Newman Wachs Racing Heads To New Jersey With A 5 Point Lead In The Championship

Mundelein, June 9, 2009: Newman Wachs Racing heads to Rounds Three and Four of the Atlantic Championship at the Mazda Formula X event in Millville, New Jersey June 12-14. NWR is confident that drivers John Edwards and Markus Niemela will have another strong performance and edge out the competition on the 2.25 mile Thunderbolt Raceway course. The event is a double-header with twice the points available making it a crucial weekend for all.

Just last week, it was announced that each race will be carried LIVE on HDNet (June 13 and 14 @ 3:05 EST).

Edwards, at just 18, leads the Championship standings by five points heading into the race weekend with a win at Sebring International Raceway and a runner-up finish at Miller Motorsports Park. John raced here last year in Star Mazda and had a pole position, a win, and a 3rd place finish for the two races he competed in.

John Edwards, #36 MAZDASPEED/ Nuclear Clean Air Energy/ Entergy/ Newman Wachs Racing:

“I'm looking forward to going back to New Jersey. I enjoyed driving the track last year, and finished well there despite an incident in race 2 that put me back to third from the lead, only a few laps from the end. Hopefully this time we can be fast and stay out of trouble to get back to the top step of the podium!”

Markus Niemela, who is the reigning Atlantic Champion, has had a frustrating start to the season. After passing for 4th in the closing laps of Round Two at Miller Motorsports Park, Markus was collected by another competitor, ending his day. He started and finished 2nd here last year in the Atlantic race in the closing stages of the 2008 Championship. He hopes to return to the podium at New Jersey in 2009.

Markus Niemela, #1 Mr. Jones/ Nuclear Clean Air Energy/ Entergy/ Newman Wachs Racing:

“I'm looking forward to the race at New Jersey, I really like the track. It's quite physical to drive and there are many different types of corners which isn’t the case at many of the other tracks. We have had a rough go these first two races but last year at New Jersey was the pivotal point which turned my season around, leading up to winning the Championship. Hopefully it will be a turning point for me again this year and we can finish on the podium.”