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NASCAR DODGE WEEKLY SERIES – NORTHWEST REGION NEWS & NOTES

* Justin Westmoreland excited about shot at regional title

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (July 14, 2004) – A year ago, Justin Westmoreland was en route to winning the Sportsman championship at Madera (Calif.) Speedway in NASCAR’s ShorTrack Division. With the speedway designating the Sportsman class as their premier division this season, Westmoreland faces an even bigger challenge. In addition to defending his track title, he is also battling for a stake of the winnings in the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series Northwest Region.

The 20-year-old second-generation competitor from Madera is confident of his chances for a second consecutive track championship.

“I think we have a pretty good shot at defending our title, as long as we don’t have any catastrophes happen,” Westmoreland said. “We’ve had some problems the last couple of races, but we still have a pretty good point lead.”

While he leads the track standings, Westmoreland is ranked third in this week’s regional standings. He is quick to acknowledge the challenge of capturing a regional title and the winnings of up to $45,000.

“We knew at the beginning of the season that it wasn’t something that was going to be easy,” he said. “It wasn’t even something that we had a real good chance to do, but if things fall our way we have a shot at it. Everything would have to fall our way, however,” Westmoreland stressed.

Like many competitors across the country in the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series, Westmoreland followed his father into the sport of stock car racing. “I kind of grew up around Madera Speedway,” he explained. “My dad raced at Madera. We went to the race track for as long as I can remember.”

After initially competing in enduro events – his father, Keith Westmoreland, raced in the Street Stock Division, where he won a championship in 1995. He went on to race a Late Model before hanging up his helmet to help in son compete in go-karts.

“We hit the go-kart thing real hard when I was about 12 years old,” the younger Westmoreland recalled. “We raced road courses and speedway ovals. Most people in go-karts either run road courses or ovals. They don’t run both. I ran both and we tried to race as much as we could.” That competition paid off with success, including a national title he won in Wellington, Kan.

Just after turning 16 years old, Westmoreland made the move to stock cars by racing in the Street Stock Division.

“I went down and got my drivers’ license on Monday and we raced that Saturday night. I won in my seventh race.” From there he moved up to the Sportsman Division in 2002 and followed that up with the championship last year.

This Week’s Regional Leaders…

Driver                                       Home Track                             Starts   Wins    Top-5   CPI

1. Jerry Robertson                      Colorado National Speedway       9          7          9          .9217

2.  John Zaretzke                       Evergreen Speedway                  7          5          7          .8219

3.  Justin Westmoreland             Madera Speedway                     12         6          11         .7813

4.  Dave Byrd                             Stockton 99 Speedway               13         7          10         .7600

5. Gary Madsen                         Rocky Mountain Raceways         11         3          8          .7500

6. Bruce Quale                          Magic Valley Speedway             11         7          10         .7299

7. Mark Cooper                          Watsonville Speedway                12         3          9          .6878

8. Alan Pyszora                         Shasta Raceway Park                8          0          6          .5978

NASCAR DODGE WEEKLY SERIES – NORTHWEST REGION NEWS & NOTES

* John Zaretzke, Jerry Robertson tighten regional championship battle

* Mark Cooper on top at Watsonville Speedway

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (July 1, 2004) – NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series drivers Jerry Robertson and John Zaretzke have identical records – seven starts, five wins and seven top-five finishes – but Robertson holds the advantage in this week’s Northwest Region standings. One reason the Arvada, Colo. driver has scored higher in the NASCAR Competition Performance Index (CPI) is the fact the he’s raced against a larger field of cars, on average, than Zaretzke has faced at his home track.

The “car count” factor is included in the CPI index in order to balance the competition – if a driver wins races against a deeper field of cars each week, than he or she presumably has to race harder to win. The driver who competes against more cars is rewarded with the higher CPI rating.

The difference hasn’t stopped Zaretzke, of Monroe, Wash., from chasing the regional championship at every turn. In the past two weeks alone, Zaretzke has shaved a considerable margin off Robertson’s lead, which once stood at .1076 higher than Zaretzke’s CPI rating (.9201 - .8125). This week, the difference is .0506 (.9004 - .8498).

Elsewhere in NASCAR’s Northwest Region, Mark Cooper took over the points lead at Watsonville (Calif.) Speedway and s now ranked eighth in the regional standings.

The regional championship competition continues each week until the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series season concludes Sept. 19. Each of the series’ eight regional champions, as determined by the CPI, can win up to $45,000 in post-season awards. The racing records of the eight regional winners are then compared, using the same CPI index, to determine an overall series champion, who can win up to $125,000 in bonus awards for a total of $170,000. $1.7 million in point fund and special awards will be distributed to NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series competitors this year.

This Week’s Regional Leaders…

Driver Home Track Starts Wins Top-5 CPI

1. Jerry Robertson Colorado National Speedway 7 5 7 .9004

2. John Zaretzke Evergreen Speedway 7 5 7 .8498

3. Justin Westmoreland Madera Speedway 10 5 9 .7781

4. Gary Madsen Rocky Mountain Raceways 10 3 7 .7500

5. Dave Byrd Stockton 99 Speedway 11 6 8 .7467

6. Bruce Quale Magic Valley Speedway 10 6 9 .7186

7. Gary Pyszora Shasta Raceway Park 6 2 5 .7015

8. Mark Cooper Watsonville Speedway 10 3 7 .6895

NASCAR DODGE WEEKLY SERIES – NORTHWEST REGION NEWS & NOTES

* Gary Madsen and Bruce Quale enjoy big gains after home track wins

*Justin Westmoreland wins and loses at Madera Speedway

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (June 9, 2004) – Gary Madsen, of Salt Lake City, improved two positions in the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series regional standings this week, after recording his third win at Rocky Mountain Raceways in West Valley City, Utah. Madsen, the 2003 Rocky Mountain Raceways track champion, still trails regional leader Jerry Robertson by a sizeable margin, thanks to Robertson’s blazing record of four wins in five starts at Colorado National Speedway near Denver.

Elsewhere, a rainout at Evergreen Speedway in Monroe, Wash., kept Monroe driver John Zaretzke from making any progress in the regional championship chase. Justin Westmoreland, of Madera, Calif., may have wished last week’s events were rained out at Madera Speedway, where he is the current track points leader. Westmoreland finished outside the top 10 for the first time this season, in the second of two feature events at Madera last week. The result dropped him to fourth in the regional rankings.

Bruce Quale, meanwhile, is enjoying a winning season at Magic Valley Speedway in Twin Falls, Idaho. Quale, a resident of Twin Falls, recorded his fifth win last week and improved to fifth in the Northwest regional rankings.

This Week’s Regional Leaders…

Driver                                       Home Track                             Starts   Wins    Top-5   CPI       +/-*

1. Jerry Robertson                      Colorado National Speedway       5          4          5          .9222    --

2. Gary Madsen                         Rocky Mountain Raceways         6          3          5          .8333    +2

3. John Zaretzke                        Evergreen Speedway                  5          3          5          .8011    - -

4. Justin Westmoreland              Madera Speedway                     9          5          8          .7840    -2

5. Bruce Quale                          Magic Valley Speedway             8          5          8          .7479    +2

6. Gary Pyszora                        Shasta Raceway Park                3          1          3          .7389    - -

7. Dave Byrd                              Stockton 99 Speedway               9          5          6          .7284    -2

8. Dennis Pelphrey                     Watsonville Speedway                8          1          6          .6493    --

*Editor’s Note: The +/- column is added to indicate a driver’s movement within the CPI standings during a given week. For example, if a driver improves two positions in the CPI standings from one week to the next, a “+2” will appear in that column. Complete NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series regional standings are also available online, at www.nascardodgeweeklyseries.com.

NASCAR DODGE WEEKLY SERIES – NORTHWEST REGION NEWS & NOTES

* It’s all Robertson in the Northwest Region

* Bad Luck Drops Dave Byrd, Bruce Quale in Northwest Region rankings

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (June 2, 2004) – The race for the 2004 NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series Northwest Region championship is on and the defending winner is showing no signs of letting up in his pursuit of another title. Jerry Robertson, of Arvada, Colo., has won three consecutive feature races at Colorado National Speedway in Erie, Colo. and has maintained his lead in the Northwest Region championship standings for the second week in a row. Robertson, who won the 2003 Northwest Region title after 11 wins at Colorado National, leads Madera (Calif.) Speedway driver Justin Westmoreland in the standings.

Veteran driver Dave Byrd, of Pacific Grove, Calif., dropped two positions in the standings after a disappointing finish last weekend at his home track, Stockton 99 Speedway in Stockton, Calif. Byrd led 92 laps of the track’s 100-lap Tri-Holiday Classic before an accident ended his night.

Elsewhere in the Northwest Region, a third-place finish in last week’s Modified feature race at Idaho’s Magic Valley Speedway was enough to drop Bruce Quale, of Twin Falls, Idaho, one position in the regional standings. Shasta Raceway Park competitor Gary Pyszora, meanwhile, benefited from Quale’s slip – by default he inherits the sixth position.

This year’s NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series Northwest Region championship – one of eight NASCAR regional championships awarded annually – is worth up to $45,000 in post-season awards to the winner, plus a trip to Nashville for the annual NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series awards banquet in October.

This Week’s Regional Leaders…

Driver                                       Home Track                             Starts   Wins    Top-5   CPI       +/-*

1. Jerry Robertson                      Colorado National Speedway       5          4          5          .9232    --

2. Justin Westmoreland              Madera Speedway                     7          4          7          .8151    --

3. John Zaretzke                        Evergreen Speedway                  5          3          5          .8018    +1

4. Gary Madsen                         Rocky Mountain Raceways         5          2          4          .8000    +1

5. Dave Byrd                              Stockton 99 Speedway               8          5          6          .7709    -2

6. Gary Pyszora                        Shasta Raceway Park                3          1          3          .7396    +1

7. Bruce Quale                          Magic Valley Speedway             7          4          7          .7385    -1

8. Dennis Pelphrey                     Watsonville Speedway                7          1          5          .6508    --

*Editor’s Note: The +/- column is added to indicate a driver’s movement within the CPI standings during a given week. For example, if a driver improves two positions in the CPI standings from one week to the next, a “+2” will appear in that column. Complete NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series regional standings are also available online, at www.nascardodgeweeklyseries.com.

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NASCAR DODGE WEEKLY SERIES – NORTHWEST REGION NEWS & NOTES

* Robertson returns to top at Colorado National

* 22 years after first regional championship, Byrd still winning at Stockton

* Madsen seeks second RMR track championship

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (May 25, 2004) – As if his dominating 11-win performance and second NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series regional championship weren’t enough to cement his reputation as one of the country’s best short track racers last season, Jerry Robertson is at it again. Robertson, of Arvada, Colo., competes in the Late Model division at Colorado National Speedway in Erie, Colo., where he’s recorded three wins so far this season. Robertson dominated the 2003 NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series Northwest Region standings – leading every week last year – and is once again on top of the charts.

Elsewhere, Justin Westmoreland, of Madera, Calif., is ranked second in the Northwest Region with four wins at Madera Speedway. Veteran driver Dave Byrd, a 1983 NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series regional champion from Pacific Grove, Calif., is third after recording five wins in seven starts at Stockton 99 Speedway in Stockton, Calif. John Zaretzke, of Monroe, Wash., is leading the standings at his hometown track, Evergreen Speedway, and is currently fourth in the Northwest Region championship chase after three wins and five top-five finishes in the track’s Super Stock division.

2003 Rocky Mountain Raceways track champion Gary Madsen, of Salt Lake City, is back on top at his home track, where he’s recorded two wins and four top-five finishes this year. Madsen, who finished fourth in the Northwest Region standings last season, holds the No. 5 spot in this week’s standings.

This Week’s Regional Leaders…

Driver                                       Home Track                             Starts   Wins    Top-5   CPI       +/-*

1. Jerry Robertson                     Colorado National Speedway       4          3          4          .9107    --

2. Justin Westmoreland              Madera Speedway                     5          4          5          .8786    --

3. Dave Byrd                             Stockton 99 Speedway               7          5          6          .8135    --

4. John Zaretzke                        Evergreen Speedway                  5          3          5          .8018    --

5. Gary Madsen                        Rocky Mountain Raceways         5          2          4          .8000    --

6. Bruce Quale                          Magic Valley Speedway             6          4          6          .7653    --

7. Gary Pyszora                       Shasta Raceway Park                3          1          3          .7396    --

8. Dennis Pelphrey                    Watsonville Speedway                6          1          4          .6443    --

*Editor’s Note: The +/- column is added to indicate a driver’s movement within the CPI standings during a given week. For example, if a driver improves two positions in the CPI standings from one week to the next, a “+2” will appear in that column. Complete NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series regional standings are also available online, at www.nascardodgeweeklyseries.com.

NASCAR DODGE WEEKLY SERIES ‘INSIDERS’ REACT TO DRIVE FOR DIVERSITY NEWS

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (May 20, 2004) – As NASCAR officially announced its new diversity initiatives Thursday, the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series took center stage as the host series for the inaugural Drive for Diversity program. This initiative, run by Charlotte, N.C.-based Access Marketing and Communications, seeks to identify and select minority and women drivers and crew members to compete in NASCAR-sanctioned races, as well as support their efforts through corporate sponsorships.

During Thursday’s press conference at the NASCAR Research and Development Center in Concord, N.C., the motorsports community was introduced to the participating teams, tracks and drivers of this landmark program, which includes five drivers participating at NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series tracks in North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.

            “Both of my facilities are excited to have the opportunity to serve as host tracks for this initiative,” said track operator Joe Mattioli III, who runs South Boston (Va.) Speedway and Music City Motorplex in Nashville, two tracks where Drive for Diversity participants will compete this season. At Music City Motorplex, Joe Henderson drives in the Late Model Stock Car division with sponsorship from Kodak and at South Boston, Bruce Driver competes in the Late Model Stock Car division with a Centrix Financial / MBNA-sponsored entry.

Mattioli also pointed to the unique history in South Boston and Nashville as he reflected on Thursday’s news.

“The fact that Wendell Scott, the first African-American driver to win a race in what is now known as the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series, called South Boston his hometown track makes it especially exciting for us,” said Mattioli. “The fact that Joe Henderson’s father worked with Wendell Scott makes the loop complete. We are excited with this great first step and hope that it continues, not only at this level, but at the elementary school level, so that children can start living the dream very early.”

Basketball legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson was also introduced as the co-chairman to the newly-created NASCAR Executive Steering Committee for Diversity. In this role, Johnson will help complete selection of the Executive Steering Committee for Diversity, assist NASCAR with creating grassroots programs such as Drive for Diversity, help NASCAR develop marketing programs that will increase the sport’s visibility in urban communities and serve as an advisor to NASCAR Chief Operating Officer George Pyne.

“My heart is into this,” said Johnson. “It's not something that I'm getting paid to do. I wanted to do it, and I'm happy to do it because I think that this sport is so wonderful, that I think all minorities, once we educate them on it, will want to be a part of it.

“I like that speed, so I want to take that speed to our communities and let them know. One thing that I really like is that you don't have just a few superstars. Every driver is a superstar. I like that. In the NBA, only a few get to be on that level. But here, I mean, every weekend somebody else can win. I think that's exciting. I think once minorities get a real taste of NASCAR, they'll be coming up and support it.”

Reigning NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series national champion Mark McFarland, who now competes in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, says the Drive for Diversity program should open doors for these participating drivers.

“Racing in the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series will give these drivers a good experience,” said McFarland, a native of Winchester, Va. “It’s a good stepping-stone to get into the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series or the NASCAR Busch Series. I’d recommend the Dodge Weekly Series to anyone. They should be able to learn a lot. It’s great for NASCAR to chip and do what they’ve done for these drivers.”

In addition to supporting the drivers’ efforts, the Drive for Diversity program has also helped several minority crew members gain positions with NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series teams. McFarland’s own No. 59 Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. Dodge / HT Motorsports team includes two crew members who are participating in the Drive for Diversity program: Calvin Gravely and Tommy Lane.

At historic Hickory (N.C.) Motor Speedway, where the first “combine” was held to select drivers for the Drive for Diversity program, Allison Duncan will compete in the track’s Late Model Stock Car division with sponsorship from Sunoco and Miller Brewing Company. Hickory Motor Speedway Marketing and Promotions Director Sherry Clifton said her staff is looking forward to seeing the program succeed.

“We’re very proud to be included in the Drive for Diversity program,” said Clifton. “The demographics of our area, as well as the entire country, are changing and it’s nice to see a reflection of that in our sport.”

Additional initiatives in which NASCAR has taken a leadership role include: activation of a supplier diversity program; creation of the NASCAR Diversity Internship Program; funding for scholarships to Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Hispanic Serving Institutions; support of the NASCAR College Tour presented by The Coca-Cola Company; support of civil rights organizations; and support of the Urban Youth Racing School, which is based in Philadelphia, and provides inner-city youths with the opportunity to learn about motorsports.

With NASCAR’s ethnic fan base consistently growing over the last seven years, NASCAR is the fastest-growing sport among African-Americans and Hispanics, according to independent research.  Approximately 25 percent of NASCAR fans today are people of color, according to an ESPN/Chilton poll (2002).  African American fans have increased 18 % — approximately 2 million people — since 1995. Hispanic fans have increased 38 % — approximately 3 million people — since 1996.

The 2004 NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series will be contested at 67 of North America’s best short track facilities, with thousands of hometown drivers competing for short track racing’s most prestigious prize – the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series championship – along with a share of the $1.7 million NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series point fund.

CRAFTSMAN MECHANIC OF THE YEAR AWARDS HONOR NASCAR DODGE WEEKLY SERIES CREW MEMBERS

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (April 29, 2004) – On weekend nights across the nation, the scene is the same. A crew of friends and family members – unpaid and often unrecognized – spends hours and hours preparing a race car for competition in the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series. Their duties include everything that could possibly be done to a car, mechanically: adjusting tire pressures, hanging shocks and springs, repairing damaged parts, replacing belts and hoses, or tuning engine and transmission parts. For their tireless efforts, their only moment to share in the spotlight is when their driver reaches the winner’s circle.

Since 1985, NASCAR has honored the men and women who help put race cars on track in the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series another way, with the annual Craftsman Mechanic of the Year awards. The awards are special in two ways – they recognize the behind-the-scenes individuals that work on the race cars to make each week’s competition possible, and they are decided by a vote of NASCAR members.

"The feedback Sears received from our sponsorship of last year's Craftsman Mechanic of the Year award was tremendous," said Touré Claiborne, director of motorsports for Sears. "It proves that the racing community appreciates Craftsman's support of the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series. Because race drivers, team members and fans are among the best customers for Craftsman tools, Sears is delighted to continue this program."

NASCAR Vice President Jim Hunter, who oversees the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series, says Craftsman’s support continues a 20-year tradition.

“Craftsman has been a great partner of NASCAR over the years and this award shows its commitment to our sport at all levels,” said Hunter. “These crew members are what make the series go and we’ve made it one of our priorities to recognize their efforts every year. Without them, we would not have the high level of competition we see in the series today.”

The program works like this: NASCAR member participants will be polled in the June issue of NASCAR Magazine – the official NASCAR membership publication – to select their choice for the Mechanic of the Year at their home track. Participating crew members, mechanics, crew chiefs and engine builders with current 2004 NASCAR memberships are eligible to receive the award. The mechanic receiving the most votes at each track will be selected as the track’s Craftsman Mechanic of the Year and they’ll receive a $250 credit towards the purchase of Craftsman Tools.

Next, the 67 track winners will re-appear in the September issue of NASCAR Magazine, to allow NASCAR Members to select their choice for the regional winners. There will be eight regional winners, one for each geographic region of the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series (includes Atlantic, East Coast, Heartland, Midwest, New England, Northeast, Northwest and Sunbelt regions). The mechanic who receives the most votes in each region is declared the regional Mechanic of the Year. Each of the eight Craftsman Mechanic of the Year regional winners receives $1,500 plus a 36-inch Craftsman Professional Chest and Tool Cart, valued at more than $2,000.

The eight regional winners are eligible for yet another prize – the national award. They’ll be taken to Nashville for the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series awards banquet at the exquisite Gaylord Opryland Resort, where the national award winner will be revealed in a surprise announcement. The national winner is determined as the regional winner who received the most votes overall, however that information remains confidential until the night of the banquet. The 2004 Craftsman Mechanic of the Year national award winner receives a $5,000 bonus.

In 2003, Harold Burton, of Riverhead, N.Y., won the Craftsman Mechanic of the Year national award. Burton is a veteran mechanic at the quarter-mile Riverhead Raceway, where he works on one of the track’s Charger Division teams with driver Rob Tribuzio, who is also his stepson.

NASCAR DODGE WEEKLY SERIES – NEWS & NOTES

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (May 5, 2004) – As springtime temperatures continue to rise, racing is underway at NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series tracks across North America. Drivers at 67 participating tracks have begun their quest for a NASCAR championship and a share of $1.7 million in post-season awards that will be distributed to competitors this fall. While several months of racing remain, here’s a look at some of the early-season news from the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series…

Ø                   Hoffmans Hot at Big Diamond … Brothers Doug and Keith Hoffman have dominated the competition at Pennsylvania’s Big Diamond Raceway in recent years and their 2004 efforts show no signs of changing that trend. They own six Big Diamond track championships between them – Doug in 1988-89 and 2003 and Keith in 2000-02 – and they are both on track to compete for another. In the Big Diamond season-opener April 16, Doug, of Allentown, Pa., won the Modified feature race while Keith, a resident of Whitehall, Pa., finished second. In the track’s next event April 30, it was Keith who reached the Winner’s Circle while Doug finished second. Doug, 46, is the elder of the pair by nine years.

Ø                   More Winners … John Zaretzke, of Monroe, Wash., has recorded three Super Stock victories in four starts at Evergreen Speedway in Monroe. … In the Late Model Stock Car division at Virginia’s Motor Mile Speedway, Chad Harris, of Stuarts Draft, Va., has recorded two wins and four top-five finishes overall in four starts. … Andy Burgess, of Fall Creek, Wis., recorded a Late Model feature win May 1 at LaCrosse (Wis.) Fairgrounds Speedway. Burgess also recorded a fourth-place finish at the track April 10. … 2003 NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series New England Region champion Dennis Gada, of Salem, Conn., has returned to full-time competition at Connecticut’s Waterford Speedbowl, where he has recorded one win and three top-five finishes in five starts this season.

Ø                   Canada Kicks Off NASCAR Season … At Delaware Speedway in Ontario, Jay Doerr, of London, Ontario, entered his name in the record books as the first NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series winner in Canada, after winning a Late Model feature event at Delaware April 16. At Autodrome St. Eustache in Québec, Martin Lacombe, of Terrebonne, Québec, won the track’s inaugural NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series Sportsman event April 25.

Ø                   Champions Moving Up … Several former NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series champions have been actively pursuing their racing dreams by making moves into NASCAR’s regional and national series. Reigning national champion Mark McFarland, of Winchester, Va., made his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season debut at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway April 17, where he finished 21^st. … 2003 Sunbelt Region champion Rip Michels, of Mission Hills, Calif., has advanced to the NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Southwest Series. To complement his upward move, Michels has even launched his own Web Site at www.ripmichels.com. … Also moving into the Southwest Series is 2003 NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series ShorTrack Division national champion Todd Burns, of Riverside, Calif. Burns raced in the Late Model division at Irwindale (Calif.) Speedway last season. … Two-time Sunbelt Region champion Brandon Bendele, of Adkins, Tex., will make his debut in the NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Southeast Series May 8 at Houston (Tex.) Motorsports Park. … 2002 Midwest Region champion Clint Bowyer, meanwhile, has landed one of the most high-profile jobs in the NASCAR Busch Series – as the secondary driver of the No. 21 Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing. Bowyer, of Emporia, Kan., shares driving duties with NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series star Kevin Harvick, also a NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series graduate from Mesa Marin Raceway.

WITH OLDER BROTHER AND NASCAR STAR JIMMIE ON HIS SIDE, JARIT JOHNSON JUMP STARTS RACING CAREER

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (April 21, 2004) – Like most of the nearly 8,000 drivers in the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series, 25-year-old Jarit Johnson relies on a volunteer crew to prepare his cars, and he is optimistic about his future in racing. But, unlike most of the drivers in the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series, Johnson can rely on some pretty good advice on Saturday afternoons – from older brother, and NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series star, Jimmie.

If Jimmie Johnson is considered one of NASCAR’s top “young guns,” then Jarit is part of en even newer generation, making his NASCAR debut this season. Jarit has begun his own racing career, in the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series at Hickory (N.C.) Motor Speedway. While Jimmie’s career began in off-road trucks, Jarit’s path to NASCAR stardom is good ol’ Saturday night short track racing.

Jarit competes in Hickory Motor Speedway’s Limited Late Model division, an entry level class designed to provide experience for drivers before they move to the NASCAR Late Model Stock Car ranks.

“Right now, we’re just going out there to get some experience and learn,” said Jarit. “This is my first year in the Limited Late Model class. I’m just going to go out there, try to finish in the top five in points and hopefully win some races.”

Jarit says he gets a chance to learn from Jimmie on race weekends and the two brothers find a common interest in their very different racing programs.

“When his Happy Hour practice is over, he’ll call from the track and I’ll let him know how things are going,” Jarit said. “I’ll throw some things out to him and he’ll suggest some stuff – try to brake a little earlier, or change my entry points, things like that – he’ll give me some things to try and most of the time, it really helps out.”

It’s not Jarit’s first foray into oval track racing; he competed in a Spec Truck division at his hometown track, Cajon Speedway in El Cajon, Calif., before moving to Mooresville, N.C., where he now resides.

Jarit maintains the car himself, in his two-car garage that has been converted into a part-time race shop. When he’s not racing, he works at the Michael Waltrip Racing shop, maintaining Waltrip’s No. 99 Aaron’s Chevrolets for NASCAR Busch Series competition. He’s also worked at Randy LaJoie’s seating company – The Joie of Seating – fabricating custom racing seats for NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series, NASCAR Busch Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series teams. After making the rounds at these shops for a few seasons, Jarit decided it was time to go racing on his own.

Jarit obtained his race car during the off-season, landed sponsorships from Bilstein Shocks, Olhausen Billiards, Moog Chassis Parts, jimmiejohnson.com and Simpson, and now he’s now a Saturday night fixture at the famous .363-mile track.

 “I’d love to move up through the ranks,” said Jarit. “Maybe, hopefully, get into a NASCAR Craftsman Truck, or maybe a NASCAR Busch Series car and, eventually, be in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series. But it’s a long road.”

He’s off to a fast start – Jarit recorded his first race victory April 17 and he is ranked in the top 10 in the Hickory track point standings. As for the future, Jarit says he has no immediate plans to move into a NASCAR Late Model Stock Car or another more advanced division just yet, but he does keep one important objective in mind.

“I’m having a blast,” he says. “You have to have fun when you’re racing.”

AUTO METER BACKS ROOKIE AWARDS FOR NASCAR REGIONAL RACING DIVISIONS

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 9, 2004) – Rookies get ready. New drivers in each of NASCAR’s seven regional touring series can now look forward to an added bonus at the end of the season.

Auto Meter, a Sycamore, Ill.-based manufacturer of high performance instruments and gauges, will sponsor rookie of the year awards in each of NASCAR’s regional touring series. The top rookie drivers in each of the two series which comprise the NASCAR Grand National Division (Busch North Series and West Series) will each receive a $3,000 post-season bonus while the award winners in each of the four series in the NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division (includes Midwest Series, Northwest Series, Southeast Series and Southwest Series) will receive $2,000 apiece as the best first-year driver in their respective series. The top rookie competitor on the NASCAR Featherlite Modified Series will receive a $3,000 year-end bonus.

In all series, the rookie of the year awards will be determined by a rookie competition point system. At each event, the highest-finishing eligible rookie receives 10 points, the second-highest rookie receives nine points, the third highest receives eight points, and so on. At the end of the season, the eligible rookie with the highest point total in the competition wins the award.

“This is exciting news for all of these series,” said Chris Boals, NASCAR’s director of regional touring. “In any racing division, there is no one more important than the rookies, who will make up the future of our sport. We’re proud to offer a rewarding opportunity for these deserving rookie drivers,” Boals concluded.

In addition to bonus money, each rookie of the year award winner will be presented with a package of Auto Meter products including: 1-4494 Tachometer, 1-4461 electric full sweep fuel pressure gauge, 1-4453 electric full sweep oil pressure gauge, 1-4456 electric full sweep oil temperature gauge and an 1-4455 electric full sweep water temperature gauge.

“Auto Meter is proud to sponsor the 2004 NASCAR Rookie of the Year awards for these series,” said Auto Meter President and CEO Jeff King. “Auto Meter shares the passion and drive that these world-class drivers demonstrate. We are looking forward to crowning the next generation of NASCAR heroes.”  

            This all-new sponsorship continues Auto Meter’s involvement with NASCAR, which began nearly 20 years ago. Today, more than 99% of the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series, NASCAR Busch Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series teams rely on Auto Meter tachometers and gauges in their race cars. Auto Meter was founded in 1957 in Arlington Heights, Ill.

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