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June News Archive
June 4th
West Allis, Wis. - Derrick Kelley fought back from a mid-race penalty in the Sears Auto Center 150 to finish ninth among Northern Division competitors on Saturday.
Kelley qualified the No. 21n NGA Hooters Pro Golf Tour Ford Fusion 14th of the 20 Sears Auto Center Northern Division cars in the USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series' first combination event. That made for a starting position of 29th as Northern Division cars were on the inside of the grid and Greased Lightning Southern Division competitors on the outside at The Milwaukee Mile.
Then the Comeback Motorsports driver began methodically making his way through the field, mainly by passing his peers on the outside.
"You're better than anyone on the outside," crew chief Darrin Shaw told Kelley over the team's radio system during the race.
Kelley made it to 17th place, and then he moved up to 12th after a good pit stop by the Comeback pit crew near the middle of the contest.
But then a penalty resulted in the No. 21n car going down a lap, and Kelley couldn't make up the difference until he received the Aaron's Lucky Dog with less than 40 laps to go.
While he was running a lap down, however, he posted some of the fastest times on the track, sometimes besting even the race leader.
"We had a top-five car," Shaw said after the race. "We were good."Kelley said he was encouraged that the team hung together to overcome lots of adversity. In addition to the penalty, a fuel problem caused the 21 car to lose a cylinder while Kelley was scuffing tires before qualifying. The team was able to remedy that difficulty before the race, but it certainly affected Kelley's qualifying effort.
"We just got hit with some bad luck," Kelley said. "But, fortunately, we were able to overcome those problems and still managed to have a fairly good day in terms of points."
Finishing ninth among Northern Division drivers at Milwaukee, coupled with a sixth-place finish at South Boston on April 19, means Kelley now stands eighth in the division.
About Comeback Motorsports
The name of the Comeback Motorsports team carries a lot of meaning for driver Derrick Kelley and team owner Tim Gainey. For Kelley, "comeback" is about rejuvenating a USAR Hooters Pro Cup career that's seen him collect 26 Top Five finishes and 45 Top 10s in only 108 starts. For Gainey, though, the word is even more meaningful. He was seriously injured in an industrial accident, which has made him a tireless supporter of making racing accessible to everyone.
About Comeback Motorsports' sponsors
Comeback Motorsports is forever grateful to all its sponsors:
■ The NGA Hooters Pro Golf Tour, which has helped more professionals acquire their PGA, Senior PGA and Nationwide Tour cards than any other developmental tour.
■ Rick Wilson Painting Inc., which specializes in painting, pressure-washing, reimaging, graphics and interior remodeling.
■ Tailwheels Etc., which trains busy people to be quality private pilots.
■ BDH Construction, which specializes in custom metal framing and design and has served Florida businesses and residents since 1995.
■ Automotive Core Supply in Lakeland, Fla.
■ And several others who help behind the scenes.
West Allis, Wis. - Derrick Kelley fought back from a mid-race penalty in the Sears Auto Center 150 to finish ninth among Northern Division competitors on Saturday.
Kelley qualified the No. 21n NGA Hooters Pro Golf Tour Ford Fusion 14th of the 20 Sears Auto Center Northern Division cars in the USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series' first combination event. That made for a starting position of 29th as Northern Division cars were on the inside of the grid and Greased Lightning Southern Division competitors on the outside at The Milwaukee Mile.
Then the Comeback Motorsports driver began methodically making his way through the field, mainly by passing his peers on the outside.
"You're better than anyone on the outside," crew chief Darrin Shaw told Kelley over the team's radio system during the race.
Kelley made it to 17th place, and then he moved up to 12th after a good pit stop by the Comeback pit crew near the middle of the contest.
But then a penalty resulted in the No. 21n car going down a lap, and Kelley couldn't make up the difference until he received the Aaron's Lucky Dog with less than 40 laps to go.
While he was running a lap down, however, he posted some of the fastest times on the track, sometimes besting even the race leader.
"We had a top-five car," Shaw said after the race. "We were good."Kelley said he was encouraged that the team hung together to overcome lots of adversity. In addition to the penalty, a fuel problem caused the 21 car to lose a cylinder while Kelley was scuffing tires before qualifying. The team was able to remedy that difficulty before the race, but it certainly affected Kelley's qualifying effort.
"We just got hit with some bad luck," Kelley said. "But, fortunately, we were able to overcome those problems and still managed to have a fairly good day in terms of points."
Finishing ninth among Northern Division drivers at Milwaukee, coupled with a sixth-place finish at South Boston on April 19, means Kelley now stands eighth in the division.
About Comeback Motorsports
The name of the Comeback Motorsports team carries a lot of meaning for driver Derrick Kelley and team owner Tim Gainey. For Kelley, "comeback" is about rejuvenating a USAR Hooters Pro Cup career that's seen him collect 26 Top Five finishes and 45 Top 10s in only 108 starts. For Gainey, though, the word is even more meaningful. He was seriously injured in an industrial accident, which has made him a tireless supporter of making racing accessible to everyone.
About Comeback Motorsports' sponsors
Comeback Motorsports is forever grateful to all its sponsors:
■ The NGA Hooters Pro Golf Tour, which has helped more professionals acquire their PGA, Senior PGA and Nationwide Tour cards than any other developmental tour.
■ Rick Wilson Painting Inc., which specializes in painting, pressure-washing, reimaging, graphics and interior remodeling.
■ Tailwheels Etc., which trains busy people to be quality private pilots.
■ BDH Construction, which specializes in custom metal framing and design and has served Florida businesses and residents since 1995.
■ Automotive Core Supply in Lakeland, Fla.
■ And several others who help behind the scenes.
Kelley Scores Another Top-10 Finish Among Northern Division Drivers
June 4th
Mooresville, N.C.-It was hard to curb Mark McFarland's enthusiasm after winning the Sears Auto Center 150 USAR Hooters Pro Cup event at the Milwaukee Mile Saturday afternoon.
"It was awesome," said McFarland, driver of the No. 81s Sears Auto Center/Knight's Companies Chevrolet Monte Carlo. "You couldn't ask for anything better. We had a ton of Sears people there. We had key people from Sears Auto Center go to Victory Lane and everyone got to celebrate. It was an excellent end to a great week for everyone associated with our team."
McFarland and his Sears Auto Center Chevy got a head start on the racing weekend stopping by Chicago and Sears Roebuck/Sears Tire Center corporate headquarters earlier in the week.
"We had a good day Wednesday at Sears corporate headquarters," said McFarland. "We had a really nice display set up in an atrium in a huge building. We took a tour, did some autographs, had lunch with some key Sears people, and gave away about 800 t-shirts. Everyone had a good time."
The good times kept on rolling for McFarland once he got to Milwaukee as his Impala SS was among the leaders in practice leading up to the 150-lap event USAR North-South Division combination race. McFarland paced most of Friday's the practice only to have his lap of 31.161 seconds at 119.359 mph bumped from the top of the board near the end of the day.
"We we're pretty close from the time we unloaded," said McFarland. "We fought the rain a little bit in Thursday's practice, but on Friday, the car was good. We just made little changes and ended up fourth in the final practice Friday. We really weren't worried about it because the car felt so good. Meanwhile, people could run fast for a couple of laps, but then they couldn't do it for the next 20. We knew we could do it all the time."
McFarland qualified fifth and started 10th in the 40-car USAR North-South alternating lineup. He quickly moved to the lead on Lap 63 - a run that included a stop for fuel on the 41st circuit. The Winchester, Va., native then held the top spot until Lap 84 when he pitted after the caution flag waved.
According to McFarland, strategy and adjustments to his car by crew chief Wes Ward and his Pete Knight Racing team swung the event in his favor.
"We had a little bit different pit strategy than most people," said McFarland, noting Ward had won a NASCAR Busch (now Nationwide) Series race at Milwaukee with Dale Jarrett in 1995."We pitted for fuel around Lap 40 because we thought the race was going to have a lot of green-flag runs and we didn't think there would be that many cautions. That's why we came in and topped off.
"Later, when we came back for our second pit stop, we were able to take less fuel and still beat a lot of people back off pit road. We came out about 11th behind some people who only took fuel and some who only took two tires. After that, we drove right to the front."
With his Sears Auto Center Chevy spot on, McFarland headed to the front taking the lead for the final time on Lap 111. At the finish, it was McFarland on cruise control, 1.12 seconds ahead of runner-up Drew Herring. Cale Gale, Caleb Holman and Brad Rogers completed the top 5 in the first of two USAR Hooters Pro Cup combination races to be held during the 2008 regular season.
"Once I got in front, I raced out to about a 30-car length lead and just cruised," said McFarland of the final 35 laps. "We saved a little something in case we had a late-race restart. Wes changed the car on the final pit stop to just tighten it up a little bit. After that, everything was all good. Herring was pretty quick there for 10 to 15 laps, but over the last 30, our car just kept going. It was awesome."
In the end, there isn't much better than winning your sponsor's race in your sponsor's car. Then again, any finish at Milwaukee this time around would have been better than McFarland's last experience at the famed 1903 vintage race track.
"The last time I was at Milwaukee, I finished the race in the infield care center," said McFarland. "I thought I was going to have a top-5 finish that day, but I wound up with a dislocated shoulder. To come back this time and win - especially at a place with so much history like Milwaukee and with all the Sears Auto Center people here - just couldn't be sweeter."
McFarland and his No. 81s Sears Tire Center/Knight's Companies Chevy will next take to the track in a USAR Hooters Pro Cup Northern Division race at Mansfield (Ohio) Motorsports Park on Saturday, June 14. The 250-lap event on the half-mile Mansfield oval will take the green flag at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time.
About Sears, Roebuck and Co.
Sears, Roebuck and Co., a wholly owned subsidiary of Sears Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ:SHLD), is a leading broad line retailer providing merchandise and related services. Sears, Roebuck offers its wide range of home merchandise, apparel and automotive products and services through more than 2,400 Sears-branded and affiliated stores in the United States and Canada, which includes approximately 935 full-line and 1,100 specialty stores in the U.S. Sears, Roebuck also offers a variety of merchandise and services through sears.com, landsend.com and specialty catalogs. Sears, Roebuck offers consumers leading proprietary brands including Kenmore, Craftsman, DieHard and Lands' End - among the most trusted and preferred brands in the U.S. The company is the nation's largest provider of home services, with more than 13 million service calls made annually. For more information, visit the Sears, Roebuck website at www.sears.com or the Sears Holdings Corporation website at www.searsholdings.com.
To find a Sears Auto Center location near you or to shop online, please log on to www.sears.com.
Mooresville, N.C.-It was hard to curb Mark McFarland's enthusiasm after winning the Sears Auto Center 150 USAR Hooters Pro Cup event at the Milwaukee Mile Saturday afternoon.
"It was awesome," said McFarland, driver of the No. 81s Sears Auto Center/Knight's Companies Chevrolet Monte Carlo. "You couldn't ask for anything better. We had a ton of Sears people there. We had key people from Sears Auto Center go to Victory Lane and everyone got to celebrate. It was an excellent end to a great week for everyone associated with our team."
McFarland and his Sears Auto Center Chevy got a head start on the racing weekend stopping by Chicago and Sears Roebuck/Sears Tire Center corporate headquarters earlier in the week.
"We had a good day Wednesday at Sears corporate headquarters," said McFarland. "We had a really nice display set up in an atrium in a huge building. We took a tour, did some autographs, had lunch with some key Sears people, and gave away about 800 t-shirts. Everyone had a good time."
The good times kept on rolling for McFarland once he got to Milwaukee as his Impala SS was among the leaders in practice leading up to the 150-lap event USAR North-South Division combination race. McFarland paced most of Friday's the practice only to have his lap of 31.161 seconds at 119.359 mph bumped from the top of the board near the end of the day.
"We we're pretty close from the time we unloaded," said McFarland. "We fought the rain a little bit in Thursday's practice, but on Friday, the car was good. We just made little changes and ended up fourth in the final practice Friday. We really weren't worried about it because the car felt so good. Meanwhile, people could run fast for a couple of laps, but then they couldn't do it for the next 20. We knew we could do it all the time."
McFarland qualified fifth and started 10th in the 40-car USAR North-South alternating lineup. He quickly moved to the lead on Lap 63 - a run that included a stop for fuel on the 41st circuit. The Winchester, Va., native then held the top spot until Lap 84 when he pitted after the caution flag waved.
According to McFarland, strategy and adjustments to his car by crew chief Wes Ward and his Pete Knight Racing team swung the event in his favor.
"We had a little bit different pit strategy than most people," said McFarland, noting Ward had won a NASCAR Busch (now Nationwide) Series race at Milwaukee with Dale Jarrett in 1995."We pitted for fuel around Lap 40 because we thought the race was going to have a lot of green-flag runs and we didn't think there would be that many cautions. That's why we came in and topped off.
"Later, when we came back for our second pit stop, we were able to take less fuel and still beat a lot of people back off pit road. We came out about 11th behind some people who only took fuel and some who only took two tires. After that, we drove right to the front."
With his Sears Auto Center Chevy spot on, McFarland headed to the front taking the lead for the final time on Lap 111. At the finish, it was McFarland on cruise control, 1.12 seconds ahead of runner-up Drew Herring. Cale Gale, Caleb Holman and Brad Rogers completed the top 5 in the first of two USAR Hooters Pro Cup combination races to be held during the 2008 regular season.
"Once I got in front, I raced out to about a 30-car length lead and just cruised," said McFarland of the final 35 laps. "We saved a little something in case we had a late-race restart. Wes changed the car on the final pit stop to just tighten it up a little bit. After that, everything was all good. Herring was pretty quick there for 10 to 15 laps, but over the last 30, our car just kept going. It was awesome."
In the end, there isn't much better than winning your sponsor's race in your sponsor's car. Then again, any finish at Milwaukee this time around would have been better than McFarland's last experience at the famed 1903 vintage race track.
"The last time I was at Milwaukee, I finished the race in the infield care center," said McFarland. "I thought I was going to have a top-5 finish that day, but I wound up with a dislocated shoulder. To come back this time and win - especially at a place with so much history like Milwaukee and with all the Sears Auto Center people here - just couldn't be sweeter."
McFarland and his No. 81s Sears Tire Center/Knight's Companies Chevy will next take to the track in a USAR Hooters Pro Cup Northern Division race at Mansfield (Ohio) Motorsports Park on Saturday, June 14. The 250-lap event on the half-mile Mansfield oval will take the green flag at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time.
About Sears, Roebuck and Co.
Sears, Roebuck and Co., a wholly owned subsidiary of Sears Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ:SHLD), is a leading broad line retailer providing merchandise and related services. Sears, Roebuck offers its wide range of home merchandise, apparel and automotive products and services through more than 2,400 Sears-branded and affiliated stores in the United States and Canada, which includes approximately 935 full-line and 1,100 specialty stores in the U.S. Sears, Roebuck also offers a variety of merchandise and services through sears.com, landsend.com and specialty catalogs. Sears, Roebuck offers consumers leading proprietary brands including Kenmore, Craftsman, DieHard and Lands' End - among the most trusted and preferred brands in the U.S. The company is the nation's largest provider of home services, with more than 13 million service calls made annually. For more information, visit the Sears, Roebuck website at www.sears.com or the Sears Holdings Corporation website at www.searsholdings.com.
To find a Sears Auto Center location near you or to shop online, please log on to www.sears.com.
McFarland, Sears Auto Center Chevy Win USAR Pro Cup North-South Event At Milwaukee
June 4th
West Allis, WIS. - On the surface, a 24th-place finish in the Sears Auto Center 150 USAR Hooters Pro Cup race at The Milwaukee Mile might not seem like something to get too excited about. For Travis Miller and his Pete Knight Racing team, however, the effort got high marks.
"It was a very positive race for us," said Miller. "We didn't tear anything up and we put the car back on the trailer. You have to remember this was only my second race in two years and on the biggest track I've ever race on. I definitely learned a lot. Plus, it was great to see my teammate (Mark McFarland) go to Victory Lane. We worked really well together and we used some of their notes on our car. It was awesome to see them win."
"I thought Travis did really well this weekend," said McFarland. "That's especially true because he had never been to Milwaukee or on a track that big. Once they got his car fixed, he ran great. He was passing people and posting really good lap times. I think he had a good time. I just wish he had a better car in the beginning of the race so he wouldn't have gotten that lap down. He would have had a much better finish."
Miller, a 20-year old Chesapeake, Va., native, started 21st in the 40-car field at Milwaukee, the first of two USAR Hooters Pro Cup North-South Division combination races this season. With his No. 81n Pete Knight Racing Chevy not handling well at the drop of the green flag, the young driver got a lap down early before pitting for service just past the halfway point of the race.
"As soon as we put on four fresh tires, the car definitely came alive," said Miller. "We were passing on the outside. The car was golden. I followed Benny Gordon (the 11th-place finisher) quite a bit and I could go anywhere he could go. We raced side-by-side quite a lot too. We had a good car, we just were never able to get back on the lead lap."
Miller proved to be fast enough in the late going to pick up several spots in the final running order. At the finish, he was the first car one-lap down to the winner McFarland.
"We raced up from 38th to 24th in the last third of the race," said Miller. "Our car was too tight at the start of the race and we dropped to the back pretty quickly and got lapped. Once we came in to pit, that all changed, we had a really fast car. It just took off. If we would have had the car as good at the beginning of the race as at was the second half, we would have had a top-15 and maybe even a top-10 finish."
The solid effort has Miller looking forward to his next outing - a 250-lap USAR Hooters Pro Cup North Division event at Mansfield (Ohio) Motorsports Park on Saturday, June 14.
"We've gone to these first two races with pretty conservative chassis set ups," said Miller. "Again, Milwaukee was just my second race in two years and on the biggest track I've ever been on. It was actually pretty easy once we got the car right. I think we'll be building on that and going to Mansfield with a little more aggressive chassis set up."
Miller and his No. 81n Pete Knight Racing Chevy will take the green flag at Mansfield on June 14 at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time.
About PKR
Pete Knight Racing is located in an immaculately kept 10,000 square foot office/race shop complex in Mooresville, NC. The longtime championship contending USAR Hooters Pro Cup operation will field two teams in 2008 under the direction of crew chief Wes Ward. Mark McFarland will wheel the No. 81s Sears Auto Center Chevrolet Monte Carlo in USAR Southern Division action while Travis Miller will drive the No. 81n Knight's Companies Chevy in Northern Division events.
To inquire about motorsports marketing opportunities with Pete Knight Racing, please contact Ward at 704-664-9641.
West Allis, WIS. - On the surface, a 24th-place finish in the Sears Auto Center 150 USAR Hooters Pro Cup race at The Milwaukee Mile might not seem like something to get too excited about. For Travis Miller and his Pete Knight Racing team, however, the effort got high marks.
"It was a very positive race for us," said Miller. "We didn't tear anything up and we put the car back on the trailer. You have to remember this was only my second race in two years and on the biggest track I've ever race on. I definitely learned a lot. Plus, it was great to see my teammate (Mark McFarland) go to Victory Lane. We worked really well together and we used some of their notes on our car. It was awesome to see them win."
"I thought Travis did really well this weekend," said McFarland. "That's especially true because he had never been to Milwaukee or on a track that big. Once they got his car fixed, he ran great. He was passing people and posting really good lap times. I think he had a good time. I just wish he had a better car in the beginning of the race so he wouldn't have gotten that lap down. He would have had a much better finish."
Miller, a 20-year old Chesapeake, Va., native, started 21st in the 40-car field at Milwaukee, the first of two USAR Hooters Pro Cup North-South Division combination races this season. With his No. 81n Pete Knight Racing Chevy not handling well at the drop of the green flag, the young driver got a lap down early before pitting for service just past the halfway point of the race.
"As soon as we put on four fresh tires, the car definitely came alive," said Miller. "We were passing on the outside. The car was golden. I followed Benny Gordon (the 11th-place finisher) quite a bit and I could go anywhere he could go. We raced side-by-side quite a lot too. We had a good car, we just were never able to get back on the lead lap."
Miller proved to be fast enough in the late going to pick up several spots in the final running order. At the finish, he was the first car one-lap down to the winner McFarland.
"We raced up from 38th to 24th in the last third of the race," said Miller. "Our car was too tight at the start of the race and we dropped to the back pretty quickly and got lapped. Once we came in to pit, that all changed, we had a really fast car. It just took off. If we would have had the car as good at the beginning of the race as at was the second half, we would have had a top-15 and maybe even a top-10 finish."
The solid effort has Miller looking forward to his next outing - a 250-lap USAR Hooters Pro Cup North Division event at Mansfield (Ohio) Motorsports Park on Saturday, June 14.
"We've gone to these first two races with pretty conservative chassis set ups," said Miller. "Again, Milwaukee was just my second race in two years and on the biggest track I've ever been on. It was actually pretty easy once we got the car right. I think we'll be building on that and going to Mansfield with a little more aggressive chassis set up."
Miller and his No. 81n Pete Knight Racing Chevy will take the green flag at Mansfield on June 14 at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time.
About PKR
Pete Knight Racing is located in an immaculately kept 10,000 square foot office/race shop complex in Mooresville, NC. The longtime championship contending USAR Hooters Pro Cup operation will field two teams in 2008 under the direction of crew chief Wes Ward. Mark McFarland will wheel the No. 81s Sears Auto Center Chevrolet Monte Carlo in USAR Southern Division action while Travis Miller will drive the No. 81n Knight's Companies Chevy in Northern Division events.
To inquire about motorsports marketing opportunities with Pete Knight Racing, please contact Ward at 704-664-9641.
TRAVIS MILLER, PETE KNIGHT RACING CHEVY HAVE "POSITIVE RACE" AT MILWAUKEE
June 9th
Mooresville, N.C.-You can't fault Mark McFarland for being confident heading into this weekend's Greased Lightning 250 USAR Hooters Pro Cup Northern Division event at Mansfield Motorsports Park.
"We're going there to win," said McFarland, who captured the Pro Cup Northern Division event at Mansfield last season and is also coming off a victory in the most recent USAR race at The Milwaukee Mile on May 31. "We're not going to Mansfield to race for points. It's not a Hooters Pro Cup South race, so the points don't mean anything to us. We'll be doing whatever it takes to win two in a row there."
McFarland and his No. 81s Sears Auto Center/Knight's Companies Chevy had what it takes in last year's Mansfield event dominating the action from start to finish.
"Mansfield was our second win last year," said McFarland. "We won at Shenandoah earlier in the season and we went on to Mansfield where we won. It's a fun track. We had a real good car. We qualified on the pole and led most of the race. We were really the only car there that could get down on the bottom and pass. It was probably the best car I ever had there."
McFarland was also plenty stout in the most recent USAR battle at Milwaukee taking the lead and driving away from the field in the late stages of the Sears Auto Center 150 at the famed Wisconsin State Fair Park oval.
"Once I got in front, I raced out to about a 30-car length lead and just cruised," said McFarland of the final 35 laps at Milwaukee. "We saved a little something in case we had a late-race restart. Wes (crew chief Wes Ward) changed the car on the final pit stop to just tighten it up a little bit. After that, everything was all good. Our car just kept going. It was awesome."
This time around, McFarland knows he will have to not only contend with all the top stars of the USAR Northern Division for the win, but he will also have to battle the tight, half-mile Mansfield oval for 250 laps in order to come out on top again.
"Mansfield is the kind of place where you are usually going to have a lot of cautions," said McFarland. "It's real tight and real hard to pass. Your pit strategy is very crucial there. The tires don't go away that much. Most of the time, people get frustrated and try to knock you out of the way. You have to race hard every lap there. It's just good old USAR Hooters Pro Cup short track action."
McFarland and his No. 81s Sears Tire Center/Knight's Companies Chevy will take the green flag in the Greased Lightning 250 at Mansfield Motorsports Park on Saturday, June 14. at 7 p.m. Eastern Time.
About Sears, Roebuck and Co.
Sears, Roebuck and Co., a wholly owned subsidiary of Sears Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ:SHLD), is a leading broad line retailer providing merchandise and related services. Sears, Roebuck offers its wide range of home merchandise, apparel and automotive products and services through more than 2,400 Sears-branded and affiliated stores in the United States and Canada, which includes approximately 935 full-line and 1,100 specialty stores in the U.S. Sears, Roebuck also offers a variety of merchandise and services through sears.com, landsend.com and specialty catalogs. Sears, Roebuck offers consumers leading proprietary brands including Kenmore, Craftsman, DieHard and Lands' End - among the most trusted and preferred brands in the U.S. The company is the nation's largest provider of home services, with more than 13 million service calls made annually. For more information, visit the Sears, Roebuck website at www.sears.com or the Sears Holdings Corporation website at www.searsholdings.com.
To find a Sears Auto Center location near you or to shop online, please log on to www.sears.com.
Mooresville, N.C.-You can't fault Mark McFarland for being confident heading into this weekend's Greased Lightning 250 USAR Hooters Pro Cup Northern Division event at Mansfield Motorsports Park.
"We're going there to win," said McFarland, who captured the Pro Cup Northern Division event at Mansfield last season and is also coming off a victory in the most recent USAR race at The Milwaukee Mile on May 31. "We're not going to Mansfield to race for points. It's not a Hooters Pro Cup South race, so the points don't mean anything to us. We'll be doing whatever it takes to win two in a row there."
McFarland and his No. 81s Sears Auto Center/Knight's Companies Chevy had what it takes in last year's Mansfield event dominating the action from start to finish.
"Mansfield was our second win last year," said McFarland. "We won at Shenandoah earlier in the season and we went on to Mansfield where we won. It's a fun track. We had a real good car. We qualified on the pole and led most of the race. We were really the only car there that could get down on the bottom and pass. It was probably the best car I ever had there."
McFarland was also plenty stout in the most recent USAR battle at Milwaukee taking the lead and driving away from the field in the late stages of the Sears Auto Center 150 at the famed Wisconsin State Fair Park oval.
"Once I got in front, I raced out to about a 30-car length lead and just cruised," said McFarland of the final 35 laps at Milwaukee. "We saved a little something in case we had a late-race restart. Wes (crew chief Wes Ward) changed the car on the final pit stop to just tighten it up a little bit. After that, everything was all good. Our car just kept going. It was awesome."
This time around, McFarland knows he will have to not only contend with all the top stars of the USAR Northern Division for the win, but he will also have to battle the tight, half-mile Mansfield oval for 250 laps in order to come out on top again.
"Mansfield is the kind of place where you are usually going to have a lot of cautions," said McFarland. "It's real tight and real hard to pass. Your pit strategy is very crucial there. The tires don't go away that much. Most of the time, people get frustrated and try to knock you out of the way. You have to race hard every lap there. It's just good old USAR Hooters Pro Cup short track action."
McFarland and his No. 81s Sears Tire Center/Knight's Companies Chevy will take the green flag in the Greased Lightning 250 at Mansfield Motorsports Park on Saturday, June 14. at 7 p.m. Eastern Time.
About Sears, Roebuck and Co.
Sears, Roebuck and Co., a wholly owned subsidiary of Sears Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ:SHLD), is a leading broad line retailer providing merchandise and related services. Sears, Roebuck offers its wide range of home merchandise, apparel and automotive products and services through more than 2,400 Sears-branded and affiliated stores in the United States and Canada, which includes approximately 935 full-line and 1,100 specialty stores in the U.S. Sears, Roebuck also offers a variety of merchandise and services through sears.com, landsend.com and specialty catalogs. Sears, Roebuck offers consumers leading proprietary brands including Kenmore, Craftsman, DieHard and Lands' End - among the most trusted and preferred brands in the U.S. The company is the nation's largest provider of home services, with more than 13 million service calls made annually. For more information, visit the Sears, Roebuck website at www.sears.com or the Sears Holdings Corporation website at www.searsholdings.com.
To find a Sears Auto Center location near you or to shop online, please log on to www.sears.com.
McFarland, Sears Auto Center Chevy Looking For Repeat Victory At Mansfield
June 9th
West Allis, WI (June 9, 2008) - According to Travis Miller, it's amazing what a little experience can do for your confidence.
"I've got two races under my belt now and I feel good about what we're doing," said Miller (right), who returned to the driver's seat at the start of the 2008 USAR Hooters Pro Cup season after nearly a year and a half of inactivity. "I expect to go to Mansfield and contend for the win. We'll go there and a little more aggressive attitude than we had in the first two races of the season. Those were all about me getting seat time. After Milwaukee, we think we're a pretty good team and we're going to turn things loose a little bit more when we head to Mansfield this week."
Indeed, Miller and his No. 81n Pete Knight Racing Chevy turned in a solid performance in the most recent Pro Cup event at Milwaukee. Early handling problems got the Chesapeake, VA native a lap down, but adjustments to his red, white and blue Chevy made it one of the fastest cars on the track in the final half of the race.
"The car was golden," stated the 20-year-old driver. "I followed Benny Gordon (the 11th-place finisher) quite a bit and I could go anywhere he could go. We raced side-by-side quite a lot too. We had a good car, we just were never able to get back on the lead lap."
While not getting the results he wanted, the 24th-place finish at Milwaukee did wonders for his confidence and the confidence of his Pete Knight Racing team.
"Everyone was pretty pumped after the race," said Miller. "It was a very positive race for us. You have to remember this was only my second race in two years and on the biggest track I've ever race on. I definitely learned a lot."
Miller will now try to take that experience to the rough and tumble Mansfield Motorsports Park oval this weekend and the third USAR Hooters Pro Cup Northern Division race of the season - the Greased Lightning 250 - this Saturday evening.
"I've been to Mansfield twice," said Miller "The first time, I blew up before I even got off pit road. The second time, I didn't get much practice because my car had brake trouble. I won't have those kinds of problems this time. My Pete Knight Racing team is going to be very prepared before we get there. They are going to put a good set up under the car and I expect to be fast."
Miller and his No. 81n Pete Knight Racing Chevy will take the green flag at Mansfield this Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time.
About PKR -
Pete Knight Racing is located in an immaculately kept 10,000 square foot office/race shop complex in Mooresville, NC. The longtime championship contending USAR Hooters Pro Cup operation will field two teams in 2008 under the direction of crew chief Wes Ward. Mark McFarland will wheel the No. 81s Sears Auto Center Chevrolet Monte Carlo in USAR Southern Division action while Travis Miller will drive the No. 81n Knight's Companies Chevy in Northern Division events.
The team also plans to compete in a select event schedule of NASCAR Camping World races this season.
To inquire about motorsports marketing opportunities with Pete Knight Racing, please contact Ward at 704-664-9641
West Allis, WI (June 9, 2008) - According to Travis Miller, it's amazing what a little experience can do for your confidence.
"I've got two races under my belt now and I feel good about what we're doing," said Miller (right), who returned to the driver's seat at the start of the 2008 USAR Hooters Pro Cup season after nearly a year and a half of inactivity. "I expect to go to Mansfield and contend for the win. We'll go there and a little more aggressive attitude than we had in the first two races of the season. Those were all about me getting seat time. After Milwaukee, we think we're a pretty good team and we're going to turn things loose a little bit more when we head to Mansfield this week."
Indeed, Miller and his No. 81n Pete Knight Racing Chevy turned in a solid performance in the most recent Pro Cup event at Milwaukee. Early handling problems got the Chesapeake, VA native a lap down, but adjustments to his red, white and blue Chevy made it one of the fastest cars on the track in the final half of the race.
"The car was golden," stated the 20-year-old driver. "I followed Benny Gordon (the 11th-place finisher) quite a bit and I could go anywhere he could go. We raced side-by-side quite a lot too. We had a good car, we just were never able to get back on the lead lap."
While not getting the results he wanted, the 24th-place finish at Milwaukee did wonders for his confidence and the confidence of his Pete Knight Racing team.
"Everyone was pretty pumped after the race," said Miller. "It was a very positive race for us. You have to remember this was only my second race in two years and on the biggest track I've ever race on. I definitely learned a lot."
Miller will now try to take that experience to the rough and tumble Mansfield Motorsports Park oval this weekend and the third USAR Hooters Pro Cup Northern Division race of the season - the Greased Lightning 250 - this Saturday evening.
"I've been to Mansfield twice," said Miller "The first time, I blew up before I even got off pit road. The second time, I didn't get much practice because my car had brake trouble. I won't have those kinds of problems this time. My Pete Knight Racing team is going to be very prepared before we get there. They are going to put a good set up under the car and I expect to be fast."
Miller and his No. 81n Pete Knight Racing Chevy will take the green flag at Mansfield this Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time.
About PKR -
Pete Knight Racing is located in an immaculately kept 10,000 square foot office/race shop complex in Mooresville, NC. The longtime championship contending USAR Hooters Pro Cup operation will field two teams in 2008 under the direction of crew chief Wes Ward. Mark McFarland will wheel the No. 81s Sears Auto Center Chevrolet Monte Carlo in USAR Southern Division action while Travis Miller will drive the No. 81n Knight's Companies Chevy in Northern Division events.
The team also plans to compete in a select event schedule of NASCAR Camping World races this season.
To inquire about motorsports marketing opportunities with Pete Knight Racing, please contact Ward at 704-664-9641
Miller Confident Heading Into Mansfield USAR Hooters Pro Cup Clash
June 16th
Mooresville, NC - The results won't reflect it, but Saturday's Greased Lightning 250 at Mansfield Motorsports Park may have been the event that jump-started a solid season for Travis Miller and his No. 81n Pete Knight Racing Chevy.
"It was really motivating to have the car run as well as it did and be able to drive it to the front," said Miller, who finished 19th after crashing out late while running in the Top-10. "We had a solid run going and lost it through no fault of our own. You hate it to end that way, but we left knowing while we might not have had the car to win the race, we can run up front. We definitely had a Top-5 or Top-6 car. We easily had that."
The 20-year-old Miller had his work cut out for him starting last (32nd) in the 250-lap- event on the tight Mansfield half-mile oval.
"We were pretty good in practice and qualified well," said Miller, who timed in 20th with a lap of 17.143 seconds. "We had to start dead last because we changed the transmission after qualifying, but it didn't take long to get to the front."
Miller's charge into the Top-10 started early picking up several spots in the first 15 circuits. When the first caution flag of the event flew, Miller's Pete Knight Racing team took over getting him off of pit road with lightning quickness.
"We had good pit strategy," said Miller. "We pitted with the leaders on the first caution and we probably picked up eight or nine spots there on pit road. We took tires right away and after that, I was able drive by a lot of people on the outside. There was absolutely no grip on the bottom of the track, so if you were going to pass, it had to be on the outside. We drove from 15th to fifth pretty easily."
Miller roared into the Top-10 by Lap 50 and was seventh at the 70th circuit. By Lap 90, the Chesapeake, VA native had broken into the Top-5 and thanks to the flawless handling of his No. 81n Chevrolet Monte Carlo, stayed there for the next 80 laps.
"Chris Greenhill had the perfect chassis set up in my car," said Miller. "He had the car rolling the center of the corner great. Chris worked really hard getting the car right and I tried a bunch of new stuff that I hadn't tried before. The result was the car was great and we were able to drive right to the front."
Comfortably running in sixth place with just under 75 laps to go, Miller saw his dreams of a top finish crushed after contact with the Turn 4 outside retaining wall.
"Someone just drove into Turn 3 too deep and clipped me in the left-rear," Miller stated. "It got me loose and I saved it, but the contact knocked me up so high on the track that once I got up into the marbles - the dirt, gravel and loose rubber - the car just slid into the wall. There was no controlling it once that happened and we got into the fence."
While disappointed with the 19th-pace result, Miller was still upbeat about the effort.
"We showed that we can run up front and compete," said Miller. "We've got really good equipment and the guys who know how to make it go fast. I've finally gotten enough seat time after being off so long that I feel confident in what I am doing and know that I can run up front. I'm really looking forward to the next race at Salem (IN) Speedway. There's no reason why we shouldn't be able to go there and run in the Top-5, especially after the way we competed at Mansfield."
Miller and his No. 81n Pete Knight Racing Chevy will next take the green flag in the Greased Lightning 250 at Salem Speedway on Saturday, June 28. The green flag is set for 7:30 p.m.
About PKR -
Pete Knight Racing is located in an immaculately kept 10,000 square foot office/race shop complex in Mooresville, NC. The longtime championship contending USAR Hooters Pro Cup operation will field two teams in 2008 under the direction of crew chief Wes Ward. Mark McFarland will wheel the No. 81s Sears Auto Center Chevrolet Monte Carlo in USAR Southern Division action while Travis Miller will drive the No. 81n Knight's Companies Chevy led by crew chief Shane Huffman in all USAR Northern Division events this season.
The team also plans to compete in a select event schedule of NASCAR Camping World races this season.
To inquire about motorsports marketing opportunities with Pete Knight Racing, please contact Ward at 704-664-9641
Mooresville, NC - The results won't reflect it, but Saturday's Greased Lightning 250 at Mansfield Motorsports Park may have been the event that jump-started a solid season for Travis Miller and his No. 81n Pete Knight Racing Chevy.
"It was really motivating to have the car run as well as it did and be able to drive it to the front," said Miller, who finished 19th after crashing out late while running in the Top-10. "We had a solid run going and lost it through no fault of our own. You hate it to end that way, but we left knowing while we might not have had the car to win the race, we can run up front. We definitely had a Top-5 or Top-6 car. We easily had that."
The 20-year-old Miller had his work cut out for him starting last (32nd) in the 250-lap- event on the tight Mansfield half-mile oval.
"We were pretty good in practice and qualified well," said Miller, who timed in 20th with a lap of 17.143 seconds. "We had to start dead last because we changed the transmission after qualifying, but it didn't take long to get to the front."
Miller's charge into the Top-10 started early picking up several spots in the first 15 circuits. When the first caution flag of the event flew, Miller's Pete Knight Racing team took over getting him off of pit road with lightning quickness.
"We had good pit strategy," said Miller. "We pitted with the leaders on the first caution and we probably picked up eight or nine spots there on pit road. We took tires right away and after that, I was able drive by a lot of people on the outside. There was absolutely no grip on the bottom of the track, so if you were going to pass, it had to be on the outside. We drove from 15th to fifth pretty easily."
Miller roared into the Top-10 by Lap 50 and was seventh at the 70th circuit. By Lap 90, the Chesapeake, VA native had broken into the Top-5 and thanks to the flawless handling of his No. 81n Chevrolet Monte Carlo, stayed there for the next 80 laps.
"Chris Greenhill had the perfect chassis set up in my car," said Miller. "He had the car rolling the center of the corner great. Chris worked really hard getting the car right and I tried a bunch of new stuff that I hadn't tried before. The result was the car was great and we were able to drive right to the front."
Comfortably running in sixth place with just under 75 laps to go, Miller saw his dreams of a top finish crushed after contact with the Turn 4 outside retaining wall.
"Someone just drove into Turn 3 too deep and clipped me in the left-rear," Miller stated. "It got me loose and I saved it, but the contact knocked me up so high on the track that once I got up into the marbles - the dirt, gravel and loose rubber - the car just slid into the wall. There was no controlling it once that happened and we got into the fence."
While disappointed with the 19th-pace result, Miller was still upbeat about the effort.
"We showed that we can run up front and compete," said Miller. "We've got really good equipment and the guys who know how to make it go fast. I've finally gotten enough seat time after being off so long that I feel confident in what I am doing and know that I can run up front. I'm really looking forward to the next race at Salem (IN) Speedway. There's no reason why we shouldn't be able to go there and run in the Top-5, especially after the way we competed at Mansfield."
Miller and his No. 81n Pete Knight Racing Chevy will next take the green flag in the Greased Lightning 250 at Salem Speedway on Saturday, June 28. The green flag is set for 7:30 p.m.
About PKR -
Pete Knight Racing is located in an immaculately kept 10,000 square foot office/race shop complex in Mooresville, NC. The longtime championship contending USAR Hooters Pro Cup operation will field two teams in 2008 under the direction of crew chief Wes Ward. Mark McFarland will wheel the No. 81s Sears Auto Center Chevrolet Monte Carlo in USAR Southern Division action while Travis Miller will drive the No. 81n Knight's Companies Chevy led by crew chief Shane Huffman in all USAR Northern Division events this season.
The team also plans to compete in a select event schedule of NASCAR Camping World races this season.
To inquire about motorsports marketing opportunities with Pete Knight Racing, please contact Ward at 704-664-9641
Late Race Crash Derails Miller, PKR Chevy At Mansfield
June 17th
Mooresville, NC - When you're riding a winning streak, anything other than victory can be less than satisfying.
"It's tough to be disappointed with finishing second," said Mark McFarland after steering his No. 81s Sears Auto Center Chevy to a runner-up finish in Saturday's USAR Hooters Pro Cup Northern Division Greased Lightning 250 at Mansfield (OH) Motorsports Park. "We won the race last week at Milwaukee and we won the spring race at Mansfield last year. We thought we had a good shot at winning this week at Mansfield. I guess any time you come out of a race and finish second with none of your stuff torn up, it's a good day. We were just disappointed because we were going there to win."
McFarland, normally on top of the speed charts in practice at most USAR events, wasn't near the front in the early test sessions at Mansfield. Fortunately, his Pete Knight Racing team was able to bail him out with some timely adjustments just prior to qualifying.
"We struggled in practice, but then we found something near the end and that really picked us up," said McFarland. "The guys really worked hard to find that and they never gave up. That's what's really impressive about this team."
The turnaround was good enough to give the Winchester, VA driver the second spot in the 32-car starting lineup with a time of 16.778 seconds (107.283 miles per hour average) on the tight half-mile Mansfield oval.
Unfortunately, a win wasn't in the cards for McFarland this time around. Despite running in the Top-10 for most of the race, McFarland came up just short at the finish coming home second to eventual winner Derek Kale.
"We had a pretty good car, it was just really hard to pass at Mansfield this weekend," said McFarland. "We had just an okay car at the start of the race, but we made some adjustments on the pit stop that made it a whole lot better. I almost got the leader on the restart at the end of the race, so it still almost worked out for us. If we would have had a little bit better car at the end of the race, it might have worked out for us."
McFarland and his Sears Auto Center Chevy Monte Carlo will try to get back on the winning track when they compete in the USAR Hooters Pro Cup Southern Division Greased Lightning 250 at Myrtle Beach (SC) Speedway this Saturday, June 21. Green flag is set for 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time.
About Sears, Roebuck and Co.
Sears, Roebuck and Co., a wholly owned subsidiary of Sears Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ:SHLD), is a leading broad line retailer providing merchandise and related services. Sears, Roebuck offers its wide range of home merchandise, apparel and automotive products and services through more than 2,400 Sears-branded and affiliated stores in the United States and Canada, which includes approximately 935 full-line and 1,100 specialty stores in the U.S. Sears, Roebuck also offers a variety of merchandise and services through sears.com, landsend.com and specialty catalogs. Sears, Roebuck offers consumers leading proprietary brands including Kenmore, Craftsman, DieHard and Lands' End - among the most trusted and preferred brands in the U.S. The company is the nation's largest provider of home services, with more than 13 million service calls made annually. For more information, visit the Sears, Roebuck website at www.sears.com or the Sears Holdings Corporation website at www.searsholdings.com.
To find a Sears Auto Center location near you or to shop online, please log on to www.sears.com.
Mooresville, NC - When you're riding a winning streak, anything other than victory can be less than satisfying.
"It's tough to be disappointed with finishing second," said Mark McFarland after steering his No. 81s Sears Auto Center Chevy to a runner-up finish in Saturday's USAR Hooters Pro Cup Northern Division Greased Lightning 250 at Mansfield (OH) Motorsports Park. "We won the race last week at Milwaukee and we won the spring race at Mansfield last year. We thought we had a good shot at winning this week at Mansfield. I guess any time you come out of a race and finish second with none of your stuff torn up, it's a good day. We were just disappointed because we were going there to win."
McFarland, normally on top of the speed charts in practice at most USAR events, wasn't near the front in the early test sessions at Mansfield. Fortunately, his Pete Knight Racing team was able to bail him out with some timely adjustments just prior to qualifying.
"We struggled in practice, but then we found something near the end and that really picked us up," said McFarland. "The guys really worked hard to find that and they never gave up. That's what's really impressive about this team."
The turnaround was good enough to give the Winchester, VA driver the second spot in the 32-car starting lineup with a time of 16.778 seconds (107.283 miles per hour average) on the tight half-mile Mansfield oval.
Unfortunately, a win wasn't in the cards for McFarland this time around. Despite running in the Top-10 for most of the race, McFarland came up just short at the finish coming home second to eventual winner Derek Kale.
"We had a pretty good car, it was just really hard to pass at Mansfield this weekend," said McFarland. "We had just an okay car at the start of the race, but we made some adjustments on the pit stop that made it a whole lot better. I almost got the leader on the restart at the end of the race, so it still almost worked out for us. If we would have had a little bit better car at the end of the race, it might have worked out for us."
McFarland and his Sears Auto Center Chevy Monte Carlo will try to get back on the winning track when they compete in the USAR Hooters Pro Cup Southern Division Greased Lightning 250 at Myrtle Beach (SC) Speedway this Saturday, June 21. Green flag is set for 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time.
About Sears, Roebuck and Co.
Sears, Roebuck and Co., a wholly owned subsidiary of Sears Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ:SHLD), is a leading broad line retailer providing merchandise and related services. Sears, Roebuck offers its wide range of home merchandise, apparel and automotive products and services through more than 2,400 Sears-branded and affiliated stores in the United States and Canada, which includes approximately 935 full-line and 1,100 specialty stores in the U.S. Sears, Roebuck also offers a variety of merchandise and services through sears.com, landsend.com and specialty catalogs. Sears, Roebuck offers consumers leading proprietary brands including Kenmore, Craftsman, DieHard and Lands' End - among the most trusted and preferred brands in the U.S. The company is the nation's largest provider of home services, with more than 13 million service calls made annually. For more information, visit the Sears, Roebuck website at www.sears.com or the Sears Holdings Corporation website at www.searsholdings.com.
To find a Sears Auto Center location near you or to shop online, please log on to www.sears.com.
McFarland, Sears Auto Center Chevy Just Miss USAR Victory At Mansfield
June 18th
Mooresville, NC--Saturday night's running of the Greased Lighting 250 at Mansfield Motorsports Park was Derek Kale's night. Following a team reorganization, Kale and company were excited to get the season started. Mansfield has been good to Kale, but lady luck was on his side Saturday night, when he picked up his first career victory.
The weekend started off with a bang when the 22n car jumped to the top of the charts, right out of the hauler. After a little break, the team made some adjustments to find some more speed. They were happy with the car, let it cool down a while, and then Kale made his mock qualifying run. The first run was good, but not good enough for team manager Steve Bird, and crew chief Cody Sauls. The 22n car came back out with Kale making a little progress, and all were happy with 8th fastest in practice.
"As fast as our car was early on, we really didn't want to make too many adjustments," Kale said. "I knew we had a fast car for the race, and I felt really good about it. Actually, we had a relaxed practice, and made our qualifying runs. I knew I would be in the top 10 qualifying positions, and starting 6th gave me the chance to be in the top 5 early on, and I could just ride it out."
A good clean start to the Greased Lighting 250 allowed Kale to drive by a couple of cars from the get go. Cautions were hardly rare on Saturday night, and when Jimmy Wilson said, "Put it Out", on Lap 14, it brought most of the leaders down pit-road, including Kale. While most of the teams chose to change left side tires, "Birdie" and Cody made the call to change right side tires. Another caution on Lap 32 raised the question, "Can we make it on Fuel?" Cody Sauls and "Birdie" made the call to bring Kale down pit-road, and pack the fuel-cell with Sunoco fuel.
"Before our fist pit stop, the car was really loose," Kale said. "We made our adjustments, and took fuel early. I knew no one else followed me down pit-road, and that gave me a great feeling. We were the first team to be done with both pit stops, and I knew everything would cycle around."
Over the next 60 Laps there were 7 cautions, hindering Kale's march to the front. Finally, after going green, Kale drove by Gary St. Amant for the lead, and easily picked up the half-way leader bonus money, and extra points. After the re-start on lap 150, Jeff Agnew got by Kale. Kale decided to bide his time and ride it out from there, in 2nd position. Agnew would pull away, but with "Birdie's" motivational words of wisdom on the radio, after about 10 laps, Kale would reel Agnew back in. It was like a yo-yo for the next 95 laps. The final caution came on lap 245, which brought the whole pack back together one last time. A fantastic re-start kept Kale near Agnew, and Kale was waiting Agnew to make a mistake. After taking the white flag, going down the back stretch, Agnew slowed, and you could hear "Birdie" over the radio sreaming, "Go!, Go!, Go!" Kale drove to the outside of Agnew, and kept the 81s car behind him. As the top 3 raced out of turn 4, Agnew dropped back further. McFarland made a run at Kale, but Kale was the first man at the line, to pick up his first career victory in the USAR Hooters Pro-Cup Series.
"When I took the lead, I wasn't sure of the lap count," Kale said. "When they came on the radio and said I was the half-way leader, I was so excited to get those points. I knew Agnew was fast and coming, and I wanted to gather up as many points as I possibly could. When he passed me, I decided to follow him, but was concerned about that last caution. I knew at the re-start, with McFarland behind me, I couldn't make any mistakes. It was a perfect re-start, and when Agnew slowed in front of me, I seized the opportunity to go to the front. We beat them to the Line, and that's all that matters. I couldn't be happier or more proud of my team. They really work hard to give me the best equipment every race, and we did it this time. I want to thank Heritage Equipment, Gaerte Engines, and Laughlin Performance for all the help they have given me. "Birdie" and Cody, and all the guys are just the best! This is not just my win, it's theirs too.
For more information about Derek Kale and the Heritage Motorsports Team, and possible sponsorship opportunities, check out www.derekkale.com
Mooresville, NC--Saturday night's running of the Greased Lighting 250 at Mansfield Motorsports Park was Derek Kale's night. Following a team reorganization, Kale and company were excited to get the season started. Mansfield has been good to Kale, but lady luck was on his side Saturday night, when he picked up his first career victory.
The weekend started off with a bang when the 22n car jumped to the top of the charts, right out of the hauler. After a little break, the team made some adjustments to find some more speed. They were happy with the car, let it cool down a while, and then Kale made his mock qualifying run. The first run was good, but not good enough for team manager Steve Bird, and crew chief Cody Sauls. The 22n car came back out with Kale making a little progress, and all were happy with 8th fastest in practice.
"As fast as our car was early on, we really didn't want to make too many adjustments," Kale said. "I knew we had a fast car for the race, and I felt really good about it. Actually, we had a relaxed practice, and made our qualifying runs. I knew I would be in the top 10 qualifying positions, and starting 6th gave me the chance to be in the top 5 early on, and I could just ride it out."
A good clean start to the Greased Lighting 250 allowed Kale to drive by a couple of cars from the get go. Cautions were hardly rare on Saturday night, and when Jimmy Wilson said, "Put it Out", on Lap 14, it brought most of the leaders down pit-road, including Kale. While most of the teams chose to change left side tires, "Birdie" and Cody made the call to change right side tires. Another caution on Lap 32 raised the question, "Can we make it on Fuel?" Cody Sauls and "Birdie" made the call to bring Kale down pit-road, and pack the fuel-cell with Sunoco fuel.
"Before our fist pit stop, the car was really loose," Kale said. "We made our adjustments, and took fuel early. I knew no one else followed me down pit-road, and that gave me a great feeling. We were the first team to be done with both pit stops, and I knew everything would cycle around."
Over the next 60 Laps there were 7 cautions, hindering Kale's march to the front. Finally, after going green, Kale drove by Gary St. Amant for the lead, and easily picked up the half-way leader bonus money, and extra points. After the re-start on lap 150, Jeff Agnew got by Kale. Kale decided to bide his time and ride it out from there, in 2nd position. Agnew would pull away, but with "Birdie's" motivational words of wisdom on the radio, after about 10 laps, Kale would reel Agnew back in. It was like a yo-yo for the next 95 laps. The final caution came on lap 245, which brought the whole pack back together one last time. A fantastic re-start kept Kale near Agnew, and Kale was waiting Agnew to make a mistake. After taking the white flag, going down the back stretch, Agnew slowed, and you could hear "Birdie" over the radio sreaming, "Go!, Go!, Go!" Kale drove to the outside of Agnew, and kept the 81s car behind him. As the top 3 raced out of turn 4, Agnew dropped back further. McFarland made a run at Kale, but Kale was the first man at the line, to pick up his first career victory in the USAR Hooters Pro-Cup Series.
"When I took the lead, I wasn't sure of the lap count," Kale said. "When they came on the radio and said I was the half-way leader, I was so excited to get those points. I knew Agnew was fast and coming, and I wanted to gather up as many points as I possibly could. When he passed me, I decided to follow him, but was concerned about that last caution. I knew at the re-start, with McFarland behind me, I couldn't make any mistakes. It was a perfect re-start, and when Agnew slowed in front of me, I seized the opportunity to go to the front. We beat them to the Line, and that's all that matters. I couldn't be happier or more proud of my team. They really work hard to give me the best equipment every race, and we did it this time. I want to thank Heritage Equipment, Gaerte Engines, and Laughlin Performance for all the help they have given me. "Birdie" and Cody, and all the guys are just the best! This is not just my win, it's theirs too.
For more information about Derek Kale and the Heritage Motorsports Team, and possible sponsorship opportunities, check out www.derekkale.com
Derek Kale, 2006 Miller-Lite "Rookie of the Year" Wins Mansfield
June 23rd
Mooresville, NC - To say Mark McFarland and his No. 81s Sears Auto Center Chevy Monte Carlo are the hottest thing on the USAR Hooters Pro Cup tour these days is an understatement.
McFarland sizzled again this past weekend winning the Greased Lightning 250 at Myrtle Beach (SC) Speedway. It was his second win in the past three USAR events beginning with the USAR North-South combination event at The Milwaukee Mile two weeks ago. For good measure, the Winchester, VA native sandwiched in a runner-up finish in the USAR Northern Division race at Mansfield, OH last weekend before taking the Southern Division clash at Myrtle Beach Saturday.
"This is starting out to be a great year," said McFarland. "We took over the Southern Division points lead. That's the first time that's happened since I started driving for Pete Knight Racing. Everyone is doing such a great job. We're all plugging away and we have to keep doing that. We have a couple of hard tracks coming up in the Southern Division at Kenly and Hickory. You can get in trouble at both of them pretty easily."
The only trouble McFarland had to contend with throughout the weekend at Myrtle Beach was coming up with what to say in Victory Lane. After stating the half-mile Grand Strand speedway wasn't exactly his favorite place to compete prior to the race, McFarland settled right in starting fourth and leading most of the first half of the event Saturday.
"About the first 130 laps went green, so you had to have a really good car not to get lapped," said McFarland. "Our car was close enough. We led for a long time and then we gave up the lead at the end of that run."
Any doubts about the Pete Knight Racing driver not taking home the winner's trophy were erased when he came to pit road for service just past the halfway point of the event.
"The crew did an awesome job," said McFarland. "We had fallen back to about fifth on the first run of the race. We were so loose and they made and adjustment and got me back out in front when we made our pit stop. Being in the lead is all I needed. They tightened up the car to just where I needed it and from there all I needed to do was hang on. From then on, we were the car to beat."
It wasn't totally clear sailing to the checkered flag as McFarland, who got back to the lead on Lap 170, had to hold off the charge of Matt Hawkins before settling into the top sport for good on the 191st circuit.
"It seemed like I was the only car that could run on the top," McFarland stated. "I ran right around the wall. Michael Ritch and I seemed to be the only ones who could run up here last year. That top groove only seems to be there in the spring. You can't run up there in the fall race. We tried it a couple of times in practice and it worked really well. We saved it for the race and the line really came in. You can really keep your momentum up and save your tires running up there. I got up there as soon as the race started and stayed there."
After the event, McFarland - who now leads the USAR Southern Division championship chase by a 659-642 margin over runner-up Trevor Bayne - also seemed at peace with his former Myrtle Beach Speedway demons.
"It's real satisfying to win at Myrtle Beach," said McFarland. "I've been racing here since 1997 and this is the first time that I have won here. I've been trying to do that for a long time and for some reason, I've never been able to do it. To finally get a win here is really sweet."
McFarland and his Sears Auto Center Chevy Monte Carlo will try to continue their winning ways when the next take to the track on Saturday, July 12 when they compete in the USAR Northern Division event at Motor Mile Speedway in Radford, VA.
The green flag in the 250 lap event will fly at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time.
About Sears, Roebuck and Co.
Sears, Roebuck and Co., a wholly owned subsidiary of Sears Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ:SHLD), is a leading broad line retailer providing merchandise and related services. Sears, Roebuck offers its wide range of home merchandise, apparel and automotive products and services through more than 2,400 Sears-branded and affiliated stores in the United States and Canada, which includes approximately 935 full-line and 1,100 specialty stores in the U.S. Sears, Roebuck also offers a variety of merchandise and services through sears.com, landsend.com and specialty catalogs. Sears, Roebuck offers consumers leading proprietary brands including Kenmore, Craftsman, DieHard and Lands' End - among the most trusted and preferred brands in the U.S. The company is the nation's largest provider of home services, with more than 13 million service calls made annually. For more information, visit the Sears, Roebuck website at www.sears.com or the Sears Holdings Corporation website at www.searsholdings.com.
To find a Sears Auto Center location near you or to shop online, please log on to www.sears.com.
Mooresville, NC - To say Mark McFarland and his No. 81s Sears Auto Center Chevy Monte Carlo are the hottest thing on the USAR Hooters Pro Cup tour these days is an understatement.
McFarland sizzled again this past weekend winning the Greased Lightning 250 at Myrtle Beach (SC) Speedway. It was his second win in the past three USAR events beginning with the USAR North-South combination event at The Milwaukee Mile two weeks ago. For good measure, the Winchester, VA native sandwiched in a runner-up finish in the USAR Northern Division race at Mansfield, OH last weekend before taking the Southern Division clash at Myrtle Beach Saturday.
"This is starting out to be a great year," said McFarland. "We took over the Southern Division points lead. That's the first time that's happened since I started driving for Pete Knight Racing. Everyone is doing such a great job. We're all plugging away and we have to keep doing that. We have a couple of hard tracks coming up in the Southern Division at Kenly and Hickory. You can get in trouble at both of them pretty easily."
The only trouble McFarland had to contend with throughout the weekend at Myrtle Beach was coming up with what to say in Victory Lane. After stating the half-mile Grand Strand speedway wasn't exactly his favorite place to compete prior to the race, McFarland settled right in starting fourth and leading most of the first half of the event Saturday.
"About the first 130 laps went green, so you had to have a really good car not to get lapped," said McFarland. "Our car was close enough. We led for a long time and then we gave up the lead at the end of that run."
Any doubts about the Pete Knight Racing driver not taking home the winner's trophy were erased when he came to pit road for service just past the halfway point of the event.
"The crew did an awesome job," said McFarland. "We had fallen back to about fifth on the first run of the race. We were so loose and they made and adjustment and got me back out in front when we made our pit stop. Being in the lead is all I needed. They tightened up the car to just where I needed it and from there all I needed to do was hang on. From then on, we were the car to beat."
It wasn't totally clear sailing to the checkered flag as McFarland, who got back to the lead on Lap 170, had to hold off the charge of Matt Hawkins before settling into the top sport for good on the 191st circuit.
"It seemed like I was the only car that could run on the top," McFarland stated. "I ran right around the wall. Michael Ritch and I seemed to be the only ones who could run up here last year. That top groove only seems to be there in the spring. You can't run up there in the fall race. We tried it a couple of times in practice and it worked really well. We saved it for the race and the line really came in. You can really keep your momentum up and save your tires running up there. I got up there as soon as the race started and stayed there."
After the event, McFarland - who now leads the USAR Southern Division championship chase by a 659-642 margin over runner-up Trevor Bayne - also seemed at peace with his former Myrtle Beach Speedway demons.
"It's real satisfying to win at Myrtle Beach," said McFarland. "I've been racing here since 1997 and this is the first time that I have won here. I've been trying to do that for a long time and for some reason, I've never been able to do it. To finally get a win here is really sweet."
McFarland and his Sears Auto Center Chevy Monte Carlo will try to continue their winning ways when the next take to the track on Saturday, July 12 when they compete in the USAR Northern Division event at Motor Mile Speedway in Radford, VA.
The green flag in the 250 lap event will fly at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time.
About Sears, Roebuck and Co.
Sears, Roebuck and Co., a wholly owned subsidiary of Sears Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ:SHLD), is a leading broad line retailer providing merchandise and related services. Sears, Roebuck offers its wide range of home merchandise, apparel and automotive products and services through more than 2,400 Sears-branded and affiliated stores in the United States and Canada, which includes approximately 935 full-line and 1,100 specialty stores in the U.S. Sears, Roebuck also offers a variety of merchandise and services through sears.com, landsend.com and specialty catalogs. Sears, Roebuck offers consumers leading proprietary brands including Kenmore, Craftsman, DieHard and Lands' End - among the most trusted and preferred brands in the U.S. The company is the nation's largest provider of home services, with more than 13 million service calls made annually. For more information, visit the Sears, Roebuck website at www.sears.com or the Sears Holdings Corporation website at www.searsholdings.com.
To find a Sears Auto Center location near you or to shop online, please log on to www.sears.com.
McFarland Wins USAR Hooters Pro Cup Event at Myrtle Beach
June 24th
Hunter Robbins wasn't complaining about the 15th-place finish had in his first Pro Cup race at Myrtle Beach Speedway (SC) Saturday night. The Montgomery, Alabama driver started mid-pack and ran up to the top 10 before fuel issues knocked him back a few spots at the finish.
"We didn't have a great qualifying effort; we figured we would have a better run during the race," said Robbins. "By virtue of where we started we lost a lap early on. The long green flag run did not help us at all. We lost two laps and we got them both back and we had moved into the top ten when we ran out of gas. I don't want to say we miscalculated, but perhaps the long green flag run did us in. It just happened at the wrong time right after the pit entrance."
Robbins didn't get discouraged after seeing a top-10 finish disappear. He knows his team is capable of producing good cars.
"We have been in the top five and top ten each race we have been at," said Robbins. "We are missing that one little thing that's going to bring it all together. We just have to figure out how to put these good runs together. Because of this series I feel like I am ten times better as a driver then last year. There are so many great drivers in this series so you really learn how to race hard."
Up next for Robbins will be the Blizzard Series Super Late Model event at Five Flags Speedway (FL) on June 27th.
Hunter Robbins wasn't complaining about the 15th-place finish had in his first Pro Cup race at Myrtle Beach Speedway (SC) Saturday night. The Montgomery, Alabama driver started mid-pack and ran up to the top 10 before fuel issues knocked him back a few spots at the finish.
"We didn't have a great qualifying effort; we figured we would have a better run during the race," said Robbins. "By virtue of where we started we lost a lap early on. The long green flag run did not help us at all. We lost two laps and we got them both back and we had moved into the top ten when we ran out of gas. I don't want to say we miscalculated, but perhaps the long green flag run did us in. It just happened at the wrong time right after the pit entrance."
Robbins didn't get discouraged after seeing a top-10 finish disappear. He knows his team is capable of producing good cars.
"We have been in the top five and top ten each race we have been at," said Robbins. "We are missing that one little thing that's going to bring it all together. We just have to figure out how to put these good runs together. Because of this series I feel like I am ten times better as a driver then last year. There are so many great drivers in this series so you really learn how to race hard."
Up next for Robbins will be the Blizzard Series Super Late Model event at Five Flags Speedway (FL) on June 27th.
Hunter Robbins Produces Solid Finish in Myrtle Beach Pro Cup Event
June 25th
Mooresville, NC - Pete Knight Racing announced today that veteran racer Shane Huffman has returned to the organization as crew chief for the No. 81n USAR Hooters Pro Cup entry driven by Travis Miller.
Huffman (left), an accomplished USAR and NASCAR driver and crew member, reunites him with the team that he helped launch in late 2004.
"Pete and I put the deal together in December, 2004," said Huffman. "The first time I came to Pete, it was in a different role as a driver. We had a lot of success together in 2005 and that led to an opportunity for me to drive for Jr. Motorsports. It was tough to leave PKR. I had moved to Summerville, SC and we ran the team out of Pete's shops there. Pete and I became really close. It was all about business the first time I left. It was never personal. I can honestly say Pete is one of the best friends I have. When this opportunity came about, I knew it was for me. It's the right time in my life to do my own thing as a crew chief. "
A two-time USAR Southern Division champion and the sanctioning organization's National Champion in 2003, Huffman's crew chief duties will see him take control of the PKR Northern Division entry. He most recently served as a car chief in the NASCAR Nationwide Series for Rusty Wallace, Inc.
In addition to making sure the cars are what they need to be at each event, Huffman will lend valuable experience in tutoring the 20-year-old Miller.
"I was fortunate to work with some really good people at Rusty's and I learned a lot," stated Huffman. "I had a great job there. I feel like I was an asset to their efforts and I know Rusty, Steven and everyone there feels that way. On Saturday, before my last race at Kentucky, they said that if I ever needed a job, I'd have one. That made me feel pretty good. I feel like I had always been pretty smart with my own race cars, but what I've learned there should help Travis a lot. I think I can give him the car and advice he needs to get around the racetrack."
After a flashy late model career that began at age 15, Miller graduated to the USAR Hooters Pro Cup ranks in 2005 and posted a career best sixth-place finish at Shenandoah before having to park his racing ambitions due to financial limitations midway through the 2006 season.
Now, after a year and a half layoff, the Chesapeake, VA native has secured a seat in the potent PKR team car of USAR Southern Division point's leader Mark McFarland. In three races, Miller has run in well with his best finish coming at South Boston where he finished 14th.
According to Miller, the addition of Huffman is just another piece in the puzzle needed to put the team in winning contention.
"Just about every track we're going to race at is a place where Shane has either won or has run well at," said Miller. "He's one of the smartest drivers out there in terms of knowing about the car and what it needs. He's already been teaching me a lot about that this week in the shop. He's been real patient with me. We've been going through our cars and we're going to do some things he wants to do. We're going to test at Salem Friday and I'm really looking forward to that. I think he and I working together at the track is going to be a big advantage to me. Shane knows what he's doing, I'm going to take his advice both on and off the track to heart."
In announcing Huffman's return, Knight indicated the veteran driver will also get a chance to get back behind the wheel of a PKR entry in select NASCAR Camping World East Series events later this season.
"I still want to race," said Huffman, a Hickory, NC native. "That's going to be a part of my role here. At Rusty's, there was very little chance I was going to be able to drive a Nationwide car. The fact that Pete presented this opportunity to get back in the seat for some Camping World East Series events sealed the deal for me.
"Don't get me wrong, the crew chief situation with the 81 North car is my primary focus. But I still think I can race, so being able to do that and apply what I learn to what I am doing with Travis and our cars will be a big benefit to the entire program."
Huffman will debut on top of the PKR pit box this weekend when Miller and the No. 81n Pete Knight Racing Chevy take the green flag in the Greased Lightning 250 at Salem Speedway. The green flag is set for 7:30 p.m.
About PKR -
Pete Knight Racing is located in an immaculately kept 10,000 square foot office/race shop complex in Mooresville, NC. The longtime championship contending USAR Hooters Pro Cup operation will field two teams in 2008 under the direction of crew chief Wes Ward. Mark McFarland will wheel the No. 81s Sears Auto Center Chevrolet Monte Carlo in USAR Southern Division action while Travis Miller will drive the No. 81n Knight's Companies Chevy led by crew chief Shane Huffman in all USAR Northern Division events this season.
The team also plans to compete in a select event schedule of NASCAR Camping World races this season.
To inquire about motorsports marketing and sponsorship opportunities with Pete Knight Racing, please contact Ward at 704-664-9641 or wesward62@yahoo.com
Mooresville, NC - Pete Knight Racing announced today that veteran racer Shane Huffman has returned to the organization as crew chief for the No. 81n USAR Hooters Pro Cup entry driven by Travis Miller.
Huffman (left), an accomplished USAR and NASCAR driver and crew member, reunites him with the team that he helped launch in late 2004.
"Pete and I put the deal together in December, 2004," said Huffman. "The first time I came to Pete, it was in a different role as a driver. We had a lot of success together in 2005 and that led to an opportunity for me to drive for Jr. Motorsports. It was tough to leave PKR. I had moved to Summerville, SC and we ran the team out of Pete's shops there. Pete and I became really close. It was all about business the first time I left. It was never personal. I can honestly say Pete is one of the best friends I have. When this opportunity came about, I knew it was for me. It's the right time in my life to do my own thing as a crew chief. "
A two-time USAR Southern Division champion and the sanctioning organization's National Champion in 2003, Huffman's crew chief duties will see him take control of the PKR Northern Division entry. He most recently served as a car chief in the NASCAR Nationwide Series for Rusty Wallace, Inc.
In addition to making sure the cars are what they need to be at each event, Huffman will lend valuable experience in tutoring the 20-year-old Miller.
"I was fortunate to work with some really good people at Rusty's and I learned a lot," stated Huffman. "I had a great job there. I feel like I was an asset to their efforts and I know Rusty, Steven and everyone there feels that way. On Saturday, before my last race at Kentucky, they said that if I ever needed a job, I'd have one. That made me feel pretty good. I feel like I had always been pretty smart with my own race cars, but what I've learned there should help Travis a lot. I think I can give him the car and advice he needs to get around the racetrack."
After a flashy late model career that began at age 15, Miller graduated to the USAR Hooters Pro Cup ranks in 2005 and posted a career best sixth-place finish at Shenandoah before having to park his racing ambitions due to financial limitations midway through the 2006 season.
Now, after a year and a half layoff, the Chesapeake, VA native has secured a seat in the potent PKR team car of USAR Southern Division point's leader Mark McFarland. In three races, Miller has run in well with his best finish coming at South Boston where he finished 14th.
According to Miller, the addition of Huffman is just another piece in the puzzle needed to put the team in winning contention.
"Just about every track we're going to race at is a place where Shane has either won or has run well at," said Miller. "He's one of the smartest drivers out there in terms of knowing about the car and what it needs. He's already been teaching me a lot about that this week in the shop. He's been real patient with me. We've been going through our cars and we're going to do some things he wants to do. We're going to test at Salem Friday and I'm really looking forward to that. I think he and I working together at the track is going to be a big advantage to me. Shane knows what he's doing, I'm going to take his advice both on and off the track to heart."
In announcing Huffman's return, Knight indicated the veteran driver will also get a chance to get back behind the wheel of a PKR entry in select NASCAR Camping World East Series events later this season.
"I still want to race," said Huffman, a Hickory, NC native. "That's going to be a part of my role here. At Rusty's, there was very little chance I was going to be able to drive a Nationwide car. The fact that Pete presented this opportunity to get back in the seat for some Camping World East Series events sealed the deal for me.
"Don't get me wrong, the crew chief situation with the 81 North car is my primary focus. But I still think I can race, so being able to do that and apply what I learn to what I am doing with Travis and our cars will be a big benefit to the entire program."
Huffman will debut on top of the PKR pit box this weekend when Miller and the No. 81n Pete Knight Racing Chevy take the green flag in the Greased Lightning 250 at Salem Speedway. The green flag is set for 7:30 p.m.
About PKR -
Pete Knight Racing is located in an immaculately kept 10,000 square foot office/race shop complex in Mooresville, NC. The longtime championship contending USAR Hooters Pro Cup operation will field two teams in 2008 under the direction of crew chief Wes Ward. Mark McFarland will wheel the No. 81s Sears Auto Center Chevrolet Monte Carlo in USAR Southern Division action while Travis Miller will drive the No. 81n Knight's Companies Chevy led by crew chief Shane Huffman in all USAR Northern Division events this season.
The team also plans to compete in a select event schedule of NASCAR Camping World races this season.
To inquire about motorsports marketing and sponsorship opportunities with Pete Knight Racing, please contact Ward at 704-664-9641 or wesward62@yahoo.com
Huffman Selected As Crew Chief For Travis Miller, USAR Pro Cup Effort
June 25th
Auburndale, Fla. - Sure, he's always eager to get in the cockpit of a USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series race car. But he's especially gangbusters to climb back in the No. 21 NGA Hooters Pro Golf Tour Ford Fusion after a disappointing finish at Mansfield on June 14.
So it goes without saying that he's looking forward to navigating the high banks of Salem Speedway in Saturday's Lucas Oil 200 presented by Touchstone Energy.
"The Salem race can't get here fast enough for me," said the Comeback Motorsports driver. "We had some bad luck at Mansfield, and I'm ready to get back on the track and make everyone forget about that."
The race will be Kelley's first Pro Cup start at the track that measures more than half a mile around. He stands 13th in points in the Sears Auto Center Northern Division.
"We've reached the middle of the Northern Division season, so it's imperative that we have a good run to get some momentum going as we head into the second half of the schedule," Kelley said.
And by Kelley's side as he takes the green flag will be the Comeback pit crew, including front-tire carrier Chet Henderson and front-tire changer and catch-catch man Chuck Plexico.
Like Kelley, the two South Carolinians will be making their first Pro Cup trip to the Salem, Ind., track. But they're no rookies. Both have been working in racing for more than a decade.
And though they've crewed countless stops, they always feel the pressure to perform when the car hits the pit stall.
"I still get nervous when it's time for him to come in," Henderson said, noting that despite all the hard work, he always wanted to be in the pits when he was a fan watching the races.
Plexico was once left feeling nervous even after his driver had left pit road. He was working on a crew for 1997 Pro Cup Champion Mario Gosselin, and Gosselin sped away from the pit box before Plexico and his teammates could finish making changes.
"It was scary there for a little bit," Plexico recalled.
It takes a lot more than an anxious driver to fluster Plexico and Henderson, though, and that fact has proven valuable for Comeback Motorsports. Their experience and steady presence in the pits will be needed at Salem and in the remaining races this season.
Comeback team owner Tim Gainey also is pushing a new idea in fan access for the remainder of the USAR season. He has shared with series officials his concern that fans who have mobility issues are not able to attend the Wraps INK Autograph Sessions before races because doing so requires them to go up and down stairs.
So Gainey would like to see arrangements made so that all fans are able to interact with drivers before races. Perhaps drivers could meet with well-wishers in the stands before the autograph sessions, he said, noting that it's only right that all fans have the same opportunities.
After all, he said, "Without them, we wouldn't be racing."
About Comeback Motorsports
The name of the Comeback Motorsports team carries a lot of meaning for driver Derrick Kelley and team owner Tim Gainey. For Kelley, "comeback" is about rejuvenating a USAR Hooters Pro Cup career that's seen him collect three wins, 26 Top Five finishes and 45 Top 10s in only 109 starts. For Gainey, though, the word is even more significant. He was seriously injured in an industrial accident, which has made him a tireless supporter of making racing accessible to everyone.
For more information about Derrick Kelley and Comeback Motorsports, please visit www.comebackmotorsports.com.
Auburndale, Fla. - Sure, he's always eager to get in the cockpit of a USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series race car. But he's especially gangbusters to climb back in the No. 21 NGA Hooters Pro Golf Tour Ford Fusion after a disappointing finish at Mansfield on June 14.
So it goes without saying that he's looking forward to navigating the high banks of Salem Speedway in Saturday's Lucas Oil 200 presented by Touchstone Energy.
"The Salem race can't get here fast enough for me," said the Comeback Motorsports driver. "We had some bad luck at Mansfield, and I'm ready to get back on the track and make everyone forget about that."
The race will be Kelley's first Pro Cup start at the track that measures more than half a mile around. He stands 13th in points in the Sears Auto Center Northern Division.
"We've reached the middle of the Northern Division season, so it's imperative that we have a good run to get some momentum going as we head into the second half of the schedule," Kelley said.
And by Kelley's side as he takes the green flag will be the Comeback pit crew, including front-tire carrier Chet Henderson and front-tire changer and catch-catch man Chuck Plexico.
Like Kelley, the two South Carolinians will be making their first Pro Cup trip to the Salem, Ind., track. But they're no rookies. Both have been working in racing for more than a decade.
And though they've crewed countless stops, they always feel the pressure to perform when the car hits the pit stall.
"I still get nervous when it's time for him to come in," Henderson said, noting that despite all the hard work, he always wanted to be in the pits when he was a fan watching the races.
Plexico was once left feeling nervous even after his driver had left pit road. He was working on a crew for 1997 Pro Cup Champion Mario Gosselin, and Gosselin sped away from the pit box before Plexico and his teammates could finish making changes.
"It was scary there for a little bit," Plexico recalled.
It takes a lot more than an anxious driver to fluster Plexico and Henderson, though, and that fact has proven valuable for Comeback Motorsports. Their experience and steady presence in the pits will be needed at Salem and in the remaining races this season.
Comeback team owner Tim Gainey also is pushing a new idea in fan access for the remainder of the USAR season. He has shared with series officials his concern that fans who have mobility issues are not able to attend the Wraps INK Autograph Sessions before races because doing so requires them to go up and down stairs.
So Gainey would like to see arrangements made so that all fans are able to interact with drivers before races. Perhaps drivers could meet with well-wishers in the stands before the autograph sessions, he said, noting that it's only right that all fans have the same opportunities.
After all, he said, "Without them, we wouldn't be racing."
About Comeback Motorsports
The name of the Comeback Motorsports team carries a lot of meaning for driver Derrick Kelley and team owner Tim Gainey. For Kelley, "comeback" is about rejuvenating a USAR Hooters Pro Cup career that's seen him collect three wins, 26 Top Five finishes and 45 Top 10s in only 109 starts. For Gainey, though, the word is even more significant. He was seriously injured in an industrial accident, which has made him a tireless supporter of making racing accessible to everyone.
For more information about Derrick Kelley and Comeback Motorsports, please visit www.comebackmotorsports.com.
Kelley Aims for Success at Salem
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