GGRT AND RCR SIGN UTAH'S MICHAEL SELF FOR REMAINDER OF 2010

Bill Sullivan / Golden Gate Racing Team

SAN FRANCISCO, CALF. (September 27 2010) – The San Francisco based Golden Gate Racing Team and Richard Childress Racing Driver Development have named their primary driver for the remainder of the 2010 NASCAR K&N Pro Series West season. The new wheelman for the competition Northern California team is no stranger to success in stock car racing.

Golden Gate Racing Team owner Jim Offenbach and Richard Childress, CEO of Richard Childress Racing, have named Utah's Michael Self as the driver of the Bay Bio-Diesel, Golden Gate Meat Company #21 Chevrolet Impala. Self will take on the role as the team's primary driver beginning next month with the 11th event in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series tour.

“We're excited about bringing Michael Self together with the Golden Gate Racing Team," said Childress. "He is young and very talented and from what Jimi has seen so far in his driving ability out west I am looking forward to seeing what he will bring to this team and watching him race in person in Phoenix."

Self is currently a strong contender in the Sunoco Rookie of the Year campaign in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West. Prior to making his debut in the series that spotlights the future stars of NASCAR, he had a great deal of success in kart racing. His notable racing accomplishments include the 2001 Utah State Championship Rookie of the Year title; the 2006 Skip Barber Miller Motorsports Park Sportsman Championship winner as well as the Western Regional Champion in Junior Rotax. He earned a third place finish in the Rotax Grand Nationals and was selected as one of six Junior Drivers chosen for America's Team at the Rotax Max Grand Finale in Diana Do Caselo, Portugal.

In 2008 Self was the Skip Barber Las Vegas Motor Speedway Regional Championship winner and finished second in the Stars of Karting Western Championship the same year. After moving to stock cars he has been the USLMA Tuscon Pole Qualifier in the Super Late Model Class and was the 2009 USLMA Tuscon Late Model winner. In his 33 career stock car starts Self has earned three wins overall, one fast time award, eight top five finishes and 20 top tens.         

A freshman at the University of Utah, Self  looks to complete his first full season of racing at the NASCAR level in the coming weeks. The 19-year-old resident of Park City, Utah is eager to begin working with the talented Golden Gate Racing Team led by competition director and crew chief Steve Portenga.

"I am very excited about this opportunity to work with the Golden Gate Racing Team," said Self. "They are really strong and they have a great reputation. They are extremely professional and have great equipment to work with. I'm really looking forward to working with Steve Portenga and the whole team. They are ready to win and I'm ready to go out and try to get a couple of wins for them in these last two events."

A former championship driver himself, Portenga has an eye for talented young drivers. After sitting out of the recent event at Miller Motorsports Park in Utah, he and the entire team are eager to return to action in just a matter of weeks in the Toyota/NAPA Auto Parts 150 presented by Pick N Pull at All American Speedway in Roseville, California and then at the lightening fast Phoenix International Raceway on November 13th in the series finale that takes place in conjunction with the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series

"We are all pretty stoked about coming back to the series a new face behind the wheel," said Portenga. "I've watched Michael during several races this year and he has a lot of potential as a young driver. These next two races are at two tracks that Golden Gate and RCR have done well at in the past. We're looking forward to coming back and prove to everyone that we are alive and strong and ready to win some races."

The Golden Gate Racing Team has a long history of success in various racing venues since 1992. The team's record includes championship years with the IMCA Modifieds to the Northern California NORCAL Racing Circuit to finishing as high as fifth place in the NASCAR West Series. The team prides itself on professionalism, integrity and sponsorship recognition. Much like Portenga and Self, Offenbach is eager to return to competition.

"Michael looks to be a perfect fit for the Golden Gate Racing Team and RCR," said Offenbach. "He has a lot of talent at a very young age and he is a driver that Steve (Portenga) can work with and mold him into a top notch driver with this team. He has a great attitude and he wants to win races. We're excited about our return to Roseville."

Prior to these upcoming final two events, Self has been driving the Motorway Motorsports #88 owned by Jamie Dick and wrenched by Mike Naake. Self is grateful for the opportunity in given to him by Motorway Motorsports.

"Motorway Motorsports has been great to me, they gave me my start at this level and I can't thank them enough," said Self. "Mike Naake and the entire team have a great deal of knowledge. Their experience and knowledge have helped me come up in the sport. It truly has been a pleasure driving for them."

When the Golden Gate Racing Team and Michael Self roll the #21 Chevrolet onto All American Speedway for their return to action they will carry the primary sponsorship of Bay Bio Diesel and the Golden Gate Meat Company. Additional support for the return to the NASCAR K&N Series West will include the Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma, Superior Lamb Company, Hill Meat Company, Foodcomm International and Signco.

The Golden Gate Racing Team has competed in 9 of the ten NASCAR K&N Pro Series West events in 2010 with two different cars. Combined, the team has claimed one Coors Light Pole Award. They have finished in the top five a total of four times with a season best finish of second place in Phoenix. The team as a whole has finished in the top ten on 8 different occasions.

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.

Race fans can log on to www.michaelselfracing.com to learn more about Michael Self Racing.

Michael Self Racing is brought to you by: Golden Gate Meat Company, Bay Bio Diesel, Rockwell Timekeepers, MSquared, and Blakesley Sports Media. Sponsorship inquiries can be forwarded to Steven Blakesley at (916) 316-4854.

-end-