Reed Sorenson, No. 41 Target Dodge Michigan Advance...
Media Contact: Patrick Rogers, Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates, 704-662-9642, progers@ganassi.com Reed Sorenson, No. 41 Target Dodge 3M Performance 400 - Michigan International Speedway Advance - 6/18/06 To view the 2006 Target Racing Media Guide, please visit www.target.com/pressroom Target Team Fast Facts: Like Father, Like Son: Prior to focusing his attention on his son Reed's racing career, Brad Sorenson was a racer himself. He began at the age of 15 competing on two wheels instead of four. Brad cut his racing teeth in motocross and competed professionally in the AMA ranks for a short period. From there, he began racing late models around the Atlanta area and even competed in one Busch Series race at Lanier National Speedway (13th-place finish). After that, his passion turned to seeing his son succeed. Two Races, Two Different Places: Sorenson will be competing at two different tracks in two separate states again this weekend. On tap is a NEXTEL Cup event in Michigan and a Busch Series race in Kentucky. Sorenson will practice and qualify the No. 41 Target car in Michigan on Friday, fly to Kentucky for a Busch Series practice session on Friday evening, head back to Michigan for Cup practice on Saturday morning, trek back to Kentucky to qualify and race the Discount Tire Dodge on Saturday night, and then finish up the busy weekend's activities with a 400-miler in Michigan on Sunday. Lending Another Helping Hand: CGRFS development driver Kevin Hamlin will be on hand once again, only this weekend in Kentucky, to practice the No. 41 Discount Tire Dodge in Sorenson's absence. He will also qualify and race the car if weather prevents Sorenson from making it to the track or postpones the Busch Series event. Chassis: Crew Chief Jimmy Elledge and the Target Team have selected chassis #606 for this weekend's NEXTEL Cup event at Michigan. This is a new race car this season and it has previously run at Texas (13th-place finish) and in the 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway (10th). Homeboy: Target Team front-tire carrier Marty Forcier hails from Superior, Mich. NEXTEL Cup Points Report: Sorenson and the Target team slipped to 24th in the overall standings after their 36th-place effort in the last event at Pocono. The team is 57 points out of 20th and 160 points out of the top 15. Rookie Round Up: Sorenson is currently tied for fourth place in the Raybestos Rookie of the Year standings with 119 points. He trails leader Denny Hamlin by 45 points. Sorenson has captured rookie of the race honors in two of the 13 races run thus far in '06 (Atlanta - 10th-place finish, Martinsville - 12th). Busch Series Update: Sorenson is 11th in the overall Busch Series driver standings heading into this weekend's race at Kentucky Speedway. The Discount Tire team is 41 points out of 10th and 309 out of the top five. Reed Sorenson on Michigan... "We had a pretty good run going at Michigan in the Busch car last season, but we had some engine problems late in the race that took us out of contention. I like the track and I'm looking forward to running there this weekend in the No. 41 Target Dodge. We're taking the car we finished 10th with at Charlotte and I expect it to be really good when we unload on Friday. We had a rough go of it last weekend at Pocono, so I'm hoping to bounce back with a solid run this weekend." Sorenson's Comments After First Non-Companion Weekend... "Last week's deal wasn't that bad at all. The Busch race didn't go all that well, but the traveling back and forth was seamless. This weekend we're adding an extra trip because I'm going to head down to Kentucky for a Friday night practice, but other than that I assume it will be about the same. The only problems will be if it rains, but other than that I'm ready to go." Sorenson on Father's Day... "I owe a great deal to my dad. He's been a tremendous supporter of my racing career and without his help and guidance I wouldn't be where I am today. He put his racing career on the shelf to allow me to chase a dream and that means the world to me. He's not as involved as he used to be, but I appreciate everything he has done for me. It sure would be nice to get a win in one of these races for him this weekend." Sorenson's Michigan International Speedway Stats (2 miles) Date Series Race Start Finish Laps Status Winnings 8/20/05 Busch Domino's Pizza 250 4 36 113/125 Engine $19,630 2006 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Results Date Race Start Finish Winnings Pts. Pos. Date Race Start Finish Winnings Pts. Pos Feb. 19 Daytona 22 29 $262,908 29th July 16 New Hamp. Feb. 26 California 29 21 $97,875 24th July 23 Pocono Mar. 12 Las Vegas 36 40 $85,300 32nd Aug. 6 Indianapolis Mar. 19 Atlanta 15 10 $89,225 25th Aug. 13 Watkins Glen Mar. 26 Bristol 22 22 $92,450 27th Aug. 20 Michigan Apr. 2 Martinsville 25 12 $85,925 24th Aug. 26 Bristol Apr. 9 Texas 13 13 $126,675 19th Sept. 3 California Apr.22 Phoenix 34 40 $68,700 24th Sept. 9 Richmond Apr. 30 Talladega 41 26 $89,825 24th Sept. 17 New Hamp. May 6 Richmond 24 23 $77,025 26th Sept. 24 Dover May 13 Darlington 16 11 $94,375 24th Oct. 1 Talladega May 28 Charlotte 23 10 $119,275 20th Oct. 8 Kansas June 4 Dover 39 19 $91,600 21st Oct. 14 Charlotte June 11 Pocono 35 36 $68,750 24th Oct. 22 Martinsville June 18 Michigan Oct. 29 Atlanta June 25 Infineon Nov. 5 Texas July 1 Daytona Nov. 12 Phoenix July 9 Chicago Nov. 19 Homestead Starts Wins Top 5 Top 10 Poles Winnings 14 0 0 2 0 $1,480,942 Last updated 6/5/06 Sorenson's Cumulative NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Stats: Starts Wins Top 5s Top 10s Poles Winnings 16 0 0 2 0 $ 1,587,483 Sorenson's Career Highlights -First NEXTEL Cup Series Top 10 (Atlanta, Mar. 20, 2006) -First NEXTEL Cup Series Start (Atlanta, Oct. 30, 2005) -First Busch Series Win (Nashville, Mar. 26, 2005) -First Busch Series Pole (Nashville, Mar. 26, 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 Target Crew: Name Crew position Hometown Name Crew position Hometown Jimmy Elledge Crew Chief Redding, Calif. Doug Spees Tire Specialist Hazelton, Penn. Tony Glover Team Manager Kingsport, Tenn. Jesse Sanders Pit Support Coupeville, Wash. Jeff Vandermoss Car Chief Green Bay, Wis. Lorin Ranier Spotter Prestonsburg, Ky. Bobby Burrell Front Tire Changer Huntersville, N.C. Travis Alexander Engine Specialist Walla Walla, Wash. Marty Forcier Front Tire Carrier Superior, Mich. Tim Smith Engineer Cope, S.C. Jason Sheets Rear Tire Changer Indianapolis, Ind. Roger Parkinson Pit Support San Diego, Calif. Alex Yonchok Rear Tire Carrier Syracuse, N.Y. Rod Bussard Transport Driver Everett, Penn. Shaun Peet Jack Man Nanaimo, B.C Mark Miller Transport Driver Randy Hildreth Gas Man Charlotte, N.C. Jeremy Crosby Pit Support Hickory, N.C. Eric Hoyle Catch Can Man Asheville, N.C. Mike Chance Pit Support Please visit www.chipganassiracing.com <http://www.chipganassiracing.com/>