IRL: McGehee, Energizer Sign with Treadway Racing for 2000 IRL Season
8 December 1999
Posted By Terry CallahanMotorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
Indianapolis, IN: Treadway Racing is pleased to announce an agreement with Energizer Motorsports and rising star Robby McGehee for the 2000 Indy Racing League season. The talented 26 year-old has been running under a testing contract with the Indianapolis based team since late November when negotiations for the 2000 season began.
The 1999 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year, McGehee will run the #5 Energizer Advanced Formula entry with the Treadway Racing 2000 G-Force/ Aurora/Firestone package under the direction of Crew Chief Skip Faul and Engineer Jeff Britton at this weekend's open test at the Walt Disney World Speedway in Orlando.
"We are pleased to add Robby to our racing stable and feel that he will be a valuable addition to our team," said Treadway Racing Vice President Scott Cronk. "He has assisted with our testing program, and the team was truly impressed with his capabilities. We look forward to having Energizer Motorsports on board and believe that the driver/team/sponsor combination will guarantee results and provide a banner racing season for all involved."
Energizer Motorsports is also pleased to be affiliated with the Treadway Racing team. "For the 2000 season to be successful for Energizer, we wanted to align the driving talent of Robby McGehee with a result- oriented and operational group that offered a strong engineering background and a savvy race day organization," stated Energizer Motorsports Managing Director, Fred Azbell. "For this success to happen, you've got to have good people, and that is Treadway's main attraction. That is the major ingredient that brought us together, and it is this intangible that will allow Robby McGehee and Energizer to succeed."
McGehee, president of his own computer consulting firm, began his motorsports career in 1991 with the support of his racing oriented parents, Janet and Smith McGehee. A motorcycle enthusiast and avid golfer, McGehee has graduated from an illustrious FF2000 career of 38 career starts, including two victories, five second-place finishes and an all-time FF2000 track record of 137.064 mph at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. In 1999, McGehee and Energizer Motorsports moved their efforts into the Indy Racing League and established a strong rookie program with an impressive top finish of fifth at the 1999 Indianapolis 500-earning him Rookie of the Year honors.
Setting the standard as fierce competitors and technological innovators, Treadway Racing celebrated the 1999 season with seven top-10 finishes, six top-five finishes, four podiums, pole position and victory with driver Sam Schmidt. Over the course of the season, the team led a total of 208 laps which accumulated as the team led every single race from the Indianapolis 500 until the season's conclusion at the Texas Motor Speedway. Since the IRL's inception, Treadway Racing is the only team to maintain at least one victory in each season.
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