didn’t win. But it is hard to be overly disappointed when you think of where Starworks has come from.”

THE FACTS: Ryan will also spearhead Starworks Motorsport’s 2012 Grand-Am campaign. He will also compete with Starworks in the Continental Tires Sports Car. The next round is of the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series is at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama on March 31.

Ryan had four Rolex Grand-Am podiums in 2011 – a win at mid-Ohio and third at Barber, Lime Rock and Watkins Glen. He also had three fourth-place finishes.

Ryan also gave Starworks Motorsports its first DP victory, at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, in 2008.

Find out more at www.ryandalziel.com.

Source: Ryan Dalziel Press Release

Goncalvez drove this #6 Michael Shank Racing with Curb-Agajanian Ford-Riley during the 50th Rolex 24. (Photo credit: Indianapolis Motor Speedway)

His first time at the endurance race, Jorge teamed up with GRAND-AM winner and NASCAR driver Michael McDowell, fellow Firestone Indy Lights driver Gustavo Yacaman and Formula Three Champion Felipe Nasr. Together they piloted the No. 6 Ford-powered Riley to a podium finish in the historic endurance race.

“The entire Belardi Auto Racing family is very happy for Jorge and the entire Michael Shank Racing team,” said Belardi Auto Racing owner, Brian Belardi. “We are so proud to see one of our former drivers on podium at such a renowned event. It was great to see Jorge, as well as Anders, competing at the 24 Hours, and we are all very proud of them both. I am sure they will continue their successes wherever 2012 takes them.”

Goncalvez’s 2011 Indy Lights teammate, Anders Krohn, also competed in the 50th Anniversary of the Rolex 24. Krohn had a great run in the No. 36 Yellow Dragon Motorsports car, with co-drivers John and Jarrett Andretti and Taylor Hacquard, until they were forced to retire due to mechanical issues in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Source: Belardi Auto Racing, Press Release

Ford Sweeps 2012 Rolex 24 at Daytona Podium

The Ford-powered programs of Michael Shank Racing (1^st, 3^rd) and Starworks Motorsport (2^nd) swept the podium of the 50^th Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway on Sunday to open the 2012 season of the Grand-Am Rolex series.

• The No. 60 of MSR took first and the No. 6 third, while the Starworks No. 8 placed second after starting on the pole.

• Ford last swept the podium in 1966, its first victory in the 24-hour version of the event.

Daytona, Fla. – Jan. 29, 2012 – Historic events are often filled with special moments, and the 50th anniversary of the Rolex 24 was no exception. Ford powered cars managed to sweep the podium of North America’s greatest endurance test at Daytona International Speedway on Sunday to kick off the 2012 season of the Grand-Am Rolex series.

Michael Shank Racing’s No. 60 Daytona Prototype claimed the checkered flag, followed by Starworks Motorsport’s No. 8 DP and the MSR No. 6 DP, giving the Blue Oval its first DP victory at Daytona since 2003, and its first overall victory in the 24-hour marathon event since 1999.

“I always feel like I have to prove myself, because I came from nothing,” Michael Shank said. “I’ve had great relationships with people like Ozz Negri and John Pew that have taken our business to another level.”

A.J. Allmendinger piloted across the finish line seconds ahead of pole winner Ryan Dalziel, and Filipe Nasr soon followed to complete the impressive feat.

“That Ford motor was the best, most powerful engine I’ve ever had,” Allmendinger said, noting that when anyone challenged him during that final three-hour period, “the engine pulled like no other I’ve ever had. It was great.”

Ford also swept the podium in 1966, one of four victories for the manufacturer in the 24-hour version of the race, which includes three overall victories — 1966, 1997 and 1999.

“What a historic moment for all of Ford Motor Company and its fans around the world,” Jamie Allison, director, Ford Racing, said. “In the hands of our long-time partners at Michael Shank Racing and our new friends at Starworks Motorsport, we are proud to have captured this special 1-2-3 finish at the 50th running of the iconic Rolex 24 at Daytona. Without so many people, a moment like this would never be possible. The support from Roush Yates, who support all of our teams in Grand-Am, under the leadership of John Maddux and Doug Yates is critical to our success.”

The accomplishments of the weekend were also special for John Maddux of Roush Yates engines.

“We’ve had some really fast cars in the past, but we’ve never had it come together,” Maddux said. “We had two really strong teams and they put it all together there today. A huge thanks to Robert and Doug Yates and Jack Roush for believing in the fact that we could make a commercial business out of sports car racing. It’s been great.”

Each of the three Ford teams on the podium led at least one lap, including a race-best 295 by the No. 8 and 249 by the No. 60. The three teams combined to pace 545 of the 761 completed laps.

“A grueling 24-hour race is a culmination of team work, perseverance and flawless execution, and that came at the hands of all 12 of our Ford drivers,” said Allison.

The No. 60 DP, piloted by Allmendinger, Ozz Negri, John Pew and Justin Wilson, and the No. 8 DP, manned by Dalziel, Lucas Luhr, Allan McNish, Alex Popow and Enzo Potolicchio, each showed long stints of dominance at various points in the race, and the crew of the No. 6 DP, driven by Jorge Goncalvez, Michael McDowell, Felipe Nasr, and Gustavo Yacaman, made critical strides to come back from a lap down in the late stages of the event.

Winning the Rolex 24 is a special victory, but claiming the checkered flag on the 50th anniversary of the event makes it a moment many will never forget.

“Being there for the weekend festivities to celebrate the history of this marquee event, with the leadership of Jim France and his team in Grand-Am, make this victory even sweeter,” Allison said.

The Grand-Am Rolex season continues March 31, at Barber Motorsports Park.

About Ford Racing – North America

Ford Racing – North America, based in Dearborn, Mich., is responsible for major racing operations in North America, including NASCAR (Sprint Cup, Nationwide Series, Camping World Trucks), Grand American sports car racing, NHRA drag racing. In addition, Ford’s action motorsport programs involve Global RallyCross, Formula Drift, RallyCar and Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series. The department also oversees the development and marketing of Ford Racing Engines and Performance Parts, the outreach programs with all Ford Clubs and Ford enthusiasts, and the marketing of the Ford Racing brand through initiatives such as Team Ford Racing. For more information regarding Ford Racing’s activities, please visit www.fordracing.com.

About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 166,000 employees and about 70 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford’s products, please visit www.ford.com.

Source: PCGCampbell for Ford Racing, Press Release