Following Chicago Momentum Dexter Bean Looks To Conquer Salem

SALEM, Indiana (September 13, 2006) - - After a brilliant and career best fourth place finish at Chicagoland Speedway last Saturday, Dexter Bean and his BlackJack Racing team return to Salem Speedway this weekend looking to replenish the Chicago finish, but step it up even further with a win in Saturday’s Eddie Gilstrap Motors ARCA Fall Classic presented by Advance Auto Parts. “We’re definitely anxious to get to Salem,�?? said Bean. “The Chicago run was the effort that we needed to really turn our season around and gain some strength for the last couple of races. We really have run well this season, we just had a lot of misfortune. Hopefully the monkey is off our back and we can back up our performance.�??

Bean is no stranger to the intimidating half-mile short track. Earlier this year, Bean qualified a stout and short track career best sixth and ran in the top-five before being swept into an early race accident nearing lap 25 which left the avid racecar driver with a disappointing 33rd place finish. “I love Salem,�?? mentioned Bean. “Salem is a fast and aggressive track. I have a lot of experience on tracks like Salem, these tracks are my niche. We ran very well in the spring, we had a car capable of winning, but instead went home with a battered racecar. Qualifying upfront is important in short track racing, we did that in April and it hurt us. It just proves that short track racing is a lot of skill, but luck has to be on your side. My BlackJack crew and Jeff Spraker (team consultant) have prepared a very good car for me this week and I’m ready to join the list of first time winners in ARCA this season.�??

While a good run is important for Bean’s resume this weekend, it’s also crucial for the points. Currently, Bean locks the 13th position in the championship standings, just a mere 30 points from 12th and 215 markers from the top ten. “I know we have a shot at ending our season in the top-ten. The next three races are tracks I feel I can excel at. Every position and every point is crucial. I would like to be on stage for the championship banquet at the end of the year, but there’s a lot of work to do to make that a reality. I’m confident in this team and I know I can conquer the challenge that has been presented to us, we just need to keep the luck on our side to make it all happen.�??

Five Star Telecom, who’s supported Bean for several years, will return as the primary sponsor of the No. 6 Chevrolet Monte Carlo this weekend. Since their beginning in 1973, Five Star Telecom has become one of the largest interconnect companies in the Upper Midwest, with multiple locations serving the tri-state area.

To ensure the customer’s complete satisfaction, Five Star Telecom works with corporations every step of the way, while keeping your project on schedule and within budget. Using the latest technology, Five Star Telecom’s qualified staff and certified technicians provide, Quality structured cabling installations that often outlast the devices connected to it Reliable networks that securely connect employees, customers and suppliers to vital information, Flexible carrier services solutions that maximize communication, providing broad coverage, voice clarity and reliability and convenient telephone systems that increase employee productivity and reduce costs.

“I really can’t say enough about my sponsor, Five Star Telecom, they have been awesome,�?? added Bean. “They made the jump with our team to the ARCA RE/MAX Series and we sure have had our fair share of ups and downs, but I’m feeling good about the rest of the season and I hope we can give Five Star a win before the season’s out.�??

Rolling into Salem, Bean, a native of Westby, Wisconsin has 23 ARCA RE/MAX Series starts to his resume with a career best finish of fourth at Pocono Raceway (July 2006) and Chicagoland Speedway (2006) while holding three additional top ten finishes at Michigan International Speedway (July 2006 and July 2005) and Talladega Superspeedway (October 2005). He holds a career best superspeedway time trials effort of fourth at Pocono Raceway (June 2006) while hoisting a career best short track qualifying effort of sixth at Salem Speedway (April 2006).

The BlackJack Racing team is scheduled to run in three more ARCA RE/MAX Series events this season at Salem Speedway (September), Talladega Superspeedway (October) and the new Iowa Speedway (October). The team has competed full time in the ARCA RE/MAX Series this year and plans to return on a full-time basis in 2007.

The Eddie Gilstrap Motors ARCA Fall Classic presented by Advance Auto Parts (200 laps/110 miles) is the 21st of 23 events on the 2006 ARCA RE/MAX Series schedule. This weekend marks the last of the one-day race schedule for the season. Practice begins Saturday with a hour and half (1:05pm-2:35pm) session planned. Pork pole qualifying is on tap later that afternoon (4:00pm). The race is set to take the green flag beginning at 7:15. The race won’t be televised but _arcaracing.com_ (http://www.arcaracing.com/) will have all the latest news and results from the track.