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Stolen Race Car & Equipment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Christina Martin (941) 747-2434
Rick May (714) 730-1333

Daytona, Florida February 14, 1998 ------Christina and Sue Martin, disabled daughter and mother team owners of Alibi Racing, a NASCAR Goody's Dash team, returned to their hotel in Daytona Friday evening to find all their equipment, Superspeedway car, truck and trailer missing.

"Our initial reaction was that the guys had gone to dinner, " states Christina. "We figured they would be back in a few minutes. We never expected someone to steal our truck and all our race equipment and trailer."

Police have traced the missing equipment to the residence of Charles Powell Jr. in Moncks Corner, South Carolina. Mr. Powell is the father of their driver, Charles Powell III, the winner of the Rookie of the Year Honors in the Goody's Dash Series for 1997.

The race trailer has not been located. If seen please contact your local police.

Have you heard about what is happening to Alibi's Racing?

Alibi's Racing owned by a disabled girl in a wheelchair and she runs the NASCAR Goody's Dash Series # 72. She picked driver, Charles Powell III for 1997 and entrusted him with all her race equipment including a 95 Ford dually, 93 enclosed trailer, tools, pit stuff and two cars. She wanted to give him the best chance to be up front and become Rookie of the Year, which he did. He then agreed to drive for the 1998 season starting at Daytona but without her knownledge also agreed to drive for Ricky Benton #22 late model at Myrtle Beach. Now, after she spent the big bucks to take him to Daytona campaigned and had sponsors lined up for the full season dropped her. After the race in Daytona she returned to hotel after attending the tradeshow to find nothing. Driver, Charles Powell lll told her that her race trailer was missing and a theft report had been made. Later to be discovered the report was later cancelled by Charles himself. When Charles was asked where the truck, car, and equipment was he told her it was gone, on it's way to South Carolina. Charles being the only person authorized with the equipment she called the police. Charles then threatened she would never see her equipment again. The police arrived around fifthteen minutes later to find driver and crew hotel rooms wide open and Charles and crew had fled. The trailer was then re-reported stolen and Christina and her mother rushed to South Carolina. When she arrived in South Carolina at Charles Powell Jr.'s home, owner of Summerville Speedway and her drivers father where the race equipment is kept she was told she could not have or see any of her belongings. Charles Powell Jr. informed the police that he had paid for motor work on the car and demanded his money, but wouldn't produce the receipts. Charles or his dad were never authorized to spend owner's money. With the help of three deputies she was able to retrieve her '95 dually which had damage and it's tag had been defaced. Since then she has been to judges, hired an attorney and private detectives and is still fighting for the release of her equipment. Meanwhile there has been $1,500 ransom offered to the Martin's for the return of their race trailer, which hasn't been found. A week later the ladies still find themselves held up in a hotel in Summerville fighting for their own equipment. She has done a lot for many drivers I can't believe this is happening to her.

ALIBI'S RACING 
NASCAR GOODY'S DASH TEAM # 72
JAZZY POWER CHAIRS/SERENGETI EYEWEAR PONTIAC

Contact:   Christina Martin
                                                                              
# (941) 747-2434
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 27, 1998

ALIBI'S RACING DISMISSES DRIVER

BRADENTON, Fla. -- Alibi's Racing announced Friday that Charles Powell lll has been released as driver of the Jazzy Power Chairs/Serengeti Eyewear Pontiac. The decision was made following Powell's actions during Speedweeks '98 at Daytona International Speedway.

"No one person has the whole story," said Alibi's Racing co-owner Christina Martin. "We only hope the truth comes out in time."

On Feb. 24, charges of grand theft were filed against Powell and his father, Charles Powell Jr. in Volusia County, Florida. The charges stem from the disappearance of the team's equipment following the NASCAR Goody's Dash Series' season opener earlier this month.

"We are living thru a nightmare and everything I have worked to build has been destroyed," Martin said. "I have lost my trust in people completely."

Martin said there will be an announcement concerning the team's new driver soon.

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