GGRT AND SELF BRING CHILDRESS INSTITUTE AWARENESS INTO WEST OPENER

Bill Sullivan / Golden Gate Racing

AVONDALE, ARIZONA  (February 18, 2011) – The Richard Childress Racing supported Golden Gate Racing Team and Utah's Michael Self are ready to roll into the 2011 NASCAR K&N Pro Series West championship campaign. As he heads to the one mile Phoenix International Raceway on February 24, Self will pilot the competitive RCR/GGRT #21 Chevrolet that will carry the message of the Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma Center.

 “We are really excited about this race and honored to carry the sponsorship of the Richard Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma on the #21,” said team owner Jim Offenbach. “This sponsorship is a collaborated effort between Richard Childress, Dr. Michael John Self and GGRT. All of us have a great passion for what the Childress Institute will bring to so many children in need that it is an honor to carry their message. I can't thank Dr. Self and Richard Childress enough for their support in this team.”

Back in 2008 Richard and Judy Childress partnered 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.

In addition to the Childress Institute, the RCR/GGRT #21 Chevrolet will carry the continued support of Bay Bio Diesel and the Hill Meat Company in the 3 Amigos Organic Blanco 100 on the one mile tri oval track at Phoenix. The team will also field a second car with North Carolina's Ty Dillon joining the team. Both Self and Dillon teamed together at the conclusion of 2010 in Phoenix.

In his last appearance at Phoenix, Self illustrated his ability to rally to the front of the field even when the odds were against him. In the days prior to the race he qualified deep in the field, logging the 30th position. 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 finish 8th at the checkered flag.

 “The Golden Gate Racing Team is coming off some really strong runs as we begin the new season, especially our last run at Phoenix,” said Self. “We had a really strong run from the back of field there last season and I know we had a front running car. This time we're heading there with more knowledge and more races as a team so I know we have all the potential to start a promising season off strong.”

Self is a talented young gun with great confidence in the entire Golden Gate Racing Team and a passion for the sponsors that he will carry into Phoenix. Self is not alone in his confident ways, team owner Jim Offenbach is very optimistic about what the start of the new season will offer for his team and the awareness they will bring to the Childress Institute.

“We have two drivers that ran very strong at Phoenix at the end of last year and this team is very healthy heading into the 2011 season,” added Offenbach. “I am confident that both Michael and Ty are going to do well together. It's time to make a strong run at the championship in this series and it all starts in Phoenix next week."

About the 2011 NASCAR K&N Pro Series West schedule…

Thursday's event is the first of 14 races in the 2011 NASCAR K&N Pro Series West season. The Golden Gate Racing Team will return to the Arizona track on November 12 when the 2011 season championship campaign comes to a conclusion.

The 2011 schedule features a return to several tracks. Included is a race on June 11 at The Bullring at Las Vegas Motors Speedway where the series raced in 2001, 2002 and 2003; a race on July 10 at Evergreen Speedway in Monroe, Wash. and a race on Sept. 3 at Spokane (Wash.) County Raceway.

A key event on the schedule is the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East-West combination race at Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa on May 21. The fifth edition of the East-West challenge will be the same weekend with a NASCAR Nationwide Series race at the track 30 miles east of Des Moines.

Again in 2011, the schedule includes three road course events – Miller Motorsports Park in Tooele, Utah on April 30; Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif., on June 25; and Portland (Ore.) International Raceway on July 24.

For the fourth straight year, the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West will make two visits to All American Speedway in Roseville, Calif. The historic fairgrounds track will host the series on April 16 and again on Oct. 15.

The series will visit Toyota Speedway at Irwindale (Calif.) on July 2, participating in the track’s big Fourth of July holiday celebration event for a fifth consecutive year.

Two other popular short-track events on the 2011 schedule for the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West include a visit to Colorado National Speedway in Dacono, Colo., on Aug. 6 and a trip to Montana Raceway Park in Kalispell, Mont., on Aug. 13.

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. Including the Hill Meat Company, Golden Gate Meat Company, Superior Farms, 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 . 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: MSquared, and Blakesley Sports Media. Sponsorship and media inquiries can be forwarded to Steven Blakesley at (916) 316-4854.

-end-