The Crittenden Automotive Library

Kansas Concludes ABR 17-day Travel Swing

Topics: Tom Hessert, Kansas Lottery $150 Grand

Kansas Concludes ABR 17-day Travel Swing

Patti Kelly
Andy Belmont Racing
April 21, 2008

For Immediate Release
Contact: Patti Kelly
Andy Belmont Racing
704-905-2447
patti@andybelmont.com

(Concord, NC) April 21, 2008 -- The Andy Belmont Racing team heads to Kansas Speedway this weekend to compete in the Kansas Lottery $150 Grand, bringing to a close a grueling 17-day travel schedule that included four Midwest race tracks. “Just handling the logistics is mind boggling,” said Andy Belmont. “We had trucks going back and forth with race cars, trading them out, bringing some back to the shop to be fixed while we handled other modifications on-site, wherever we were. But it enabled us to carry the momentum forward and heading into Kansas, we’ve got one of our best pieces yet and have a great driver in Tom (Hessert III). I have high expectations for this race, and after our last two showings and seeing how hard our team and our driver have worked to overcome any adversity thrown our way, there’s no reason why my expectations can’t be turned into reality.”

The Kansas Speedway reality for Tom Hessert III? “I’ve never stepped foot in the place,” said Hessert. “But I’m got plenty of experience on mile and a half’s and I’m confident that ABR is bringing a great car. I’m really looking forward to going to Kansas and carry on the momentum we’ve got going on. We’ve been up front at every track so far, so there’s no reason we can’t have a good run in Kansas.”

The ABR team is staying at the home of AJ Genail this week in Atchinson, Kansas. “I can’t thank AJ enough for letting us stay here. He’s opened up his shop for us to use and it’s been really helpful. And as far as eating on the road goes, you can’t beat the steaks he threw on the grill last night.” AJ Genail drove the #10 Fast Track Racing School Dodge last weekend in the Prairie Meadows 250 at Iowa Speedway.

The primary car for the Kansas Lottery $150 Grand is “69”, a former Robert Yates Racing machine. Why “69”? “We just never changed the name of the car since we got it from Yates,” said Belmont. “It was Yates’ #69. It is a great car and we’ve got Yates horsepower under the hood. Actually all our cars have been great this season- we’ve run up front with each one. We had Awesommo in Daytona, Daisy in Salem and Nina in Iowa and each one has run in the top three or better, with Awesommo leading 21 laps at Daytona. We’ve got so much momentum going forward into Kansas City and we are really pumped.”

As the Kansas Lottery $150 Grand draws near, the end of ABR’s April travel is in sight. By the time the Andy Belmont Racing team returns to North Carolina on Sunday, they will have logged almost 10,000 miles in total with a transporter, two motor homes, four race cars, two trucks, two trailers and ten crew members. “Don’t even ask me how much we spent in gas this month,” said Belmont.

View the latest news and information on Andy Belmont Racing at www.andybelmont.com.

-30 -