R. Sorenson No. 41 Discount Tire Team Advance for Stater Brothers 300 @ California Speedway 02.25.06
Media Contact: Angie Copen, Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates, 704-662-9642, acopen@ganassi.com Reed Sorenson, No. 41 Discount Tire Dodge Stater Brothers 300 - California Speedway Advance - 02.25.06 To view the 2006 Discount Tire Media Guide, please visit www.discounttiremotorsports.com <http://www.discounttiremotorsports.com/> Discount Tire Team Fast Facts: * Sorenson gets a Busch teammate out west ... Reed Sorenson will have a teammate racing with him in the NASCAR Busch Series Stater Brothers 300 at California Speedway this weekend, and it just isn't any teammate. It is the one and only Casey Mears who just scored a second-place finish in the 48th running of the Daytona 500. It was announced earlier this month Mears would make his return to the Busch Series in a Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates (CGRFS) Dodge Charger for nine events during the 2006 season, carrying the number and logo of his NEXTEL Cup car-the No. 42 Texaco/Havoline Dodge. The No. 42 Busch car will make its debut at California Speedway this weekend. In addition to his run in California, Mears will also team up with Sorenson to run at the two Charlotte races, Texas and Phoenix in April, Atlanta, Chicago, Michigan and the Labor Day race in California. The program will be led by crew chief Lee McCall who earned five wins, 20 top-five and 33 top-10 finishes calling the shots in the NEXTEL Cup Series for CGRFS. To-date, the CGRFS Busch Series program has 44 starts to its credit and has amassed three wins, four poles, 15 top-five and 26 top-10 finishes. * Where they stand now: Sorenson and the No. 41 Discount Tire team finished ninth in last weekend's Busch Series season-opener at Daytona International Speedway. The team currently sits ninth in the overall standings and is only 47 points out of first place. * Play it again, Reed: After he races the No. 41 Discount Tire Dodge in this weekend's Stater Brothers 300 Busch Series race, Sorenson will race the No. 41 Target Dodge in Sunday's Auto Club 500 NEXTEL Cup race. Sorenson is running full-time Busch and NEXTEL Cup schedules this year. This past weekend officially kicked off his double-header year that will involve a very grueling routine for him as he competes in both series, vying for championships and rookie-of-the-year honors. * NEXTEL Cup Update: Last week at Daytona International Speedway, Sorenson and the No. 41 Target Dodge team finished 29th in the Daytona 500. Sorenson currently sits fifth in the Raybestos Rookie of the Year standings with seven points. He is nine points behind leader Clint Boyer. * Meet Reed out west this Thursday: Reed Sorenson will stop by the Discount Tire store located at 4583 Mills Circle in Ontario, Calif., to sign autographs and meet area races fans this Thursday, February 23, from 4:30 to 6 p.m. PT. * Chassis: Brian Pattie and the No. 41 Discount Tire team selected Chassis No. 558 to race at California Speedway this weekend in the Stater Brothers 300. This will be the first official competition the car has been entered in, as it was built last year and only tested at Michigan International Speedway, Kansas Speedway and Homestead-Miami Speedway. Reed Sorenson on heading to California Speedway in Fontana, Calif.: "The Discount Tire team had two really good runs at California last year. We ran inside the top 10 the entire race there in February and came out with a top-five finish. We ran just as strong in September, but the car got a little too tight in the last few laps, so we came home with a top-15 instead. "I do feel good where we stand right now and how we are starting things off. Although, we seemed to get a little off path in the beginning of last week's race at Daytona with the radio problems and getting hit, Brian [Pattie] and the rest of the guys proved why we are a team not to be taken too lightly. They didn't give up and Brian kept me focused on the big picture. It paid off for us in the end. It was a different ending for me though. I will admit that. I backed up across the finish line so that was a new one for me, but after it was all over and I saw all of the other torn-up cars I was pretty relieved we got across to come home with a top 10. "We're starting things off just like we did last year and that's a good thing. Hopefully, we can consistently grab those top-five and top-10 finishes, but add more wins this year and stay away from DNFs." Reed Sorenson California Speedway Stats (2 miles - Fontana, Calif.) Date Race Start Finish Laps Completed Total Laps Status Winnings 09.03.05 Ameriquest 300 3 12 150 150 Running $36,825 02.26.05 Stater Brothers 300 4 5 150 150 Running $47,375 Total/Average: 2/3.5 2/8.5 300 300 $84,200 Track Summary: 2 Starts 0 Wins 1 Top 5 1 Top 10 0 Poles Reed Sorenson 2006 NASCAR Busch Series Results Date Race Start Finish Winnings Points Date Race Start Finish Winnings Points Feb. 18 Daytona 13 9 $60,900 138 July 8 Chicago Feb. 25 California July 15 Loudon March 5 Mexico July 22 Martinsville March 11 Las Vegas July 29 St. Louis March 18 Atlanta Aug. 5 Indianapolis March 25 Bristol Aug. 12 Watkins Glen April 8 Texas Aug. 19 Michigan April 15 Nashville Aug. 25 Bristol April 21 Phoenix Sept. 2 California April 29 Talladega Sept. 8 Richmond May 5 Richmond Sept. 23 Dover May 12 Darlington Sept. 30 Kansas May 27 Charlotte Oct. 13 Charlotte June 3 Dover Oct. 28 Memphis June 10 Pocono Nov. 4 Texas June 17 Kentucky Nov. 11 Phoenix June 24 Milwaukee Nov. 19 Homestead June 30 Daytona Starts Wins Top 5 Top 10 Poles Winnings 1 0 0 1 0 $60,900 Last updated 02.20.06 Reed Sorenson Career Highlights First Busch Series Start (Indianapolis, Aug. 7, 2004) First Busch Series Win (Nashville, March 26, 2005) First Busch Series Pole (Nashville, March 26, 2005) First NEXTEL Cup Series Start (Atlanta, Oct. 30, 2005) First ARCA win (Michigan, June 2004) 2003 ASA Rookie of the Year 1998-2002 Legends Cars: 84 wins, 152 top fives and 166 top-10 finishes in 183 starts 1997 Quarter Midgets National Champion No. 41 Discount Tire Crew: Name Crew position Hometown Name Crew position Hometown Brian Pattie Crew Chief Zephyrhills, Fla. Jesse Sanders Pit Support Coupeville, Wash. Andy Graves Team Manager Syracuse, N.Y. Shane Bourgeois Pit Support Peachtree, Ga. Tony Glover Team Manager Kingsport, Tenn. Adam Cooke Shock Specialist Zephyrhills, Fla. Lorin Ranier Spotter Prestonburg, Ken. Dan Chivari Swing Mechanic Erie, Pa. Jeremy Crosby Front Tire Changer Hickory, N.C. Bruce Jones Rear Mechanic Lakeland, Fla. Doug Riepe Front Tire Carrier Danbury, Conn. Brian Taylor Front Mechanic Cuthbert, Ga. Trevor Lysne Rear Tire Changer Fergus Falls, Minn. Tim O'Brien Engineer Lebanon, Ohio Adam Mosher Rear Tire Carrier Fort Mill, S.C. Tim Smith Engineer Cope, S.C. Shaun Peet Jack Man Nanaimo, B.C Donald Sutherland Engine Tuner Pine Bush, N.Y. Tim Coffey Gas Man Greenwood, Ind. Brandon Stafford Tire Specialist Taylorsville, N.C. Ryan Quann Catch Can Man Richmond, Va. Tim Coffey Transport Driver Greenwood, Ind.