Brian Rose Qualifies 15th For Daytona ARCA Debut

DAYTONA BEACH, February 11, 2011: In his return to Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway for the first time since 2002, ARCA Racing Series Rookie of the Year candidate Brian Rose will start his No. 19 Team ASE / Harris Trucking Toyota Camry 15th on Saturday afternoon at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway.

Rose, the Bowling Green Kentucky native was the second of 47 cars to make a qualifying attempt around the newly re-paved 2.5-mile superspeedway. His early lap of 49.358 seconds at 182.341 miles per hour was good enough to stay in the top-10 for a majority of Menards pole qualifying presented by Ansell but when qualifications were complete, Rose landed with the seventh fastest time overall for the Toyota brigade. Saturday’s 80 lap / 200 mile shootout will be the debut of Brian Rose Motorsports (BRM) which was formed by the NASCAR driver in late 2010.

“We were expecting to be somewhere between eighth and 12th, but we’ll take this and look towards tomorrow,” said Rose. “The main thing is that we are in the show. Danny (Rollins, crew chief) and all the guys on this Brian Rose Motorsports team really did an outstanding job the past couple of days. We’ve had to overcome some hurdles, but we did and I’m anxious to get back to plate racing tomorrow afternoon!”

When asked about his goal(s) for tomorrow, Rose, who will make his ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards inaugural debut, was firm but realistic.

“I really think we have a chance at winning this race,” he said. “Our car is really good in the draft. We haven’t decided if we are going to partake in drafting practice tomorrow but if we do, we’re just going to make sure the car responds well and we still have the speed we’re looking for. When the green flag drops, it’s my mission to get to the front as quickly and safely as I can and stay there. Hopefully if we can avoid any incidents ahead of us, we’ll be sitting pretty when the white flag flies and we’ll be in contention to head to victory lane!”

Rose has one prior start at the “World Center of Racing” in 2002 in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driving for Bobby Hamilton Racing (BHR). With Rollins calling the shots back then too, the duo was able to qualify fourth, lead three laps with Rose able to cross the finish line third, a career-best in NASCAR.

Lawton Insurance, Battomi and West Coast Autosource join Team ASE and Harris Trucking as associate marketing partners on the No. 19 Brian Rose Motorsports Toyota Camry.