Sunday

Mike Bliss Clinches WIX Filters Lap Leader Award in Ford 300

WIX Filters Lap Leader Logo

AT HOMESTEAD-MIAMI SPEEDWAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2009

· Mike Bliss clinched the 2009 WIX Filters Lap Leader Award in tonight’s Ford 300. Bliss captured WIX Filters Lap Leader of the Race honors in six events this season. He led eight times in eight races for a total of 197 laps. In 178 NASCAR Nationwide Series races, Bliss has led 29 times for 579 total laps.

· Bliss finished the season fifth in the series championship standings.

· Bliss scored one win, seven top-five and 15 top-10 finishes this season. He won race No. 11 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway (Concord, N.C.), the second win of his career. Both of Bliss’ victories have come at Lowe’s Motor Speedway (his other win came there in the 2004 fall race).

Mike Bliss

“It was the highs and lows. We won Charlotte and had some good runs, we had runs and then I was left without a ride sitting there on a Monday trying to figure out what I was going to do. Just did a couple start and parks to maybe stay in the top-10 in points. I drove a lot of cars, met a lot of people, it was kind of fun. It was actually a fun year the way it’s ending now. I never thought I’d be in the situation I am here kind of knotted up a little bit about trying to stay in the top-five.”

ARE YOU PLEASED WITH THE YEAR THAT YOU’VE HAD?

“Oh yeah and really I couldn’t have done it without driving the CJM car, the 11 Nationwide car. I had some good finishes and some good runs with them and that’s what really helped me out a lot. Without them I probably wouldn’t be here today in this situation.”

DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU’RE DOING NEXT YEAR?

“No. We don’t have anything. I don’t have anything. There are some teams I’m talking to.”

Jason Keller was the WIX Filters Lap Leader of the Race in tonight’s Ford 300. Keller led once for three laps and claimed the honor for the second time in 2009. He has now led 42 times 1,087 laps in 347 career superspeedway starts. Keller was credited with a 13th-place finish.

WIX FILTERS LAP LEADER AWARD STANDINGS

Mike Bliss 6

Kenny Wallace 4

Brendan Gaughan 2

Jason Keller 2

Joe Nemechek 1

Michael McDowell 1

Morgan Shepherd 1

Tony Raines 1

Brad Coleman 1

Trevor Bayne 1

Steve Wallace 1

Mike Wallace 1

Michael Annett 1

WIX FILTERS LAP LEADER AWARD WINNERS BY RACE

EVENT DRIVER

Camping World 300 Jason Keller, three laps

Stater Bros. 300 None Awarded

Sam’s Town 300 Mike Bliss, 16 laps

Scotts Turf Builder 300 Joe Nemechek, 12 laps

O’Reilly 300 None Awarded

Nashville 300 Michael McDowell, seven laps

Bashas’ Supermarkets 200 None Awarded

Aaron’s 312 Morgan Shepherd, three laps

Lipton Tea 250 Mike Bliss, 62 laps

Diamond Hill Plywood 200 Tony Raines, one lap

CARQUEST Auto Parts 300 Mike Bliss, 21 laps

Heluva Good! 200 Kenny Wallace, two laps

Federated Auto Parts 300 Kenny Wallace, seven laps

Meijer 300 Brendan Gaughan, six laps

Northern Tool.com 250 Brad Coleman, 35 laps

Camping World RV Sales 200 Mike Bliss, three laps

Subway Jalapeno 250 Kenny Wallace, one lap

Dollar General 300 Mike Bliss, one lap

Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers 250 None Awarded

Kroger 200 Trevor Bayne, 34 laps

U.S. Cellular 250 Mike Bliss, three laps

Zippo 200 Steve Wallace, two laps

CARFAX 250 None Awarded

Food City 250 Brendan Gaughan, 10 laps

NAPA Auto Parts 200 None Awarded

Virginia 529 College Savings 250 None Awarded

Dover 200 None Awarded

Kansas Lottery 300 None Awarded

Copart 300 Mike Wallace, one lap

Dollar General 300 Kenny Wallace, one lap

Kroger On Track for the Cure 250 Michael Annett, nine laps

O’Reilly Challenge None Awarded

Able Body Labor 200 None Awarded

Ford 300 None Awarded

Since 1939, WIX® Filters, a member of the Affinia Group family of brands, has been an innovator in filtration products. WIX designs, manufactures and distributes products for automotive, diesel, agricultural, industrial and specialty filter markets. Its product line includes oil, air, cabin interior, fuel, coolant, transmission and hydraulic filters for automobiles, trucks and off-road equipment. WIX, a member of the Affinia family of brands, is the number one filter in NASCAR and an exclusive NASCAR Performance Product. Its NASCAR relationship also includes the WIX Filters Lap Leader Award, which recognizes the drivers leading the most laps in each race. For more information, visit www.wixfilters.com.

Affinia Group Inc. is an innovative global leader in the design, manufacture, distribution and marketing of industrial grade products and services, including extensive offerings of aftermarket parts for automotive and heavy-duty vehicles. With more than $2 billion in annual revenue, Affinia has operations in North and South America, Europe, Asia and India. For more information, visit www.affiniagroup.com.

*Affinia Group Inc.’s affiliated companies include Brake Parts Inc. WIX Filtration Corp LLC, Affinia Products Corp LLC and other high quality manufacturers of the Affinia family of brands.

- Camp & Associates, Inc. Press Release