Drivers Chad Hord, Art Schmitt Rank First and Third in CORR Series After Topeka Event [July 12, 05]

GARDENA, Calif. (July 12, 2005) – The short yet technical track at the Toyo Tires Off Road Championships at Heartland Park Topeka provided for another intense weekend of racing for Nissan in the Championship Off-Road Racing (CORR) Pro-Lite Lucas Oil Series. When the dust and mud had settled, Nissan emerged with second and third place race finishes and the first and third positions in the series’ drivers’ points standings.

“Nissan Teams continue to impress me with their dedication and focus in the highly competitive CORR series,” said Ron Stukenberg, senior manager, Nissan Motorsports marketing and operations. “In only eight rounds, Nissan drivers have placed first in half of the races, and have a total of 11 podium finishes.”

In Friday night’s Round Seven event, Frontier driver Art Schmitt took the early lead on lap one after starting sixth on the grid. After leading the pack for more than half the race, Schmitt fell back to second, retook the lead back on the next lap, and fought a fender-to-fender battle falling just short of victory at the checkered flag. Fellow Nissan driver and series points leader Chad Hord, winner of three races this season, had early electrical problems and finished in the back of the field.

In Round Eight on Saturday night, Hord placed a respectable fourth while Schmitt followed in sixth. Mark Krueger, who drives a Nissan Frontier engineered by the Art Schmitt Racing team, saved Nissan a place on the podium, finishing third.

Hord kept his first place overall drivers’ points standing, six points ahead of second place, while Schmitt is in a close third, one point away from second place.

“These results really are a testament to the Nissan drivers and the engineering of the Frontier CORR trucks,” said Stukenberg.

Rounds Seven and Eight will be broadcast on SPEED TV on September 9th. Rounds Nine and Ten of the CORR Lucas Oil Series will be held at Bark River Off-Road Raceway, Bark River, Michigan on August 13th and 14th.

NISMO, the premier supplier of high-performance parts and accessories for Nissan vehicles, supports the team. NISMO now offers a wide range of parts, accessories and apparel through participating Nissan dealers nationwide. For more information on the complete line of NISMO parts and accessories, log on to www.NissanUSA.com/NISMO.