Matt Carter

“We had a really good year in the ARCA series in 2008 – finishing third in points and clinching the Rookie of the Year title. We were looking to move up or at least run a full ARCA season in ’09, but when the economy tanked, our team along with many others, dissolved,” explained Carter. “It’s been slow the past two years but in the meantime we’ve been working on advancing our program and gathering the right resources.”

Last year, Carter ran 15 NASCAR Nationwide series races for Specialty Racing, a low budget team with very limited resources, which gave him seat time and great experience.

“We got two top 15 finishes, which was good considering we were very limited in what we had to work with,” stated Carter. The team decided to part ways with four races left in the season, leaving Carter without the ability to fulfill the remaining 2009 NNS race schedule.

“Since then, I’ve helped a couple of teams out and tried to be involved in the sport whenever and wherever I could,” continued Carter. “I‘ve done some testing, start and parks and even spotted for a team; it’s definitely not where I want to be right now, but we’ve been making advances to work with sponsors to try and get something started. I would like to remain with Travis Carter Motorsports, but if the right opportunity should arise I’ll be considering all options, even going with a new team. My dad and I are still here in NASCAR – we haven’t left.”

Travis Carter Motorsports is headquartered in Statesville, North Carolina, and is owned and operated by legendary Winston Cup Crew Chief, Travis Carter, also father to Matt Carter. They are equipped to run a full season in any series – they just need the right backing and they are confident that their efforts to gain support will pan out. In 2008, Carter competed in one of the most competitive fields yet seen in the ARCA RE/MAX series.

Week in and week out, Carter competed for the championship against famed drivers such as Scott Speed, Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., Justin Algaier and even Nine Time ARCA Series Champion and Triple Crown Award Winner, Frank Kimmel. When running in the late Hooters Pro Cup Series, he earned the name as the “Silent Stalker”. His precision on the track is impeccable and when everything comes together for him, you can bank on the fact that Matt Carter will be a Rookie of the Year contender and the next up and coming name in NASCAR.

- AD Motorsports Marketing Press Release

Parker Kligerman - Photo Credit: Sam Greenwood / Getty Images for NASCAR

No. 26 Dodge Team News and Notes

- Parker Kligerman, driver of the No. 26 Dodge Challenger for K-Automotive Motorsports, will attempt to make his first NASCAR start at Richmond International Raceway this weekend in the Virginia 529 College Savings 250. In a total of nine career Nationwide Series starts, the 20-year-old driver has earned two top-10, four top-15 and five top-20 finishes.

- On October 3, 2009, Kligerman had a memorable Nationwide Series debut behind the wheel of the No. 22 Penske Truck Rental Dodge Charger at Kansas Speedway. Kligerman won the pole for the Kansas Lottery 300 and led the first seven laps of the race before earning an impressive 16th-place result.

- Kligerman finished second in the 2009 ARCA RE/MAX Series championship, as he came up just five points shy of the series title. He won series Rookie of the Year honors and led the circuit with nine victories as he posted 14 top-five and 18 top-10 finishes in 21 races.

- Kligerman, a native of Westport, Conn., is attending college at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and is planning a course of study in Business Marketing.

· Follow Kligerman on Twitter at @pkligerman. Check out Kligerman on Facebook and visit his official website at www.parkerkligerman.com to learn more about the up-and-coming NASCAR driver.

Parker Kligerman Quote

What are your thoughts as you attempt your first race at Richmond International Raceway?

“I’m really looking forward to racing for the first time at Richmond International Raceway this weekend with the new Nationwide Series car. We are carrying a lot of momentum from our last couple of finishes which were the best of my career so far. There are a lot of unknowns with the new car at a short track, but I am looking forward to the challenge.

“Although I haven’t raced at Richmond before, I know the racing will be exciting because it is a multi-groove short track. I think the drivers and fans alike really look forward to this race and I hope that we will have a strong finish in our Dodge Challenger on Friday night.”

Crew Chief Chris Carrier Quote

What are your thoughts for this weekend’s race at Richmond International Raceway?

“Richmond International Raceway is undoubtedly one of the ‘raciest’ tracks on the circuit and it has always been one of my personal favorites. The wide surface on each end of the track lends itself to a lot of two- and three-wide racing throughout the field. True stock car fans enjoy that kind of excitement. Richmond is a great mix of short-track racing with intermediate-track mindsets that demands a lot from the car, driver and crew to be successful. I am certain Parker will fit in with enthusiasm and I expect him to be very competitive in the No. 26 Dodge Challenger.”

- Penske Racing Press Release

No. 09 Zaxby's Ford Fusion

Townley, the 20-year-old Watkinsville, Ga. native, previously competed for RAB Racing in the ARCA RE/MAX Series in 2008 and in the NASCAR Nationwide Series during the 2009 season where he was a Raybestos Rookie of the Year candidate in the No. 09 Ford Fusion. Townley has 34 total career starts in NASCAR’s junior circuit.

In five starts this season, Townley has consistently qualified inside the top-15 with his best effort of fifth coming in the season opener at Daytona International Speedway. Townley continued to jumpstart the 2010 season by leading 10 laps under green at Las Vegas Motor Speedway en route to a 15th place finish.

“I have always had a great deal of respect for Robby Benton and Brack Maggard,” Townley said. “I’m looking forward to climbing back behind the wheel of their No. 09 Ford this weekend in Iowa.”

“We’re very happy to have John Wes back in our Ford Fusion this weekend,” said General Manager/Team Co-Owner Robby Benton. “We’ve run there a handful of times together in the past and I’m very proud that we’ll be able to help shape his return to the Nationwide Series.”

The NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Iowa Speedway gears up Saturday, July 31 for The U.S. Cellular 250. The 250-lap event is scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. EST and will air live on ESPN2.

- RAB Racing with Brack Maggard Press Release

ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards

Fans who attended the 2009 event were treated to not only a beautiful day of racing & excitement, but exposure to a brand new health initiative aimed at increasing awareness of HIV & AIDS in our communities.

G-Force Motorsports Marketing, the motorsports arm of The Goddard Marketing Group teamed up with the Ohio Department of Health, the Ohio Rural AIDS Advisory Group and Richland Health to offer free HIV tests for drivers, team & fans at the event. When the testing event was complete, over 140 fans had taken a quick oral swab HIV test.

The 2009 Testing Team from the Ohio Department of Health, the Ohio Rural AIDS Advisory Group and Richland Health

The legacy of Tim Richmond will be remembered again this year, as the 2nd Annual ARCA Tim Richmond Memorial ARCA RE/MAX 200 will take place on Saturday, July 17th, 2010.

As a tribute to the legend, The alliance of partners will once again be hosting an HIV/AIDS awareness and free testing event at the track from 2:00-6:00 pm EST on the day of the race.

The Goddard Marketing Group President, Jeff Goddard commented on the event “When we kicked off the HIV testing event in 2009, we were cautiously optimistic that our responses would be positive. I know the topic of HIV & AIDS can be intimidating because it is a subject of controversy . . . many just prefer not to talk about it, much less have it thrown in the mix at a stock car race. But, I could not have scripted a better response from the fans last June at Mansfield. Fans of all ages & backgrounds lined up to be tested, and when we closed off the testing at 6:00, 140 fans knew their status. Of course, many would argue that a free t-shirt was the incentive that lured many to step up to the plate, but that is a small price to pay to get the kind of results we achieved.”

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that over one million people in the United States are infected with HIV. Approximately one-fourth (24-27%) of the infected individuals are believed to be unaware of their infection. CDC statistics highlight the need for expanded testing opportunities for the American public.

Therefore, in addition to the HIV/AIDS information booth at the track, the Ohio Department of Health, the Ohio Rural AIDS Advisory Group and Richland Health will be conducting HIV testing on site at the track with the OraQuick ADVANCE(R) Rapid HIV-1/2 Antibody test.

OraQuick ADVANCE(R) is the first and only FDA-approved and CLIA-waived rapid point-of-care test that can detect antibodies to both HIV-1 and HIV-2 in 20 minutes, using oral fluid, finger-stick or venipuncture whole blood or plasma specimens. OraQuick ADVANCE(R) is used extensively throughout the country in public health settings, hospitals, community-based organizations, and physician offices where HIV testing is conducted, because of its ease of use, high accuracy and rapid results.

The free oral swab testing will be conducted from 2:00-700pm at the track. Information and counseling will be available for anyone seeking more information.

The Mansfield Motorsports Park has also announced a promotion for Ohio residents to receive a family four pack of tickets for ½ price with your valid Ohio drivers license. Contact the speedway for more details.

For interview requests, partnership/sponsorship information OR interest in hosting future HIV awareness and testing events at motorsports venues across the United States, please contact Jeff Goddard at G-Force Motorsports Marketing @ 704.239.5553 or jeff@goddardmarketinggroup.com. You can also visit www.goddardmarketinggroup.com to discover how your business can benefit from a partnership in motorsports.

About The Goddard Marketing Group and G-Force Motorsports Marketing

G-Force Motorsports Marketing & Management and the Goddard Marketing Group provide a direct link to the motorsports industry, serving both the individuals and the organizations that comprise the fastest growing professional sport in the world. Check us out on the web at www.goddardmarketinggroup.com

Special Thanks: The Goddard Marketing Group wishes to thank all of the partners who are coming together to make this event a reality. The Ohio Department of Health, the Ohio Rural AIDS Advisory Group, Richland Health

- Goddard Marketing Group Press Release

Billy Ballew Motorsports

Wallace, driver of the No. 66 5-Hour Energy Toyota Camry in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, has driven in two prior NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) events, both for BBM. In his NCWTS debut, Wallace pedaled his way to a fourth-place finish at Atlanta Motor Speedway in March, followed by a 12th-place finish at Nashville Superspeedway in April.

Wallace, the youngest son of Iowa Speedway’s chief designer and racing legend, Rusty Wallace, has enjoyed success at Iowa in the past. In his two prior appearances there, the younger Wallace won the inaugural ARCA RE/MAX Series event in 2006 and ran among the top-five for the majority of last year’s Nationwide Series event, before being taken out of contention by late-race contact.

Wallace Comments on the Lucas Oil 200:

“Iowa (Speedway) is gaining a reputation as one of the best tracks on the circuit. It has the best of both worlds. It’s got the speed of a big track, but the close, side-by-side action of a short track. It’s been an exciting race each time I’ve been there. I’m sure this week will be no different.

“It’s a lot of fun to race at Iowa. You’re always busy. You’re always on your toes. It seems like you’re always passing cars. The Truck Series guys always race really hard the whole race, so you’ve got to be on your game the second the green flag waves.

“I’m excited to be racing with Billy Ballew Motorsports again. ‘Cowboy’ (Starland) has given me an awesome truck the past two times I’ve worked with him. Hopefully we’ll get the Toyota of Des Moines Tundra to the front of the pack and be there at the end.”
# # #

About Toyota of Des Moines:

Toyota of Des Moines, in Des Moines, Iowa, is the No. 1 Toyota dealer in the State of Iowa. Many of their customers travel in from Omaha, Nebraska – Kansas City, Missouri and Kansas – Minneapolis, Minnesota – Chicago, Illinois and towns in Iowa like Cedar Rapids, Ames, Iowa City, Cedar Falls, Waterloo, Council Bluffs, Mason City, Ft. Dodge and Spirit Lake.

About Billy Ballew Motorsports:

BBM started competing full-time in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in 2002 and has had a variety of well known NASCAR drivers over the years. The list includes Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, Aric Almirola, Brian Ickler, John Andretti, Kenny Wallace, Paul Menard, Bill Lester, Geoffrey Bodine, Joe Ruttman and a host of others. It was Shane Hmiel who piloted the No. 15 for the 2004 season that brought Billy Ballew his first win at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the team’s 100th start in the NCWTS. Since then Billy Ballew Motorsports has taken 18 more trips to victory lane.

- Breaking Limits Press Release

Petty raced in the ARCA RE/MAX series in 2009 finishing 13th in the point standings. The team is hoping to run Daytona if funding can be secured. DBR will be at Atlanta for sure and hopes to run the entire season.

- Rotoworld

Fox has over 30 years under his belt in many forms of racing. He started out racing motorcycles and snowmobiles and has competed at many local short tracks in the Northeast. He also has a handful of ARCA starts at Pocono International, where he is the General Manager for the Stock Car Racing Experience. He has a SCCA National License and says road racing is his second favorite behind the ARCA series.

Both Aquilino and Fox are very excited about the upcoming season. Fox has won races on two wheels and four, on dirt and asphalt and both road courses and ovals. He hopes to see some similar success in 2010 with their 2007 Dodge Charger. In addition to races at Pocono, there’s a possibility that the team will compete in other events if they can secure sponsorship. “I’ve competed in a couple of ARCA RE/MAX Series events in the past and they are the best. From the other competitors to the ARCA officials to everyone involved, top notch professionals all the way”, noted Fox. “In what other series can a guy run some of the same tracks as the NASCAR boys, and still be in front of the popular regional fan base”, he noted. “It’s also a great opportunity for Motorsports Marketing with huge rewards at a fraction of Sprint Cup sponsorship”.

For more information on Motorsports Marketing with Universe Racing, dates on team and show car appearances and to keep up with all that they have going on, visit www.universeracing.net.

- Universe Racing Press Release

Milka Duno

Duno was one of several female drivers taking part in the three-day ARCA RE/MAX Series test at the 2.5-mile oval, where she set the 13th fastest time during her only full day of running among 60-plus drivers.

The Venezuelan was more than happy with her test at the wheel of Braun Racing’s #90 Toyota, which she drove for a full day on Saturday but only for a few laps on Sunday due to an engine problem.

“I think I adapted to the car pretty quick, although it was not easy,” Duno said. “I think the times show that.

“The car moves around a lot and you have to be very gentle. But I’m happy with the result although I think I could have done better on Sunday, if not for a broken piston on the engine.”

- autosport.com

Joey Coulter

Every year ARCA enters the home stretch of their off-season with a three-day test at the elusive beast that is Daytona International Speedway. This year is no different as the test is scheduled for December 18th-20th 2009. Drivers and teams alike flock from all over the country to get a fix on their racing bug and prepare for the upcoming season. This is a trek 19-year-old ARCA star Joey Coulter has eagerly awaited since the 2009 finale at Rockingham.

Fresh off an outstanding 2009 rookie season, where Coulter finished fourth in series points, earning seven top fives, 13 top tens, two Pole Awards and the coveted Sportsman of the Year Award, the Miami Springs, Florida native is amped-up to get back on the track. The offseason may be a long awaited time to rest for some, but not for this ARCA standout who lives and breathes racing, and yearns to be on the track.

“2009 was a great learning experience, not only for myself but my whole team (Coulter Motorsports) and we had an amazing time along the way,” commented Joey Coulter. “We accomplished a lot and earned everyone’s respect and, at this level of racing, that is very important. I cannot explain how excited I am to get back racing at the Daytona test and in 2010. I would like to thank my Mom, Dad, and team for making all of this possible.”

The rookie driver proved himself continually on and off the track in 2009. Under the veteran leadership of Crew Chief Harold Holly the team was a threat week in and week out. Coulter would go on to earn career best finishes of second at Mansfield Motorsports Park and Toledo Speedway, while leading 156 laps throughout the 2009 ARCA RE/MAX Series Season.

“Joey (Coulter) is truly a remarkable young race car driver and it has been my privilege to work with him thus far,” said Coulter Motorsports Crew Chief Harold Holly. “His car control and feedback are on par with any veteran racing today, and he has continually proven he is poised for victory lane. I, along with the entire team, am looking forward to getting back racing at the Daytona test. We are 100% prepared this year and are ready to show everyone we mean business!”

Not only did Coulter’s clean driving and exceptional car control earn him respect on the track in 2009, it also earned him the admiration of his peers and ARCA off the track. The prestigious Sportsman of the Year Award that Coulter earned has never in the 57 years of ARCA been awarded to a series rookie.

As Coulter and his team head down I-95 South towards Daytona, everyone is ready to watch the talented young racer hit the track. The No. 16 Darrell Gwynn Foundation / Tempest Cycles Chevrolet looks to be atop the speed charts all three days as they ready for the ARCA season opener February 6, 2010. Make sure to tune into live audio/timing and scoring of the ARCA Daytona Test on www.arcaracing.com December 18-20th.

For more information on Joey Coulter please be sure to visit www.joeycoulter.com

- Coulter Motorsports Press Release

Leilani Münter

“I am so thankful to NextEra Energy Resources for giving me the opportunity to attend the ARCA test at Daytona,” said Leilani, “I am thrilled to be driving for Mark Gibson Racing, they have a long history of success in the ARCA Series and I am really happy to be a part of his organization. Both of us are very hopeful that we will be able to expand our partnership beyond testing, we want to win races together.”

“Everyone here at MGR is excited about the opportunity to test at Daytona with Leilani. We have been talking about teaming up for a while. Leilani has worked very hard to get the opportunity to race in the ARCA series and hopefully the test at Daytona will get the 2010 season jump started,” said team owner Mark Gibson, “We are working hard to get a great car prepared. The car we are taking finished fifth at this year’s race at Daytona and once again Ilmor Engineering will supply the power. Given the box that ARCA puts us in as far as springs and shocks we have worked really hard on the body and suspension aspects to improve on the car. Daytona is such an important race in our schedule every team puts a lot of extra effort into this test. A good run at Daytona seems to make the rest of the season go a little better. A top ten at Daytona got Parker (Kligerman) off to a great start and the rest is history. We hope to do the same with Leilani.”

This will be Leilani’s third trip to the ARCA Series open test at Daytona, the most storied track in NASCAR. Her first laps at Daytona came in 2006 driving for Andy Hillenburg. In just two runs, her top speed of 177.644 mph was 24th quick of 59 race cars in testing in the Saturday afternoon session. She returned in 2008 to drive for racing legend James Hylton and turned a lap quick enough to put her 16th on the starting grid of the ARCA Daytona race on February 7 but due to lack of sponsorship, she was unable to participate in the race.

In addition to Daytona, the other events MGR and Leilani are looking to enter include Texas Motor Speedway on April 16, Talladega Superspeedway on April 23, both at Pocono Raceway on June 5 and July 31, Michigan Int’l Speedway on June 11, Iowa Speedway on July 10, Chicagoland Speedway on August 27, Kansas Speedway on September 30 and the finale at Rockingham Speedway on October 9. All these races will have live or same day coverage on SPEED. Leilani and Mark Gibson Racing are excited to announce a unique opportunity for companies to get involved as sponsors for these races without spending a single marketing dollar.

Through her partnership with LED Savings Solutions, Leilani’s ground breaking program can provide lighting upgrades with light emitting diode (LED) lights that reduce electricity demand by up to 80 percent, allowing a business or property owner to reduce costs immediately as well as a means to reduce a facility’s carbon footprint. The partnership offers companies of all sizes a tremendous opportunity to save money, go green, and become sponsor on Leilani’s race car — all without spending a dime. LED Saving Solutions has created the ground breaking “Savings Share” program that gives the property owners and managers a $0 start up cost advantage since they only pay for the cost of the retrofit from a portion of the actual money saved each month. The program is cash flow positive for companies from the start. GREENandSAVE and Leilani are proud to offer sponsorship exposure to companies that initiate the LED lighting retrofits. You will receive 5% of the purchase of the bulbs in vehicle branding and press release marketing with Leilani’s race program. Click here for more information on the LED program and for sponsorship inquiries please email marketing@leilanimunter.com.

Race fans are welcome to attend the Dec. 18-20 ARCA test session. It is open to the public with free access to the Oldfield Grandstands through the lobby of Daytona 500 Experience. In addition, trams will be available to transport race fans into the Sprint FANZONE to view all the testing action for $15.

About Mark Gibson Racing

After a successful short track career in Florida which started in 1974, Mark Gibson made his ARCA debut in 1982. Mark and his wife Jan formed Mark Gibson Racing (MGR) in 1985 and moved from Daytona Beach, Florida to Auburn, Georgia to continue a career in racing. In 1986, Mark won the Dayton Enterprises Rookie of the Year title and finished seventh in the point championship. Over the next 23 years the team had 13 wins, 54 top fives and 113 top tens competing in all four major stock car series; Sprint Cup, Nationwide, Camping World Trucks, and the ARCA RE/MAX Series. Mark also ranks second only to Frank Kimmel in all time ARCA starts with 326. The team won the Hoosier Super Speedway challenge in 1998 and the Hoosier Hard Charger Award in 2003.

In 2006, the team moved from their shop in Auburn to a 10,000 square foot facility just up the road in Statham, Georgia. This shop is located an hour northeast of Atlanta and close to Lanier Speedway, Gresham Motorsports Park and Road Atlanta. The team has a stable of fifteen race cars, a combination of Ganassi Dodges and DEI Chevrolets. Engines for the Dodges will be provided by ILMOR Engineering of Plymouth Michigan with the Chevrolets using Hendrick power from Automotive Specialties of Concord, North Carolina.

Mark Gibson Racing had a very successful season in 2009, winning nine races and scoring 14 top fives and 16 top tens with driver Parker Kligerman. Parker won the ARCA Rookie of the Year title and finished second in the Championship Points Race only five points behind the winner, Justin Lofton.

About Leilani Münter

Leilani Münter started racing cars in 2001 and in 2004 she gained the attention of the racing world when she qualified 4th and finished 7th at Texas Motor Speedway in the ROMCO Super Late Model Series. Texas would turn out to be one of Münter’s favorite tracks. She returned to Texas Motor Speedway in 2006 and set a new record when she finished 4th, the highest finish for a female driver in the history of the racetrack. In 2007 she made the move to in the Indy Pro Series, the development league of IndyCar, when she qualified 5th for her debut at Kentucky Motor Speedway. Leilani was running in the top six when a multi car accident took her out of the race. Leilani turned the 5th quickest lap of the race with a speed of 192.399 mph.

Leilani is also a biology graduate and a long time vegetarian and eco activist. Since 2007, Leilani has been purchasing an acre of rainforest for every race she runs to offset her carbon footprint. She founded the ground breaking “Eco Dream Team” with the mission to send powerful messages to the number one spectator sport in America, calling to action 100 million race fans in the US to make a difference by spreading environmental awareness about sustainable living alternatives, clean energy, alternative fuel vehicles, and environmental legislations. Additionally, Leilani hopes her efforts will encourage racing sanctioning bodies to increase their environmental initiatives with expanded recycling programs and the use of alternative fuels. Companies that sign up with GREENandSAVE to retrofit with energy efficient lighting have the opportunity to appear as a partner on her eco dream team race car.

In fall 2008, Leilani became the first Ambassador for the National Wildlife Federation and landed a national ad campaign as a Lucky Jeans model with the motto, “Race car driver Leilani Münter, saving rainforests one race at a time.” Her racing accomplishments and environmental activism have landed her on the pages of Italian Vogue, Vanity Fair, Esquire, Sports Illustrated and USA Today. Leilani is an accomplished public speaker from environmental conferences to Capitol Hill. She is also a published writer, currently contributing to the green section of the Huffington Post, rated the most influential blog in the world by the Guardian and topping Time Magazine’s blog index. She lives in Charlotte, North Carolina. For more information visit www.leilanimunter.com and her eco site www.carbonfreegirl.com.

- Leilani Münter Motorsports Press Release

Steve Arpin

The 25-year-old Fort Frances native already is a fan favourite—taking home the “Most Popular Driver” award at the ARCA RE/MAX Series awards banquet in Covington, Ky. on Saturday night.

But Arpin has caught the attention of a couple of big names in the racing world, too.

Arpin is working with NASCAR star Dale Earnhardt, Jr.’s company, JR Motorsports, in an attempt to raise the required amount of sponsorship money to compete in the Nationwide Series next season.

That circuit would have Arpin competing against high-profile drivers such as Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards, who also reportedly has been impressed by Arpin’s ability.

“[They’re] going out of their way when, really, they owe me nothing,” Arpin said from his home in North Carolina.

“They’re just seeing me as a guy who’s been working as hard as I possibly can and deserves a shot.

- Fort Frances Times

Danica Patrick NNS No. 7 GoDaddy.com / JR Motorsports

“It will be a huge interest builder, should attract some female fans and should attract some younger fans. To me, it appears to be a win-win for everybody, including IndyCar, who gets to hang onto her for another three years.”

– Dave Despain, host of “Wind Tunnel” with Dave Despain on SPEED

“Thank God it’s over – I’m sick of hearing about it (laughing). Nobody’s been a bigger support of Danica than I but I think she needs to become a consistent winner in IndyCar before she needs to worry about being a NASCAR driver. But I understand her curiosity – the money and all that. However, I agree with Juan Pablo Montoya – you can’t go back and forth between the two series or you’re never going to have success. You’ve got to do one or the other.

“I don’t know that NASCAR fans will embrace her. I think some of the men will but I don’t know if she will have a lot of female fans because their drivers are Tony Stewart, Kasey Kahne, Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr. The reaction might be surprising but I don’t think there will be a large groundswell of support.

“This shows me that maybe NASCAR is a little more desperate than I think they are if they think she’s going to be the ‘save-all’ and ‘cure-all.’ Danica will go through a huge learning process. She has a lot of spunk and talent and there’s no doubt about her abilities. She is as serious a racer as any guy. But this is something you can’t do part-time. It’s a full-time job.

“NASCAR is such a completely different animal – I’m just not sure you can jump back and forth and do one for two months, take four or six months off, then come back and do it again and have any kind of rhythm or consistency, but we’ll see.

“I guess it’s a natural progression. If you’re an American driver and aspire to be in the top series, it’s NASCAR, although it pains me to say that.”

– Robin Miller, SPEED analyst

“I think Danica Patrick’s entry into NASCAR and ARCA will positively impact our sport. This industry has changed and there is no reason Danica will not thrive in the stock car realm.

“Women have been breaking barriers in the garage since the early ‘80s when my mother had to be escorted through the NASCAR garage by an official because women were not allowed in the garage area. Now there are many talented and well-respected women working in NASCAR and proving their knowledge of the sport, oftentimes carrying a deeper pedigree and knowledge of the sport’s history than some of their male counterparts. I appreciate the hard-working women here who are giving the sport the recognition it deserves. If Danica helps that cause, I believe she will fit right in with our NASCAR family.”

– Wendy Venturini, SPEED reporter

“I wish Danica luck because she’s going to need it. Dario Franchitti wasn’t able to make the transition running a full-time schedule for Chip Ganassi. Juan Pablo Montoya has been very successful, but it took him two full years to figure it out. I respect her willingness to try, but what she’s doing isn’t easy.”

– Steve Byrnes, SPEED host

“Danica has been such a phenomenon at every level that I suppose this is the natural extension of her journey through the ranks of American motor sports. But after all that highfalutin talk, what it comes down to is she has to show she can do it. From what we’ve seen from the likes of Juan Pablo Montoya, Dario Franchitti, Scott Speed, A.J. Allmendinger and all the other very good drivers who have come from open wheel, where the cars are light with a lot of aero-downforce and a lot of tire grip, going to the big, ponderous, equally powerful but much more unstable stock cars is a very difficult thing to do. I’m sure she’s fully cognizant of that, which is why she’s putting her toe into the water, so to speak, using this limited schedule. It’s going to be a tough transition and I hope she does it right. She certainly knows, as we all do, that it’s going to be a white-hot spotlight on her and it’s going to be a tricky process.

“NASCAR has been an all-male bastion for a long time. There have been a few women who have ventured into the sport here and there. But what Danica is doing is very well organized, very well-thought-out and hopefully she’ll be able to have an impact commensurate with her talent and won’t be sidetracked by all the extraneous issues of being a historical figure. There is a lot of heavy-lifting in just doing the job because being a stock car driver is difficult enough.”

– Bob Varsha, SPEED analyst

SPEED, now in more than 79 million homes in North America, is the exclusive home of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race, Gatorade Duel at Daytona, NASCAR Sprint Pit Crew Challenge and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. The only network delivering live, at-track programming all season long, SPEED offers the definitive pre- and post-race NASCAR Sprint Cup Series programs – NASCAR RaceDay and NASCAR Victory Lane, as well as other popular NASCAR programs including Trackside Live, NASCAR Performance, NASCAR Live!, NASCAR Race Hub, This Week in NASCAR, NCWTS Setup and NASCAR in a Hurry.

- SPEED Press Release

ARCA Logo

ARCA officials and SPEED announced the 2010 SPEED TV schedule for the ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX & Menards. The agreement calls for a minimum of 10 events to be televised on SPEED live and/or same-day delayed.

“Our relationship with ARCA dates back to the early days of the network,” said Rick Miner, SPEED SVP of Production & Network Operations. “We look forward to our continued relationship … working together to deliver great racing to a very supportive group of fans.”

SPEED will kick off its live flag-to-flag ARCA coverage at Daytona Int’l Speedway with the 47th running of the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 Saturday, February 6 at 4:00 PM ET.

“ARCA and Speed have invested a great deal over time in the relationship,” said Ron Drager, ARCA President. “Despite the tremendous evolution in the racing and television industries since 1997, our partnership has never wavered and, in fact, has grown stronger over time. We’re very pleased the Speed will continue to be the television home for the ARCA Series.”

In addition to Daytona, other events scheduled for live and/or same-day coverage in 2010 include Texas Motor Speedway on April 16, Talladega Superspeedway on April 23, both at Pocono Raceway on June 5 and July 31, Michigan Int’l Speedway on June 11, Iowa Speedway on July 10, Chicagoland Speedway on August 27, Kansas Speedway on September 30 and the finale at Rockingham Speedway on October 9.

ARCA’s relationship with SPEED reaches back to 1997 when the network (then Speedvision) covered the ARCA race at Salem Speedway on April 20, 1997. Since then, SPEED has aired a total of 169 ARCA races; the ’10 opener at Daytona marking the 170th.

- ARCA Press Release

The thick section of tree pinned Martel to the floor, breaking his ribs and vertebrae, and breaking Davis’ collarbone.

Martel, 50, of Mine Road, was in critical condition Thursday in Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, and Davis was released after treatment at Good Samaritan Hospital, hospital representatives said.

Bill Martel is owner of Bill Martel Racing, which sponsors his son, ARCA driver Kyle Martel. ARCA is a nationwide racing circuit sometimes considered to be a stepping-stone to NASCAR.

Kyle Martel, who was at the house at the time, freed Davis and tried to get his father out from under the tree by breaking off branches until the fire company and medics arrived, Craig Martel said.

“It’s pretty strange, a big tree coming through the center of the house,” Craig Martel said. “He has broken ribs and some fractured vertebrae, but he’ll be up and about. … He’s doing pretty good.”

Craig Martel said Kyle has a test race scheduled in Daytona Dec. 17, 18 and 19, and while Bill Martel might not make it, a crew is working on the car and Kyle still hopes to get there.

The family will stay with Davis’ parents until the house can be repaired, he said.

- Patriot-News

“I’ve always really enjoyed the banquet, whether we are celebrating a championship or just a good, solid year, it’s nice to get together with our extended ARCA family,” said Kimmel. “Even though everyone races hard throughout the year and were all competitive in our own right, we are still very much a family so the folks from ARCA are an important part of our lives.”

Kimmel will be joined in festivity by his brother and crew chief Bill Kimmel Jr. as well as the entire Kimmel Racing organization and their families.

“For Kimmel Racing, we’ve always believed that the whole team should be at the banquet and we encourage them to bring their families because it shows them how much we appreciate their hard work throughout the year and all the sacrifices they make to travel across the country for 20 plus race weekends.”

The 2009 season included some great highlights for the No. 44 Ansell/Menards team. Kimmel rounded out the season in third place in the championship standings with eight top-fives and 14 top-ten finishes. In addition, Kimmel led 96 laps throughout the season, including passing his career 10,000th lap led mark during his time at the front of the field during the race at the Illinois State Fairgrounds.

While Kimmel did not record a win, the team’s consistent presence in the top-ten made the No. 44 Ford Fusion a force to be reckoned with each week throughout the season. It was, however, the first year since 1998 that Kimmel didn’t visit victory lane. In fact, Kimmel had recorded at least three wins each year during the previous ten seasons of ARCA competition – a standing the team hopes to return to in 2010.

“Looking ahead to 2010, I think that we can really expect to get back to the level of success we had in past years by building on our performance in the last race of the 2009 season at Rockingham,” said Kimmel Jr. “At Rockingham, we went back to some of the things we were doing in 2003, 2004 and 2005 and it really seemed to work for us. The biggest thing was that the guys back at the shop had more input in the car’s set up so we really had a collective team effort.

“If we’re going to return to the level of success we had during our banner years in the sport, it all begins at the shop with the crew members having a lot of input into what we bring to the track so that’s the biggest thing I plan to focus on in 2010.”

While the team is happy to look back on its first year having both Ansell and Menards as primary sponsors, they are enthusiastic about the future. The upcoming season will include a 20-race schedule of competitive racing action at a diverse array of tracks.

“The 2010 schedule is going to be really interesting,” said Frank Kimmel. “Road course racing is always a challenge so I’m looking forward to that race in South Florida and I’m looking forward to the old standard racetracks like Toledo and Salem. And it will be great to get back to Texas, although I did feel a bit of disappointment over losing the Kentucky dates but we had expected it and hope that we can get back there in the future because that was always a good track for us.”

The 2009 ARCA RE/MAX Series awards banquet begins at 6:30 p.m. Eastern on Saturday night. In addition, the annual ARCA RE/MAX Series press conference will precede the banquet at 2 p.m. and will include several key announcements related to the series and teams.

- Kimmel Racing Press Release