Tom Hessert; Andy Belmont Racing Gearing Up For 2009

Topics:  Tom Hessert

Chris Knight
Andy Belmont Racing
October 30, 2008

MOORESVILLE, North Carolina (October 30, 2008) - - On the heels of their fifth place finish at Toledo Speedway earlier this month, Andy Belmont Racing (ABR) and Tom Hessert, III have announced that the duo will continue their relationship for a second season in the ARCA RE/MAX Series with Hessert steering the potent No. 1 Ford Fusion for the Mooresville, North Carolina team for the full 2009 slate.

In his first full season of stock-car competition, Hessert, III showed competitiveness and determination. The season started off strong for the Cherry Hill, New Jersey native with a stout qualifying effort to be followed with laps led and a strong sixth place finish in his first trip to Daytona International Speedway this past February.

Hessert muscled back with an impressive showing at Talladega Superspeedway earlier this month when the former USAC star bolted to a career-best second place qualifying effort before taking control of the ARCA RE/MAX 250 for a race high 51 laps.

In the final event of the season at Toledo Speedway, Hessert bolted from his 11th place qualifying effort to end the season with a career best finish of fifth in 23 ARCA RE/MAX Series events.

In all, Hessert participated in 21 ARCA RE/MAX Series races this year with one top-five and seven top-10 finishes.

“I’m glad to be back with Andy Belmont Racing for another season,” said Hessert, who finished eighth in the ARCA RE/MAX Series championship rundown. “We had a positive learning year and with our success, we can build on it to propel ourselves to victory lane in 2009.”

Hessert, who will also return to the USAR circuit for a limited effort continued, “Dave Leiner came aboard during the middle of the year and that seemed to be the turning point of the race team. We were running well before that but with his experience and knowledge, we found that connection we were looking for. The world is our oyster next year.”

In addition to the re-signing of Hessert, Andy Belmont Racing announced that the veteran ARCA team will again utilize Roush Yates engines.

“I’m very stoked to have Tom back with the team next year, said Andy Belmont of Andy Belmont Racing. He did an exceptional job in his rookie year of competition and together for another season, we know that we are capable of raising bar and being a threat for the championship beginning in February. Additionally, we have been very pleased with not only the horsepower that Roush Yates provides, but the outstanding service as well. Roush Yates have put us solidly in position to win races and we look forward to the same quality in 2009.”

Veteran ARCA Crew Chief David Leiner Jr. returns to ABR with aggressive plans for the 2009 season. ABR will test at Talladega Superspeedway in November preparing for February’s ARCA 200 at Daytona. "We came real close to reaching our goals of a pole and a win at Talladega , said Leiner. A front row qualifying spot and leading over half the race was just short of our goal. We’re pressing forward and looking forward to big and better results in 2009,” he sounded.

Leiner is no slouch when it comes to his experience visiting victory lane in the ARCA RE/MAX Series. The Michigan native has worked with drivers like Tim Steele, Bobby Gerhart, Blaise Alexander, Boston Reid and Kyle Krisiloff.

Maaco America ’s Bodyshop will return as the sponsor of the No. 1 Ford Fusion for the full 2009 ARCA calendar.

For more information on Tom Hessert, III please visit TomHessert.com

For additional input on Andy Belmont Racing, please logon to AndyBelmont.com

CONTACT:

Andy Belmont

andy@andybelmont.com

704.682.3410