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Ben comes to Empire Racing with an 18-year career in the motorsports industry. Leslie’s background includes experience in both the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series, where he worked with drivers such as former Sprint Cup Series champions Kurt Busch, Matt Kenseth and Bobby Labonte, and defending Nationwide Series champion Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

“This is a great opportunity to be working with a growing team like Empire Racing,” Leslie said. “I had the opportunity to work with Sean at Kansas last year. He has a very good feel for the car and excellent ‘car control’. The whole organization is dedicated to putting out the best equipment every race.”

Sean Corr

Leslie spent the majority of his Sprint Cup career with Roush Fenway Racing, where he got his NASCAR start in 1994 as a mechanic and tire changer. In 1998, he was named car chief for the No. 26 Ford of Johnny Benson and was later promoted to interim crew chief, which led to a permanent crew chief position with the championship-winning organization.

Leslie’s career highlights include rookie of the year honors with Kenseth in 2000 and a runner-up championship finish with Mark Martin in 2002, which encompassed a win at Charlotte Motor Speedway’s Coca-Cola 600.

Following the 2002 season, Leslie went on to fulfill crew chief positions with organizations such as Wood Brothers Racing, Yates Racing and Hall of Fame Racing. He also has served as field director at Ford Racing for several years.

In 2010, Leslie returned to Roush Fenway Racing and was named crew chief of the No. 6 Ford driven by Stenhouse Jr.

For more on Sean Corr, Empire Racing and marketing partnership opportunities for the 2012 racing season, please visit empireracingllc.com.

Are you FORD tough? Connect with Roush Yates Performance Products and Roush Yates Engines through their official web site at roushyatesparts.com.

Connect with Sean Corr and Empire Racing through Facebook by clicking here. Tweet with Sean Corr through Twitter @EmpireRacingLLC.

About Empire Racing:

Established in 2009, Empire Racing LLC. Is a two-tier professional Motorsports organization consisting of dirt and asphalt competition. Sean Corr, a 27-year old hailing from Goshen, New York pilots the team’s automobiles in the DIRTcar Series and Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA). In 2012, the team will once again attempt to run for a championship in the ARCA Racing Series and selected NASCAR Camping World Truck Series events .The team is headquartered in Goshen, New York with an additional operation in Mooresville, NC

- Empire Racing Press Release

Patrick Sheltra

On Tuesday, Sheltra along with his mother Grace Sheltra and his father Rick Sheltra received a proclamation from the Martin County Board of County Commissioners. The award was a touching moment for the family-owned team as several fans, supporters and local media flocked to the board meeting to witness the congratulatory award ceremony.

From there, Sheltra received numerous requests from local media including print, internet and television. On Thursday, Sheltra & Son Construction, Inc., one of the team’s marketing partners hosted a championship celebration inviting the public to meet and greet with the fourth year ARCA driver. Again, members of the local media attended along with some of Sheltra’s closest family and friends.

The NASCAR-bound driver will head back to “Race City USA” on Friday (November 13) in preparation for another public appearance from the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, North Carolina on Saturday, November 14th. Sheltra along with 2010 ARCA Racing Series championship crew chief Jon Wolfe will be live on ‘Droppin’ the Hammer, a Spartanburg, South Carolina ESPN affiliate program at approximately 11:20 a.m. from the newly built NASCAR HOF.

“It’s been a good week,” said Sheltra, who recorded two wins, 12 top-fives and 17 top-10 finishes in his 2010 ARCA season. “It was nice to go home and spend some time with the family and receive some very humbling awards and exposure. I reminded everyone that none of this would not have been possible without the dedication of the Sheltra Motorsports team and all of our marketing partners.”

Multiple cost-effective marketing partnership packages or driver representation are still available for the remainder of the 2010 and all of 2011 NASCAR seasons for Patrick Sheltra. For additional information please contact Brandon Hinson (brandon@patricksheltra.com) or email marketing@patricksheltra.com.

Sheltra has 87 ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards starts to his credit with three career victories at Salem (Ind.) Speedway (April 2009), the Illinois State Fairgrounds (August 2010) and Chicagoland Speedway (August 2010). During his ARCA tenure, Sheltra has accumulated 22 top-fives and posted 39 top-10 finishes. A second place qualifying effort at Chicagoland Speedway (August 2010) is Sheltra’s best time trials effort to date. He has controlled the ARCA field 11 times for 350 laps.

For the latest on Patrick Sheltra, Sheltra Motorsports and marketing partnership opportunities please visit PatrickSheltra.com.

Join the official Patrick Sheltra fan page on Facebook (Official Patrick Sheltra Fan Page).

Tweet with Patrick Sheltra on Twitter (@patricksheltra) at twitter.com/patricksheltra.

About Sheltra Motorsports:

Sheltra Motorsports (sheltramotorsports.com) is a three-tier professional Motorsports organization consisting of dirt and asphalt competition. Patrick Sheltra, a 24-year old native of Indiantown, Florida competes in the UMP and WoO (Dirt) Series; while also running a full schedule in the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards (No. 60) and a limited schedule in the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR). In 2010, the family owned team captured the 2010 ARCA Racing Series driver and owner’s championship titles after securing two wins, 12 top-fives and 17 top-10 in 20 events. The team is headquartered in Indiantown, Florida with additional operations in Richmond, Indiana and Mooresville, North Carolina.

- Sheltra Motorsports Press Release

NASCAR RACE HUB OFFERS WEEKLONG LINEUP OF NHOF GUESTS, FEATURE CONTENT

Darrell Waltrip

“I’m going to be crying either way,” said Waltrip, a member of the SPEED and NASCAR on FOX television broadcast teams. “If I am lucky enough to get in this group, it will be very emotional, and if I don’t, I will be really disappointed and sad.  I’m one of those guys who can’t cover up his emotions. I’ll either be jumping for joy or crying like onions.”

Waltrip is joined on-air by NASCAR on FOX booth partner Mike Joy, as well as Ken Squier and Kyle Petty – three voting members of the NASCAR Hall of Fame selection committee.

Confident in a career that includes 84 Cup wins, highlighted by the 1989 Daytona 500, Waltrip knows a position in the Hall alongside his heroes and rivals will come … the question is, ‘Will it come this year?’

“I’ve been doing TV for 10 years now at this level,” Waltrip said. “A lot of new fans only know me as a broadcaster and the guy who says, ‘Boogity, Boogity, Boogity, let’s go racing, boys.’ So, it’s always flattering to me to hear people start to read off the accomplishments I had as a driver because I’ve forgotten so much of that.

“I think my record as a driver is as good as anybody’s,” Waltrip continued. “In the modern era, since 1972, I’ve won more races than anybody.  There are many things I could sit back and point out that I did, but so has David Pearson.  You would have lost everything you had if you had said David Pearson would have been in the first class of five last year.  That’s why you don’t take anything for granted.”

SPEED’s coverage of NASCAR Hall of Fame Vote Day begins at 3 p.m. ET with a special preview show, followed at 4 p.m. ET with live coverage of the announcement of the five new members of the Hall, scheduled to be enshrined in May 2011.
The nominees, which include many of the sport’s legendary names, were announced in July. They include: Waltrip, Bobby Allison, Buck Baker, Red Byron, Richard Childress, Jerry Cook, Richie Evans, Tim Flock, Rick Hendrick, Jack Ingram, Dale Inman, Ned Jarrett, Fred Lorenzen, Bud Moore, Raymond Parks, Benny Parsons, David Pearson, Lee Petty, Fireball Roberts, T. Wayne Robertson, Herb Thomas, Curtis Turner, Joe Weatherly, Glen Wood and Cale Yarborough.

About SPEED™

SPEED, anchored by its popular and wide-ranging coverage of NASCAR, is the nation’s first and only cable television network dedicated to automotive and motorcycle racing, performance and lifestyle. Now available in more than 80 million homes in North America, SPEED, a member of the FOX Sports Media Group, is among the industry leaders in interactive TV, video on demand, mobile initiatives and broadband services. For more information, please visit SPEED.com, the online motor sports authority.

About FOX Sports Media Group

FOX Sports Media Group (FSMG) is the umbrella entity representing News Corporation’s wide array of multi-platform US-based sports assets under Chairman & CEO David Hill.  Built with brands that are capable of reaching more than 100 million viewers in a single weekend, FSMG includes ownership and interests in linear television networks, digital and mobile programming, broadband platforms, multiple web sites, joint-venture businesses and several licensing partnerships.  FSMG now includes FOX Sports, the sports television arm of the FOX Broadcasting Company; Fox’s 19 regional sports networks, their affiliated regional web sites and FSN national programming; SPEED and SPEED2; Fox Soccer Channel and Fox Soccer Plus; FUEL TV; and Fox College Sports.  In addition, FSMG also includes FOX Sports Interactive Media, which comprises FOXSports.com on MSN, whatifsports.com and scout.com, reaching over 20 million unique visitors monthly.  Also included are Fox’s interests in joint-venture businesses FOX Deportes, Big Ten Network and STATS, LLC, as well as licensing agreements that establish the FOX Sports Radio Network, FOX Sports Skybox restaurants and FOX Sports Grills.

- SPEEDtv.com, Press Release

Dale Earnhardt Inc.

Announced by NASCAR CEO Brian France earlier today, Earnhardt, one of NASCAR’s favorite drivers and fiercest competitors, was selected to the first class of the NASCAR Hall of Fame based on the achievements of his 26-year career and his many contributions to the sport both on and off the track. He joins Bill France, Sr., Bill France, Jr., Richard Petty and Junior Johnson in the inaugural group to be recognized at the NASCAR Hall of Fame on May 23, 2010. Earnhardt’s selection was voted on by NASCAR track owners, team owners, series officials, drivers and media members.

“It is truly an honor to see Dale Earnhardt recognized as one of the five most influential members of the NASCAR family and inducted in the first class of the NASCAR Hall of Fame,” said Teresa Earnhardt, President and CEO of Dale Earnhardt, Inc. “Of the many legendary accomplishments and accolades of his career – from the seven championships to the win in the Daytona 500 to the founding of Dale Earnhardt, Inc. — this is another defining moment. It is the achievement of a lifetime and is celebrated by the millions of Dale Earnhardt fans around the world.

“From now on, Dale Earnhardt’s spirit will live on at Dale Earnhardt, Inc., and part of him will live at the NASCAR Hall of Fame,” she added. “Not only would he be proud of this day, he’d be proud to see the legacy of his race team competing for a championship with Juan Pablo Montoya.”

Kerry Earnhardt, Dale Earnhardt’s oldest son, said the selection of his father to the NASCAR Hall of Fame is a humbling experience.

“The legends that were nominated for the NASCAR Hall of Fame were my racing heroes growing up – and my Dad was first among them,” said Kerry Earnhardt. “Congratulations to all of the legends who were selected for the NASCAR Hall of Fame and thank you to the members of the voting panel for recognizing my Dad’s accomplishments in the sport. To see my Dad voted to the very first class to be inducted in the NASCAR Hall of Fame is amazing and humbling. He was a legend to the millions of fans who cheered him every week, and definitely a hero to me.”

For Taylor Earnhardt, Dale Earnhardt’s youngest daughter, seeing her father recognized as one of five most influential people in NASCAR is inspiring.

“I’m so proud to see my Dad selected to the first class of the NASCAR Hall of Fame,” said Taylor Earnhardt. “Everything he did, he did with passion, a competitive spirit and a drive to win. That legacy is inspiring to me, and I hope it is inspiring to all of his fans celebrating this exciting event.”

Dale Earnhardt’s oldest daughter, Kelley Earnhardt, said the selection of her father is an incredible moment for all of his fans.

“We are extremely honored to see my father chosen as part of the esteemed first class of NASCAR Hall of Fame members, and we want to congratulate the fellow inductees and their families,” said Kelley Earnhardt. “To be part of the inaugural class is the ultimate honor — one that is cemented in time and achieved by no other outside of the five members. My father impacted many lives, and I know I speak on behalf of Dale Earnhardt fans everywhere in showing our appreciation that his memory will live forever inside the walls of the NASCAR Hall of Fame.”

Dale Earnhardt, Jr., thanked the voting panel for recognizing his father’s accomplishments.

“For what my Dad achieved in this sport – both on and off the track – he certainly earned his place in history and deserves to be distinguished in this inaugural class of NASCAR Hall of Fame inductees,” said Dale Earnhardt, Jr. “I want to thank the voting panel and nomination committee for recognizing that and honoring him this way. It means a lot to the Earnhardt family, and it means a lot to my Dad’s fans, which I am one. He was the man, plain and simple.”

Fans Can Join the Celebration of Dale Earnhardt’s Selection

For the legions of Dale Earnhardt fans who faithfully support their hero, the selection of Dale Earnhardt to the first class of the NASCAR Hall of Fame is cause for celebration. To honor the event, Dale Earnhardt, Inc. will be open for a fan celebration at Dale Earnhardt, Inc. headquarters in Mooresville, NC, throughout the weekend of October 16 and 17, 2009 and will debut a new exhibit featuring his memorabilia. In addition, fans can post a congratulatory message at www.DaleEarnhardt.com.

In addition, Dale Earnhardt, Inc. has created a special commemorative icon for Dale Earnhardt’s selection to the NASCAR Hall of Fame. It will be featured throughout the year of celebration of his induction, and will be available for fans on select apparel and commemorative items on www.DaleEarnhardtInc.com.

About Dale Earnhardt, Inc. and the Dale Earnhardt Foundation

Dale Earnhardt, Inc. has a nearly 30-year history as a racing organization, founded by one of the most storied individuals in the sport. It is committed to keeping this legacy alive and to building Dale Earnhardt, Inc. as a leader in the motorsports industry, an innovator in the automotive and transportation business and champion in philanthropic outreach.

The Dale Earnhardt Foundation’s mission is to “Continue the Legend” through charitable programs and grants that sustain Earnhardt’s lifelong commitment to Children, Education and Wildlife Preservation. Through the legacy of Dale Earnhardt, the Foundation has been able to help thousands of people in need, give college students and future leaders a chance to pursue their dreams and improve the environment through conservation efforts.

- Dale Earnhardt Inc., Press Release