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Kasey Kahne Racing Announced as Mopar Factory Effort for USAC and WoO
DECEMBER 15, 2006....Mopar announced today at the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Trade Show that Kasey Kahne Racing has been selected as the brand's factory race team in the USAC National Midget and Sprint Series, as well as the World of Outlaws Sprint Series, for the 2007 racing season. Kasey Kahne Racing (KKR) will field two USAC National Midget Car Series teams, two USAC National Sprint Car Series teams, and a World of Outlaws Sprint Series team for the upcoming racing season.
The Mopar brand, which has a long-standing tradition of success in the open-wheel racing arena, is excited to welcome Kahne and his teams into the Mopar family. Mopar has recently powered drivers to six USAC National Series titles (USAC National Sprint Series 2003, 2004 & 2006; USAC National Midget Series 2005 & 2006; USAC Silver Crown Series 1996) and one World of Outlaws Sprint Series title (1999). It's a tradition that Kevin Miller, Senior Manager, Brand Strategy & Mopar Performance looks to continue with KKR in 2007.
"Mopar is pleased to present Kasey Kahne Racing as our factory effort for the 2007 racing season," said Miller. "Kasey's dedication to open-wheel racing has not gone unnoticed, and we're looking forward to growing our relationship with him and his race teams. It's going to be an exciting new chapter in Mopar's open-wheel racing history."
Kahne announced that the team's driver lineup for the 2007 racing season would include Kevin Swindell and Brady Bacon in the USAC National Midget and Sprint Car Series. Joey Saldana will return to the World of Outlaws Sprint Series for the team. Ganassi Racing Development driver Bryan Clauson will also compete in select USAC National Midget and Sprint Car Series events for the team.
"Our three USAC drivers are what we think are the best emerging talent in the United States," Kahne said. "Kevin Swindell, Brady Bacon and Bryan Clauson should have long, successful careers after they develop their skills in USAC. Each is under contract with the elite Dodge teams in NASCAR, and I am proud that my team can play a role in developing the next generation of superstar drivers for Mopar and Dodge Motorsports."
Swindell, part of the Evernham Motorsports Driver Development program, will carry the No. 79 on both his midget and sprint car entries. The 17-year-old driver made headlines in 2006 by becoming the youngest driver to win a World of Outlaws Sprint Series A-main event, earning a victory on May 24 at The Dirt Track @ Lowe's Motor Speedway. Swindell also earned his first USAC National Midget Car Series victory at Toledo Speedway on July 8. Bacon comes to KKR as the 2006 Southern Midget Racing Series Champion. A pair of runner-up finishes at the legendary Knoxville Raceway in June led to a driver development contract with Chip Ganassi Racing. Bacon also earned his first USAC National Midget Car Series victory in 2006, winning the feature event at Kokomo Speedway on August 20. Bacon will drive the No. 99 USAC National Midget and Sprint Car Series entries for KKR.
Saldana returns to KKR for the team's sophomore season on the World of Outlaws Sprint Series trail. The No. 9 team earned a third-place finish in the 2006 World of Outlaws Sprint Series Championship, having won seven A-main events during the season. Saldana also picked up his second victory in the prestigious King's Royal event, as well as a runner-up finish in the Knoxville Nationals. Clauson, the youngest driver in history with USAC National Sprint Car and Midget Car Series victories to his credit, will compete for the team when his Ganassi Racing schedule allows.
Kahne also intends to compete in some events throughout the season. The engines for Kasey Kahne Racing's USAC National Sprint Series and World of Outlaws Series teams will be built by Speedway Engine Development of Speedway, Indiana. The powerplants for the USAC National Midget Car Series efforts will be built by Gary Stanton and Stanton Racing.
Swindell and Bacon will kick off the 2007 racing season with a USAC triple header at Manzanita Speedway on February 9-10. Saldana and the World of Outlaws Sprint Series will head to the DIRTcar Nationals, scheduled to take place at Volusia Speedway Park on February 9-11, for the 2007 opener.
For more info on Swindell, Bacon, Clauson or USAC Racing, log on to swindellmotorsports.citymaker.com, bradybaconracing.com, bryanclauson.com or usacracing.com. For more info on Saldana or the World of Outlaws Sprint Seires, log on to joeysaldana.com or theworldofoutlaws.com. For more information regarding Kasey Kahne Racing, log on to kaseykahne.com.
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