Tim George Jr.

The 29-year-old made his 27th career ARCA Racing Series start in the fourth position at the superspeedway. George was the 12th competitor to attempt the restrictor-plate track and posted a lap of 51.514 seconds at 185.891 MPH. His previous best qualifying effort was at Palm Beach International Raceway, where he qualified eighth earlier this season.

Throughout the entire race, George held his own, racing inside the top-10 eventually leading laps (12 laps) for the first time in his ARCA Racing Series career. He impressed the crowd by leading and contending near the front of the field all day long.

George posted his career-best finish at Talladega as he took the checkered flag in third place on Friday in the 250-mile, 94-lap race. George’s third-place finish made him the highest finishing Chevrolet in the top-11 finishing positions. It also was his career-best restrictor-plate finish.

George gained confidence over the last couple of weeks, and the finish at Talladega Superspeedway gives him that added momentum as the season continues. His previous best finish occurred at Palm Beach International on February 27 with University of Miami / Buoniconti Fund on the hood of the No. 31.

His finish at Talladega Superspeedway advanced him three positions into seventh place in the ARCA Racing Series point standings. George sits comfortably in the top ten in the driver point standings with 1110 points.

Tim George Jr. and the rest of the ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards will take three weeks off before the short-track action kicks in to high gear at the Menards 200 presented by Federated Car Care at Toledo Speedway on Sunday, May 23rd.

- Activ8 Press Release

Casey Roderick

The young Bill Elliott Development driver from Lawrenceville, Ga., who had just one prior ARCA start under his belt, put his No. 51 Monolith Hospitality Dodge at the top of the leader board in practice then won the pole with a new one-lap track record of 93.235 miles per hour.

He continued to impress in his first road course start, leading 21 laps in Saturday’s race, some of them in the rain, before transmission failure ended his would-be Cinderella story.

Roderick led the 34-driver starting field to the green flag, but he and Justin Marks raced a little too hard on the start, and they led a parade of six drivers who missed the first turn.

After serving a stop-and-go penalty, Roderick fell in line in 13th place, then drove his way to third place by Lap 6.

During Laps 7 and 8, the field was under a full course caution, but the Bill Elliott team did not pit. On Lap 9 Roderick took over the second place position, and a lap later had the race lead.

Light rain started to fall on the course just 20 laps into the event, but the rains soon picked up. There was no longer any light gray – and therefore dry – race track for spotter Bill Elliott to steer his rookie driver toward.

But unlike NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, ARCA was prepared to race in the rain, and Hoosier had “wet” racing tires ready to run.

On lap 22, the caution flag flew once again, this time for rain. Roderick and his No. 51 Dodge, fielded in a joint effort by Phoenix Racing and Bill Elliott Racing with sponsorship from Monolith Hospitality, were called to the pits for rain tires. Roderick came onto pit road leading the race and reentered the field third after stalling the car on exit.

By Lap 26 the race was back under green flag, and Roderick was busy working with spotter Bill Elliott who himself only had experience on rain tires during practice at Watkins Glenn in the 90’s, on the new feel that was under him in his first experience with rain tires. It didn’t take the young rookie long before he and Elliott were deciding on the best place to pass the two drivers ahead of him. After one pass on the backstretch and another in Turn One on Lap 34, Roderick was back in front and had run up about a five-second lead on the field.

But his good fortune was about to run out.

On Lap 41, Roderick radioed to his crew that he thought first gear was gone. Veteran road course racer Justin Marks passed Roderick on Lap 42 just as Roderick radioed in that first and third gear were now gone. By Lap 44, what had started out a fairy tale weekend ended with a broken transmission.

Roderick said, “It was an awesome weekend. I learned a tremendous amount; from racing on rain tires to restarts on the track. Mentally there is a lot to think about during a road race. I learned a lot on my pit-stop too. I entered way too soon, didn’t keep my foot on the brake which made it hard on the front tire changers and then stalled the car on exit. That’s a lot of good information to take with me to the next race.”

Elliott was equally pleased with the weekend’s events saying, “I am proud of what everyone did, we did everything we could except win the race. The boy, (Roderick), did a good job and he had a lot of opportunities not too.”

Casey’s next scheduled race will be the CRA Super series event at Gresham Motorsprts Park, April 13th, 2010. For the most up-to-date Casey Roderick news, including his racing schedule and weekly podcast, please visit www.billelliottracing.com.

- Bill Elliott Racing Press Release

Nick Igdalsky

With less than 20 circuits remaining in the 150-mile ARCA Racing Series Presented by RE/MAX and Menards race the Long Pond, PA racer was running in ninth position. However when the race was brought to a stop ARCA officials credited the ModSpace team with a 15th place finish, one lap down on winner Justin Marks.

“We were using the race strategy we had planned,” said the 32-year-old racer. “We figured there would be racers having problems and there would be more cautions in the second half of the race. The cautions didn’t really happen but we were working our way through the field, picking them off one at a time. The car on rain tires (the first time in the 58 year history of ARCA that rain tires were used) really performed well.

“Unfortunately the rain got very heavy and I was having a very difficult time seeing where I was going. At times I could not even see the hood of the car. The spotters were doing a great job of telling me where I should be on the track but it was almost impossible to see because of the rain and we ran off the track a couple of times in a couple of the corners in the closing laps.”

Igdalsky had the ModSpace Ford, owned by Andy Belmont Racing, in 15th starting spot after qualifying with an 81.345 second, 89.530 mph trip around the 2.034-mile road circuit.

“It would have been great to have a better finish in a race with our sponsor being the presenting sponsor of the event,” said Belmont. “We really felt we had a strong car and we were happy with the performance of our driver. We felt that we had at least a top ten effort in the bag in the final laps but the heavy rain proved to create an almost impossible situation forcing us to settle for 15th.”

Next up, after a lengthy break in the schedule for Igdalsky and the ModSpace Ford, is the Kentuckiana Ford Dealers ARCA 200 on the tight confines of Salem, Indiana Speedway.

“I have heard it (Salem) is a very interesting track,” said Igdalsky. “It is a high banked track and I have had no experience on a banked short track. I don’t see it as a problem overall. We will just start quick and give it all we got.”

The race takes place on Sunday, April 11th with the green flag falling at 2:15 pm. Practice and qualifying set for Friday, April 10 on the .555 mile banked asphalt oval.

- Andy Belmont Racing Press Release

Craig Goess Jr.

The No. 81 got caught up in a lap one incident, causing the Eddie Sharp Racing driver to fall from 10th to 22nd position. As he battled back, the first yellow flag of the race was waved on lap six finding the No. 81 in the 20th position. Although rain started to drizzle, Goess did not pit yet to change from dry to wet tires. When the green flag waved, Goess showed the decision to stay with dry tires was worth the risk as he climbed to the 12th position by lap 15.

As the rain started to fall more heavily, the second yellow flag came out on lap 21. The No. 81 pulled into the pits, and the crew put on the Hooiser Short Track Radial “Slick” tires. This is the first time in the 58-year ARCA Racing Series history that a “wet” tire compound has been used.

Goess competed against the rain, bobbling between the 15th and 16th positions for 25 laps, before eventual race winner Justin Marks passed the No. 81 on lap 50, putting him a lap down. He then pitted under green for fuel only on lap 57 and continued to hold his ground in the 15th position.

Just before the final caution of the race fell on lap 68, Goess gained key positions as the rain began to fall harder, and drivers complained of unsafe conditions due to not being able to see out of the windshield.

“I can’t believe how hard it was raining during portions of the race,” Goess said. “Towards the end of the race, it was getting difficult for me to see.”

The rain forced Series officials to end the race five laps short of the original distance, throwing the checkered flag on lap 70. Goess and the No. 81 Toyota of Greenville team finished the inaugural ARCA Series race at PBIR in 13th place.

“It was a good run considering the rough conditions,” said Goess. “I’m proud of everyone on the No. 81 Toyota of Greenville Eddie Sharp Racing team. They really helped me maintain composure during my first experience driving in the rain.”

Owner Eddie Sharp agreed the rain made it tough for all drivers, but he is excited about improvements he sees in Goess. “I think Craig did a great job, especially considering the weather and that he is not a road course racer. I’m excited for his next race at Salem Speedway.”

After a six-week break for the ARCA Racing Series drivers, Goess and the No. 81 Toyota of Greenville Eddie Sharp Racing team will race next at Salem Speedway on April 11, 2010 in Salem, Indiana.

About Eddie Sharp Racing

Eddie Sharp set up shop in 2005 after several years of transforming young, talented drivers into ARCA championship contenders. Today, Eddie Sharp Racing has evolved into the rite of passage for any serious upcoming driver with an ambition for professional stock car racing. Located in Denver, North Carolina just north of Charlotte, Eddie Sharp Racing occupies a top-notch facility that closely resembles a five-star NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team, both inside and out. The two ESR buildings each contain two teams where on any given day, championship contending cars are assembled, engines tuned and teams strategize to score the next race day victory.

- Eddie Sharp Racing Press Release

Blake Koch

After just 11 laps in an ARCA Series car, he impressed his competitors by qualifying third. The road-course qualifying differed from normal formats, with groups of 5 drivers qualifying on the road course at one time. Koch, however, missed his qualifying group and was forced to start the race at the back of the pack.

The threat of rain showers loomed over the 2.034-mile road course prior to the 1 PM start time, but the race got underway without delay.

Although he started at the back, Koch worked his way up to ninth place by lap 6 as the rain began to cover the entire course. A full-course caution fell on lap 6, however Koch and the No. 6 team decided not to come into to pit road to change to “wet” tires because the shower appeared to be moving quickly.

On lap 11, the No. 6 Tire Kingdom Toyota gained speed and continued to push past much of the top-ten. Koch hit his fastest speed of 91.929 MPH on lap 15, completing the lap in just 79.222 seconds. Rain began to fall more furiously, but Koch continued to push on without rain tires as he moved up to the fourth position on lap 19.

“We had a real good car, especially in the dry conditions,” Koch said. “Then, it started coming down hard. ”

As the rain worsened, an all-course yellow-flag fell once again on lap 21. Pit road opened the next lap as Koch came in for his first ARCA Series pit stop, along with the rest of the leaders, to get gas and four “wet” tires. The team utilized the Hooiser Short Track Radial “Slick” tires, and this was the first time in the 58-year series history a “wet” tire compound was used.

Koch was determined to work his way to the front after a successful pit stop, and by lap 26, the No. 6 was in second. At the half-way marker, the rain began to subside, and Koch settled in at the third position, remaining there for the duration of the race.

As the rain began to pick up again on lap 57, the No. 6 pitted for a “gas-and-go” stop. By lap 67, Koch began to complain that the rain was coming down so hard that he could not see through his windshield. His two spotters helped guide him through the track successfully as the final caution fell on lap 68.

Series officials were forced to end the race five laps short of the original distance, throwing the checkered flag on lap 70 of the 75 laps advertised. Koch finished in third behind Justin Marks and Robb Brent.

“We put that rain tire on, and none of us were set up for it,” said Koch. “But, for a road course in the rain, I’m happy with a third. I’ll take it. I just want to thank Tire Kingdom, Eddie Sharp Racing, and my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.”

Owner Eddie Sharp agreed that the rain was not easy to overcome; however he is proud of Koch’s first showing in the ARCA Racing Series. “Koch showed determination in his first race. I am proud of his third-place finish, and his team did a great job keeping up with the leaders.”

About Eddie Sharp Racing

Eddie Sharp set up shop in 2005 after several years of transforming young, talented drivers into ARCA championship contenders. Today, Eddie Sharp Racing has evolved into the rite of passage for any serious upcoming driver with an ambition for professional stock car racing. Located in Denver, North Carolina just north of Charlotte, Eddie Sharp Racing occupies a top-notch facility that closely resembles a five-star NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team, both inside and out. The two ESR buildings each contain two teams where on any given day, championship contending cars are assembled, engines tuned and teams strategize to score the next race day victory.

- Eddie Sharp Racing Press Release

Bill Elliott Driver Devlopment

Roderick and his Dawsonville, Ga.-based team are kicking off what could be a pivotal year in the career of a young racer who hopes to one day compete at the top levels of NASCAR racing.

Under ARCA’s rules, Roderick, who is just 17 ½ years old, is only eligible to run on tracks up to one mile in length until Aug. 8, when he turns 18.

But age isn’t the only limiting factor for Roderick and his team this year, as his car owner and driving mentor Bill Elliott explained.

“We only have sponsorship assistance for about five ARCA events, so I looked over the 2010 schedule and decided on the five events that I thought best suited Casey’s talent while giving him the best exposure we could in hopes of bringing along a full- time sponsor in 2011,” Elliott said.

The No. 51 Dodge with sponsorship from Monolith Hospitality will be fielded in a joint effort by Phoenix Racing and Bill Elliott Racing. That pairing produced a strong second-place finish last fall at Rockingham Speedway, where Roderick charged from a last-place start to lead the race before finishing a close second.

His performance at the Rock made quite an impression on the NASCAR-season crew at Phoenix Racing.

“We have really been impressed with Casey,” said Steve Barkdoll, General Manager of Phoenix Racing. “He is just a good, hard working young man, and he won us over last year when we helped Bill get his car ready for the Rockingham race.

“This year we want to help make sure Casey has a car capable of running up front every week.”

Elliott said the team’s goals for the weekend are both optimistic and realistic.

ARCA on track action begins at Palm Beach International Raceway with practice from 11:30-2:30 and Menards Pole Qualifying from 4-6pm. Saturday a 1 pm start time for the running of the Tire Kingdom 150. For the most up-to-date news on the event visit http://www.arcaracing.com.

For the most up-to-date Casey Roderick news, including his racing schedule and weekly podcast, please visit www.billelliottracing.com.

- Bill Elliott Racing Press Release

Martin attended a Mardi Gras themed event thrown by Tony Chachere’s Creole Foods, a New Orleans based company, to benefit the Boys and Girls Club of America.

“It was a great opportunity to be able to tie the event into the race and to help my friends at Tony Chachere’s give the kids of Holly Hill a taste of New Orleans. We all had a blast,” said Martin.

The 75 kids in attendance were entertained by Cajun inspired games and activities including face painting and a Mardi Gras mask parade. There was also an autograph signing with Hal Martin, a sixth generation Cajun himself, and of course plenty of Cajun cuisine.

Martin does not plan on spending all month celebrating Mardi Gras, there is more racing to be done in Florida.

Racing at the 2.034 mile, 11 turn, paved oval of Palm Beach International Speedway will be a first for ARCA and Martin. Although this will be Martin’s first road course, he will have the experience of Mark Gibson Racing on his side. Martin will be sporting a new orange, black, and white paint scheme in the #59 Abundant Energy Dodge Charger.

“Anytime we get the opportunity to race somewhere new, it is always a fun experience,” said Martin. “We will definitely be taking part in all of the practice sessions on Friday to get everyone as prepared as we can for our first road course.”

The Tire Kingdom 150 presented by ModSpace­ will kick-off at 1pm on Saturday, February 27th.

- MediaFit, Inc. Press Release

No. 31 UM - Buoniconti Fund Chevrolet Impala

NEW COLORS - The No. 31 entry will be decked out in orange, green and white, with the markings of the University of Miami and The Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis this weekend. Tim George Jr. will race the UM – Buoniconti Fund themed design and donate his share of the prize winnings toward a year-long goal of raising $59,000.

ROAD COURSE RACING - George Jr. is no stranger to road course races. He spent 2007 racing in the Grand AM Koni Challenge Series, posting three top-10 qualifiers and five top-10 finishes. Then, he went on to compete in the Grand Am Rolex GT series in 2009. During this impressive season, George Jr. won at New Jersey Motorsports Park, finished third at the Rolex 24 at Daytona, and had seven podiums in total. He also walked away with the Rolex series Rookie of the Year honor as well as the Rolex GT Bob Akin Award. He completed the season with a fourth place finish in the Rolex GT Championship.

NEW STOP FOR ARCA - This will be the first time the ARCA Racing Series will race at Palm Beach International Raceway. On February 8, teams tested at the 2.034-mile road course. George Jr. was pleased with the test posting third fastest time overall.

SOUTH FLORIDA - Tim George Jr. lived in Miami for four years, while attending the University of Miami. As he heads to Palm Beach, George Jr. will be greeted by many friends and is excited to race with them in the crowd.

Tim George Jr. Quotes:

ON RACING WITH UM AND THE BUONICONTI FUND - “I am excited to be teamed up with the University of Miami and the Buoniconti Fund. I am happy that my racing career can also be utilized to benefit such a great cause. I am looking forward to racing and to donating my winnings to help get people out of wheelchairs.”

ON PALM BEACH INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY - “Palm Beach is a very exciting and fun racetrack, and I am eager to participate in the first ARCA race there.”

ON ROAD COURSE RACING - “I am really excited that ARCA added another road course to the schedule. I came from road course racing and feel that experience will set me apart from the field. I finished fifth and moved up 26 positions from the start of the race in my first stock car road race. I look forward to applying my skills this weekend and hope to get another top-five finish.”

- Richard Childress Racing Press Release

No. 31 UM - Buoniconti Fund Chevrolet Impala

Through his association with the university’s Alumni Association, George Jr., a 2006 University of Miami (UM) graduate, has set a year-long goal of raising $59,000, enough to pay one day of the charity’s annual operating expenses. The upcoming Palm Beach ARCA race marks the second of three races in which he will race the UM – Buoniconti Fund themed design and donate his share of the prize winnings toward that goal.

The Buoniconti Fund supports The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, the world’s most comprehensive spinal cord injury research center housed at the University Of Miami Miller School Of Medicine. “The Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis is excited to be a part of the Tim George Jr. Race Team. This is a great opportunity to raise awareness and funds for spinal cord injury research and help get people out of their wheelchairs,” said Fund President Marc Buoniconti.

Following the recent Rolex 24 at Daytona sports car race, where he drove the crowd pleasing orange, green, white No. 71 UM – Buoniconti Fund Porsche, Tim George Jr. said, “I look forward to helping out Marc and the Buoniconti Fund as much as I can through my racing at Palm Beach and Iowa this season. I encourage anyone who can help support this cause to do so by reaching out to the fund directly.”

Catch the No. 31 UM – Buoniconti Fund Chevy in action at 1 PM on Saturday, February 27, 2010 at Palm Beach International Raceway.

- Activ8 Communications Press Release

Chase Mattioli

“Addiction and dependency on alcohol or drugs affects us all,” Mattioli explained. “Everyone is touched by this disease and has family members, friends or acquaintances that are struggling with alcoholism and/or chemical dependency. No one, regardless of age, income, race or gender is immune. For years Clearbrook has been helping in a big way, and I hope our efforts on and off the track, and the attention of race fans, make a difference,” Mattioli concluded.

“The Mattioli family has been big supporters of our efforts at Clearbrook and we appreciate and applaud Chase’s help in spreading the word,” commented Clearbrook CEO, Dr. Nick Colangelo.

If Mattioli finishes in 10th or higher, Clearbook will receive $10,000, with $100,000 coming their way if he wins. Both contributions are funded by insurance annuities, secured through one of the international leaders in creative insurance solutions, Massachusetts based HCC Specialty Underwriters, www.hccsu.com.

“Our Insurance products have backed prizes and charitable contributions that have ranged from $10,000 Hole in Ones to $10,000,000 Triple Crowns” says Jack Woodbury, HCC’s Sr. Vice President.

A link to Clearbrook is posted on Mattioli’s website, www.chasemattioli.com.

The Big Machine Label Group, the envy of the record industry, has a star studded artist roster that includes signature artists such as Taylor Swift, Reba McEntire, Jewel, Trisha Yearwood, Jack Ingram, Jimmy Wayne, Billboard’s “New Country Artist of 2009″ Justin Moore, Steel Magnolia, The Band Perry, Fast Ryde and Sunny Sweeney.

The Big Green Egg, the World’s Best Smoker and Grill, is the source of perfectly grilled meats, vegetables and even baked goods. Big Green Egg Company®, headquartered in Tucker, Georgia, is the world’s largest producer and international distributor of ceramic kamado-style cookers. Founded in 1974 by Ed Fisher, the company has an impeccable reputation for offering top quality products and excellent customer service.

APS, Advance Payment Services provides credit card processing services to merchants ranging from small businesses to large multi-location businesses. APS is no stranger in the Motorsports community with participation in ARCA, NHRA, and NASCAR Nationwide Series, with other APS affiliated drivers including Steve Wallace and Ryan Newman.

The February 27th ARCA Tire Kingdom 150 is scheduled to get the green flag at 1:30 pm Saturday.

- Chase Mattioli Racing Press Release

No. 44 Ansell / Menards Ford Fusion

ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards: Race 2 of 20

Track: Palm Beach International Raceway

Date: Saturday, February 27, 1:00 PM ET

Frank Kimmel and the No.44 Ansell / Menards team will run the Tire Kingdom 150 presented by ModSpace on February 27, the first-ever stockcar sanctioned race at Palm Beach Int’l Raceway.

A self-proclaimed “oval-racer,” Kimmel has secured top-ten finishes in all of his seven road course starts, most recently earning a ninth and tenth place finish at New Jersey Motorsports Park in 2008 and 2009, respectively.

On-track activities for the Tire Kingdom 150 presented by ModSpace will begin on Friday, Feb. 26, with the 150-mile event set for a 1:00 p.m. green flag start on Saturday. Live audio streaming can be found on ARCAracing.com during the event.

Frank Kimmel, driver of the #44 Ansell/Menards Ford Fusion:

Kimmel and the Ansell/Menards Ford participated in the open test session along with 19 other ARCA drivers on Feb. 8.

“The test went really well for us. The team and I were really happy with the way the car preformed. I liked the track, and we all had a lot of fun testing. The car ran well, so we’re looking forward to the race this weekend.”

Coming off a rough weekend in Daytona, how did the team revamp and get prepared for Palm Beach?

“The best way to get over a bad race is to transition into the next event and have a good race. After Daytona, we immediately headed towards Palm Beach for the test, so we already had our focus on the next race. Personally, I traveled to Charlotte, N.C. to take motors back from Daytona and pick up transmissions from G-Force South for the road course. I got a chance to swing by and see my kids at college while I was there too.”

“As a team, we’ve been doing this a long time, so you can expect problems like what happened in Daytona to happen-you just hope they don’t. It was just one of those weekends that we had a very good car, and I think we were going to contend for a top spot. At the end of the day, we would’ve been at the front, but it just didn’t happen. Daytona is that kind of deal sometimes. You just have to take what you can get from it and move on.”

Even though you consider yourself more of an oval track driver, you have never finished outside of the top-10 at a road course. Has your idea of road courses changed throughout your career with your success at these tracks?

“I really enjoy road courses, they’re always fun. I don’t feel like I’m a very accomplished road racer because I don’t get to do it enough. Sometimes, I have a hard time telling Bill and the team the adjustments the car needs to be better, since I’m out on the track just trying to get comfortable. But, it’s a good confidence booster knowing that we’ve had some good success with road racing. It’s a race where you have to be smart, be there at the end of the day and take what your car has to give you. That’s what we’ve done well over the years, and I’m glad we’ve got a couple of road races on the 2010 schedule. Overall, I’m really happy that we got to test, and I expect to go into Palm Beach and be competitive.”

Since ARCA has never run at Palm Beach, how do expect the field to react with having only a one-day test session at the track?

“A road course kind of spreads out a little bit more than a typical oval track, so that will alleviate some of the congestion. I’m sure there will be some incidents, whether it comes from lack of experience or how road courses are in general for people. All-in-all, I’m sure it’s going to be an exciting day to watch the race.”

How has the partnership with G-Force South helped your team prepare for PBIR?

“The people at G-Force South have done my transmissions for about 10 years, and it’s honestly something we don’t have to worry about at the race track. It’s a comfort for us because we don’t have to worry if it’s going to break or anything-they always work well. G-Force South has been wonderful to us. They always put out a great product, and with the way I shift these cars, it’s a good thing they’re tough!”

What kind of challenges do you anticipate going into the Palm Beach race?

“It’s a big race track out there. We’re just going to have to go out there and do our thing. I think our year-long goal is to do what we know is best for us and race as hard as we can. The biggest challenge is that there are going to be some really good road course racers out there that will be showing up with good equipment. So, we’ll have to make good pit stops and make good decisions inside and outside of the car. If we do these things, I think we’ll come out of there with a really good day.”

Have you looked for advice from anyone for PBIR like you did when you approached NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Scott Speed for the New Jersey road course race last year?

“Not really. I haven’t given thought as far as trying to talk to someone for advice. I think we’ve been racing long enough now that we’re at the level where we’ve got to get ourselves going on our own. We need to do what we think is right for our team and what is good for me on the track. What I need may not be what a typical road racer would want out of a car. I’ve got to make the car fast, so I can drive it fast. We’ve figured out that we better go do our own thing, take the bumps as they come, run as good as we can, learn from our mistakes and go out there again.”

Did the PBIR test session help you feel more comfortable in the car?

“Absolutely-our main goal of the test was to get some laps logged. I think that it was a great test session for us. I’m comfortable with the race track, so I know what turn is coming up and where I want to be with the car. I have figured out where the car runs best for me. Also, this session was the first time we’ve ever changed springs at a road course. Normally, we just go with what we’ve got and run with it. But, we actually got to work on some car set-ups and were able to improve the car for what I need-and that is the key to make our car top-notch come race day.”

- Kimmel Racing Press Release

Win-Tron Racing Logo

Marks, a veteran road course racer joined the veteran team led by crew chief Mike Chaffee gunning for his first ARCA Racing Series championship and win. Based on their performance – the goals remain solidly intact.

In the first practice session of the weekend, Marks posted the 24th fastest time but thanks to a few changes the team was able to rally off the 17th quickest lap heading into qualifying.

In qualifications, Marks posted the 15th fastest lap giving the team a solid outing for the first race of the 2010 ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards.

At the start of the event – Marks quickly dropped from his starting spot to the rear of the field under advisement from his team hoping to stay out of the “big one” which is almost a certainty in the ARCA races at Daytona.

Marks early on had a couple close calls but his skillful driving kept his black and green machine on the lead lap and his car intact.

Several cautions within the event’s first 30 laps kept the Win-Tron Racing pilot at bay and unable to mount a charge towards the front but that would change after the first and only routine of pit stops for the teams approaching the half-way mark.

From there, the game was one with Marks weaving his Toyota Camry forward and turning very solid lap times. Finding himself inside the top-12 with 15 laps remaining, Marks knew the “chess match” was on as he continued to slice and dice his machine through the lead pack which found themselves running two-wide for much of the event’s final laps.

Gallantly eyeing a top-10 run, Marks’s goal would come one position short as Steve Arpin was able to dice past the No. 32 coming to the line which forced Marks to settle for 11th.

Justin Marks

“Obviously we had hoped for a better finish but we’ll take the run and hope for a better outcome at Talladega,” said Marks. “The Win-Tron Racing team gave me a good car. We had a strategy early on and it paid off. It just seemed like everyone was stalled there at the end. We’re a little frustrated but we don’t have all that much room to complain – because we finished the race and we can try again in April.”

Nate Thiesse, co-owner of Win-Tron Racing offered his thoughts on the season opener. “Justin drove a very smart race. He did a good job. Unfortunately, we couldn’t get to the lead pack at the end but we learned a lot and we can make up for it at Talladega. It’s a solid start to the season for sure, so we’re not really going to complain. We have 19 races left.”

On Monday, Marks was one of about 15 ARCA teams who participated in an open-test at Palm Beach International Raceway preparing for round two on the ARS schedule set for Saturday, February 27.

During the eight hour test, Marks and the Win-Tron Racing team posted unofficially the seventh fastest lap.

From 2005 to 2010, Justin Marks has competed in 42 ARCA Racing Series events presented by RE/MAX and Menards events collecting five top-five finishes and mounting 13 top-10 efforts. He has also collected two pole positions including a New Track Record (NTR) at Kansas Speedway in 2007. Marks career best finish is second which has occurred twice at The Milwaukee Mile (2007) and Chicagoland Speedway (2007). He has led the field for 136 laps in five races. He finished fifth in the ARCA Racing Series championship point standings in his lone season of full-time ARCA competition in 2007.
Further information including sponsorship opportunities with Win-Tron Racing is available by visiting win-tronracing.com or contacting Nate Thiesse at 952.469.1839.

For more on Justin Marks please visit, JustinMarksRacing.com.

Be sure to get personal with Justin Marks by following him on Twitter at Twitter.com/justin_racing.

- Win-Tron Racing Press Release

Eddie Sharp Racing Logo

Craig Goess, running the No. 81 Greenville Toyota of NC Toyota, found it tough to fight to the front after starting 33rd, due to numerous car problems in qualifying. “I wish that our team had better luck at Daytona,” Goess said. “Bad luck just seemed to follow us all weekend.”

The No. 81 Greenville Toyota of NC Toyota escaped a wreck early in the race, and Goess breathed a sigh of relief when he got through several other cautions in the first 15 laps. Unfortunately on lap 16, another car blew a tire, and Goess had a hard time navigating through the wall of smoke. He collided with Dakota Armstrong, causing significant damage to the No. 81 Greenville Toyota of NC Toyota. Unfortunately, the damage was too substantial to fix, and Goess had to settle for a 34th place finish.

“Everyone on the No. 81 team worked as hard as they could,” Goess said. “Our finish was not for a lack of effort. I am looking forward to the race at Palm Beach International Speedway. I’m new to road courses, so I will be a sponge learning all that I can.”

Piquet Jr., a former Formula One driver, made his first oval start with an impressive qualifying position of seventh.

“Running the ARCA race was a great educational experience for me,” Piquet Jr. said. “There are very few similarities between open-wheel and stock cars, and that was evident to me during the first practice. Unfortunately, drafting practice was rained out, so my first experience running side by side was in the race.”

Piquet Jr. ran in the top-five or just outside for much of the race. Cautions flooded the 200-mile race as Piquet Jr. avoided many incidents. As the race wore on, the Brazilian driver was involved in contact with the nine-time series champion, Frank Kimmel. He was also involved in a late-race incident with Danica Patrick, who recovered from the infield spin and finished seventh. The damage to the No. 6 ESR Toyota caused Piquet Jr. to lose 13 laps and finish the race in 27th.

Piquet reflected on his experience saying, “I apologize to anyone I made contact with this weekend. I learned a lot, and I will take that knowledge back to Daytona for the Truck Series race this weekend.”

The eventful race included six cautions and a 21-minute, 40 second red flag on lap 27, following an incident between Jill George and Jesse Smith, which forced the track safety officials to repair the speedway’s fencing.

Bobby Gerhart recorded his sixth ARCA Racing Series victory at Daytona International Speedway. The rest of the top-five included Mark Thompson, John Wes Townley, James Buescher and Patrick Sheltra.

“I am proud of the effort of the No. 6 and No. 81 teams,” said Eddie Sharp, owner and founder of ESR. “ESR tends to have bad luck at superspeedways, but I think it was a decent start to the season for Craig and a good showing for Nelson’s first stock car race. I am looking forward to moving on to our next race at Palm Beach International Speedway. I know that we will have a great showing.”

The next race for ESR and the ARCA Racing Series is the Tire Kingdom 150 presented by ModSpace at Palm Beach International Raceway on February 27, 2010.

For more information on Craig Goess, please visit www.craiggoess.com.

For more information about Eddie Sharp Racing, please visit www.teamesr.com.

About Eddie Sharp Racing

Eddie Sharp set up shop in 2005 after several years of transforming young, talented drivers into ARCA championship contenders. Today, Eddie Sharp Racing has evolved into the rite of passage for any serious upcoming driver with an ambition for professional stock car racing. Located in Denver, North Carolina just north of Charlotte, Eddie Sharp Racing occupies a top-notch facility that closely resembles a five-star NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team, both inside and out. The two ESR buildings each contain two teams where on any given day, championship contending cars are assembled, engines tuned and teams strategize to score the next race day victory.

- Eddie Sharp Racing Press Release

Frank Kimmel No. 44 Ansell/Menards PBIRTest - Active8 Communications

The No. 44 Ansell/Menards Ford was the tenth quickest overall out of nineteen cars in the morning session with an 81.99 second best-lap and an 88.83 mph best-speed. The afternoon session found the No. 44 Ansell/Menards Ford ninth fastest with a lap time of 80.98 seconds. The nine-time champion finished tenth fastest overall and was the quickest of the six Ford cars at the test.

“The test went really well. I learned a lot today. Anytime I go road course racing, I learn a lot. I thought we had an excellent test overall. We put a set of tires on in the morning and stayed with them all day,” Kimmel said.

Kimmel also tested the Hoosier rain tire, in preparation for wet weather. “The Hoosier rain tire did just fine,” the ARCA veteran said. “There were no major problems. I hope we won’t be in a situation where we have to use it, but if we do, I think thebest-lap and an 88.83 mph best-speed. The afternoon session found the No. 44 Ansell/Menards Ford ninth fastest with a lap time of 80.98 seconds. The nine-time cham tire will perform just fine.”

The nine-time champion commented on his first impression of the track. “It’s a nice racetrack. I was impressed with the facilities. I’m really looking forward to coming back. I know we were reaching speeds of 170 on that back straight, and that’s getting with it. It is going to be a fun race.”

The 75-lap event scheduled for the end of the month will be the first-ever ARCA race at PBIR, and the first of two scheduled ARCA road course races this season. Kimmel and the Ansell/Menards team will look to make their mark in the history books when the checkered flag falls after 150 miles of road course racing at the 11-turn track.

Green flag for The Tire Kingdom 150 Presented by ModSpace is scheduled for 1 p.m. EST on Feb. 27 and will be broadcast on arcanation.com.

For more information on Frank Kimmel, please visit www.frankkimmel.com

About Activ8 Communications

Activ8 Communications, based in Mooresville, North Carolina, specializes in public relations, marketing strategies, brand development and sponsor activation. With focus on NASCAR public relations and relationship building, Activ8 creates unique identities and connections for the drivers and clients under its umbrella.

For more information about Activ8 Communications, please visit www.goactiv8.com

- Activ8 Communications, Press Release

Palm Beach International Raceway Logo

Based out of Berwyn, Penn., ModSpace, is the premier provider of modular buildings for both businesses and organizations that have temporary or permanent space needs. With 80 locations throughout the United States and Canada, ModSpace has over 40 years expertise in providing their customers with products such as; site offices, portable storage, custom designed buildings, and state of the art medical facilities.

“ModSpace has an outstanding reputation within the racing community so it was only fitting to form this partnership and have them become the presenting sponsor of the ARCA race at Palm Beach International Raceway,” said Jason Rittenberry, president and CEO of PBIR. “This partnership between ModSpace and PBIR will be highly beneficial to both of us.”

The Feb. 27 ARCA race date marks the sanction’s inaugural appearance at PBIR and only the 12th time the nationally touring stock car series has contested a road course race.

“ModSpace is very proud to serve as the presenting sponsor at the ARCA race at Palm Beach International Speedway,” says Charles Paquin, President & CEO of ModSpace. “It has been a great experience for ModSpace to be involved with ARCA and this sponsorship only further demonstrates our commitment to the motorsports community.”

Tickets for the Tire Kingdom 150 presented by ModSpace at Palm Beach International Raceway are available now through www.racepbir.com. Spectators can get a general admission two day pass for $45. Two day passes for children 6-12 years of age are $25 and children 5 years old and under are free. Adult single day tickets for Friday are $20 and $35 for Saturday. Children 6-12 tickets on Friday are $10 and on Saturday are $20.

The green flag is set to wave at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 27 for the Tire Kingdom 150 presented by ModSpace ARCA Racing Series race presented by RE/MAX and Menards at Palm Beach International Raceway.
To follow along with everything at Palm Beach International Raceway check out our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/racepbir or our Twitter page at www.twitter.com/racepbir.

About ModSpace:

Modular Space Corporation (ModSpace), based in Berwyn, PA, is a leading provider of modular building, storage and services for temporary or permanent space needs. Building on forty years of experience, ModSpace serves a diverse set of customers and markets – such as construction, commercial, education, industrial, healthcare, and government – through an extensive nationwide branch network throughout the United States and Canada. Offering a full range of site solutions and service options from furniture and steps to storage and wireless security, ModSpace provides everything needed for accessibility, protection, comfort and productivity in a modular unit. Additionally, MedBuild, a division of Modular Space Corporation, provides state-of-the-art medical facilities to the healthcare industry with complete turnkey capabilities. For more information, visit www.ModSpace.com.

About Palm Beach International Raceway:

Palm Beach International Raceway, formerly Moroso Motorsports Park, was purchased approximately 18 months ago by a group of real estate and corporate investors. The re-branded and re-designed state of the art venue is rapidly becoming one of the most popular raceways in the country for racers and spectators alike. As a leader in its operating form and function, PBIR seeks to provide its drivers with a higher level of challenge, excellence and opportunity. PBIR boasts three completely refurbished, exceptionally designed racetracks, including a high-performance road course, an all-concrete drag strip and a 7/10 mile karting track and a karting center. The technologically superior two-mile road course features some of the most challenging corners and straightaway’s offered by any track in North America. PBIR is currently sanctioned by the International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) and the Indy Racing League (IRL) as a test facility and is pending certification by the Fèdèration Internationale de I’Automobile (FIA), the governing body for many major racing events. For more information about PBIR, please visit the venue’s Web site at www.racePBIR.com.

- Palm Beach International Raceway, Press Release