Michael Waltrip

The Toyota/TTC 150 marks Waltrip’s fifth career West Series start.

“Some of the best racing in NASCAR is in the K&N Series,” Waltrip said. “I love racing those cars and I love racing those guys. You have guys racing that are just getting started in their careers and guys who’ve been racing forever like me. This gets me back to the roots of racing. Running Saturday night under the lights on a short track with families in the grandstands, that’s how I started and its always cool to be able to do it again whenever I get a chance.”

Waltrip said there was a little extra incentive as well.

“How can you turn down a trip to Montana? It’s one of the most beautiful places on earth. I know that there are awesome race fans out there so I can’t wait to meet them.”

Waltrip knows he’ll have a chance for victory. He has one win and three top-five finishes in his four K&N Pro Series West starts. The McAnally team won the 2010 K&N Pro Series West championship with driver Eric Holmes. Holmes and BMR teammate Moses Smith rank fourth and second in the Pro Series West points race.

Thornton Technology Corporation is a global leader in the Aerospace Industry for Aviation Life Support Systems. Associate sponsors for Waltrip’s car will include NAPA AUTO PARTS and Kalispell Toyota.

- Michael Waltrip Racing Press Release

Pastrana-Waltrip-Racing Thumbnail

Pastrana finished sixth in his Jan. 29 NASCAR debut in the Toyota All-Star Showdown at Irwindale (Calif.) Speedway. The Maryland native plans to make several appearances in K&N East and West Series before his July 30 Nationwide Series debut in Indianapolis. That weekend he will also compete in the ESPN X Games in Los Angeles. Longtime NASCAR truck series driver Matt Crafton has served as a tutor for Pastrana since beginning the NASCAR program.

PASTRANA QUOTES

ON RACING AT PHOENIX: “I can’t wait to get back in the race car this week. We had a very successful debut at Irwindale last month and I learned a lot during the race. I don’t think our goals have change from our debut. We want to go out there and make laps and learn as much as we can. I am really confident in the race car I will have this weekend. It used to be an old PWR Nationwide car that Bill McAnally purchased. I haven’t been able to test at Phoenix so I am going to have to spend most of the practice time just learning the best way around the track.
Hopefully, we will be able to have another successful race this week.”

ON MATT CRAFTON: “Matt Crafton has been a tremendous amount of help. He is kind of like my security blanket. He educates me on the best way to get around the race track. In Irwindale he was also my spotter and that was so much help. He told me when I was over driving the corners or when a lap looked pretty good. He also helped me stay out of a bunch of wrecks. Matt and I just clicked from the time we meet at New Smyrna Speedway.”

CREW CHIEF MIKE GRECI: “Obviously, we are in the same situation as Irwindale. Every race track will be a new experience for him. Our goal is to get him use to the one-mile race tracks as quickly as we can. We want him to be able to go out there and race competitively with the West Series drivers. I think Matt Crafton will play a big part in making him comfortable at Phoenix.

Matt has learned to work with Travis very well. Travis seems to really rely on Matt a lot when it comes to driving a race car. They have joined in a bonded and they work very well together right now. I think Travis trusts Matt a lot.”

NOTES OF INTEREST

· Pastrana’s Nationwide schedule includes: July 30 at Indianapolis, Sept. 9 in Richmond, Va., Oct. 1 in Dover, Del., Oct. 8 in Kansas, Nov. 5 in Fort Worth, Texas, Nov. 12 in Phoenix and Nov. 19 in Homestead-Miami.

· The Michael Waltrip Racing K&N Pro Series East team has won two consecutive championships with Ryan Truex. The team has captured five wins, two poles, 15 top-five and 17 top-10 finishes in just 21 races. Brett Moffitt will drive MWR’s East car in 2011.

· Bill McAnally Racing won the K&N Pro Series West championship last year with driver Eric Holmes. Holmes scored five victories, eight top-five and 10 top-10 finishes in 12 starts.

· Pastrana spent the past several weeks performing his Nitro Circus live tour in front of sold out crowds in New Zealand.

- Pastrana Waltrip Racing Press Release

D.J. Kennington

Kennington is expecting to be extremely competitive at PIR a track he is familiar with. “I’ve run a few Nationwide Series events at PIR and I’m pretty comfortable getting around there” said Kennington. “Plus we’ll have the same great car that Bill McAnally Racing had for me at Irwindale so I think we’ll have an excellent opportunity to do well” he added.

Of course this type of program wouldn’t be possible without partnership support. “When this opportunity to get back in the car for Phoenix Dwight Kennedy from Northern Provincial Pipeline said yes right away” stated Kennington. “And of course we’re now into the 18th year of our association with Castrol which is just tremendous.

The K&N West Series opener kicks off a full weekend of activities at PIR. Practice begins at 9AM local time, qualifying will be at 2:30PM local and the 100 mile race goes green at 4:30PM local. You can follow the action online at http://hometracks.nascar.com The race will also be broadcast on SPEED at a later date. Check your local listings for date and time.

Race fans are encouraged to keep up to date with the latest team news in several ways. Race fans should bookmark the team website www.djkracing.ca and follow them on twitter, www.twitter.com/djkracing Fans are also suggested to join the Facebook Group DJK Racing.

- TL Sports & Entertainment Press Release

D.J. Kennington

As the 2010 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Champion Kennington was guaranteed a starting spot in the 225 lap feature race but he and his Canadian Crew were anything but complacent. “We didn’t just come here to run around we wanted to show how good this team is” said Kennington.

The team worked to get Kennington comfortable in the car he hadn’t even seen until Thursday last week and their efforts were rewarded. Kennington would qualify the Castrol Edge car 15th for the Saturday night race.

The format for the NASCAR All Star Challenge is unique and makes for a challenging race on the half-mile oval at Irwindale. The first 200 laps are raced in 100 lap segments and then it’s a 25 lap shoot out to the finish. “With 40 cars in the race the first goal was surviving until the end” explained Kennington.

As the green flag waved to begin the race Kennington was cautious in the Castrol Edge car and looked to avoid the potential hazards. “There were a lot of aggressive moves right from the beginning and just wanted to look after the car” he stated. “Right from the first practice I could tell we had a good race car and I wanted to have something left for the end of the race” he added.

Kennington would move the Castrol Edge entry forward several positions avoiding incident after incident. During a long green flag run in the second 100 lap segment Kennington solidified his position in the top-ten with his sight set on the top-five. “I don’t think we had a mark on the car until almost lap 200” said the driver. “There was a yellow for contact at that point and I got a little tap but avoided the big incident and actually gained a couple of spots” he stated.

In the final 25 laps the aggressiveness of all remaining competitors heated up but Kennington maintained his composure in the #17 Castrol Edge car. “In that last segment guys were really trying to make something happen and we benefited” said the driver. “For the last re-start after a yellow we lined up third and then quickly moved to second with a few laps to go” he said excitedly.

Despite his best efforts Kennington was unable to pass the #75 car in the remaining few laps but did take the checkered flag for a sensational second place finish. “I really tried to get up there for the win but the car was just a little bit tight at the end” said Kennington “I have to congratulate Jason Bowles on the win”.

Putting this program together for the NASCAR All Star Showdown was a complicated endeavor that required a lot of cooperation and support for which DJ Kennington is extremely thankful. “I’m so proud of this whole effort” said the appreciative driver. “I have to thank so many people for making this possible. Castrol Edge, they’ll be back with me for an 18th year this season. Dwight Kennedy and Northern Provincial Pipeline have been great supporters for such a long time. Bill McAnally Racing gave me a great car to drive for this race I knew we’d be good right away. And I really have to thank all my guys who came down from Canada with me, they do such a great job and I can’t thank them enough” he said.

Race fans are encouraged to keep up to date with the latest team news in several ways. Race fans should bookmark the team website www.djkracing.ca and follow them on twitter, www.twitter.com/djkracing Fans are also suggested to join the Facebook Group DJK Racing.

- DJK Racing Press Release

No. 17 Castrol Edge Dodge Charger

A busy schedule can be a burden to some, but not to the always smiling Castrol Edge Dodge driver Kennington. “The sports dinner in London is a great event” said Kennington. “They raise money to support nearly 7,000 people every year and I’m proud to have been asked to attend” he added.

The annual Canadian Motorsports Expo is set to begin this Friday January 21st and continue through Sunday the 23rd and has become the place to be for racers and race fans each January. Occupying a large exhibit hall at the International Center near Pearson airport Kennington will be in attendance each day of the show. “Castrol has a large presence at this year’s show and we’re bringing our #17 Castrol Edge Dodge to be part of the display” said the driver. “It’s a great opportunity to meet a lot of race fans and I get to say thank you in person for all the congratulations I’m still receiving on the championship” he added.

That 2010 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Title guaranteed Kennington a starting spot in the annual NASCAR All Star Showdown that will take place January 28th and 29th in Irwindale California and the Castrol Edge Dodge driver can’t wait to turn laps on the half mile track. “I’ve watched this event on TV in the past and when you see some of the guys who’ve driven in this event it’s a real honour” said Kennington. “And I’m very happy to have Bill McAnally Racing (BMR) preparing the car for us. In fact BMR has three series champions signed up for this event and I know we’ll have a strong car. I’m anxious to see how we stack up against some tough competition”.

For more information about the Canadian Motorsports Expo and to purchase tickets fans can log onto www.canadianmotorsportsexpo.com Fans will be able to watch Kenninton participate in the NASCAR All Star Showdown from Irwindale California both January 28th and 29th on SPEED.

Race fans are encouraged to keep up to date with the latest team news in several ways. Race fans should bookmark the team website www.djkracing.ca and follow them on twitter, www.twitter.com/djkracing Fans are also suggested to join the Facebook Group DJK Racing.

- TL Sports & Entertainment Press Release

The three recently crowned NASCAR Touring Series champions will be competing for BMR in the eighth running of the NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown on Jan. 28-29 at Toyota Speedway at Irwindale (Calif.). The event, which brings together the top racers from across North America, will be highlighted by the 225-lap NASCAR K&N Pro Series all-star race.
BMR’s Eric Holmes – who scored his third championship this season in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West – will be joined for the event by DJ Kennington, the 2010 champion in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Mobil 1, and German Quiroga, the 2010 champion in the NASCAR Mexico Series. As 2010 NASCAR developmental series champions, all three have secured starting spots for the all-star event.

“We are very excited about this opportunity for BMR to field entries for three NASCAR champions in the biggest event of the year,” said BMR President Bill McAnally. “These drivers represent NASCAR racing in three countries and the Showdown provides them a chance to showcase their talent on a major stage together.”

Holmes of Escalon, Calif., is no stranger to the NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown. The 36-year-old driver won the Elite portion of the event as a competitor in the former NASCAR Southwest Tour in 2004. In NASCAR K&N Pro Series action, he has two top-10 finishes in four starts at the all-star event.

“It’s pretty cool having three champions on our team,” Holmes said. “I’m really looking forward to it. We ran really, really well the last three years at the showdown. We’ve just had some bad luck. Hopefully, we can overcome that. I know we’re taking a new car there this year. I think we have a shot at winning.”

Kennington, meanwhile, will be making his first appearance in the prestigious postseason event.

“I’ve watched it on TV for a lot of years,” said the 33-year-old driver from St. Thomas, Ontario. “I always thought it would be pretty cool to be there and to actually get the opportunity to go is another part of this whole ‘dream come true’ season for me.”

Although it will be his first start in a BMR entry, not all the crew members on the team are strangers to him. Kennington previously worked with Matt Goslant, who is now the crew chief for Holmes.

“Matt was my crew chief in the (NASCAR) Nationwide Series,” Kennington said. “So, its’ going to be kind of cool to be there to hang out with my friends again and most importantly, try to go there and see if we can have a decent run.”
Quiroga, who won back-to-back championships in the NASCAR Mexico Series in 2009 and 2010, will also be appearing for the first time at the NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown.

“For me it is a great opportunity,” Quiroga said. “We’ve been trying to do this for many years. I think it’s a first step and we’re looking to do well in the race and to see what we can achieve in 2011.”

Quiroga said he looks forward to representing his series in the all-star event.

“For me, it’s an honor,” said the 30-year-old driver from Mexico City. “I’ve been champion for two years in a row. For me, to represent all the drivers that compete in the NASCAR series in Mexico, it’s great to have this opportunity and I’m going to do my best.”

In addition to the three champions, also mounting the charge for BMR at the NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown will be the team’s two other full-time drivers, Paulie Harraka and Moses Smith.

“We were already excited at BMR to be bringing three of this year’s top four drivers in the series to the showdown,” McAnally said. “We want to build on BMR’s success this season with a strong performance in the all-star race. We are confident in the talent and fortunate that we have just added some great cars to the inventory, which were obtained from Rusty Wallace Incorporate and Michael Waltrip Racing.”

In addition to the secured starting spots for the 2010 champions of NASCAR’s developmental series, the NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown also provides secured spots for race winners of the NASCAR K&N Pro Series from the 2010 season. The 225-lap main event is broken up into three sections – two 100-lap segments preceding a 25-lap dash to the finish.

The schedule also includes a 75-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Super Late Model race and a 50-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Late Model race. The top five NASCAR state champions in attendance will have secured starting spots in the Late Model race. New to this year, the 25-car fields for each of those races will be set by a pair of heat races – 25 laps for the Super Late Models and 20 laps for the Late Models.

Both nights of racing will air live on SPEED.

- NASCAR Press Release

Paulie Harraka

Harraka, who has crisscrossed the country the past two years attending classes as a student at Duke University during the week and competing in NASCAR K&N Pro Series West events on weekends, nailed down a starting position for the all-star event by winning this year’s season opener.

The eighth running of the NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown will be Jan. 28-29 at Toyota Speedway at Irwindale (Calif.). The event, which brings together the top racers from across North America, will be highlighted by the 225-lap NASCAR K&N Pro Series all-star race.

Harraka, a participant in NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity program and part of the lineup of drivers for Bill McAnally Racing, will be making his second appearance in the prestigious event. He finished ninth in the race last January, following a season in which he won the 2009 Sunoco Rookie of the Year Award in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West.

“The Toyota All-Star Showdown is certainly the crown jewel of our series,” Harraka said. “We had a great car last year, but unfortunately went down a cylinder before the halfway mark. Still, my NAPA Gold Filters team battled extremely hard and were able to bring home a top 10 finish.”

The 21-year-old driver from Wayne, N.J., finished third in the championship standings in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West this year. In addition to winning the first race of the year at All American Speedway in Roseville, Calif. – Harraka had seven top-five finishes.

The NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown features secured starting spots for the 2010 champions of NASCAR’s developmental series and race winners of the NASCAR K&N Pro Series from the 2010 season.

In addition to Harraka – Eric Holmes, who won his third championship in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West in 2010, and Ryan Truex, who won back-to-back titles in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East in 2009 and 2010, have secured starting spots in the all-star event. Other champions with a secured spot in the event are NASCAR Whelen All-American Series national champion Keith Rocco, NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Mobil 1 champion DJ Kennington and NASCAR Mexico Series champion German Quiroga.

Additional drivers who have secured starting spots include NASCAR K&N Pro Series race winners Ty Dillon, Max Gresham, Patrick Long, David Mayhew, Brett Moffitt, Andrew Ranger, Greg Pursley, Auggie Vidovich, and Darrell Wallace Jr.

The NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown main event is broken up into three sections – two 100-lap segments preceding a 25-lap dash to the finish.

The schedule also includes a 75-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Super Late Model race and a 50-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Late Model race. The top five NASCAR state champions in attendance will have secured starting spots in the Late Model race. New to this year, the 25-car fields for each of those races will be set by a pair of heat races – 25 laps for the Super Late Models and 20 laps for the Late Models.

Both nights of racing will air live on SPEED as part of full weekend of racing on SPEED that includes the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series’ Rolex 24 at Daytona.

- NASCAR Press Release

Toyota Motorsports

Holmes won five of 12 events during the season, including victories at Phoenix International Raceway, Oregon’s Douglas County Speedway, Montana Raceway Park, Colorado National Speedway and California’s All-American Speedway, to win the championship by 124 points over second-place David Mayhew.

“I’m just so proud to be part of this series and it’s special to win a third championship,” said Holmes. “I love the history of the West Series and remember watching races as a kid. It means a lot to be associated with these great drivers.”

Driving the Bill McAnally Racing (BMR) No. 20 Camry, Holmes recorded eight top-five finishes and 10 top-10 results in 2010 to earn his third series title. The 36-year-old Escalon, Calif.-native previously won NKNPSW championships in 2006 and 2008.

Holmes joins two-time defending NKNPSE champion Truex to become the first Camry drivers to sweep the NASCAR regional series titles in the same season since the manufacturer joined each series in 2007.

Truex had two wins and nine top-10 finishes in 10 NKNPSE races. The 18-year-old Mayetta, N.J.-native posted both of his victories at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in the Michael Waltrip Racing No. 00 Camry en route to his title.

“Both Eric and Ryan have demonstrated the ability to run consistently at the front of the field, competing for race wins and championships,” said Lee White, president of TRD, U.S.A. (Toyota Racing Development. “NASCAR’s regional series provide a great opportunity for drivers of all ages and experience. On behalf of everyone at Toyota, I would like to congratulate both Eric and Ryan for their outstanding championship seasons.”

The duo has combined for all four of Toyota’s regional series championships.

A pair of current Toyota drivers in the upper levels of NASCAR competition previously won regional series championships. Brendan Gaughan, who competed for Rusty Wallace Racing in the NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) in 2010, won the NKNPSW title in 2000 and 2001. Joe Gibbs Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) driver Joey Logano was the 2007 NKNPSE champion.

Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc. is the marketing, sales, distribution and customer service arm of Toyota, Lexus and Scion. Established in 1957, TMS markets products and services through a network of more than 1,500 Toyota, Lexus and Scion dealers which sold more than 1.77 million vehicles in 2009. Toyota directly employs more than 30,000 people in the U.S. and its investment here is currently valued at more than $18 billion. For more information about Toyota, visit www.toyota.com, www.lexus.com, www.scion.com or www.toyotanewsroom.com.

TRD, U.S.A. (Toyota Racing Development)

Powering all of Toyota’s American racing programs is TRD, U.S.A. (Toyota Racing Development) in Costa Mesa, Calif., and Salisbury, N.C. A subsidiary of Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., TRD serves as the North American racing arm for design, development and assembly of Toyota’s factory racing engines.

- Toyota Motorsports Press Release

Brett Moffitt

“I really liked the track,” Moffitt said. “It has tons of grip and is really fast, so it was a blast to race here.”

After a successful test session, the entire #20 JGR Game Plan for Life Toyota team unloaded fast off of the truck, recording the fourth fastest time in the first practice session.

Moffitt qualified a conservative fourteenth for the race, having the car set up for the cooler temperatures for the night race. “The car was loose during qualifying, but we were hoping for it to tighten up after the sun went down during the race,” Moffitt said.

On a track where it is tough to pass, Moffitt took off from the start; cracking the top ten by lap eight. Moffitt then made a daring three wide pass on lap 12 to take the seventh position.

Later in the race on lap 55, Moffitt reported the car as “wrecking loose” and decided to make a pit stop under caution to tighten it up. The crew noticed that the right rear tire was coming apart. NASCAR officials approved a tire change, but this forced Moffitt to restart near the end of the field.

“The car was so loose that I thought I was going to wreck in every turn,” Moffitt said. “Once we changed the tire, the car handled so much better that we were able to run back up through the field.”

By the time the field was stopped on lap 91 for cleanup from an accident, Moffitt had moved up through the field and was back in the top ten.

On lap 132, Moffitt was running inside the top five when Eddie MacDonald spun in front of him. As Moffitt was trying to avoid the spinning car, MacDonald clipped him, sending him head-on into the wall. Moffitt’s and the #20 team’s night was over.

“That was definitely one of the hardest hits I’ve ever taken,” Moffitt said. “It was just a tough night. We were sitting in a good spot with twenty to go, and I really thought we had something for the leaders. It’s disappointing to lose it all at the end.”

Moffitt moved back to fourth in the point standings, but is only two points behind Cole Whitt, who is in third.

The season’s next stop is September 17, at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. “I am excited to return to NHMS,” Moffitt said. “We got the pole in June and have always run well there, so it should be a good race for us.”

Officials from Brett Moffitt Racing are excited to announce the launch of the new website, www.brettmoffittracing.com. Although, it is still being finalized, the goal is to make it much more interactive and to provide fans with a more personal, behind the scenes look.

For additional information and to follow Moffitt’s racing career, log on at: www.brettmoffitt.com, and for information about Joe Gibbs Racing, log on at: www.joegibbsracing.com.

- Brett Moffitt Racing Press Release

The team went to Talladega with a solid plan: qualify for the race, and run well, get laps, and gain respect. “We are still a new team; we have only run 6 races in this series. Kyle is a very skilled driver, but he still has to earn the respect of the veterans of the series and show that we are seriously here to compete” said team owner Bill Martel. The team unloaded fast right off the truck. The newly reorganized team, led by veteran crew chief Ted Brown, discovered that their original setup was pretty good from the start. “We changed sway bars, a rear gear, and played with our carb a little. Kyle likes the way I set the cars up, and with the amazing level of feedback he provides us with, it makes it really easy to make informed changes to the car and not chase ourselves”

The car was much better in the draft than by itself. Kyle started the race 26th, and wasted no time moving forward. The 43 ran most of the race inside the top 15, avoiding accidents and learning the draft. “The biggest problem we faced was overheating,” said Kyle, “We were hot all race, and it kept me from being able to make some of the moves I wanted, because I wanted to make sure I saved the car and didn’t tear it up. I race hard, but I have to race smart.” The team hooked the cool-down up on one pit stop to help, and left the rest of it in Kyle’s hands. Towards the end of the race the team ran inside the top ten till getting shuffled back to 12th at the end of the race.

Team owner Bill Martel was pleased with the results: “For as small a team and as underfunded we are, 12th is a great finish. Everyone has given 120% on this team to get our new shop done, and get all our cars built and ready for this season. We have a wonderful group of dedicated guys behind Kyle, and to finish 12th, without ever changing tires during the race, shows how strong we are. With some sponsorship behind us, we could definitely content for a victory in the ARCA series.”

Next up for BMR will be tackling the “Tricky Triangle” of Pocono Raceway. Last season, Kyle drove to a 9th place finish at Pocono, and the team hopes to build on that momentum in June. Brown plans to run BMR003 for the first time at Pocono: “We decided to not bring the chassis we ran last year, instead that will be the backup. We reclipped 003 over the winter and did a lot of work to make the car faster. It’s good to know your taking an even better car to the track than you ran last year. If our backup car can run 9th, we hope to put this new car into the top five, especially since we added a better engine package.”

Kyle is also excited to return to his home track. “We ran really well there last year. Teddy made a lot of changes when he came aboard and it really helped the car drive better last year. I mean, I got my best finish so far there last year, and we don’t go and run in the top five all day, I’m going to be disappointed. Every race is important, but you always want to do your best at your home track. You got friends, family, sponsors all there watching, and to give them the best show possible, it’s what we do.”

- Bill Martel Racing Press Release

During Saturday night’s NASCAR Night of Champions Touring Awards Gala, Moffitt, a rookie and a serious contender for the 2009 NCWSE championship, graced the awards stage twice. After being presented with the trophy and points fund check for finishing third in the overall season points standings, Moffitt was called back to the stage to receive the prestigious Most Improved Driver of the 2009 Season award.

Moffitt and his Andy Santerre Motorsports team ended the season on a high note, finishing in second place at New Hampshire Motor Speedway and winning the final 2009 event on the Monster Mile at Dover in a dominating fashion. Dover was also Santerre’s last event as a team owner. With this win, Moffitt and team scored their second victory of the season. Moffitt and the ASM Team gave notice of their strength during the first race of the 2009 season at Greenville-Pickens Speedway, when the rookie won the pole in his series debut. Moffitt went on to score six top fives and nine top tens, finishing the season a mere sixty points behind series veteran, Eddie McDonald, and only ninety-four points behind fellow rookie competitor and Michael Waltrip development driver, Ryan Truex. Only two other rookie drivers cracked the top ten in 2009; Alan Tardiff finished seventh, while Alex Kennedy took the tenth spot.

Moffitt also managed to embed his name in the NASCAR history book, first becoming the youngest driver in NASCAR history to win a pole at the season opener, then becoming the youngest driver in NASCAR history to win a race during the fourth event of 2009 at South Boston Speedway, and finally, becoming the youngest driver in history to lead the points in a NASCAR series, which he accomplished with a third place finish during NCWSE event number five at Watkins Glen International. These three records had previously been held by another up and coming young NASCAR driver, Joey Logano. When asked if he had it in for Logano, the rookie Moffitt replied, “Not really. I am just trying to make a mark for myself, hoping to attract some attention and gain some support, so I can continue to climb the ladder in the world of professional stock car racing.”

Earlier in the championship week, Moffitt and his father, Dick, took advantage of their stay in the hub of NASCAR racing by visiting several ARCA teams and two prominent NASCAR Sprint, Nationwide, and Camping World series team owners, in preparation for the 2010 racing season. Moffitt’s 2009 mentor, Andy Santerre, himself a multiple series champion and one of the most highly-regarded NCWSE owners, has since sold his team and is moving on to other opportunities. Santerre commented, “What I want people to remember about Brett and his 2009 season is that he started the season as a sixteen year old rookie, competing in only his second year in stock cars on asphalt.

He raced against NASCAR veterans, as well as several rookies who all had a lot more seat time in the NASCAR type of cars than he did. On top of that, our team was one of the most underfunded teams in the NCWSE. Brett is one of the most talented drivers competing in the NCWSE today. He raced and made decisions on the race track at a maturity level well beyond his age and experience. Race after race, he used a calm demeanor to face whatever situation he was put into. He completed races and brought an unscathed car back to the garage on all four wheels, with all four fenders on it. He was a quick study, he is humble, and he was one of the most pleasurable drivers I have ever had the opportunity to work with. I sincerely hope someone will pick him up and keep him racing. He definitely has the talent to compete in NASCAR’s big league someday.”

When asked about his son’s plans for 2010, Brett’s father, Dick, commented, “We hope our first race will be the Toyota All-Star Event on January 29thand 30th at Irwindale Speedway. Brett is qualified, and we are talking to some teams. All we need is for the right deal to fall into place.” Regarding the balance of the 2010 season, talks with potential teams are ongoing. With the right package in place, Moffitt would like to compete for the championship in the NASCAR Camping World Series East, and when scheduling permits, he would also like to compete in as many races as he can with the ARCA RE/MAX Series. This could include as many as twelve or thirteen events, based on the tracks on which he can compete while he is still seventeen, plus the remaining events that are scheduled after his eighteenth birthday. Of course, Moffitt’s 2010 schedule is contingent on the right sponsorship/partnership package. Based on his accomplishments, and with the ability Moffitt has demonstrated, the right deal is certainly just around the corner.

In his short racing career, Moffitt won the coveted WKA Triple Crown at the age of thirteen and a Golden Driller at the Tulsa Shoot-Out in only his third year racing in karts. In 2007, at the age of fourteen, he drove his first race car, competing in an IMCA SportMod. Moffitt raced in seventy-six events and captured twenty-six feature wins, including the 2007 Harris Clash Championship, where he became the youngest driver in the history of Knoxville Raceway (Iowa) to win a feature event. Moffitt was also the All-Iowa SportMod State Champion in 2007. At fifteen, Moffitt competed for the first time on asphalt as a regular in the ASA Late Model Series North, where he finished second in the series point standings and was crowned its 2008 Rookie of the Year. Also in 2008, Moffitt set several track records while competing with ASALMS and became the youngest driver in its history to qualify for the prestigious Slinger Nationals, a record previously held by a then seventeen year old Matt Kenseth.

In his first race in a Super Late Model during the 2008 season-ending 39th Annual Oktoberfest, Moffitt set two quick times, and event officials awarded Brett Moffitt the Al Schilling “Young Gun Award” for his accomplishments during the 2008 Oktoberfest Race Weekend. At sixteen, and in the fourth different kind of race car in as many years, Moffitt’s accomplishments speak for themselves. While competing in the NCWSE, in only his second year behind the wheel of a stock car on asphalt, his final race of the 2009 season was his first-ever ARCA RE/MAX Series race at the Rockingham Speedway, and the result was a very respectable tenth place run. Brett Moffitt continues to showcase his drive, desire, talent, and ability to become a professional stock car driver. Certainly, the deal and the help Moffitt is looking for is just around the corner.

Stay tuned! Without a doubt, there is more to come in 2010!

- Brett Moffitt Racing Press Release

Truex and Harraka – both from New Jersey – will be officially recognized at the NASCAR Touring Series Gala in Concord, N.C., Saturday, Nov. 14.

Seventeen-year-old Truex garnered headlines in the NASCAR Camping World Series East – becoming just the second driver in the history of the series to win the championship and the Sunoco Rookie of the Year Award in the same season. Harraka, meanwhile, also came on strong late in the season to gain the upper hand in a fierce two-way battle for the prestigious Sunoco award in the NASCAR Camping World Series West.

Driving the No. 00 NAPA Toyota for Michael Waltrip Racing, Truex reeled off seven straight top-three finishes to lock up the rookie title among a talented freshman class and clinched the overall championship.

Making Truex’s story even more remarkable is that it was MWR’s first foray into the series and their deal came together only a few weeks before the start of the season. When the season did begin, it did not appear that the Mayetta, N.J., driver would mount a serious challenge for the rookie title – let alone contend for the championship. He was 12th in the overall point standings after three races; with finishes of 14th and 16th, followed by 33rd overall in the NASCAR Camping World Series East-West combination race at Iowa.

Truex and his team turned their season around, however, putting together a string of seven consecutive top-three finishes that included three wins – Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International, Thompson (Conn.) Speedway and Lime Rock Park in Lakeville, Conn. He headed into the 11th and final race of the season with a 30-point lead in the championship standings. Truex clinched the overall title with an eighth-place finish in that race at Dover (Del.) International Speedway and also edged runner-up Brett Moffitt by just one point for the Sunoco Rookie of the Year Award.

Truex finished his season with three wins, two poles, seven top-five and eight top-10 finishes in 11 starts.

“I just can’t say how much I appreciate everyone at Michael Waltrip Racing, everybody on my team, my brother and my parents,” Truex said. “I’m really fortunate. I can’t explain how much it means.”

The Truex name is well known in the NASCAR Camping World Series East. Ryan’s father, Martin Truex Sr., raced the circuit when it was known as the NASCAR Busch North Series – as did his brother, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Martin Jr.

Harraka, a sophomore at Duke University who turned 20 in September, won two of the three final races behind the wheel of the No. 12 NAPA AutoCare/Adaptive One Brakes Toyota for Bill McAnally Racing to secure the rookie title and finish fourth in the overall championship standings in the West’s oldest stock car racing circuit.

Harraka – who hails from Fairlawn, N.J., but raced late model stock cars on the West Coast in 2007 and 2008 – experienced more of an up and down season. After mechanical problems in the first race relegated him to a 17th-place finish, he rebounded with a third-place finish at his home track, All American Speedway in Roseville, Calif. His battle for the rookie title developed into a two-way struggle with fellow talented youngster Blake Koch that went back and forth through much of the year.

The turning point for Harraka came at Colorado National Speedway, north of Denver, in August – when he scored his first career series win. His victory was also significant in terms of delivering NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity Program with its first win in the NASCAR Camping World Series and giving his registered car owner, Mike Curb, his first win in the series. Harraka added to that with a victory in the season finale at Roseville, giving him two wins in three races.

In addition to clinching the Sunoco Rookie of the Year Award, Harraka finished fourth in the championship standings – with two wins, one pole, seven top-five and eight top-10 finishes.

“Winning the rookie of the year title was one of our really big goals at the beginning of the year,” Harraka said. “We certainly had to fight hard for it. We had some pretty strong competition for the title. It means a lot to me to win it. I won the rookie of the year in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series (at Roseville) in 2007 and followed that up with a championship in 2008. Hopefully, winning rookie of the year in the NASCAR Camping World Series in 2009 will be followed up by a championship in 2010.”

Although a rookie in the touring series this year, Harraka was already a veteran frequent flyer. He began traveling back and forth across the country in 2007, attending high school on East Coast and racing on the West Coast for BMR in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Late Model division at Roseville as a participant in the Drive for Diversity program. He won the track championship at the historic fairgrounds facility in 2008, delivering the D4D program its first championship. As a student at Duke, Harraka continues his cross country trek to race in the NASCAR Camping World Series West.

By virtue of their wins in NASCAR Camping World Series races, the two drivers have also secured a spot in the prestigious post-season NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown on Jan. 29-30, 2010 in Toyota Speedway at Irwindale (Calif.).

- NASCAR Press Release