For Immediate Release
Contact: Ben Shelton (msrmafia@gmail.com)
August 20th, 2013

Rodney Sanders Wins 16th Race of 2013 in USMTS Action

Happy, Texas (08/20/13) - Rodney Sanders piloted his #20 Swan Energy/Kimrad Transport/ MB Customs/Geddes Racing Engine Open Wheel Modified to his 16th win of the weekend on Sunday night as he continued his pursuit of the USMTS National Championship.

He embarked on another week of competition with the Hunt for the Casey's Cup on Wednesday night with a trip to Cedar Lake Speedway (New Richmond, Wisconsin) for a $3,000-to-win affair. A 4th to 2nd performance in his heat race locked Sanders into the 10th starting spot for the main event. In the feature he enjoyed a solid run as he passed five cars to finish 5th behind race winner, Johnny Scott, Dereck Ramirez, Trent Follmer, and Jason Hughes.

Thursday night found the team pitted at Rice Lake Speedway (Rice Lake, Wisconsin) as a $3,000 winner's check was posted. A 5th to 1st run in heat race action sent Rodney to the redraw for the feature, where he received the 2nd starting spot alongside Stormy Scott. Rodney ran in the 2nd spot throughout the feature before finishing second to race winner, Scott.

Mississippi Thunder Speedway (Fountain City, Wisconsin) found Rodney Sanders and the Swan Energy Team chasing a $5,000 check on Friday night. With 36 entries on hand Sanders won his heat race before drawing the pole starting spot for the feature. In the main event Sanders ran 2nd to fellow, front row starter, Craig Thatcher early in the race before storming to the lead on lap 25. Rodney led the next eleven laps before Jason Hughes used lapped traffic to slip by with four laps remaining as Sanders had to settle for a 2nd place finish for the second straight night. Stormy Scott, Craig Thatcher, and Lucas Schott rounded out the top five finishers.

Saturday night took Rodney to Ogilvie Raceway (Ogilvie, Minnesota) where 33 cars looked to do battle for the $3,000 top prize. Preliminary action positioned Sanders starting 14th in the feature, and he advanced six spots to finish 8th.

Rodney ended his ultra-busy, five day stretch with a bang on Sunday evening by claiming the $5,000 win at Granite City Speedway (Sauk Rapids, Minnesota) over a field of 30 entries. After advancing from the 6th starting spot to a 3rd place finish in the feature Rodney moved onto the redraw for the feature. In the redraw he was the recipient of the pole position with Jason Krohn joining him on the front row. Krohn jumped to the lead at the drop of the green flag and paced the first five circuits before Sanders took control of the lead on lap 6 and cruised the remainder of the distance to claim the win over Ryan Gustin, Johnny Scott, Chris Brown, and Daniel Hilsabeck. The victory marked his 16th triumph of the 2013 campaign!

Rodney is now second in the latest Hunt for the Casey's Cup standings just 18 points removed from the lead. Full results from the events as well as the latest standings are available at www.USMTS.com .

The upcoming weekend, August 22nd-24th, will take the team into battle in a trio of events in the Hunt for the Casey's Cup. Action opens at Thursday evening at Valley Speedway (Grain Valley, MO), Lakeside Speedway (Kansas City, KS), and Salina High Banks SPeedway (Pryor Creek, OK). For more information on this mega-event please visit www.USMTS.com .

Rodney Sanders would like to thank all of his sponsors including Swan Energy, Kimrad Transport, Special Care, Outreachers Sustainable Solutions, Swan Racing, Geddes Race Engines, MB Customs, Alaron Energy, B&L Satellite Rental, STSI, Integra Shocks, Keyser Manufacturing, C&R Radiators, Eibach Springs, All Star Custom Graphics, Charter Oak Production Company, Palmer Painting, D&G Contracting, FK Rod Ends, Fike's Transmissions, Krohn Farms, Mars Race Cars, K&N Filters, Real Racing Wheels, 87 Automotive, Wichita Tank Racing, Hooker Harness, CMD Race Shocks, and MSRMafia.com Marketing Services.

For more information on Rodney Sanders, please visit www.RodneySandersRacing.net .


For Immediate Release
Ben Shelton (msrmafia@gmail.com)
August 20th, 2013

Tyson Franks Burns Down Fourth Win of 2013 with Batesville Victory

Batesville, Arkansas (08/20/13) – Tyson Franks Racing participated in the Open Wheel Modified portion of the 21st Annual COMP Cams Topless 100 over the weekend at Batesville Motor Speedway (Locust Grove, Arkansas) in his #F1 ROCKHARD Powder Coating/Shaw by TFR/Wayne Brooks Racing Engine Open Wheel Modified and came away with his fourth win of the 2013 season!

Friday night found 24 entries on hand for the $900-to-win event, and a 2nd place finish in his heat race positioned Franks starting 6th in the main event. He would race in the top five throughout the feature before crossing the finish line in the 3rd position behind race winner, Jeff Taylor, and Ritchie Tosh.

After seeing Saturday night's program at Batesville Motor Speedway fall victim to rain, Tyson was in action on Sunday afternoon at the speed plant, in a $1,000-to-win program that was sponsored by Larry Shaw Race Cars and Central Arkansas Pest Services. Tyson started in the 2nd spot for the feature alongside Jared Landers. Franks snagged the lead at the drop of the green flag and would receive strong challenges for the lead throughout the event before racing to the victory, which marked his fourth of the 2013 season! Landers, Brian Ritchie, Jeff Taylor, and Ryan Moore rounded out the top five finishers.

"With the rules opened up for the weekend it was awesome to actually get to race at my home track for a change, and it was even more awesome to score the win," Franks commented after his win.
Full results from the event are available at www.BatesvilleMotorSpeedway.net.

This Saturday, August 24th Franks will compete in a Weekly Racing Series Event at Northeast Arkansas Speedway. For more information on the event please visit www.NEASpeedway.com .

Tyson is also the owner and operator of Ironman Bodies, which can manufacture and install all types of race car bodies. Visit the Ironman Bodies page at www.TysonFranksRacing.com for more information.

Tyson would like to thank all of his sponsors, which include ROCKHARD Powder Coating, Allen Manufacturing Co., Black River Transportation, Griffin Transportation, Hawkeye Truck Sales, Keg1 Truck Parts, Fick’s Garage, Wayne Brooks Race Engines, Xtreme Race Graphics, & MSRMafia.com Marketing Services.

The team is currently looking for all levels of sponsorship for the 2013 season. For more information on becoming a marketing partner of Tyson Franks Racing, please visit www.TysonFranksRacing.com .


For Immediate Release
Contact:  Susan Arnold
sarnold00@earthlink.net
949-637-2216

 

SALDANA LOOKING FOR A HOME RUN AT CASTROL RACEWAY

EDMONTON, Alberta (Aug. 20, 2013) – For the second and last time this year, the World of Outlaws swings North over the Canadian border, this time for the 7th Annual Oil City Cup double header Aug. 23-24 at Castrol Raceway.

Of the 12 events contested at this track since 2007, Joey Saldana has won three. He won both events in 2009 and backed that performance up with a victory in 2010.

“The Canadian fans love the Outlaws,” said Saldana, driver of the Motter Equipment Fatheadz Eyewear 71M, “and we enjoy racing at this track. It’s a 3/8-mile clay oval so it definitely keeps you busy because there is traffic all around you.  It’s a challenge for the competitors and a good show for the fans.”

Saldana and the Motter team competed on the 3/8-mile oval in Minot, N.D. Sunday night (Aug. 18).  Saldana blistered the race track and lowered his own track record, posting his fifth quick time of the season.  He also collected a top 5 finish. 

“At the beginning of this month we switched to a new GF1 chassis and we are just gathering data on what makes it happy.  Despite the fact that we will run another 3/8-mile oval in Edmonton, track conditions vary and they change throughout the night.  The trick is to anticipate those changes and adjust your set-up accordingly.  It’s up to the driver to try various driving lines around the oval to see which one best suits the race car and where you have the most maneuverability and speed.

“I enjoy driving and I enjoy the challenge of this sport,” said Saldana.  “You can’t play softball in this series.  You have to bring your A game and hope you can hit one out of the park. Our next ‘at bat’ is Edmonton and we’re working on our swing.”

The Motter team is currently sixth in World of Outlaws point standings.

# # #


Press Release

For Immediate Release

Earl Pearson Jr. Brings Home Top-Five Finish in Topless 100
Ready for Thursday Night at Bulls Gap

Trinity, NC (August 20, 2013) - Earl Pearson Jr. and Bobby Labonte Racing (BLR) made the 13 hour road trip to Batesville, Ark. on Wednesday August 14th for the Topless 100. The 21st annual COMP Cams Topless 100 gives spectators a unique view of what it takes for drivers to maneuver their cars around Batesville Speedway as the roofs of all cars are removed.

The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series (LOLMDS) had open practice for all teams on Thursday, August 16th. Pearson Jr. did not do well in qualifying but "the Hurricane" came back to finish second in his heat race on Friday night. The BLR team worked hard on Saturday to get the No. 44 Lucas Oil Longhorn Chassis ready for the Comp Cams Topless 100 that night. However, Mother Nature was trying to win yet another event this season and LOLMDS officials decided to postpone the Saturday night feature until Sunday afternoon.

The rain cleared out and Sunday afternoon was primed for an exciting dirt race. In the feature race Sunday afternoon, Earl Pearson Jr. took the green flag in 11th spot among 55 entrants. The BLR No. 44 Longhorn Chassis was dialed in and Pearson Jr. was charging towards the front during the 100 lap feature. Pearson Jr. was able to get in the top five and would end the night in fifth place.

"We didn't qualify like we needed to, which put us behind from the start," said Pearson Jr. "However, we had a great car and finished our heat second and then came away with a fifth place finish in the feature. It's been a great weekend and good points weekend."

BLR has a short week in the shop and will return to action Thursday, August 22 at Volunteer Speedway in Bulls Gap, TN. The team will head to Lawrenceburg Speedway in Lawrenceburg, IN on Saturday, August 24.  Pearson Jr. remains in fifth place in Lucas Oil Championship Point Standings, 370 points out of first place. For photos, team updates and news go to www.bobbylabonteracing.com. For live updates from the races each week, be sure to follow Earl Pearson Jr. and Bobby Labonte Racing on Twitter and Facebook.   

About Bobby Labonte Racing
BLR is located in Trinity, N.C., and owned by 2000 NASCAR Champion Bobby Labonte. The team was formed in 2007 and immediately won back-to-back Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series championships. The organization is sponsored by Lucas Oil, Sunoco Race Fuels, Archdale Drug, Coca-Cola, ALLSTAR, Tiger Rear Ends, BERT, Butlerbuilt, Hyperco, SHY, Wilwood, Sweet, TWM, Dyers Top Rods, Weld Wheels, Bell, Hoosier Tire, PRC, Mechanix Wear, Larry Wallace Engines, ASI Racewear, Xtreme Graphics, Hank Thomas Performance, Wiles Drive Shafts, Bazel Race Fuels, FK Rod Ends and Peterson Fluid Systems.

About Longhorn Chassis
Longhorn Chassis was founded in 2010 by NASCAR Champion Bobby Labonte, along with his brother and two-time NASCAR Champion, Terry Labonte. After numerous successful seasons as a Dirt Late Model team owner with driver Earl Pearson Jr., Labonte decided to take it one step further with his racing operations and the team started building their own race cars, in shop. The first two late model chassis built out of Longhorn Chassis went to Justin Labonte and the house car, driven by Earl Pearson Jr. Pearson would debut his Longhorn Chassis at the North/South 100 in Florence, Ky., where he finished a solid second, he'd later record Longhorn Chassis' first Victory at the 2010 Dirt Track World Championships at West Virginia Motor Speedway. With just a couple of racing season under their belts, and numerous wins, Longhorn Chassis has already proven its strength and ability on the track.

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Contact:
Jeff Dennison
Breaking Limits
403 Gilead Road, Suite A
Huntersville, NC  28078
Office: 704-766-9061
Mobile: 704-252-3356 
jdennison@breakinglimits.net

  


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Ben Shelton (msrmafia@gmail.com)
August 20th, 2013

Jake Griffin Scores First Win of 2013

Quincy, Illinois (08/20/13) – The 2013 season has been an uphill battle for Jake Griffin as he has competed at several new tracks in a new division, but on Saturday he finally able to put it all together as he raced to his first victory of the year with a Late Model triumph at I-44 Speedway (Lebanon, Missouri).
The asphalt oval hosted double, 25 lap features for the Late Model division, which saw 16 entries in the pits.  Griffin would receive the 11th starting spot for the first feature, and at the drop of the green flag he began working his way forward.  By the midway point he was into the top five and with just five laps remaining he overtook the leader, Aaron Rouse, for the top spot and went on to cruise to the victory!  Cole Williams, Terry Limberopoulos, Matt Wallace, and Brennon Willard rounded out the top five finishers.

In the second feature his luck would not be as good as he was collected in a turn one melee that ended his night early.

"Obviously the second feature didn't got as we had hoped, but the first one was just awesome," an elated Griffin commented.  "My crew, my sponsors, my family....they've all done so much for me this year, and this win is for them!"

Full results from the event are available at www.i44Speedway.net.

Jake Griffin Racing looks to have another tripleheader of action this weekend, August 23rd-25th.   Competition is slated to begin on Friday, August 23rd with an Open Wheel Modified event at Lexington 104 Speedway (Bardstown, TN).  Saturday's plans are still up in the air, while Sunday evening will find the team again taking part in an UMP Open Wheel Modified program at Quincy Raceway (Quincy, IL).   For more information on the weekend's events please visit www.Lexington104Speedway.com and www.QuincyRaceways.com .

Jake Griffin Racing would to like to thank all of their sponsors including McPike’s Pawn Shop, Central Metals Recycling Inc., TNT Action Sports, Sun Drop Citrus Soda, Triple R Performance Engines, McGunegill Engine Performance, Bob Pierce Race Cars Kelly’s Restaurant, 007 Carbs, MSRMafia.com Marketing Services, and Smart Builders.

For more information on Jake Griffin Racing, please visit www.JakeGriffin.net .