Win-Tron Racing; Matt Merrell Looking To Sweep Motor Mile

Win-Tron Racing; Matt Merrell Looking To Sweep Motor Mile

Topics: Matt Merrell, Kmart 250

Win-Tron Racing; Matt Merrell Looking To Sweep Motor Mile

Chris Knight
Win-Tron Racing
July 9, 2008

“Matt Merrell & Company Riding High On Salem Efforts”

RADFORD, Virginia (July 9, 2008) - - Despite a 13th place finish in the most recent United Speed Alliance Racing (USAR) Hooter’s Pro Cup Series event at Salem Speedway, rookie driver Matt Merrell can be encouraged by the performance and hopes to step it up in a notch when the schedule resumes Saturday, July 12 for the Kmart 250 presented by TOYOTA at Motor Mile Speedway.

Rewinding back to Salem, Merrell stormed to the front of the line with a superb fifth place qualifying effort. The rookie stepped up to the plate during the event to run up front and in contention before taking command of the field for 56 laps before being swept into a late race incident.

Leading his first laps in USAR competition two weeks ago, Merrell is hungry for more and hopes to net the team’s first top-10 finish of the season Saturday night.

“Coming off of Salem, our spirits remain high,” said Merrell, a Win-Tron Racing development driver. “I think Salem was the race that proved to the teams that we can be a threat, we can be competitive and we can win. We’re plenty refreshed and ready to finish what we started this weekend at the Motor Mile.”

Strolling into the Motor Mile Speedway this weekend, the Portland, Texas native enters with a little bit of optimism. Optimism has proven to be beneficial to rookie teams in the USAR Hooter’s Pro Cup Series in the past and the Win-Tron Racing group hopes the same scenario will pay off Saturday night.

“While we’re going to win, we’re going to play the easy approach this weekend at the Motor Mile Speedway. We don’t have any experience at the track but as a team I think we’ve excelled at tracks we’re making our first start at. Practice will be crucial sliding into qualifying and the race. If we can get our No. 32 machine handling good, I think we can adjust the car and move forward and be in the spotlight.”

Sitting 15th in the USAR point standings with four races left before heading into the USAR Championship playoff, Merrell knows that every point is critical and with a top-10 run under the lights this weekend could further inch his freshman team towards a strong second half.

“We picked up three spots thanks to our finish at Salem Speedway and that’s encouraging. We don’t have a whole lot of races or time before the “big season” shifts into high gear beginning in August. We can do it, there’s no doubt in my mind and we’ll look to rise even further with a good run,” Merrell documented.

Another reason why Merrell is itching for a good run Saturday night is equaled to momentum. Next Friday night, Merrell will make his second career ARCA RE/MAX Series start for Win-Tron Racing in the No. 32 Red Line Oil Dodge Charger at Kentucky Speedway in the Kentucky ARCA 150.

“The more seat time, the better,” Merrell sounded. “I’m extremely grateful for the time I’ve had in the USAR Hooter’s Pro Cup but I’m anxious to return to the ARCA RE/MAX Series for Win-Tron Racing. A good run this weekend will give me the added confidence to give the team their fourth top-10 finish of the season.”

Win-Tron Racing’s Nate Thiesse offered his two-cents on The Motor Mile this weekend; “After Salem, the team is feeling confident. Slowly but surely our luck is starting to change around. It hasn’t 100 percent yet, but we’re getting close. Each race, Matt continues to impress me and I think he’ll continue to shine this weekend at the Motor Mile.”

Tejas Exotics, Merrell Lease Service and Win-Tron Driver Development will hold the sponsorship roles on the No. 32 entry this weekend.

“Our sponsors have been our biggest fans and that’s crucial to our race team,” noted Merrell. “As a team we’ve improved immensely and I think the next four regular season event and the four championship events will be a superior spectacle for everyone involved with our organization.”

The Kmart 250 (250 laps/104 miles) presented by TOYOTA is set for Saturday, July 12, 2008. The event is a one-day show. A two hour practice session begins from 11:00-1:00 p.m. Awesome Awnings Pole Qualifying is slated to begin at 4:00 p.m. The fifth event of the season will take the green flag on Saturday shortly after 7:00 p.m. All times are local.

For more information on Win-Tron Racing and Matt Merrell please visit win-tronracing.com.

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