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     Stock Building Supply Race Report

 

 

   Source By: LRM Sports Marketing, Inc.

 

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Sunrise Ford Pre-Race Report: Irwindale Speedway

Source By: LRM Sports Marketing, Inc.

 

The Sunrise Ford/ Turbo-Torq/High Point Distributing/Victory Circle Ford Fusion racing team will swing back into action this coming weekend at Irwindale Speedway. Fresh off their 5^th place finish at Kyle, Texas in the Grand National division with rookie sensation Jason Bowles, the team, led by their car owner, Bob Bruncati, look to redeem themselves from the opening night problems that the Super Late Model team suffered at Irwindale Speedway on March 24, 2007.

 

The team with their driver, Rip Michels, had the field covered in the SLM division. They were the fastest in practice, set the fastest time in qualifying, and led the first 25 laps until a fifty cent bolt came lose, they ended up 27th. “We were really disappointed that we let that race get away,” said Rip Michels. “ I felt like Santa Clause, bolt checks were done on the car, we just missed one. That is what happens when the car is not fully prepared at the shop. We were at least a week behind on the car, and because of that lack of preparation, it cost us the win. All I can say is if the car was that good unprepared, we should be really good this weekend. I just hope that David Beat and Dan Moore keep my spot on the top of the points warm, cause we’re coming.”

 

“I could not be more ecstatic about the performance of both teams,” commented car Owner, Bob Bruncati. “Both teams have really worked their tails off. Jason and the West team did a fantastic Job in Kyle, Texas. And even though we had a hiccup at Irwindale on opening night in the SLM division, the car was extremely fast. I am not too worried about our opening night performance. Rip always seems to make it back up. Both of his Championships in 2002 and 2003 had Did Not Finishes (DNF) on the first night of competition. So we look forward to rebounding from the problems we encountered.”

 

“This has been a dream of mine for a long time, to have two competitive teams. I can not thank all the guys enough for their hard work and dedication, I look forward to a great season.”

 

You can catch Rip Michels and his Sunrise Ford Racing team at Irwindale Speedway this Saturday night.  Irwindale Speedway at 500 Speedway Drive off of Live Oak Ave. and the I-605 freeway, between the I-10 and 210 Foothill freeways in Irwindale, California.

 

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“SUNRISE FORD TEAM’S UP WITH RIP MICHELS RACING, INC.”

 

Source By: LRM Sports Marketing, Inc.

 

There is an old adage that says “keep your friends close, and your competitors even closer.” Although that is not quite how the saying goes, that statement could never have been truer then with the partnership that was formed last month between Rip Michels Racing, Inc., and West Coast car owner, Bob Bruncati, owner of Sunrise Ford.

 

For two years (2002 -2003), while Rip competed at the famed half-mile track of Irwindale Speedway in the Super Late Model Division, his biggest competition came from Bob Bruncati and his Sunrise Ford Racing Team with their drivers James and Tony Bruncati. The competition was fierce on and off the track, with heated races, and even more heated conversations after the race.

 

Rip won back-to-back championships in 2002 and 2003 and he has credited his team’s success to the two-year battle and intense competition that was waged week in and week out with Bob and his team. “We had to step up our program every weekend, it really helped us to prepare for our move up to the Southwest Tour,” said Rip Michels. “Even though we were huge competitors, Bob was the first guy to buy my tires in my first start in the Southwest Tour back in 2003. So we have had a great deal of respect for each other.”

 

In 2004 Rip left Irwindale to compete in the now defunct NASCAR AutoZone Elite Southwest Tour Division, where he would capture the 2004 Rookie of the Year award, and captured the series final championship in 2006, while Bob continued to race at Irwindale capturing his first NASCAR championship in 2005 with his driver Andrew Phipps.

 

In 2006 Bob moved his team up to run a limited schedule of races in the NASCAR Grand National Division in hopes of competing fulltime in the series in 2007. He was also looking to put together another team to compete in the Super Late Model Division at Irwindale Speedway for 2007, and was looking to partner up with a sponsor for that endeavor.

 

That sponsor was none other than Mr. Lee Ladd, and his new business venture Turbo Torq, Inc, a business in which Bob and Lee are partners. With the sponsor in place, Bob and Lee discussed potential drivers for the ride, and they both wanted Rip as their driver, and the deal was complete. Lee Ladd has been Rip’s car owner since 1997. Although he stepped back as car owner in 2005, he has remained a true friend to the team and is the reason Rip has won 7 championships since 1997. The deal also included Rip’s good friend and championship winning engine builder Brad Peters from FreightTrain Peters Racing Engines. The Sunrise Ford Racing team will be located out of Bob Bruncati’s shops in Fontana, California.

 

“I’m looking forward to going back to Irwindale Speedway to compete in the highly competitive SLM division with Bob,” said Rip. “Bob is a great owner, and it’s going to be a lot of fun for the crew and me to drive for him. It is cool to see an owner in the shop a couple hours of the day helping out the race team. Plus, he is so hands on that I can take a breath and just really concentrate on driving and set up. Which is something I have not been able to do in a long time.”

 

“I am really happy to be associated with Rip Michels,’ said Bob Bruncati. “He has been such a thorn in my side that you just have got to respect what he has accomplished. When Lee told me that he might be available, there was really no other choice. Rip and his entire team have been working their tails off building a new Victory Circle SLM chassis,

it’s going to be a bullet.”

 

“This really is a good fit all the way around,” said Lee Ladd. “Rip and his team have been the pinnacle for all the West Coast Racing teams. He has had such success in everything he has been in, and the team has been nothing but professionals and have represented their sponsors well.”   

 

Along with Sunrise Ford and Turbo Torq, the Sunrise Ford racing team would like to give thanks to the follows sponsors for their product support:

 

Ron’s Rear Ends, DJ Safety, Wilwood Disc Brakes, Aurora Rod Ends, Red Line Oil, Quarter Master, Schroeder Torsion Bars, Ringers Gloves, Circle Racing Wheels, Hy-Lube Systems, Total Power Batteries, Oreme Brothers, BC Sportsimage, and Work of Art Johnson.

 

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Stock Building Supply Race Report: Rocky Mountain Raceway

         

 

Rip Michels and his Stock Building Supply/Leeco Racing/ Victory Circle Chassis Chevrolet Monte Carlo racing team capped off three straight weekends of racing by finishing 10^th in the “Napa Auto Parts 125 & Salt Lake City Home Improvement Show Presented by Stock Building Supply,” at the Rocky Mountain Raceway located in Salt Lake City, Utah this past weekend.

 

This was the third annual visit to the great state of Utah for Rip and the team. The annual event is a way to thank all of the great support that the race team receives from the Stock Building Supply Associates and Vendors located in the Utah area.

 

The team’s first stop on their agenda was at three local Stock Building Supply stores in Orem, West Jordan, and Layton, Utah on Friday for the third annual barbeque and meet and greet. The barbecues and meet and greets have become a huge success. It is estimated that 2,000 Stock Associates, Vendors, Customers, and race fans attended all three locations.

 

The second part of the agenda for the team was to have a competitive racecar on Saturday. Rip and the team made two of the three practice sessions. He was 6^th in practice session number two, and 7^th in the final practices. Rip and the team were not happy with the car, and made major adjustments before qualifying.

 

Rip qualified 7^th, but was almost a half a second slower then the pole speed. The team continued to make adjustments to the car, and was optimistic about their chances to be a repeat winner for this race. Rip would start in the 13th position due to the invert, and would line up on the 7^th row inside. At the drop of the green flag, Rip immediately started his charge to the front. By lap four, he was in fourth, and by the 6^th lap, he was in second.

 

Rip was content to ride in second as he and fellow AutoZone Northwest Tour competitor Zane Sharp distanced themselves from the rest of the field. On lap 114, a caution came out, setting up a ten-lap dash for the win. Rip felt that he had a shot at the win and was going to give it his all, as he said over the radio. Unfortunately, a mechanical gremlin developed on the restart, and the car did not come up to speed. Rip tried to get out of the way of the field, but contact was made and Rip was spun into the infield. Rip rejoined the field on the tail end and salvaged a tenth place finished.

 

“ I am a little disappointed about our finish for the 2,500 Stock Associates, Vendors, Employees and Fans that had come to support us,” said Rip  “But I am especially disappointed for my team, those guys changed everything but the number on the car. In the end, they gave me a great car that was capable of winning. Their hard work gave us a shot at the win.”

 

“ I want to personally thank Duff Wakefield, Fritz Froerer, Dan Buttars, Carl Truman, Matt Quarnberg, and all of the rest of the Stock Building Supply Associates for their kind hospitality that they showed to the team and myself. We really enjoy coming here to Utah, and always have a great time. With 5,000 people in the stands, a great response to the first annual Home Improvement show in Utah, this was a huge success for all involved,” commented Rip

 

Rip’s next event will be the season’s final race for the NASCAR AutoZone Elite Southwest Division at Altamont Raceway on September 23, 2006. For more information about Rip Michels and his sponsors, please visit www.ripmichels.com

 

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Stock Building Supply Pre-Race Report: RMR

 

 

As most of the NASCAR AutoZone Elite Southwest Series Division teams prepare for their next race on September 23rd in Altamont, CA, Rip Michels and his Stock Building Supply/Leeco Racing/Victory Circle Chassis Chevrolet Mote Carlo racing team will be heading to the great state of Utah to compete in the “Rocky Mountain Challenge Series,” this coming Saturday at Rocky Mountain Raceway, located in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The Rocky Mountain Challenge Series is a regional touring series that allows competitors to gain experience on different types of asphalt oval tracks up to 3/8 mile in length. It is a racing series that offers maximum opportunity at an affordable price serving the Intermountain West. The motto of the series is to “Race Hard and Have Fun!”

This will be the third time that Rip and the team have competed with this series. Their last visit in August of 2005 resulted in a win for Rip and the team. Rocky Mountain Raceway is a paved 3/8-mile track with 5 degrees of banking in the straights and a progressive banking of 7 to 11 degrees in the corners. 

 

 

The Team:

 

“We are really excited about racing at Rocky Mountain Raceway,” said Tire Specialist, Michael Sprague. “For me, it is my homecoming, the place where I grew up.” All my family and childhood friends are here, and that is why it is one of my favorite places to race.”

 

 

The Drivers Corner:

 

 

“Out of all the tracks that I have competed at over the years, Rocky Mountain Raceway is one of my favorite tracks,” commented Rip. “It is a fast 3/8 mile track with lots of room to pass. For Stock Building Supply, the Utah market area is huge, it is also one of the regions that are the biggest supporters of our race team. So it is great to see our good friends Duff Wakefield, Fritz Froerer, and all of the associates at Stock Building Supply. This is a special event for all the customers, vendors, and employees of Stock in the Utah area. We only get to come out here once a year, so it is really nice to see the people who help give their support to our entire team.”

 

The Car: Destiny

 

This will be chassis Destiny’s second visit to Rocky Mountain Raceway. Its first visit resulted in a victory for Rip and the team. In its last 12 starts, it had11 top ten finishes. It raced last weekend in Colorado where it finished 4^th.

 

The Race:

 

Look for the #12 Stock Building Supply/Leeco Racing/Victory Circle Chassis this coming weekend at the Rocky Mountain Raceway in Salt Lake City, Utah. Along with this spectacular racing event, Stock Building Supply will host the 1st annual Salt Lake City Home Improvement Show at the speedway prior to the start of the race. Spectator gates open at 4:00PM, the home improvement show runs from 4:00PM –7:00PM with racing starting at 6:00PM. For more information contact Rocky Mountain Raceway (801) 252-9557

 

Driver Appearances:

 

Look for Rip Michels and his race team personnel at the following Stock Building Supply Locations.

 

August 25, 2006 – Orem, Utah

1640 North State St.

Orem, Utah 84057

11:00AM – 2:00PM

Personnel:

Boyd “Chip” Brown Jr. - Shop Foreman

Jesse Cardinals – Mechanic

Kandis Harris - Statistician

 

August 25, 2006 – West Jordan, Utah

13333 West 9000 South

West Jordan, Utah 84084

11:00AM – 2:00PM

Personnel:

Rip Michels – Driver

Michael Sprague – Tire Specialist

 

August 25, 2006 – Layton, Utah

1617 W. Hill Field Road

Layton, Utah 84041

11:00AM – 2:00PM

Personnel:

John Schustze Jr. - Crew Chief

Michael Medlin – Team manager

 

For more information on Rip Michels and his sponsors, please visit www.ripmichels.com

 

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Stock Building Supply Race Report: CNS

                       

 Rip Michels and his Stock Building Supply/Leeco Racing/ Victory Circle Chassis Chevrolet Monte Carlo Racing team headed to Colorado this past weekend to compete in the “United Power/Touchstone Energy 150” at the 3/8-mile Colorado National Speedway.

 

Fresh off their first career win, the team was looking to ride the momentum into this past weekend’s race. Chassis Destiny was quick in both practice sessions on Friday and Saturday. The team felt that they had a good car for qualifying, and they were not disappointed. Rip qualified fifth with a time of 16:346 around the quick 3/8-mile track.

 

A six was pulled for the invert, and Rip would find himself starting the race on the outside front row. At the drop of the green flag, Rip wasted no time and jumped into the lead. A caution on lap eight brought the field together once again.

 

Under the caution Rip reported that his car was really loose, and that he was not sure if he could maintain the pace to keep the lead. When the field resumed under green, Rip was passed by 9-time champion Steve Carlson for first place. The car was really loose on the outside lane and Rip was freight trained backed to the 7^th position.

 

Rip battled his way back to the 4^th position, where he would finish the night. “We’re a little disappointed in our run tonight,” said Rip. “We thought we had a better car than that. The car turned so well in qualifying, it just turned to well for the race. We were a little off on the chassis, but I am glad we were able to get back into the top five.”

 

Rip’s next race will be this coming weekend in the NAPA 125 & Salt Lake City Home Improvement Show, presented by Stock Building Supply.

 

For more information on Rip Michels and his sponsors, please visit www.ripmichels.com

 

 

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Stock Building Supply Pre-Race Report: Colorado National Speedway

  

 

Fresh off their first career victory in the NASCAR AutoZone Elite Southwest Tour Division, Rip Michels and his Stock Building Supply/Leedco Racing/Victory Circle Chassis Chevrolet Monte Carlo racing team had very little time to celebrate.

 

With back to back races in Colorado and Utah, the team would have three days to prepare the cars before the hauler leaves on Wednesday night for the twenty hour trip to the great state of Colorado to compete in this coming weekend’s “United Power/Touchstone Energy 150” at the 3/8-mile Colorado National Speedway.

 

This race is the third annual “Face Off” between the drivers from the NASCAR AutoZone Elite Southwest Series division, and the NASCAR AutoZone Elite Midwest Series division. It is expected to bring together 46 of the best short track race car drivers from the Midwest and Southwest regions. With 32 cars starting the race, qualifying will be critical. Rip has four starts at Colorado National Speedway, resulting in 19^th, 18^th, 8^th, and 5^th place finishes.

 

The Team:

 

“It has been a very exciting week for everyone on this team,” said crew chief John Schustze Jr. “To finally get our first victory in this very tough division, feels like a huge weight has been lifted off our shoulders. However, we still have to keep our focus as we head into this weekends race. We had a decent run here in June by finishing 5^th, but the car was not as good as we would have liked for it to be. Hopefully we will have the car a little better so we can be in a position to race for the win.”

 

The Drivers Corner:

 

“We as a team always look forward to going to Colorado National Speedway,” said Rip. “The fans that attend at that track are some of the best and most enthusiastic crowds we get to compete in front of on this series. From a driver’s stand point it is a great racetrack with lots of room to pass. The races at the track are always exciting and we look forward to competing at this fast 3/8 mile track.”

 

 

The Car: Destiny

 

Chassis Destiny last raced at Stockton 99 Speedway on July 15, 2006, where it captured its second Bud Pole award and finished fourth in the race. In its last eleven races it has finished in the top ten 10 times.

 

Sponsor’s Corner:

 

A great deal of thanks goes out to Art & Lori Johnson of “Works of Art Johnson” for the awesome trophies they made for this past weekend’s race at Irwindale Speedway. Works of Art Johnson creates custom glass designs for commercial buildings, custom built homes, restaurants and individual customer needs. For more information about Works of Art Johnson, please visit www.worksofartjohnson.com

 

 

The Road That Leads To The Showdown:

 

The Invitational Only Toyota All-Star Showdown is a race that brings together the Top Ten in points at season’s end from each of the four Elite divisions of NASCAR from across the country. The top 40 teams will compete against each other in a nationally televised race from Irwindale Speedway. In the chase for the exclusive invitational only race that will be held on October 21, 2006, Rip Michels currently sits in first place with a twenty-one point lead over second, and thirty-points over third.

 

 

The Race:

 

The “United Power/Touchstone Energy 150” race at the Colorado National Speedway 3/8 mile oval is located in Danco, Colorado. Practice starts at 12:30PM with qualifying at 4:50PM. The race is scheduled to start at 8:30PM. For more information about tickets or the track, contact Doug Greer, (303) 828-0116.

 

For more information on Rip Michels and his sponsors, please visit www.ripmichels.com

 

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Stock Building Supply Race Report:  “Stock Building Supply 100 & Home Improvement Show”

     

 

For most of us who grew up around racing, we had a dream. Whether it was as a driver, crew chief, or crewmember, we had the dream of one day being victorious, and winning the big race. For Rip Michels and his Stock Building Supply/Leeco Racing/ Victory Circle Chassis/ Chevrolet Monte Carlo racing team, that dream came true this past Saturday at Irwindale Speedway in the “Stock Building Supply 100 & Home Improvement Show.”

 

Rip, who started his racing career 15 years ago at Saugus Speedway, watched his heroes like Ron Hornaday and Dan Press, win in the NASCAR AutoZone Elite Southwest Tour Division, and that is where his dream began. He wanted to win in the same division as his heroes. The day started off on the right track. Rip was the fastest car in both practice sessions.

 

Rip qualified third and would start the race from the second row outside. At the drop of the green flag, Rip went three wide and was in a side-by-side battle for the lead with two-time champion Jim Petit. They battled for six laps in a hard fought battle, but by lap seven, Rip was in the lead and never looked back.

 

Rip captured his first career victory in the NASCAR AutoZone Elite Southwest Tour

before 5,000 fans in the stands. Rip had fulfilled his dream, and gave a great deal of thanks to those who help him achieve his dream.

 

“There are so many people I want to thank. I know that I will never be able to express my appreciation to each and every one of them who have helped me to achieve all that I have in racing,” said Rip “First off, Stock Building Supply and all their marketing partners, James Hardie, Trus Joist, PrimeSource, and USP. What awesome sponsors, I am so thankful that we won on this night, having our sponsor, sponsor the race along with a very successful Home Improvement Show. With so many Stock associates, vendors, and employees in attendance, we really wanted to win this race, and to have accomplished that is just incredible.

 

  

“Next would be Lee Ladd, of Leeco (Formerly Ladco) who has helped me more than anyone knows, he has stuck by me for 8 years. Of course I need to give a shout out to Marc, Susan, and Les from Victory Circle Chassis for all their help, this includes former employee Craig Raudman, who was instrumental in our partnership.

 

“I also need to thank all of our Product Sponsors, John and Brad of Freighttrain Peters Racing Engines, Joel & Jonny Orme of Orme Brothers, Inc. Tim Sweet from Apache Rental Group, Mike Nakke, from Nakke Suspension Specialist. Also to one of my long time sponsors and close friends, Art and Lori Johnson of Work of Art Johnson, who made the beautiful trophies for the night’s event.

 

“Ron and Wendy from Ron’s Rear Ends, Bill of BC Sportsimages, Total Power, DJ Safety, Ringers, Willwood Brakes, Aurora Rod Ends, Schroeder Torsion Bars, Quarter Master, Hy-Lube, Hoosier Tires and Circle Racing wheels

 

“Last, but not least, I need to thank my wife and my entire crew for their hard work, dedication, and commitment to, as we call it, living the dream. That goes for everyone who ever helped me along the way to get to where I am now, I can never thank them enough.”

 

The team’s next race will be this coming weekend, August 19, 2006, at Colorado National Speedway to compete in the United Power/Touchstone Energy "150" in a special combination event with the Midwest Series.

 

 

 For more information on Rip Michels and his sponsors, please visit www.ripmichels.com

 

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Stock Building Supply Pre-Race Report:  “Stock building Supply 100 & Home Improvement Show”

     

 

  Fresh off their third consecutive top five finish in the Nascar AutoZone Elite Southwest Tour Division race at Stockton 99 Speedway, Rip Michels and his Stock Building Supply/Leeco Racing/ Victory Circle Chassis/ Chevrolet Monte Carlo racing team head for the comforts of home, Irwindale Speedway, to compete in the “Stock Building Supply 100 & Home Improvement Show.”

 

Irwindale Speedway, a track that has produced three championships for Rip and the team, along with 43 victories, 61 top fives in 98 starts, has proven to be a struggle for consistency in running the Elite tour car. This will be Rip’s seventh start at Irwindale Speedway in the Nascar AutoZone Elite Southwest Tour Division. The results have been mixed, two top five’s, two top tens, and two finishes of 24^th or worse.

 

“We have led a lot of laps here at Irwindale in the tour car, we just have not been able to close the deal,” said team owner Laurie Michels. “We are hoping to change that this coming weekend.”

 

 

The Team:

 

"Spectacular achievements come from unspectacular preparation." -- Roger Staubach

 

For thousands of race teams across the country, those words could not be truer.   Preparation in the shop is where races and championships are won and lost. For Rip Michels and the team, it has been one of the keys to the team’s success over the years.

 

“The guys in the shop have been really busy in preparation for this race,” said team manager, Michael Medlin. “The team has been making the finishing touches to a new car that will make its maiden voyage at this race. The car is immaculate, and shows just how dedicated this entire team is.”

  

  

The Driver’s Corner:

 

“What can I say about Irwindale? I love this place,” commented Rip Michels. “It is a fast half mile progressive banked track that is a lot of fun to race on. You can get three, sometimes four wide in the corners, which always leads to great racing. We had a great car back here in November for the Showdown, and we feel we have an even better car for this weekend’s race. The competition is always tough, but I don’t want to let another competitor win our sponsor’s race, so we plan on bringing our A game.”

 

The Car: Gidget

 

Last week the team sent out an e-mail to their sponsor and fans to have them vote for a name for chassis G. There were three names to vote on G-Money, Ginger, and Gumby. They could also write in a name for the car. The winner came from the write in votes. Rip has always had a love for the beach and surfing, and most of the fans that have followed Rip’s career voted for Gidget, and referred to Rip as Moon Doggie. The Gidget films were based on the popularity of the beach and surfer movements of the 60’s.  The whole team agreed, and Gidget will make her debut this weekend.

 

Sponsor’s Corner:

 

The entire team would like to give out a special thanks to Joel and Jonny Orme of Orme Brothers Inc., who have supplied the plumbing for all of Rip’s race cars since the first car Rip built back in the early 90’s. Orme Brother, Inc. has been in business since 1944 and is a leader in specialty hoses and fittings for the automoble industry.  For more information about Orme Brothers, Inc., and their products, please visit them at www.ormebrothers.com

  

The Road That Leads To The Showdown:

 

The Invitational Only Toyota All-Star Showdown is a race that brings together the Top Ten in points at season’s end from each of the four Elite divisions of NASCAR from across the country. The top 40 teams will compete against each other in a nationally televised race from Irwindale Speedway. In the chase for the exclusive invitational only race that will be held on October 21, 2006, Rip Michels currently sits in first place with a five-point lead over second, and six-points over third.

  

The Race:

 

August 12^th will bring the competitors of the NASCAR AutoZone Southwest Series to America’s premier short track, Irwindale Speedway, for the “Stock Building Supply100 and Home Improvement Show.” 

 

Along with this spectacular racing event, Stock Building Supply will host the 2^nd annual Irwindale Home Improvement Show at the speedway prior to the start of the race.   “This year we will have close to 40 vendors representing all aspects of the building industry,” stated Rick Smith, Los Angeles Market Manager for Stock Building Supply.  “Last year’s event was very successful and we will have 50% more vendors than last year.  We expect a huge crowd and along with this home improvement show, we will have some of the best short track racing in the country all in one night,” stated Smith. 

 

Gates Open at 3:00 PM

Irwindale Home Improvement Show hours: 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM

King Taco On-Track Autograph Session: 5:45 PM

Racing Starts at 7:00 PM

 

For more information contact Irwindale Speedway at (626) 358-1100 

 

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August 12^th will bring the competitors of the NASCAR AutoZone Southwest Series to America’s premier short track, Irwindale Speedway, for the “Stock Building Supply100 and Home Improvement Show.” 

 

Along with this spectacular racing event, Stock Building Supply will host the 2^nd annual Irwindale Home Improvement Show at the speedway prior to the start of the racing.   “This year we will have close to 40 vendors representing all aspects of the building industry,” stated Rick Smith, Los Angeles Market Manager for Stock Building Supply.  “Last year’s event was very successful and we will have 50% more vendors than last year.  We expect a huge crowd and along with this home improvement show, we will have some of the best short track racing in the country, all in one night,” stated Smith. 

 

 “This is one of our biggest events of the year and one we really look forward to.  This is certainly a unique and exciting program that Stock Building Supply brings to Irwindale Speedway and the NASCAR Southwest Series,” stated Bob DeFazio, General Manager of Irwindale Speedway.  Along with the AutoZone Elite Southwest Series, the complete night of racing will also feature the Auto Club Late Models, Vista Paint Super Stocks, and Snap-On Mini Stocks.

 

Gates Open at 3:00 PM

Irwindale Home Improvement Show hours: 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM

King Taco On-Track Autograph Session: 5:45 PM

Racing Starts at 7:00 PM

 

For more information contact Irwindale Speedway at (626) 358-1100

 

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Stock Building Supply Racing Team Presents: Name that Race Car

                                                      

 

 

On August 12, 2006, Rip Michels and his Stock Building Supply/Ladco Racing/ Victory Circle Chassis/ Chevrolet Monte Carlo racing team will compete in the 2^nd annual “Stock Building Supply 150 and Home Improvement Show” at the famed ½ mile track of Irwindale Speedway.

 

This race will mark the debut of a new racecar. The great folks at Victory Circle chassis built chassis G in December of 2005. The team has spent countless hours putting this car together. The team has been trying to name chassis G and felt that it would be an excellent opportunity for the sponsors and fans to weigh in and vote for the name you think should be on the car.

 

The team currently has three names picked out

 

1.)    G-Money

2.)    Ginger

3.)    Gumby

 

If you would like to nominate another name, you may do so. Votes have to be in and tallied by Tuesday August 8, 2006. The winning name will be announced in the team’s press release due out on Wednesday August 9, 2006. Please submit your votes to mmedlin@ripmichels.com

 

The entire team would like to give out a special thanks to Joel and Jonny Orme of Orme Brothers Inc., who have supplied the plumbing for all of Rip’s race cars since the first car Rip built back in the early 90’s. Orme Brother, Inc. has been in business since 1944 and is a leader in specialty hoses and fittings for the automoble industry.  For more information about Orme Brothers, Inc. and their products, please visit them at www.ormebrothers.com

 

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Stock Building Supply Race Report: Stockton 99 Speedway

With temperatures well into the 100’s, the teams from the Nascar AutoZone Elite Southwest Division series came together to compete in the “AutoZone 100” at the famous Stockton 99 Speedway located in Stockton, California.

 

For Rip Michels and his Stock Building Supply/Ladco Racing/Victory Circle Chassis Chevrolet Monte Carlo racing team, Stockton has been a thorn in their side. “We just have not had very good race cars here at this track,” said Boyd “Chip” Brown Jr. “Although we had two top ten finishes in four starts, including our team’s first top five in this division, we just never had a good balance on the car, and the car was never consistent. We were either to tight, or way, way to loose.”

 

The team knew that they needed to make the car more consistent for this race. Having a slim ten point lead in the championship, the goal was to make the car more competitive. So Rip and the team worked hard on the set up, and with help from Mike Naake of Naake Suspension Specialists, Rip and the team went with a very aggressive set up, far less conventional then they have tried before.

 

The result was a very fast racecar. Rip and the team unloaded the car for Friday’s practice session, and it was clear that the hard work of the team had paid off. Rip set the fastest lap in Friday’s practice session and was clocked in a lap time of 13.680, some three tenths quicker then Rip had ever run before at this track. The car was well balanced and very consistent.

 

On Saturday the team made some final adjustments to the car and felt very confident that they would have a good car for both qualifying and the race. The team was not disappointed as Rip set the fastest time in qualifying with a lap time of 13.691. The lap was good enough to capture Rip’s and the team’s second career Bud Pole.

 

Rip drew an eight for the inversion and would start the race in the eight position fourth row outside. At the drop of the green flag, Rip took a conservative approach to the race and ran in the seventh position for the first part of the race. With 25 laps to go Rip made his charge and got up to the fourth position where he would finish the night.

 

“The inverts have been a blessing and a curse for us, it seems that when we qualify around the tenth position, we get the invert to go our way. When we qualify really good the inversion goes against us,” commented Rip

 

“It is awful hard to pass cars on a ¼ mile track like Stockton, you have to be very careful not to get caught up in someone else’s wreck. I really wanted to be conservative, and it seems to have paid off. We had a good racecar, and I am pleased with our performance, I am just glad to have gotten out of there with the car in one piece.”

 

The fourth place finish gave Rip enough points to maintain his point lead in the Championships, but it drew the competition even closer. Rip has a five-point lead over Eddy McKean and a six-point lead over Eric Holmes.

 

The next race for the Nascar AutoZone Elite Southwest Division series will be on August 12, 2006 for the second annual “Stock Building Supply 150 and Home Improvement Show” at Irwindale Speedway.

 

For more information on Rip Michels and his sponsors, please visit www.ripmichels

 

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Stock Building Supply Pre-Race Report: Stockton 99

    

Celebrating its 59^th and final year of competitive automobile racing, the famed and legendary Stockton 99 speedway located in Stockton, Ca. will play host to round number five of competition for the NASCAR AutoZone Elite Southwest Series Division.

 

For Rip Michels and his Stock Building Supply/Ladco Racing/ Victory Circle Chassis/ Chevrolet racing team, Stockton 99 Speedway has been an up and down track for the team. In four starts it has produced one top five and one top ten, it has also produced two finishes outside the top 15.

 

Rip and the entire team hope to continue their consistent runs that they have had this season, a season that has produced three top five’s and four top ten’s in four starts.

 

The Team:

 

The team has been busy putting the final touches on their new car, which will make its debut on August 12, 2006 for the “Stock Building Supply 150” and Home Improvement Show at Irwindale Speedway. “Chassis “G” has taken up quite a bit of our time, the team has really been putting in a lot of hours to get this car done, and to get chassis Destiny ready for this coming weekend, “ commented Car Chief, Roger Theabold. 

 

The Drivers Corner:

 

 

“This is a track that has played havoc with us as far as the chassis set up is concerned,” said Rip. “It is really a tough track to get the car hooked up to the surface, we were tight one race, loose the other. It has been a track that we have struggled with to get the car to have an equal balance. The track is so tight that it leaves you very little room for mistakes. With turns one and two completely flat and three and four banked, you really have to be careful not to overdrive turns one and two, and under drive three and four. A driver has to maintain complete focus all the time. You seem like you are always in a corner.” 

 

  

The Car: Destiny

 

Chassis Destiny makes its fifth start of the 2006 season. In its four previous starts, it has had three top tens, and one DNF (did not finish). In its last ten races it has a total of eight top ten finishes, including a string of six top ten finishes in a row.

 

The Road That Leads To The Showdown:

 

The Invitational Only Toyota All-Star Showdown is a race that brings together the Top Ten in points at season’s end from each of the four Elite divisions of NASCAR from across the country. The top 40 teams will compete against each other in a nationally televised race from Irwindale Speedway. In the chase for the exclusive invitational only race that will be held on October 21, 2006, Rip Michels currently sits in first place with a ten-point lead over second, and 16 over third.

 

 

The Race:

 

Look for the #12 Stock Building Supply/Ladco Racing/Victory Circle Chassis this coming weekend at the famous 1/4 mile Stockton 99 Speedway in Stockton, CA. The team will be competing in the15^th annual “AutoZone 100,” racing begins at 5:30PM.

 

For more information on Rip Michels and his sponsors, please visit www.ripmichels.com

 

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Stock Building Supply Pre-Race Report:  “Stock Building Supply 150”

     

 

After a three month hiatus, Rip Michels and his Stock Building Supply/Ladco Racing/Victory Circle Chassis Chevrolet Monte Carlo racing team will swing back into action this Saturday night (April 29^th) as they head to Meridian, Idaho to compete in the

“Stock Building Supply 150” at Meridian Speedway.

 

This race will be a series of firsts for both the race team, and their sponsor. This will be the first time that Rip and his team will compete in the Nascar AutoZone Elite Northwest Series Division, which is one of the four touring divisions that compete in the United States. It will also be the first time the team will compete at Meridian Speedway. The race will also be the first time that Stock Building Supply has sponsored a Nascar Race in the Northwestern United States.

 

“The Stock Building Supply150 at Meridian Speedway is our first sponsorship venture in the Northwest and we are quite excited about it,” states Rick Smith, Manager of Motorsports Operations for Stock Building Supply.  “We are very committed to the touring division, and we will be sponsoring events in Boise, Irwindale, Salt Lake City and Albuquerque this year.  These events are all in good markets for our company and have a great fan base.  The touring late models are exciting cars to watch and have some of the closest racing action anywhere,” states Smith.  

 

“The team is really pumped up about going to Idaho to help promote our sponsor in its first race in the Northwest,” said car owner, Laurie Michels. “This is a great opportunity for us to meet all the Stock Building Supply associates that we would not be able to race in front of since we compete in the Southwest Tour Series. We have had a lot of fun competing in other divisions throughout the Western United States, including Utah, Colorado, and a new venue in New Mexico, which we will be competing in a Late Model Race in September.”

 

The Team:

 

The team has been hard at work building a new racecar. Chassis G is tentatively scheduled to make its debut on August 12^th at Irwindale Speedway. “We have been really busy at the shop and at the track,” said shop foreman, Boyd “Chip” Brown Jr. “We have also been assisting Irwindale Speedway’s Super Late Model driver Dan Moore with his program, which has resulted in two top five finishes in three races. We have been staying busy.”

 

 The Driver’s Corner:

 

“Being that this is my first visit to Meridian Speedway, I have had to enlist the help of my fellow Southwest Tour competitor, Eddy Mckean, and David Minegar from the Rocky Mountain Challenge Series for information about the track,” said Rip Michels. “What I do know is that it is a ¼ mile bullring with both corners virtually flat with no banking. So the emphasis for us is to get the car to roll through the center of the corner, pivot the car and get good bite off the corners. From the sound of it, this is a one-groove racetrack, with very little room to pass. We really want to qualify well so that we may be able to have a shot at the win. I am really looking forward to competing in our first Northwest Tour Event. There are a ton of great drivers who have come down and run with us in the Southwest Series, so it will be cool to compete with them on a track that is on their home turf.”

 

The Car: Destiny

 Chassis Destiny last raced in November of 2005 at Phoenix International Raceway where it finished 7^th. It has finished in the top ten six straight times, including one win at Rocky Mountain Raceway in Salt Lake City, Utah. This Victory Circle Elite Chassis was built in 2004 and has competed in all but four of the races last season.

 Sponsor’s Corner:

 

This week’s highlighted sponsor is Trus Joist.

Trus Joist is the world's leading manufacturer and marketer of engineered lumber products, high-quality alternatives to sawn lumber. Headquartered in Boise, Idaho, Trus Joist currently operates 19 manufacturing facilities across North America and employs approximately 4,000 associates around the world. Located in Boise, Idaho, Trus Joist was founded in 1960. For more information about Trus joist and their products, please visit www.trusjoist.com.

 

Driver Appearances:

 

Rip Michels and his racing team will be making appearances at the following two locations

 

April 28, 2006 – Boise, Idaho 11AM to 1:30PM

 

Stock Building Supply Location - 145 North Curtis Road, Boise, ID 83706, Store telephone number (208) 376-4224. Rip will be signing autographs and displaying the Stock Building Supply Chevrolet Monte Carlo.

 

April 28, 2006 – Meridian, Idaho 12PM –12:45PM

Meridian Speedway – 335 Main Street, Meridian, ID 83680, track telephone number (208) 888-2813. Rip and Stock Building Supply Store Manager David Smedley will be attending a news conference at the track.

 

 

 

The Race:

 

The “Stock Building Supply 150” April 29, 2006 at Meridian Speedway, gates open at 4:00PM, with the first race scheduled to start at 6:00PM.

 

For more information on Rip Michels and his sponsors, please visit www.ripmichels.com

 

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Stock Building Supply Race Report: Copper World Classic

 

 

Rip Michels and his Stock Building Supply/Ladco Racing/ Victory Circle Chassis Chevrolet Monte Carlo headed to Phoenix International Raceway located in Avondale, Arizona to compete in the “Copper World Classic 100” this past Sunday. This was the seasons opening race for the NASCAR AutoZone Elite Southwest Tour Series.

 

On Saturday, the team unloaded the car for the first of two practices sessions. Rip set the 18^th fastest time during practices number one with a lap of 28.813. The team made adjustments to the car, and posted the 10th fastest time in practice number two with a lap of 28.374. As qualifying inspection approached, the team did not feel confident in the chassis set up they had on the car. They made several front-end geometry changes that they felt would help the balance of the car.

The team would have to wait until Sunday morning to find out if they went in the right direction with the adjustments.

 

On Sunday morning, with temperatures in the 20’s at the track, Rip would have to go out 10^th in the qualifying order. The track, as well as the crews, were extremely cold, Rip was able to put his Stock Building Supply Chevrolet in 7^th on the starting grid with a lap time of 27.729. Rip would start the race forth row inside. At the drop of the green flag, Rip, made his way to the fifth position. Rip and NASCAR AutoZone Elite Midwest Driver standout, Tim Shendel, put on a battle for the fifth position. When the checkered flag fell, Rip cross the line in the fifth position. 

 

“We were pleased with our performance today,” said Rip. “The car was a top five car all day. We were just a little to tight to pass Mr. Shendel. A top five is a great way to start off the season, considering last year we finished 42^nd here.”

 

“As a car owner, I could not be more pleased with the guys on the crew,” said Car Owner, Laurie Michels. “When you add new crew members as we did this year, it usually takes some time for the guys to get use to the system we have of doing things. The guys all got along great and really help each other. I really want to thank all of them for their commitment and desire to help this race team.” 

 

For more information about Rip Michels and his sponsors, please visit www.ripmichels.com

 

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Stock Building Supply Pre-Race Report:  “Copper World Classic”

     

Rip Michels and his Stock Building Supply/Ladco Racing/Victory Circle Chassis Chevrolet Monte Carlo racing team will be heading to Arizona to compete in the Copper World Classic at Phoenix International Raceway.

 

The Copper World Classic brings together two of the biggest sanctioning bodies in motor sports, Nascar and USAC. The race will feature the Nascar AutoZone Elite Southwest Division, the Nascar AutoZone West Series, The USAC Silver Crown, and the USAC Midgets for four races on one day.

 

This race kicks off the 2006 AutoZone Elite Southwest Tour Series. This will be the third year of competition for Rip and their sponsor, Stock Building Supply, on the Southwest Tour Series.  The team has been hard at work prepping the cars for this upcoming season and they look forward to a competitive year.

 

The Team:

 

The Rip Michels Racing Team is proud to announce the addition of three new crewmembers to the family.

 

Mike Mulder – Mike has had over 20 years of experience as a mechanic in racing. He is a former Goodyear Racing Tire technician and has been a part of several championship teams.

 

Steve Boldroff – Steve has been a part of racing his whole life, he is the nephew of Irwindale Speedway Super Late Model Standout, Rod Johnson. Steve is an excellent mechanic and fabricator.

 

Zane Ratliff - Zane comes to us from our main sponsor, Stock Building Supply, where Zane is a District Buyer. He also is a great mechanic.

 

 

 

 

The Driver’s Corner:

 

This will be Rip’s sixth start at Phoenix International Raceway, he has had two top tens in five starts. “I really enjoy racing at Phoenix,” said Rip. “It is a very difficult track, which requires a driver to make very little in the way of mistakes, it also requires a great car, both aerodynamically, and horsepower wise. Sure glad we got the Freightrain Peters Motor under the Hood.”

 

The Car: Fiona

 

This chassis had five starts in 2005, it has one pole position and three top tens. It’s last race was at the Toyota All- Star Showdown in November where it finished in 6^th place.

 

Sponsor’s Corner:

 

This will be a new feature for the press releases, where we will be able to spotlight our sponsors throughout the year. This week we would like to welcome aboard two new sponsors, Ken of Total Power Batteries, and Mike Naake of Naake Suspension Specialists. Total Power Batteries is a leader in automotive batteries, and Naake Suspension Specialist will be providing the Ohlins shocks. We thank them for their support and commitment to our race team.

 

The Race:

 

The races for the Copper Classic starts at 12:00PM on Sunday January 22, 2006, with the Southwest Series 100 scheduled to roll off at 1:00PM.

 

For more information on Rip Michels and his sponsors, please visit www.ripmichels.com

 

 

 

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Stock Building Supply Race Report: All Star Showdown

           

Fresh off their 7^th place finish at the seasons final race for the AutoZone Elite Southwest Division at Phoenix International Raceway, Rip Michels and his Stock Building Supply/Ladco Racing/Victory Circle Chassis Chevrolet Monte Carlo racing team headed to Irwindale Speedway located in Irwindale, California to compete in the invitational only Nascar Toyota All Star Showdown.

 

The All Star Showdown brings together 40 of the best drivers from across the country to compete at Irwindale Speedway. The 40 drivers all represent the top ten in points from each of the four Nascar AutoZone Elite Southwest, Northwest, Mid-West, and Southeast divisions.

 

For Rip Michels, Irwindale Speedway has been his own personal playground. Rip is the all time win leader at Irwindale Speedway. Rip’s numbers are impressive since the track opened in 1999. Rip has had 93 starts with 41 victories and 56 top 5’s. He finished second to Eric Holmes last year in the All Star Showdown and felt that they had an even better car this year.

 

The team arrived at Irwindale at 2:00AM on Friday morning from Phoenix International Raceway. Nine hours later, they set the fastest lap time in practices with an 18.000. The car was fast and the team felt confident that they would have a shot at the win.

 

The team lined up in the 6^th starting position for the 2^nd of two qualifying races on Friday night. Rip took the lead on lap three and never looked back. The win not only gave him his 42^nd victory at the track, it guaranteed him a front row starting position for Saturday nights race.

 

Saturday’s race would be run in two segments, the first segment would be 75 laps, then a 10-minute break. The second segment would be a 50 lap run to the checkered flag. Rip started on the outside of the front row and at the drop of the green flag, immediately took command of the race. Rip led all 75 laps of the first segment. The team made minor adjustments on the car during the 10-minute break for the final 50-lap sprint to the finish.

 

 

As the race went back to green, Rip lost the lead at the start and fell back into second place. He was content to ride there until the last 10 laps. Unfortunately, a yellow flag came out just 15 laps into the 50 laps segment. On the restart Rip and a fellow competitor raced hard down into turn one,contact was made and Rip spun out.

 

Rip was in the 31^st position with 35 laps to go. Rip put on a great show for the fans as he raced, four and sometimes five wide to make it back up to the 6^th position, where he finished the race.

 

 “We really had an awesome car tonight,” said Rip. “It was too bad that we had the contact on lap 90, I felt that without that contact, we are winning this race. But that is how it sometimes works, when you have 40 of the best short track drivers in the country competing. It is easy for two drivers to be battling for the same spot. It has been a great year for us, although we had three DNF (did not finish) including a 42^nd finish to start the season. We, as a team, got better as the year progressed and we got the cars more competitive as the year went on. With four straight top ten finishes to end the season, we feel like we are going to be a factor in next year’s championship.”

 

Rip Michels and his entire team would like to thank all of their sponsors for giving them the opportunity to do what they love most, and that is to race. Thank you to Rick Smith and all of the associates from Stock Building Supply, Lee Ladd, from LADCO Racing, and Les and Sue Denherder from Victory Circle Chassis.

 

They would also like to pass on a special thanks to all of their associates sponsors, Redline Oil, Wildwood Brakes, Ringers Gloves, Orme Brothers, Quarter Master, Circle Racing Wheels, Aurua Bearings, BC Sportsimages, Johnson Oil Pumps, DJ Safety, Schroeder Torsion Bars, Ron's Rear Ends, Apache Rental Group, and Proline Pit Carts.

 

For more information on Rip Michels and his sponsors, please visit www.ripmichels.com

 

 

 

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Stock Building Supply Pre-Race Report: Phoenix International Raceway

 

Rip Michels and his Stock Building Supply/Ladco Racing/Victory Circle Chassis Chevrolet Monte Carlo racing team will be heading east to the state of Arizona this Thursday November 10, 2004, to compete in the “Arizona Lottery 125” at Phoenix International Raceway, in Phoenix, Arizona.

 

This will be the final race of the season for the NASCAR AutoZone Elite Southwest Series Division, and will set the field for those teams that finish in the top ten in the season long point battle to compete in the 3^rd annual Nascar Toyota All Star Showdown.

 

The Nascar Toyota All Star Showdown brings together the top ten drivers from each of the four AutoZone Elite touring divisions across the country to compete head to head against each other. Rip only needs to finish 35^th or better to lock in his invitation to the All Star Event.

 

The Team:

 

“This week is Nascar’s version of hell week for the teams of the southwest division,” said shop foreman Boyd “Chip” Brown Jr. “If we can accomplish our goal of finishing in the top ten, we will then drive all night Thursday back to Irwindale, California to race in the All Star Event. We will practice and run our qualifying race on Friday night, then race for the big buck on Saturday. So three days of racing in two states should make for a real interesting week.”

 

The Drivers Corner:

 

“Phoenix is probably one of the coolest tracks that we get to race on,” said Rip Michels. “It has two unique turns, turn one is banked with a sharp turn radius, turns three and four have very little banking, but is really fast. The front straight is narrow and the back straight has a dogleg in it. It is a challenging track for the drivers, with very little room for mistakes. We want to redeem our last run here in January where we finished 42^nd. The car was really fast, but we got caught up in a lap one crash. So we are hoping for much better results.”

 

The Car: Destiny

 

Chassis Destiny is coming off its second straight top five finish, with its third place finish at Mesa Marin. Its last visit to Phoenix was in last year’s race on October 3, 2004 where it finished 8^th. This Victory Circle Elite Chassis was built in 2004 and has competed in all but three of the races this season.

 

The Road That Leads To The Showdown:

 

The Invitational Only Toyota All-Star Showdown is a race that brings together the Top Ten in points at season’s end, from each of the four Elite divisions of NASCAR from across the country. The top 40 teams will compete against each other in a nationally televised race from Irwindale Speedway, in the chase for the exclusive invitational only race that will be held on November 10, 2005 at Irwindale Speedway. Rip Michels currently sits 9^th in the points, 371 points behind first, and 127 points in front of 11^th.

 

The Race:

 

The “Arizona Lottery 125” at Phoenix International Raceway in Phoenix, Arizona, is a 1-mile super speedway with turns one and two banked 11 degrees, turns three and four banked nine degrees and two degrees of banking in the dogleg.

 

The “Arizona Lottery 125” is scheduled to start at 4:00PM. For more information about tickets or the track, please call (661) 366-5711.

 

For more information on Rip Michels and his sponsors, please visit www.ripmichels.com

 

 

                                                                                            May 5, 2005

 

           Building Supply RacStock ing: Mesa Marin Report

 

  Car History: Chassis D

 

  This car made its debut on May 29, 2004 at Irwindale Speedway. It was leading with 9 laps to go when a late race caution and a failing brake system relegated Rip to an 8^th place finish.

 

  The car was used two more times that year, once at Phoenix International Raceway, where it finished 8^th, and at the invitational only Toyota All Star Show Down where Rip finished 2^nd.

 

  Chassis D has now become the primary car for the 2005 season. It has started two out of the three races this season, with finishes of 11^th at Mesa Marin on April 9, 2005 and a 7^th place finish at Stockton 99 Speedway on April 30, 2005.

 

  With five starts under its belt, the car has put up some impressive numbers, 1 top five, and 3 top tens. “We have had great success with this chassis. It is one of the new Victory Circle Elite chassis, and it has been a great car for us,” said Rip Michels.

 

  Look for the #12 Stock Building Supply/Ladco Racing/Victory Circle Chassis this coming weekend at Mesa Marin Raceway, in Bakersfield, CA. Racing begins at 6:00PM.

 

 For more information on Rip Michels and his sponsors, please visit www.ripmichels.com