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INDY 500: Pagan Racing and Curb/Agajanian Motorsports Join Forces

26 May 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
Indianapolis, IN (May 26, 2000) - Perennial Indianapolis 500 competitors Pagan Racing have joined forces with Curb Agajanian Motorsports for the 84th running of the world's greatest race on Sunday, May 28, 2000. In an agreement announced today at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the car driven by Richie Hearn is now officially entered in the Indianapolis 500 as the Net Zero/Eagle/Royal Spa Pagan/Curb/Agajanian Motorsports Dallara.

As part of the new association with Curb Agajanian Motorsports, Curb Records will be an associate sponsor of Richie Hearn's white, blue and red No. 75. Curb Records is a leader in the recording industry with internationally recognized artists Sawyer Brown, Junior Brown, Lyle Lovett, Hank Williams Jr., Tim McGraw, Jo Dee Messina, LeAnne Rimes, and Wynonna recording on the Curb Records label.

Richie Hearn is returning to the Indianapolis 500 after a four-year absence. He made his Indy 500 debut in 1996, finishing third, after completing all 200 laps. Hearn was the highest finishing rookie in his first 500 mile race.

Hearn, of Henderson, Nevada, scored his first win in Indy Racing League competition at the inaugural Las Vegas Motor Speedway event during the 1996-97 season.

Mike Curb and Curb Records have made an indelible mark on automobile racing with their significant contribution to the sport. When Richard Petty made racing history by capturing his 200th win in NASCAR competition, Petty's famous number 43 race car was owned by Mike Curb. "I've been involved with Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt," said Curb. "And I've been involved at the Indianapolis 500 with Tom Sneva and Ed Pimm. I'm extremely pleased to be associated with the Indianapolis 500 again, especially with a talented driver like Richie Hearn.

Mike Curb and Curb Records currently field a car in the NASCAR Busch Grand National series for driver Jay Sauter. After starting in 11 of the 12 races this season, Sauter currently resides in 15th place in the Busch Grand National Championship standings. He has 3 top-ten finishes this season.

Curb Records also sponsors Brad Noffisinger in the USAC Coors Silver Bullet Series. Noffsinger scored his most recent victory in the Silver Bullet Series at Memphis last season. The Concord, NC driver is currently third in the USAC Silver Bullet Championship point standings. In five starts this season Noffsinger has scored three top-five finishes and one pole position.

The 84th running of the Indianapolis 500 marks the eighth consecutive time that Pagan Racing will compete in the 500-mile international competition of speed. In seven previous Indianapolis 500 starts, Pagan Racing has scored two top-five finishes. In last year's race, Jeff Ward drove the Pagan Racing entry to a brilliant second place finish.

Pagan Racing's association with Curb/Agajanian Motorsports brings a rich heritage of motor racing to the Corpus Christi, Texas-based team. An Agajanian-owned car first appeared at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1948 with driver Johnny Mantz. The famous number 98 Agajanian cars have scored two wins at the Indy 500, first withTroy Ruttman in 1952 and eleven years later with Parnelli Jones in 1963.

Text provided by Pagan Racing

Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot racing photos and art, visit The Racing Photo Museum and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.