Stock Cars: Dave Reed Racing Continues to Attract New Sponsors
26 April 2000
Irvine, California (April 26, 2000) - Dave Reed Racing announces that Innovative Technology Products (ITP), an independent distributor of computer memory components, has agreed to a seven-race deal as associate sponsor of the team for the 2000 season. ITP is a long-time vendor of Advantage Memory Corporation, Dave Reed's Irvine, Calif.-based computer and printer memory manufacturing company. The team recently announced that it would represent primary sponsor Flexible Flyer's Yerf-Dog Fun Karts at the recent Mesa Marin Southwest Series event, and at this Saturday's NASCAR Winston West event, the Pontiac Wide Track Grand Prix 200, at California Speedway. Dave Reed Racing will be looking to take the #2 Yerf-Dog/ITP Chevrolet to a strong finish in Saturday's race, and to better its last year's 14th place finish. The team has participated in all of California Speedway's Winston West events since the inaugural race in June 1997, and has posted finishes as high as 6th place in two races. "It's very encouraging to bring in sponsors such as Flexible Flyer and ITP," said team owner Dave Reed. "As many of you know, we ran a limited schedule last year so that we could concentrate our efforts on turning a good performance at each race while we looked for sponsorship support. We're working hard, and we're anxious to get back to full-time racing. These are steps in that direction." Reed continued, "We had a great run at Mesa Marin, and we'll be looking to capitalize on the momentum we gained there to produce results this weekend." Reed explained that changes to the team's engine program and the new 2000 Monte Carlo body the car is sporting should have a positive effect on the car's performance. He said, "The car the team has prepared should be as strong a speedway car for California Speedway's two-mile oval as the short track car was for Bakersfield." Dave Reed Racing first carried the Yerf-Dog logo in the FoodsCo 100 at Mesa Marin Race in late March, where the driver Craig Raudman posted the second fastest qualifying time among 44 Southwest Series cars attempting to qualify for the main event. Raudman had a spectacular run, and stayed in the top-ten for most of the race. Three laps before the checkered flag, Raudman, who was running in second place, was passing the front-runner to take over the lead, when the two cars tangled, then spun down the front straightaway. Raudman recovered, finishing eighth. Yerf-Dog Fun Karts range from Yerf-Pups to go carts with full suspension to provide outdoor recreation for kids of all ages. Yerf-Dog Fun Karts are much like small dune buggies, and are great for desert fun or in other open outdoor areas. Roll bars and ATC balloon tires give Yerf-Dog Fun Karts a sporty look with lots of performance. Flexible Flyer manufactures the Yerf-Dog Fun Karts, Universal Fitness Equipment, swing-sets, trampolines and hobbyhorses in a 750,000 square foot manufacturing facility in West Point, Mississippi. The products are sold in a broad range of retail stores throughout the United States, including Costco, Sam's Club, Big 5, Academy Stores and BJ's. Dave Reed Racing operates NASCAR Winston West and Featherlite Southwest Series teams featuring Craig Raudman as driver. Raudman's 1999 season results included one win, three top five finishes and one Bud Pole award. He finished the 1998 season in seventh place out of fifteen drivers competing for the Sears Point Raceway Winston West Rookie-of-the-Year Award and thirteenth in the points standings. Raudman finished in the top five in final points standings in four of his past five full NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Series seasons. - end -