PR BACE MOTORSPORTS
Raines Replaces Lusk in Outdoor Channel Chevrolet
JUSTIN, TX (April 2, 2004) – Tony Raines has replaced Damon Lusk behind the wheel of The Outdoor Channel Chevrolet for BACE Motorsports, starting with the O’Reilly 300 tomorrow at Texas Motor Speedway.
Raines has 143 career starts for owner Bill Baumgardner, posting 13 top-5 and 35 top-10 finishes, including a sixth-place finish at Bristol last week.
“Naturally, I’m anxious to get back to racing on a consistent basis,” Raines said. “We were able to gather up some momentum last week in Bristol, and I’m looking forward to extending that success over the balance of the season. I’m excited to be working again with Mark Tutor (crew chief), who is leading an extremely talented race team and am confident in our ability to return BACE to Victory Lane.”
BACE Returns to Bristol with Raines
MOORESVILLE, NC (March 24, 2004) – Damon Lusk will take a hiatus from the Outdoor Channel Chevrolet at Bristol Motor Speedway this weekend. Tony Raines returns to the helm of the BACE Busch Series entry at the same race where he posted a career best finish (2nd), just one year ago. Lusk will return to the seat next weekend at Texas Motor Speedway.
“This is an opportunity to maximize the performance assets available to us at BACE,” said team owner Bill Baumgardner. “First and foremost, our goal is to make sure that we continue to advance our Busch Series program, and Tony’s experience at a track like Bristol is something you just can’t set aside.
“We’re committed to the investment that we’ve made in Damon as an aggressive young racer and future star that we’re pleased to have in our family,” Baumgardner added. “However, having Tony behind the wheel this weekend will allow us to address some baseline issues that will benefit Damon and facilitate his growth at BACE.”
“I’m a racer,” Lusk said, “and, by nature, I’m an extremely competitive person. As a driver, I’m not thrilled at the prospect of not being behind the wheel in Bristol. But as a member of this team, I stand by our decision to take advantage of every asset available to making our team as competitive as it can possibly be.”
With 142 Busch Series starts (10 at Bristol) under his belt at BACE, Raines brings a load of home-grown experience to the table in his return to “Thunder Valley.” Raines qualified third in both the Spring and Fall events in the BACE Busch Series entry in 2003, logging a pair of performances that put him in contention for the win on both occasions.
“I’m excited to return to the Outdoor Channel team at Bristol,” Raines said. “It’s my opportunity to take care of some unfinished business. Our car was strong at both Bristol races last year but we weren’t able to close the deal. Our main goal for this weekend is to put BACE back in Victory Lane on Saturday.”
LUSK “HEADS UP” ST. BALDRICKS EVENT
NEW YORK, NY (March 10, 2004) – When the NASCAR Busch Series returns to action next weekend at Darlington Raceway, one of its competitors is sure to be sporting a new look. BACE Motorsports driver Damon Lusk did not only remove his helmet during the off-weekend but his hair as well. Helping to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the St. Baldricks Celebration, an event to raise awareness for childhood cancer research, Lusk shaved his locks live in front of a national audience this morning on the ESPN2 program, Cold Pizza .
The driver of the No. 74 Outdoor Channel Chevrolet joined over 3000 participants who have shaved their heads this year during the fundraiser that aids the CureSearch National Childhood Cancer Foundation (NCCF). Since its inception, the St. Baldricks event has raised over $3 million in support of life-saving research for childhood cancer. The event has grown to include participants in over 35 states and four countries.
“I have to admit it was a little intimidating at first to have my head shaved,” admits Lusk. “Honestly though, all it took was hearing the many stories from the children this disease affects and those who raise funds for CureSearch and then it seemed that removing my hair was a non-issue, especially when it helps bring awareness to this cause and a smile to the children.”
Donning the razor that removed Lusk’s hair was Amy Dilbeck, a childhood cancer survivor and current spokesperson for NCCF and the St. Baldricks Celebration. Dilbeck is no novice at shaving heads and will continue to bring awareness to St. Baldricks and to CureSearch this week as she shaves the head of world famous magician, David Blaine.
Lusk will continue his partnership with the CureSearch National Childhood Cancer Foundation by running a CureSearch scheme on his No. 74 Chevrolet at Bristol Motor Speedway on March 27.
The St. Baldrick’s Celebration continues nationwide throughout the month of March. Visit www.nccf.org, www.stbaldricks.org or call 1-800-458-6223 to participate by becoming a shavee or to make a donation to conquer childhood cancer.
CureSearch National Childhood Cancer Foundation proudly supports the work of CureSearch Children’s Oncology Group, a network of physicians, nurses and scientists who conduct clinical trials in childhood cancer and perform cutting-edge research at more than 200 member institutions, representing every pediatric cancer program in North America, treating over 90 percent of children with cancer in North America.
BACE MOTORSPORTS SCALES BACK NEXTEL CUP SCHEDULE
CHARLOTTE, NC (February 6, 2004) -- BACE Motorsports announced this morning that Tony Raines and the #74 NEXTEL Cup team will not be making the trek to Speedweeks to run the 2004 Daytona 500. Citing lack of sponsorship, owner Bill Baumgardner determined that it would not be in the best interest of the organization to run the entire NEXTEL Cup schedule in 2004.
“After the investment we made in 2003, we don’t have anything to prove by going out there and running a second full season out of pocket,” Baumgardner said. “What we accomplished last season as a first year Cup team was nothing short of remarkable, and I’m proud of Tony Raines and his teammates in the BACE shop for the hard work they put into those results.”
In 35 Winston Cup starts as a rookie, Raines posted 15 Top-25 finishes, including a string of four consecutive Top-20s down the stretch, highlighted by a 6th-place finish at Rockingham and 13th-place run in the season finale in Miami.
“We’ll return to the NEXTEL Cup Series in 2004 in a manner consistent with our goal – not to just compete, but to race competitively. To return for another full season without corporate backing would be fiscally irresponsible,” Baumgardner said. “First and foremost, it’s our business savvy that’s allowed us to succeed in NASCAR for the past 11 years, and we’re not going to ignore that corporate model to engage in a scenario that proves nothing other than the fact that we know how to spend money. Until we are able to secure appropriate sponsorship, we’ll put a competitive car on the track every time there’s an opportunity, as we continue to build our program.”
Although disappointed, Raines echoed Baumgardner’s statement with the belief that BACE will return to NASCAR’s upper echelon to continue their impressive run at the end of the 2003 season. “Right up until this week, we’ve been working hard in preparation to run the full 2004 season,” Raines said. “We had some sponsorship prospects that just didn’t materialize like we hoped, and that means we’re going to have to re-group and determine the best way for us to have an impact in the block of races that we do run this season.
“Sure it’s disappointing not to be running the full schedule, especially after the momentum we built at the end of last year. But you can’t be ruled by emotion, or you’ll find yourself out of this sport in a hurry,” Raines added. “BACE has been winning in NASCAR for over a decade, and Bill has three championship rings to attest to that success. The corporation that decides to join us in the NEXTEL Cup Series will reap the rewards of one of the hardest working teams in the NASCAR garage, and we’re looking forward to the day that happens.”
The scaling back of the NEXTEL Cup schedule will not impact BACE’s pursuit of its fourth Busch Series title, with Damon Lusk behind the wheel. The Outdoor Channel has returned to BACE to sponsor 17 races of the 34 event schedule, and BACE is currently engaged in discussions with corporations interested in picking up the balance of the season.
OUTDOOR CHANNEL EXTENDS PARTNERSHIP WITH BACE MOTORSPORTS
BACE Tabs Lusk to Run Full Busch Series Season in 2004
TEMECULA, CA. (December 15, 2003) - The Outdoor Channel, a subsidiary of Outdoor Channel Holdings, Inc. (OTC BB - GLRS) announced today it will continue its partnership with BACE Motorsports in the 2004 NASCAR Busch Series season.
Damon Lusk joins the BACE Motorsports stable as driver of the No. 74 Outdoor Channel Chevrolet. Lusk made 11 Busch Series starts in 2002, finishing outside the top-25 just four times in a limited schedule that featured his first top-10 starting spot (10th at Charlotte - 5/24) and three top-20s (New Hampshire - 18th, Michigan - 12th and Miami -18th). The Washington state native grabbed the attention of the NASCAR garage during his brief stint in the ARCA Series, where he posted two wins, six top-five and 10 top-10 finishes during the 2002 season.
"We watched Damon with great interest in 2002 during The Outdoor Channel's coverage of the ARCA Series (ARCA Racing This Week)," said Wade Sherman, Outdoor Channel Senior Vice President, "and we're very pleased with our association with BACE Motorsports in 2003."
"The combination of BACE Motorsports' winning tradition and Damon's talent and enthusiasm will be the key to success in 2004, and we're excited about the future of our program," Sherman added.
The Outdoor Channel will serve as primary sponsor for the BACE team for a minimum of 17 races during the 2004 season, beginning with the season opener at Daytona International Speedway on February 14. The Outdoor Channel Chevrolet will also take the track at Las Vegas, Texas, Talladega, California, Chicago and Homestead.
"I'm thrilled to come on board at BACE Motorsports and continue their successful partnership with The Outdoor Channel," said Lusk. "BACE has an outstanding track record in the Busch Series and they are a
team you immediately identify as a contender. The guys in the shop have a great chemistry and it translates into competitive cars every
weekend. I'm thankful to Bill and Brian (Baumgardner) for giving me the opportunity to drive for them and am looking forward to working with The Outdoor Channel this season."
"It's great to return to the Busch Series on a full-time basis in 2004," said BACE Motorsports Owner Bill Baumgardner. "Damon joins a team with a winning heritage and we believe he's the right driver to
continue that tradition as we compete for our fourth NASCAR Busch Series Championship. We are actively pursuing corporate partners to share the remainder of the 2004 season with The Outdoor Channel, with the knowledge that we provide one of the best branding opportunities in the NASCAR garage."
The Outdoor Channel will also continue its association with Nextel Cup driver Tony Raines, who drove the Outdoor Channel ride in 12 Busch Series events in 2003, posting a pair of top-5 and five top-10 finishes. Raines, who will compete in his sophomore season in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series, will again sport The Outdoor Channel as an
associate sponsor on the No. 74 BACE Motorsports Chevrolet.
THE OUTDOOR CHANNEL:
Based in Temecula, CA, The Outdoor Channel is a national cable network, dedicated to providing the best in traditional outdoor programming to America's sixty million anglers and hunters. The Outdoor Channel features over 100 weekly hunting and fishing series, in addition to rodeo, off-roading, and country music programs. It reaches over 26,000,000 homes through a combination of cable subscribers and satellite dish viewers. To get The Outdoor Channel call your local cable or satellite provider.
For more information, visit The Outdoor Channel's web site at http://www.outdoorchannel.com.
BACE Motorsports PR
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