Bourque Returns To NBES Competition; Hoping For Super Run
Bourque Returns To NBES Competition; Hoping For Super Run “Diversity Driver Continues Hectic Schedule�?? LOWVILLE, New York (July 26, 2006) - - While a majority of the NASCAR Busch East Series (NBES) competitors enjoyed a rare weekend off, Canada’s Pierre Bourque took the opportunity to continue to do what he loves, race. Last weekend, Bourque returned to his home country and competed in his first ever, CASCAR Series event bringing home a very solid 25th place finish in the Grand Prix of Edmonton. CASCAR wasn’t the only series Bourque decided to tackle during the off time, before preparing for this week’s race at Adirondack International Speedway. The 2006 NBES Rookie-of-the-Year candidate dabbed back into the ARCA RE/MAX Series competing in the open test session at Nashville Superspeedway on Monday. 12 drivers and teams whipped laps around the 1.333-concrete oval with Bourque turning an unofficial lap of 32.940 seconds or 145.355 mph. Bourque will look to make his second career ARCA start at Nashville (next month) turned his fastest lap of the day in the hottest part of the afternoon which impressed many on the team including car owner in both series, Andy Hillenburg. “We’re real pleased with the test results,�?? Bourque added. “I’m real happy with the way we improved from the morning session to the afternoon session. I was faster on forty lap older tires which is a good thing. We are going to have a better package for the race when we arrive next month, so we’re all looking forward to a positive weekend.�?? With his CASCAR and ARCA venues now on the back burner for now, Bourque regains his composure and plans to shake off the recent tough luck and put his No. 10 Chevrolet Monte Carlo back into competition. In his last race, Bourque continued to show his transition from a rookie to veteran after starting in the rear of the field to collect a respectable 26th place finish at New Hampshire International Raceway. It wasn’t the finish the FTR (Fast Track Racing) team was looking for, but sometimes you have to take what you can get. “We learned a lot at New Hampshire,�?? explained Bourque. “I got into an entanglement at the start of the race that I didn’t have anything to do with and it really ruined our chances for a good finish. That happens. It’s racing. We rebounded and we’re looking forward to our next race here in a couple weeks. Hopefully this weekend we can put our racecar into the top ten.�?? Adirondack International Speedway, located just two hours from Bourque’s home of Ottawa, Ontario (Canada), Bourque heads into the event with an open mind despite having no prior experience at the half-mile paved oval. “Adirondack is another short track. I’m getting better at the smaller tracks and that’s positive.�?? “The more experience I get, the better I am behind the wheel. That’s the important thing. No matter which way we look at it, this year is a learning experience. Andy (Hillenburg) is giving me the equipment I need to get the job done and Dave (McClure, crew chief) is making great calls on race weekend. We just need a little luck. I’m heading into the race with my head held high and I’m feeling really good about the race.�?? Another reason Bourque is excited about this weekend’s event is the addition of several sponsors to the team. _Driving.Ca_ (http://www.driving.ca/) will adorn the primary sponsorship role this weekend. _Driving.Ca_ (http://www.driving.ca/) is Canada’s No. 1 Automotive website. In addition, _Canada.com_ (http://www.canada.com/) , Canada's biggest online community, _Working.com_ (http://www.working.com/) , one of North America's top career sites, and _Dose.Ca,_ (http://www.dose.ca/) a cool site that caters to hip Canadian urbanites coast-to-coast, will all serve as secondary sponsors on Bourque’s machine this weekend. All four new sponsors are part of Canwest-Global, Canada's largest media company with interests in television, radio, newspapers and the internet. All four will be backing of Bourque’s NASCAR Busch East season, his remaining two CASCAR races, and his forays into ARCA. “I’m really excited about our new sponsors,�?? he said, "they are leaders in their respective fields, both in terms of the way they use new technologies and the way they attract a sizable user base. I’m looking forward to helping them expand their reach into the North American stock car base, particularly within NASCAR's Canadian fan base, which according to public opinion polls, number some six million die-hard fans.�?? Full Metals Minerals and Pollara Strategic Public Opinion, will also continue to back Bourque’s racing effort for the balance of the season as associate sponsors. “We have a great group of sponsors for the remainder of the season. We’re looking forward to giving them all the recognition and exposure they deserve with a great finish to boost.�?? Currently with five races remaining on the schedule, Bourque sits 18th in the championship standings, just 16 points out of the top 15 and 111 markers from the top ten. He also locks fourth in the race for NASCAR Busch East Series Rookie-of-the-Year just a slight 13 points from the top spot. “Obviously we would like to be up higher in both divisions of the standings, but there is a lot of racing left. We hope to utilize the next five events to our advantage and attract as many points as possible.�?? The Edge Hotel 150 (150 laps/75 miles) is the seventh of 11 events on the 2006 NASCAR Busch East Series schedule. Practice begins Saturday, July 29th with an hour (2:30pm-3:30pm EST) session planned with an additional forty five minute (4:15pm-4:45pm EST) final practice to follow. Busch pole qualifying is on tap at 6:00pm EST with the race set to take the green flag at 8:00pm EST. The race will be broadcasted via SPEED on Thursday, August 10 at 5:30pm EST. In addition to running the full NASCAR Busch East Series in 2006, Pierre Bourque and Fast Track Racing will make limited starts in the ARCA RE/MAX Series. Bourque will also make three CASCAR Series races later this year with Whitlock Motorsports. For further in site on Canwest-Global and its associates please log onto _http://www.Driving.Ca_ (http://www.driving.ca/) , _http://www.Canada.com_ (http://www.canada.com/) , _http://www.Working.com_ (http://www.working.com/) and _http://www.Dose.Ca_ (http://www.dose.ca/) For more information on Full Metals Minerals, please visit _http://www.fullmetalminerals.com_ (http://www.fullmetalminerals.com/) For additional input on Pollara Strategic Public Opinion, please logon to _http://www.pollara.ca_ (http://www.pollara.ca/) ### DATE: July 26, 2006 NAME: Chris Knight, Fast Track Racing PHONE: 734-674-9108 EMAIL: _Knight849@aol.com_ (mailto:Knight849@aol.com)