Matt Merrell Looking For Repeat Performance At Pocono Raceway

Topics:  Matt Merrell, Pennsylvania 200

Chris Knight
Win-Tron Racing
July 29, 2009

LONG POND, Pennsylvania (July 29, 2009) - - After notching a runner-up finish last weekend at Berlin Raceway, Win-Tron Racing development driver Matt Merrell returns to Pocono Raceway this weekend for the running of the Pennsylvania 200 hoping for a repeat performance of the team’s effort from May.

In May, the former USARacing star made his inaugural Pocono Raceway debut where he answered his first start at the 2.5-mile speedway with a solid fifth place finish.

Now, Merrell has experienced the closeness of victory lane and as the ARCA stars return to the Pocono Mountains the Portland, Texas native aims for perfection Saturday afternoon.

“I’m looking forward for a return trip to Pocono Raceway this weekend,” said Merrell who will make his eighth ARCA RE/MAX Series start of the season Saturday afternoon. “I learned a lot in my Pocono debut a couple months. This time around, it’s time for me to apply what I learned and put this team back in victory lane.”

After two bad rounds at Iowa Speedway and Kentucky Speedway, Merrell stepped up to the plate and put his Lakeville, Minnesota based team back on track towards the ARCA RE/MAX Series owner’s championship.

“It’s obvious that Win-Tron Racing isn’t running for the driver’s championship but we are focused on putting the No. 32 back in the number one spot in the owner’s championship,” replied Merrell. “We turned our luck around last weekend and now we just have to keep it going.”

For the eighth time this season, the Win-Tron Racing / Matt Merrell combo is utilizing the 13th race of the season to bring awareness to an even bigger picture off the race track.

The team will continue to recognize and help bring further attentiveness to Colin’s Hope.

Colin’s Hope is a nonprofit organization that creates and supports programs that aid in preventing children from drowning. Despite numerous sources for water safety, the number of children who drown per year is staggering. Colin's Hope of saving children from drowning is being achieved through improved water safety awareness and standards throughout communities.

“Pocono is live on television so what a huge honor it would be to put Colin’s Hope in victory lane this weekend,” added Merrell. “It’s been a terrific ride with them thus far this year and after our run last weekend, I know that everyone expects us to be a contender this weekend.”

Entering Pocono, Win-Tron Racing holds the fourth position in the ARCA RE/MAX Series owner’s standings after 12 races. Car owner Kevin Cywinski is 225 markers from moving back to the top spot held by fellow car owner Jessica Sharp (No. 6). The team advanced to the third spot after Matt Merrell recorded a career-best second place finish at Berlin Raceway last weekend.

Merrell Lease Service will join Colin’s Hope as the primary sponsors of Merrell’s No. 32 Dodge Charger in his second start at Pocono Raceway this weekend.

Further information on Win-Tron Racing is available by visiting win-tronracing.com or contacting Nate Thiesse at 952.469.1839.

For more on Matt Merrell please visit, MattMerrellRacing.com.

The Pennsylvania 200 (80 laps / 200 miles) is the 13th of 21 events on the 2009 ARCA RE/MAX Series schedule. The 49th ARCA race at Pocono Raceway is a two-day show. Practice begins Friday, July 31 with an hour and forty minute practice session planned from 10:15 a.m. - 11:55 a.m. Menards Pole by Ansell qualifying is set for later in the day slated to begin at 1:45 p.m. The event will take the green flag on Saturday, August 1 shortly after 1:00 p.m. The event will be televised live on SPEED. Additional race coverage will be broadcasted through the ARCA Racing Network (ARN) online at arcaracing.com. All times are local.