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INDY 500: Blueprint Racing leaves Indy frustrated but committed

29 May 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
INDIANAPOLIS--Jimmy Kite, of Stockbridge, Georgia, felt that today might be his day to drink the milk in victory lane at the Indianapolis 500. However, the day ended with the Big Daddys BBQ/ Blueprint Racing Special in the garage on lap 75 resulting in a 30th-place finish. Following the teams third pit stop, the engine "locked-up" on Kite as he left the Big Daddys/ Blueprint pit stall. While the exact cause is yet to be determined, Blueprint Racing Engines led by Sonny Meyer and Frank Russo believe the cause is in a front-camshaft chain failure.

"We had just made the [setup] change to the car that I think would have moved the Big Daddys BBQ G Force towards the front," lamented Kite. "I made it about a pit stall and a half before I grabbed second [gear] and the engine just locked-up on me. It is just so disappointing for this entire Big Daddys BBQ/ Blueprint team. The car was so good all month and I think we could have brought them back to us today. This is the second hard day for us since Big Daddys BBQ came on board and we want to show them the results to backup all the promise this Blueprint team is showing."

The failure ended a strong "Month of May" for the Bedford Park, Illinois-based race team. The Big Daddys/ Blueprint Racing Special sat in the top-ten of the speed charts nearly every day the team ran in the week of practice prior to qualifications.

"Were very disappointed," offered Blueprint Racing co-owner Ed Rachanski. "Our engines ran very well before the race in all of the practices and we felt good going into the race. Were just very disappointed. We are proud to have Big Daddys BBQ on-board the Blueprint car and we wanted a better finish for them today. Well go back and have to regroup for the next Indy Racing Northern Light Series race at Texas and give them that finish."

Kites final thought for the month of May was a positive look at the future. "I am definitely ready to get to the high-banks. Those tracks are my tracks! Those tracks will be Blueprint Racing tracks! We want to give Big Daddys a good showing, and we will."

Big Daddys BBQ Racing, of Yukon, Oklahoma, is the parent company to several subsidiaries, which include a beer divisionBig Daddys Backyard Brew meatpacking, root beer, and the sauce and spice division. The publicly held company trades under the OTC ticker BIGD. More information is available on the company at www.bigdaddysbbq.com.

Text provided by Tom Moore

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