TEAM REPORTS (CONCORD, NC.) - K&N TO SPONSOR RICKY STENHOUSE JR. IN HIS ARCA DEBUT

Roush Fenway Racing announced today that K&N will be the primary sponsor of the No. 99 Ford Fusion driven by Ricky Stenhouse Jr. in the ARCA RE/MAX Series race at Daytona International Speedway. This Saturday’s race marks Stenhouse’s ARCA debut and first race in a stockcar and the Olive Branch, Miss. native is anxious to hit the track.

“Besides the Chili Bowl I haven’t raced in a while so I’m ready to go racing,” said Stenhouse. “We’ve tested several times during the off season and I think we have one of the best cars out there so I’m looking forward to driving the No. 99 K&N Ford in Saturday’s race. I was really happy to hear K&N wanted to come on board for Daytona. They are a great company and I’m proud to carry their colors on the No. 99.”

“I have watched Ricky drive in USAC and I believe that he has a well balanced approach to his skill behind the wheel,” said Charles Maier, director of sports marketing K&N. “He drives hard and aggressive yet he maintains his stability in traffic. Ricky respects his equipment and gives it 100%; nothing is left on the table when the race is over.. K&N is always happy to see good drivers move up the ladder of motorsports. While we don't have the budget to participate at the highest level regularly... we do our best to help many good drivers get there!”

Stenhouse made a name for himself in 2007 when he drove for Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) in the USAC National Sprint and Midget Series’. In 26 Midget starts, Stenhouse racked up five wins, 10 top-five and 14 top-10 finishes and in the Sprint car, Stenhouse was equally as impressive garnering two wins, nine top-five and 16 top-10 finishes in 29 starts. Stenhouse also captured 2007 Rookie-of-the-Year honors in both the USAC Midget and Sprint car divisions, only the second driver in USAC history to do so.

In October of 2007 Roush Fenway Racing signed Stenhouse to a multi-year contract that had Stenhouse driving the No. 99 Roush Fenway Ford full-time in the ARCA RE/MAX Series beginning in 2008. Over the last several months Stenhouse has worked hard to make the transition from open wheel to stock cars and his effort has not gone un-noticed.

"Ricky is a talented driver,” said Robbie Reiser, Roush Fenway Racing general manager. “He's been working really hard over the last several months to make the transition from open wheel to stock cars and he's done a great job. His dedication is evident, he's tested extremely well and we're real excited about his future at Roush Fenway. We're looking forward to lots of great things from Ricky well beyond 2008.”

Stenhouse’s crew chief Jeff “Lumpy” Campey agrees with Reiser stating, “Ricky is all business. You would never believe he’s only 20 years old because his maturity level is so much higher and that shows through his dedication. He’s in the shop every day and the few times he’s been in the car during testing, he’s adapted quickly. He’s definitely taken advantage of everything Roush Fenway has to offer asking questions of myself, our engineers, crew chiefs, other drivers, crew members, everyone. He’s like a sponge. We’re real excited to have him as a wheel man for the No. 99 Ford in 2008.”

Stenhouse tested at the famed 2.5-mile superspeedway in December with teammate Erik Darnell. The two put both Roush Fenway cars at the top of the speed charts all three days which left Stenhouse looking like a strong contender for Saturday’s 80-lap race.

"I was pretty impressed with Ricky at the test back in December,” said Darnell following the test. “He doesn't really have any experience in these cars, but he gave really good feedback. I know they've got a pretty good car, so I think they should be able to get a good finish out of it."

As for Stenhouse, he doesn’t listen to the hype, he just wants to race and meet the expectations set forth to him at the beginning of the year.

“Our goals are to make all the laps and finish the race in one piece.” Stenhouse continued, “I just need to gain as much experience as possible and the only way to do that is to make laps. We want to qualify up front, draft a little, stay out of trouble and be there at the end. I know we have the car to do it, it’s just up to me to keep the car in one piece but I’m up for the task. It should be fun.”

About Roush Fenway Racing Roush Fenway Racing is NASCAR’s largest team operating 13 motorsports teams. Five in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with drivers Matt Kenseth, Jamie McMurray, Greg Biffle, Carl Edwards and David Ragan; four in the Nationwide Series with Kenseth, Biffle, Edwards, McMurray, Ragan, Erik Darnell and Colin Braun; and three in the Craftsman Truck Series with Darnell, Braun and Joey Clanton; and one in the ARCA RE/MAX Series with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. For more information on any of the Roush Fenway Racing teams, log onto www.RoushFenway.com. For sponsorship inquiries please contact Robin Johnson at 704.720.4645.