Golden Gate Racing set for NASCAR West return

 
For Immediate Release, September 20, 2010
Media Contact: Bill Sullivan: sullivanimages@sbcglobal.net
Team Information: www.goldengateracingteam.com
Golden Gate Racing Team readies for return to NASCAR West
RCR Development team regroups with new sponsorship;  interim driver to be announced soon
By Bill Sullivan, GGRT Media Relations
SAN FRANCISCO, CA  (9-20-10) – Following an uncharacteristic absence at the most recent event at Miller Motorsports Park in Utah, the San Francisco based Golden Gate Racing Team has made significant changes to their program and is gearing up for a strong return to the NASCAR K&N West Series on October 16th for the NAPA/Toyota 150 at the All American Speedway in Roseville, California.
            "We took some time off to regroup as a team," said Steve Portenga, Competition Director for the GGRT #21 Chevrolet Impala owned by San Francisco Businessman Jim Offenbach with the support of Richard Childress Racing Driver Development. "We have made some major changes on the team and we are ready to come back strong and get a win."
            As the Golden Gate Racing Team prepares for the final two events in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West, Offenbach is currently in negotiations with his interim driver that will assume the driving duties of the #21 Chevrolet Impala. For the Roseville event the car will carry the sponsorship of Bay Bio Diesel and the Golden Gate Meat Company.
            "I think we all needed to take a little time off before we focused on our comeback," said Offenbach. "This team is so resilient and so dedicated, they truly represent the integrity behind our entire organization. Each and every member is proud of what role they play and I'm proud of all of them. We're looking to make a strong comeback at Roseville."
            In the week prior to the Roseville event, Offenbach and Portenga will announce who the driver will be for the final two events of the year. The new wheelman will take to the track in Roseville in just a few weeks and once again on November 13th at Phoenix International Raceway in a car that will carry the sponsorship of the Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma. Looking beyond the 2010 season, GGRT and RCR are planning a fulltime campaign in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West Championship.
            "We are already putting together our program for 2011," added Portenga, a former driver himself that now manages the team on and off the track under the management of both Offenbach and Childress. "We are already building cars for the new season and looking at driver options. We're just as strong as ever, we just had to make some changes. Now it's time to come back and win some races."
            When the Golden Gate Racing Team rolls the #21 Chevrolet onto All American Speedway for their return to action in October they will carry the primary sponsorship of the two companies that have had a supporting roll in the Golden Gate Racing Team since it was founded.
            Bay Bio Diesel is owned by longtime GGRT member Pat O'Keefe who has successfully driven, wrenched and supported GGRT through the years. Established in 1946, Golden Gate Petroleum is one of the largest petroleum distributors in Northern California and Nevada. In 1999, they began distributing biodiesel, which led them to create a new division, Golden Gate Biofuels, the largest biodiesel distributor on the West Coast. Since their customer’s demand for bio diesel continued to expand, in 2005 they established Bay Biodiesel, LLC to produce their own high ASTM quality Biodiesel. O'Keefe and his staff at Bay Biodiesel are committed to developing their technology to lower the cost of biodiesel to be competitive with traditional petroleum diesel. At the same time they continue to support the Golden Gate Racing Team in a very strong fashion.
            The Golden Gate Meat Company with share the sponsorship spotlight with Bay Bio Diesel for the Roseville event. Established in 1977, the Golden Gate Meat Company is owned and operated by the Offenbach family. Their state of the art company specializes in the distribution of world class organic meats and a vast variety of more than natural food products.
            The Golden Gate Meat Company has a retail butcher shop in the famous Ferry Building in San Francisco that was voted the best butcher shop by San Francisco weekly. They also have a wholesale division that serves restaurants, hotels, culinary institutes and caterers in the entire bay area.
            Last month, Golden Gate Meat Company expanded their family owned operation into the North Bay with a brand new location in Santa Rosa. In addition to serving much of the bay area with quality products, the Golden Gate Meat Company has been a longtime supporter of the NASCAR West Series, sponsoring numerous event luncheons and special events.
            Additional support for the return to the NASCAR K&N Series West will include the Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma, Superior Lamb Company, Hill Meat Company, Foodcomm International, Signco, and Harraka Racing Equipment Sales.
            "We have a great number of supporters that keep this organization moving fast and we're thankful for each of them. I really have to extend my gratitude to Pat O'Keefe and Bay Bio Diesel for stepping in like this as we get back on track,"  added Offenbach. "We're ready to come back to Roseville and Phoenix and maintain our owner points in the standings. We'll go out there and enjoy what we do and try to get a win before this year is over. These guys deserve it."
            The Golden Gate Racing Team has competed in 9 of the ten NASCAR K&N Pro Series West events in 2010 with two different cars. Combined the team has claimed one Coors Light Pole Award. They have finished in the top five a total of four times with a season best finish of second place in Phoenix. The team as a whole has finished in the top ten on 8 different occasions.
For an in-depth look at the Golden Gate Racing Team and additional news, visit their website at www.goldengateracingteam.com. To learn more about the Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma visit www.childresspediatrictrauma.org or learn more by visiting www.rcrracing.com.
 

After sitting out of the last event and making changes to their line up. The Golden Gate Racing       
Team prepares for their return to the NASCAR West series next month.