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SELF AND GGRT DRIVE TO 8TH
IN PHOENIX
Bill Sullivan
/ Golden Gate Racing
 AVONDALE,
AZ (11-13-10) –
The Richard Childress Racing supported Golden Gate Racing Team
and Michael Self returned to action before one of the biggest
audiences of the year last weekend at the one mile Phoenix
International Raceway in Avondale, Arizona. The event was the
final leg of the 2010 NASCAR K&N Pro Series West campaign and
was presented in conjunction with NASCAR's premier divisions
including the Camping World Trucks, Nationwide Series and
NASCAR Sprint Cup.
Below the glow of the Phoenix lights, Self took to the track
for his second race as the new primary driver of the Golden
Gate Racing Team. On the biggest track of the tour, Self
carried the prestigious sponsorship of the Childress Institute
for Pediatric Trauma Center and Bay Bio Diesel aboard the #21
Chevrolet in the 3 Amigos Tequila 125.
Back in 2008 Richard and Judy Childress teamed with the Wake
Forest University Baptist Medical Center in North Carolina for
what will one day become the nation's most comprehensive
institute for pediatric trauma. The Childress Institute for
Pediatric Trauma will focus on key areas in treatment,
education and training, research and prevention of pediatric
trauma. At this time the Institute is in the development
stages following the early support of the Childress family and
Richard Childress Racing which is a key partner with the
Golden Gate Racing Team.
Since he was just a child, Self has always admired Childress,
one of NASCAR's most recognized team owners that fields
current Sprint Cup drivers Kevin Harvick, Clint Boyer and Jeff
Burton. The Phoenix event marked the first time that Self met
Childress and had the opportunity to display his driving
talent while racing with his grandson, Ty Dillon, who joined
the GGRT for the event.
"Getting
to meet Richard Childress was almost like a dream come true,"
said Self. "I was star struck at first and couldn't believe
I was shaking his hand but he's was super nice and easy to get
along with and it was easy to settle in and be really
comfortable around him. He gave us some great suggestions and
advice that we're going to take him up on over the next few
months and continue working with him and improving on every
part of my racing career through him."
Self
illustrated his ability to rally to the front in the Phoenix
event. In the days prior to the race he qualified deep in the
field, logging the 30th position in the ranks with
a top speed of 124.09. Despite the adversity in the
preliminary event, Self showed what he was made of as he
charged his way towards the top of the field, twice, to score
a top ten finish.
"The car
was great all weekend, even in qualifying. I just didn't hit
my marks right and turn my best lap," said Self. "But this
team worked incredibly hard throughout the entire weekend
making sure I had a car to perform and that's exactly what we
got."
As he
charged his way through the field in Saturday's race, Self had
a set back between the green flag and the checkered when he
fell victim to a spin and lost several positions. It was then
that the 19-year old Utah resident rallied back to the top ten
to finish in the 8th position when, six spots
behind Dillon who scored a top three finish. With the effort,
Self was named the Sunoco Rookie of the Race.
"We were
really strong and making a huge charge to the front and got
caught up in some trouble on one of the restarts. From that
point on the team kept pushing and doing everything they could
to fix the car and make it strong again," said Self. "The last
green flag run it really showed. We had just enough to push
into the top ten and finish off a night and weekend that the
guys and myself worked for every position we got."
Much like
Self, team owner Jim Offenbach was all smiles after his team
scored duel top ten finishes in Sun City. Offenbach and the
entire team that was founded in 1982 are already looking
forward to a strong run for 2011.
"Both
Michael Self and Ty Dillon proved they can run the big tracks
as rookies," said Offenbach. "They both drove very smart, used
a lot of patience and showed well with both cars in the top
ten. This race was a great display of teamwork by everyone
involved with GGRT. I'm really proud of these guys."
After
reading materials on Self and watching him from afar over the
past few months, Childress too was impressed with the
performance of GGRT's newest duo. Phoenix offers one of the
few venues where he can work side by side with the drivers in
his development program.
"I had not
seen Michael Self run before and was very impressed," said
Childress. "He overcame a qualifying position of 30th,
a spin in turn two and never gave up. He had many bright spots
in his effort of a ninth place finish and showed he knows how
to pass cars. Both Ty and Michael worked well together and we
look forward to more exciting races in the 2011 season. This
GGRT/RCR Team did a great job all weekend."
In addition to the sponsorship of the Richard Childress
Institute for Pediatric Trauma and Bay Bio Diesel, the Golden
Gate Racing Team carries additional support from a number of
dedicated marketing partners whom they are very grateful for
over the past racing season. Among the sponsors are the Golden
Gate Meat Company,
Superior
Lamb Company, Hill Meat Company, Harraka Racing Equipment
Sales, Foodcomm International, Signco, Praxair and JW Web
Design.
For an in-depth look at the Golden Gate
Racing Team and additional news, visit their website at
www.goldengateracingteam.com. where
you can also learn about sponsorship opportunities for the
2011 racing season. To learn more about the Richard Childress
Racing Driver Development program visit www.rcrracing.com.
Michael Self's personal racing website can be found at
www.michaelselfracing.com.
Michael Self Racing is brought to you by: Golden Gate Meat
Company, Bay Bio Diesel, MSquared, and Blakesley Sports Media.
Sponsorship and media inquiries can be forwarded to Steven
Blakesley at (916) 316-4854.
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