--Team Owner Says His Group Has “Paid Its Dues,” Sets Sights on Victory Lane--
MOORESVILLE, NC (February 8, 2010)—In Rusty Wallace Racing’s (RWR) final team meeting before the upcoming NASCAR Nationwide Series season opener at Daytona, team owner Rusty Wallace had one key statement to make. In the famous words of the NFL’s Al Davis, Wallace’s message to his team was clear: “Just Win, Baby!”
After several seasons of steady improvement, including being the only team with multiple drivers among the top-ten of the 2009 driver standings, Wallace is looking for 2010 to be a breakout season for RWR and its drivers, Steve Wallace (No. 66 5-Hour Energy Toyota Camry) and Brendan Gaughan (No. 62 South Point Hotel & Casino Toyota Camry).
Said Rusty Wallace, “I think 2010 is going to be a real breakout year for our team. Back when I started racing, I always used to have people tell me that you had to pay your dues before you could start winning. Our team has done that over the past few seasons and now, it’s time to win.
“Last year, I heard one of our guys say that we finished “best in class”—that a Nationwide-only team would never be able to beat the Cup guys. That comment really made me mad. So for this season, we’ve made a lot of big-time upgrades to our team. We have some of the nicest cars and equipment in the garage, a ton of great support from Toyota, a technical alliance with Joe Gibbs Racing and the best and brightest people we’ve ever had working on our team.
“With everything we have going for us this year, I told our guys that the mentality of a top-ten being a win is simply not acceptable any more. If they have that mentality, they’re not going to be a part of our team. I really feel like we have a group that can compete for wins week-in and week-out; all of our guys share that confidence. I can’t wait to unload these two Toyota hot rods in Daytona and see what we can do.”
The key upgrades, changes and storylines at RWR for 2010 include:
· Manufacturer change, from factory Chevrolet support, to factory Toyota support—Support from Toyota Racing Development marks a dramatic increase in the level of manufacturer technical support and involvement provided to the team.
· Technical alliance with Joe Gibbs Racing—Alignment with 2009 Nationwide Series champions speeds up learning curve in manufacturer change, helps team develop aerodynamics of Toyota Camry race cars.
· Strong sponsorship from 5-Hour Energy and South Point Hotel & Casino—Partnership with America’s number one energy shot gives team stable financial backing, increased promotion and alignment with one of the country’s hottest brands. Meanwhile, the venerable South Point returns for its second season as sponsor of Gaughan’s No. 62 entry.
· Scott McDougall as No. 66 Crew Chief—One of the Nationwide Series’ top race engineers, McDougall has brought an engineering focus to the team which it has not previously possessed. Under McDougall’s leadership, the team has quickly undergone a number of technical improvements, such as a much greater standardization of its car fleet.
· Brad Parrott as No. 62 Crew Chief—One of the most colorful—and winningest—crew chiefs in recent Nationwide Series history, Parrott brings a wealth of veteran knowledge and experience to RWR. Parrott’s father, legendary crew chief, Buddy Parrott, will serve as spotter for the No. 62 team in select 2010 events, beginning with Daytona.
· Engine Partnership with Triad Racing Technologies—In 2010, RWR will enjoy strong and reliable horsepower from one of the leading Toyota engine builders in the Nationwide Series.
· Increased Engineering Focus—In addition to Scott McDougall’s engineering guidance, Parrott’s appointment shifts former interim No. 62 crew chief, Dale Ferguson, back into a full-time engineering role with the team. This, combined with increased engineering support from Toyota Racing Development and an increase in the team’s in-house engineering staff, marks a change from the team’s traditional philosophy.
· Drivers more seasoned and experienced—With each and every season, driver Steve Wallace has come closer and closer to reaching the potential which he has flashed throughout his career. The 2009 season—Wallace’s third full year in the Nationwide Series—marked his career bests in almost every key statistical category. With that performance, Wallace started establishing himself as a consistent top-ten contender and now, in 2010, he looks to consistently contend for Victory Lane. Meanwhile, teammate Brendan Gaughan finished ninth in the 2009 standings during only his first season in the series. With a full year of Nationwide experience now under his belt, Gaughan is set on putting his No. 62 Toyota in front of the field in 2010.
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About Rusty Wallace Racing, LLC
U.S.-based Rusty Wallace Racing (RWR) is a professional auto racing team steeped in the legendary history of its founder and one of NASCAR’s top-ten drivers of all-time, Rusty Wallace. The organization currently campaigns the No. 66 and No. 62 Toyota Camrys in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, piloted by Steve Wallace and Brendan Gaughan. In 2009, RWR was the only organization with multiple drivers ranked among the top-ten in the final Nationwide Series driver standings. For more on RWR, please visit rustywallace.com.
