KV Racing Technology

Wurtz, a Chicago native, comes to KV Racing Technology in 2011 after more than three decades in open-wheel racing as a team manager, operations manager and chief mechanic with Penske Racing, Newman Haas Racing and other racing companies.

For the past 15 years, Wurtz was charged with overseeing the Penske IndyCar Series racing team including managing the engineering, fabrication, paint, drive line components, electrical, transportation and accounting departments. The Penske IndyCar Series effort won 57 races (including five Indianapolis 500 titles) and three national championships (with drivers Gil de Ferran and Sam Hornish Jr.).

At Newman Haas Racing, Wurtz was operations manager and chief mechanic for eight years, contributing to 25 race wins and two series titles (with drivers Michael Andretti and Nigel Mansell). Wurtz’s stellar background dates to the 1970s when he was a mechanic in Can-Am and Formula 5000 competition.

KV Racing Technology, established in 2003, campaigned three full-time cars in the 2010 IZOD IndyCar Series with drivers Mario Moraes, Takuma Sato and E.J. Viso as well a fourth car in the two Canadian races for veteran Paul Tracy. KVRT is currently formulating its 2011 driver and sponsorship lineup. KVRT also will be teaming with SH Racing for a 2011 Indy 500 entry in the event’s 100th anniversary.

“Tom Wurtz is a great addition to KV Racing Technology,” said Kevin Kalkhoven, team co-owner and founder. “Tom is a respected team leader and holds an outstanding racing record through his career. We look forward to having Tom as part of our leadership in 2011.”

Former series champion and team co-owner Jimmy Vasser also has admired Wurtz’s work ethic.

“We are thrilled to have a strong operations and technical manager like Tom Wurtz join KV Racing Technology,” said Vasser. “Tom’s outstanding management skills and his vast racing experience gives our organization one of open-wheel’s top executives. Working closely with our general manager, Mark Johnson, the engineering staff and the crew members, Tom will contribute solid coordination within our team that can take KV Racing Technology to a consistent front runner in the highly-competitive IZOD IndyCar Series.”

Mark Johnson, now in his sixth year at KV Racing Technology, believes Wurtz’ racing knowledge and winning attitude brings a new outlook to the company.

“Tom’s great open-wheel racing background and superb organizational strategies will be a tremendous asset for KV Racing Technology,” said Johnson, a longtime motorsports executive in both two-wheel and four-wheel competition. “We look forward to adding Tom to our already strong team personnel and preparing for the 2011 IZOD IndyCar Series.”

Tom Wurtz

“I am very excited to come to KV Racing Technology,” said Wurtz. “I know their aspiration is to win. This team has a great core of people who have won races in the past and they want to get back to the winner’s circle. I know everyone here believes they can be competitive and race for wins. That is my philosophy too. So I am thrilled and blessed to be involved with this group and look forward to preparing for a very strong 2011 season.”

Wurtz began his new role at KV Racing Technology on Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2011.

- KV Racing Technology Press Release

No. 22 Discount Tire Dodge Charger (Brad Keselowski) - Photo Credit: Getty Images for NASCAR

· This Week’s Charger… The No. 22 Penske Racing Discount Tire Dodge Charger team will use chassis PRS-036 during Saturday’s inaugural race at Road America. This is a brand-new chassis to the team.

· The No. 22 Discount Tire Dodge Charger in 2010… After 14 races, Keselowski and the No. 22 Discount Tire Dodge team currently lead the Nationwide Series driver point standings by 272 points over Carl Edwards. Keselowski has led the standings since his win at Talladega Superspeedway in April.

· A New Series Record… Upon finishing the race at Kentucky Speedway last Saturday, Keselowski extended his NASCAR Nationwide Series record of 81 consecutive races without a DNF (Did Not Finish).

· Series Leader… Keselowski leads the Nationwide Series in top-five finishes (11), top-10 finishes (13) and laps completed. He has completed all 2,749 laps contested this season and has led the field for 522 of those circuits.

· Keselowski Road Course Stats… Keselowski has made six road course starts in his Nationwide Series career, with one top-five finish (Montreal – 2009) and four top-10 finishes.

· Helping Hand from a Teammate… Keselowski will not practice his car on Friday as he will be at Infineon Raceway, site of this weekend’s NASCAR Cup Series race. Penske Racing teammate, Parker Kligerman, will be on-hand for the practice sessions.

· Non-Companions… Keselowski will fly over 4,500 miles between Road America and Infineon Raceway this weekend. This is the last “non-companion” event until the July 30-August 1 weekend when the Cup Series will be at Pocono Raceway while the Nationwide Series will hold an event at Iowa Speedway.

· Penske Racing History at Road America… While Penske Racing has never made a Nationwide Series start at Road America, cars owned by Roger Penske have made 58 combined starts in six other series at the track: CART, ALMS, Formula 5000, Trans-Am, Can-Am and USRRC. In those starts the teams have recorded eight wins.

· Hauler Parade… George Larrabee, driver of the No. 22 Discount Tire transporter, will take part in Road America’s inaugural Hauler Parade on Wednesday, June 16. The event kicks off at 2:30 p.m. at the Times Printing Company, located at 100 Industrial Drive, Random Lake, WI. The parade then winds along Highway 57 to Road America. For more information, log onto visitsheboygancounty.com.

Brad Keselowski (Photo Credit: Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

“While it’s a little sad that we aren’t going to the Milwaukee Mile this year, at least we are still going to Wisconsin to race in front of some of the best race fans in the country. Road America is an amazing road course, but it’s also going to be very challenging. It’s very fast, and it has lots of blind spots. The backstretch is almost completely lined with trees. We are going to have to really depend on our spotters. I’ve worked hard on my road course racing over the years and I think we can go there and compete for the win. It would be great to win that first trophy.”

Brad Keselowski on running two road course races in one weekend

“Running two road course races in the same weekend is more difficult than going between a road course and an oval. You would think it would make it easier, but it doesn’t. You have more to memorize. There is more shifting, which can be extremely hard on your hands because they can blister very easily. It’s just a very grueling weekend. It does allow you to stay with the road course mindset for the entire weekend, but other than that it is more of a challenge.”

Crew chief Paul Wolfe on preparing a car for road course racing

“Road course racing is very hard on equipment so you really have to beef up a lot of your suspension pieces to make them last the entire race. Plus, turning right is not something that we do on a regular basis and it takes a completely different setup to do that. I’m not sure that there are many of us that know what to expect when we get to Road America this weekend. It’s a big road course with a lot of high-speed areas. The open practice on Thursday afternoon will be very important for us to establish a baseline. I’m looking forward to it. To be a part of any inaugural race is cool.”

- Penske Racing Press Release

Mark Donohue: Technical Excellence at Speed by Michael Argetsinger

The Reunion will celebrate the cars and career of an American racing legend, with a paddock display of many of the most famous cars raced by Mark Donohue. Confirmed cars include: the 1972 Indy-winning McLaren-Offy; the ’73 Eagle- Offy Indy car; the 1972 Can-Am dominating L&M Porsche 917-10; the 1973 Can-Am champion Sunoco Porsche 917-30; all of the Donohue-driven, Penske Racing, Camaros and Javelins from the Trans-Am in the 1960s and early 1970s; the Ferrari 275 LM that Donohue co-drove with Walter Hansgen in the 1965 Sebring 12 hour; the Sunoco Lola T70 coupe that won the 1969 Daytona 24 Hour race driven by Donohue and Chuck Parsons; and the Lola T70 Spyder which brought Donohue the 1967 United States Road Racing Championship.

Many of Mark’s teammates from Penske Racing will be attending, including Karl Kainhofer, Indy Hall-of-Fame crew chief; John “Woody” Woodard, crew chief on the Porsche 917-10 and 917-30; Ron Fournier, Trans-Am builder; Chuck Cantwell, team manager; Don Cox, Penske engineer; and Judy Stropus, Penske timer and scorer.

Another highlight will be a release of a new book from David Bull Publishing, “Mark Donohue: His Life in Photographs,” by Michael Argetsinger. Argetsinger will be Master of Ceremonies at a Mark Donohue Tribute breakfast on Sunday morning, July 18.

- Unfair Advantage Racing, Press Release

NOTES

Car(s): #10 Ford Fusion PLM

#10 Ford Fusion SLM

Engine (s): Ford Racing Crate Engine (PLM)

18 Degree Super Late Model Engine (SLM)

Sponsor(s): Can Am Spyder-ATV/Comfort Inn-Pensacola Beach

Event/Series Notes

Event(s)/Date(s): PLM Allen Turner Snowflake 100-December 5, 2009

SLM 42nd Annual Snowball Derby 300-December 6, 2009

Venue: Five Flags Speedway–Pensacola , Florida

Track Size: ½ mile (.500)

Series: N/A

Standings: N/A

QUOTES

-Once again this year longtime Snowball Derby weekend sponsor Comfort Inn on Pensacola Beach has come on board plus you just signed on Can Am Sypder-ATV as a last minute deal, what does it mean for companies like these to be involved with a race team such as yours?

“First off I want to thank Comfort Inn for their continued support even in a tough economical year and with Can Am coming on board here in the last day or two I’ve really been lucky. It really shows how great both companies are and their involvement this year means more than ever. Whenever local companies get involved it not only goes a long way for my team, but when it’s a local company involved you can easily help them achieve the return on investment. Just like this year we always try to refer other teams and fans to them (Comfort Inn-Pensacola Beach) and then Tuesday night before the Derby I am speaking at the local Rotary club meeting in downtown Pensacola . In addition to that we’ll have a Can Am Spyder on display the entire Derby weekend. Things like these are what make sponsorship work not just putting a name on the car.”

-Explain what the Snowball Derby means to you and your family each year and take us through your 2009 season that has lead up to the Derby weekend?

“The snowball derby is the last race of the season for my family owned team. We try to make the most of it since it is our last one of the year and the Five Flags venue is the closest track to our home in Panama City . I’ve had a fair amount of success at Five Flags Speedway and hope to continue with a win at the Snowball Derby. The 2009 season was a short season for me since I have ran a select amount of races and had a short tenure in the ARCA RE/MAX series. Not racing as many venues in 2009 forces me to put great effort into the Snowball Derby to make up ground on what I missed during the regular season.”

-What is your fondest Derby weekend memory thus far since you’ve competed?

“Without question, winning the 2007 Allen Turner Snowflake 100 would be the fondest memory of the Snowball Derby weekend of my racing career so far. I have won lots of races but none come as close to coming from the last chance race to win the trophy of the 100 lap main event. Hopefully this year will be my year to notch the Snowball Derby off my list of races to win.

-You won the Snowflake 100 pro late model race in 2007 and over the last few years we typically see you with both the pro and super late models come Derby weekend, will that be the same case this year and what does it take to make both cars successful on an already stressful weekend of racing?

“This year we’ll again be fielding entries for both the Snowball and Snowflake races. I have both car configurations and it makes perfect sense to enter both events with full intentions on taking home the trophies for both races. Both cars have their own identities and drive completely different. The most effective way to prepare the cars is to focus on each one entirely on different days to ensure both cars are at their greatest potential of winning their respective races.”

Stay tuned to www.ryancrane10.com for all the latest news and information regarding Ryan Crane Racing in 2009.

- Ryan Crane Racing Press Release

WATKINS GLEN, NY (April 23, 2009) – Of the eight former Mark Donohue cars coming to Opening Day at Watkins Glen International on Sunday, April 26th, the1974 Porsche 917/30-004 is the only one he never drove in competition, but this does not make it any less famous or significant. The 1974 version of the famed “Can-Am Killer” will be on display for fans to take pictures and will allow them to get up close and personal to probably the most famous Can-Am car never to race in the series. Opening Day is also the last day to take advantage of the advance sale ticket prices for any 2009 racing event held at the racetrack this summer.

Coming off of a dominating 1973 Can-Am season during which Donohue won every race but one in his Porsche 917/30, Porsche began working on a new version for the 1974 season. Not long after the car was completed, SCCA officials decided to make a rule change and imposed fuel limitations on all competitors in reaction to the Arab Oil Embargo on Western countries. Porsche, Penske, and Donohue had put a great deal of effort into building the 917/30 and felt the new regulations would diminish the competiveness of the car. The group had already begun considering other endeavors in motorsports due to their overwhelming success in Can-Am and this fact combined with the belief that they would no longer be as competitive, lead to the decision to leave the series. So despite the fact that the new car was ready for competition, it would never see the track in Can-Am competition.

The timing of Penske’s decision to leave the series coupled with the demise of the series itself only a year later, lead to two incorrect assumptions. The first being that Can-Am banned the Porsche 917/30 due to its dominance of the series during the 1973 season. This theory was disproved by Brian Redman racing a 1973 Porsche 917/30 in one race during the 1974 season. The demise of the series shortly after Donohue’s dominance caused many to name the 917/30 the “Can-Am Killer” but the cancelation of the series was largely due to other factors. McLaren chose to leave the series at the same time as Penske and in 1974, while other sponsors and supplies continued the exodus which resulted in the series being cancelled following that season.

Opening Day at WGI will feature a full day of on-track activity and the official release of the new Mark Donohue biography titled Mark Donohue: Technical Excellence at Speed from

David Bull Publishing authored by Michael Argetsinger with a foreword by legendary car owner Roger Penske. Two versions of the new book will be available to purchase at the track, including the publisher’s edition for $99.95, and the regular edition for $39.95. In addition to the “Can-Am Killer,” the seven other cars currently scheduled to appear are the rare 1973 Penske PC-1/003 Formula 1 car, 1973 Eagle-Offy Indy Car, 1967 Trans-Am Camaro, 1965 Shelby GT-350R, 1970 Elva Courier, and two Lola T70 Can-Am cars.

For only $20, fans can drive three laps around the same turns as Mark Donohue and many legends of Motorsports on Opening Day. Gates will open at 9:00am with laps starting at 10:00am and ending at 3:00pm including a half hour break for the Mark Donohue Tribute Laps at noon. Proceeds from Opening Day will benefit the International Motor Racing Research Center (IMRRC). Additional information on the weekend’s activities can be found either at the Center’s website www.racingarchives.org or the Watkins Glen International website, www.TheGlen.com.

Tickets for the entire 2009 season at Watkins Glen International are on sale now! For tickets and information, please contact the WGI ticket office at 866-461-RACE or log on to the official Watkins Glen website at www.TheGlen.com. Tickets, gift certificates and track merchandise can be all purchased at The Shop located at 2 North Franklin Street in downtown Watkins Glen, Open Monday-Friday 9-5, Saturday 9-4, Closed Sunday; 607-535-2338.

- Watkins Glen International, Press Release