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NASCAR WCUP: Breakthrough Race for Midwest Transit

15 July 1999

CONCORD, N.C. -- Midwest Transit Racing had its breakthrough race at the New Hampshire International Speedway on July 11.

The team enjoyed several milestones, which included a successful, first-round qualifying session and finishing on the lead lap.

Driver Ricky Craven, who calls the NHIS facility his home track, started 12th in the 43-car field after turning a qualifying lap of 129.732 mph over the tricky, 1.058-mile oval.

Craven is from Newburgh, Maine while his wife Cathleen was born and raised just miles from NHIS in Concord, N.H.

After the start of the Jiffy Lube 300, Craven quickly jumped into the top 10, running as high as sixth late in the race. He was able to keep his No. 50 Chevrolet Monte Carlo in the lead pack for the majority of the race. But Craven suffered the fate of many frontrunners that day. He needed to stop on pit road for a splash of gas to finish the 300-lap race. The quick stop sent him back to a 13th-place finish.

"This team has come so far, so quick," said Craven. "It's important for us to be realistic and stick to our plan. We needed fuel, so we pitted. I wish we could have stayed out, but it's a matter of not putting pressure on ourselves. We're out there having fun"

Car owners Hal Hicks and Mike Witters were satisfied to see that the recent reorganization of the team is headed in the right direction. Crew chief John Monsam, who was recently hired by Midwest Transit Racing general manager Lake Speed, has made real progress with bringing the team up to speed.

"As a team we have made tremendous progress," said Monsam. The New Hampshire race was definitely a step in the right direction. Anytime we can see progress in what we do it's a success."

Now the team has its sights set on a NASCAR Winston Cup plum -- the Brickyard 400 scheduled Aug. 7 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. "We will do all we can to go to Indianapolis and continue in the right direction." said Monsam. "The history and tradition of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway make it a tremendous honor for myself and the crew to go and attempt to qualify.

The race is especially important to Hicks and Witters, whose business, Midwest Transit, Inc., is based in the region.

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