Backstretch Motorsports

Matt DiBenedetto (Photo courtesy Joe Gibbs Racing)

HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. (February 10, 2009) – Joe Gibbs Racing announces today that it has signed 17-year-old Matt DiBenedetto to its driver development program.

Matt moved to North Carolina from Northern California at the age of 13 to pursue a career as a race car driver and over the past four years has established himself as one to watch.

“We think Matt has a real bright future and JGR is proud to have him join our driver development program,” said J.D. Gibbs, President of JGR. “Matt is someone we’ve been keeping an eye on for some time now and he has proven to us that he has the raw talent to be successful.”

The current plan calls for Matt to test in JGR’s NASCAR’s Camping World East Series program and run in yet to be determined number of races beginning this spring. In addition, Matt will continue to drive in other series to assist in his development.

Matt has made impact at each level of his racing career including winning just his third Late Model race in March 2007. He was named United Auto Racing Association Stars Tour Rookie of the Year in November 2007 after posting two feature wins and finishing fourth in championship points that year. Last May, Matt entered the record books as the youngest driver to win at Bristol Motor Speedway when he captured the UARA Stars Late Model Tour race.

“I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to join an organization like Joe Gibbs Racing,” said Matt. “They are first class in everything they do and it’s awesome to be a part of it.”

Born and raised in Northern California, Matt’s interest in racing started at a very young age when his father was flipping through the channels on television and he caught a glimpse of a NASCAR race. He made his father go back to the race and sat focused on the television fascinated by what he saw.

Matt received a four-wheeler on his fifth birthday that he immediately started to drive as fast as it would go. Unfortunately for Matt that wasn’t fast enough.

When he was six years old his father was handing out trophies to his Little League baseball team and introduced his son as his “little Jeff Gordon who likes baseball but loves racing”. One of the other fathers in attendance approached them afterward and mentioned that his son was into racing as well and invited him out to mini sprint car race. Matt was immediately hooked. His father bought him an older used go-kart at first to make sure Matt was serious about racing. Once that become obvious his father invested in a new kart and Matt responded by winning his first race in his new ride. From there it was on to the dirt tracks and Outlaw Karts where he captured five championships before making the move east and adding two more championships on the asphalt tracks in North Carolina.

Matt is an avid football fan and currently resides in Hickory, NC.

Darnell Set to Run 15 Nationwide Races in 2009

CONCORD, N.C. (February 10, 2009) - Roush Fenway Racing driver Erik
Darnell will get behind the wheel of the No. 6 Northern Tool + Equipment
Ford Fusion for 15 races in the NASCAR Nationwide Series beginning with
the Lipton Tea 250 at Richmond International Raceway on May 1. Darnell
and Northern Tool + Equipment will split time in the No. 6 Ford Fusion
with David Ragan and Discount Tire.

This will be Darnell’s first season in the Nationwide Series
following three full seasons in the Camping World Truck Series where he
recorded two wins, three poles, 16 top-five and 32 top-10 finishes. The
Beach Park, Ill. native does have experience at NASCAR’s next level.
In 2008 he filled in for Carl Edwards and David Ragan for several
practice sessions as well as running in the Corona Mexico 200 in Mexico
City.

“I’m looking forward to my first season in the Nationwide Series.
Sure, I wish I was running a full schedule, but I’ve been given a
great opportunity and I’m going to make the best of it,” said
Darnell. “There are several tracks on the schedule I’ve had success
at in the past. Hopefully, I can put together some good runs this
season and get the No. 6 Northern Tool + Equipment Ford Fusion into
Victory Lane.”

“Northern Tool + Equipment has high expectations for Erik and the No.
6 team going into 2009. We’re excited to see Erik take the next step
in his racing career as he shares the No. 6 Ford Fusion with David
Ragan.” said Wade Kotula, owner of Northern Tool + Equipment.

Darnell’s complete 15 race schedule includes Richmond (May 1),
Darlington (May 8), Nashville (June 6), Kentucky (June 13), Milwaukee
(June 20), Loudon (June 27), Gateway (July 18), Iowa (August 1), Watkins
Glen (August 8), Montreal (August 30), Dover (September 26), Kansas
(October 3), Charlotte (October 16), Memphis (October 24) and Homestead
(November 20).

About Northern Tool + Equipment
Northern Tool + Equipment has been a supplier of high-quality tools and
equipment for more than 27 years, selling products through direct mail,
the Internet and at nearly 70 retail locations in 11 states. Along with
a deep selection of hand, power and air tools, Northern Tool + Equipment
carries a wide variety of products, including generators, pressure
washers, air compressors, hydraulics, small engines, trailers, water
pumps, tractors, welding equipment and much more. Northern Tool +
Equipment also serves as the exclusive distributor of NorthStarTM brand
equipment, which is fabricated and assembled at the company’s 250,000
sq. ft. manufacturing facility. For more information, visit
www.northerntool.com.

Jason Leffler Anticipating Strong 2009 Season with New Crew Chief, Scott Zipadelli

In ten (10) NASCAR Nationwide Series starts at Daytona, Leffler has logged four top-10 finishes, finishing outside the top-20 on just two occasions. His best performance occurred in the 2006 season-opener when he posted a sixth place finish after starting 24th. He has completed 1112 of 1114 possible laps.

· Leffler has proved to be a strong qualifier at Daytona, starting inside the top-10 on six occasions. He has one pole to his credit from July, 2007. In addition, he also has one NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series pole to his credit (2003).

“Zippy has been a really strong addition to Braun Racing. He’s done a really, really good job for us during the off-season, getting everything organized and on the right track for 2009. Our key word this season as a team is consistency and Zippy is doing everything necessary to make sure we have that. I think we are in the best shape we have ever been in and everyone is looking forward to kicking the season off here at Daytona and hopefully starting it off with a win!”

Scott Zipadelli on Goals for 2009 Season

New to Braun Racing this season, Crew Chief, Scott Zipadelli’s, top aim this year is to see improved consistency from the No. 38 Great Clips team—consistency on every level from driver performance to the pit crew to shop mechanics and engineers.

“For me, it’s building a great relationship with Jason and refining the race team to where we get better and better every day. I want to bring consistency to the team so that we can have as many top-10 and top-five finishes as we can—and definitely win some races in the process.”

Leffler on Racing at Daytona

“I can’t even tell you how ready I am to get back on the track! I enjoyed the off-season for about two weeks and since then I have been itching to get back to the race track. We have made some great changes at Braun Racing during the off-season and as a whole, the team is the strongest it has ever been. I can’t wait to hit the track and see everyone hard work reflected in our performance on the track.”

“Starting a new season at Daytona is a lot of fun! I enjoy the mental challenge of restrictor plate racing. Anything can and does happen in an instant so you really have to be on your toes all of the time. You’ll hear a lot of guys compare it to a game of chess and that’s exactly what it is. You are constantly making decisions, which groove to jump in, who to draft with, etc. With restrictor-plate racing, it usually doesn’t come down to who has the best car. Luck is a big part of it. Our thought going in is that if we can just stay out of trouble throughout the race and avoid the “big one,” there is no reason for us not to be running up front and contending for the win!”

Equipment Information

The No. 38 Great Clips team will hit the track with chassis #004 in this weekend’s Camping World 300. This is the same chassis Leffler has run in the last four Nationwide Series races at Daytona International Speedway. In his last four starts at Daytona, Leffler has started inside the top-three on three occasions (including the pole in July, 2007), completed every possible lap and posted one top-10 finish

Leffler’s Off-Season Antics

What did Leffler do in the off-season? More RACING of course!

Competed in “Turkey Night” at Irwindale Speedway… ran in his 12th Chili Bowl Midget Nationals in Tulsa, Ok. …traded in his race car for an ICE BOAT at Lake Phalen in Minnesota… braved the frigid temperatures as he served as the Grand Marshall for the Winter Carnival parade in downtown St. Paul, Minn. … spent time at home with wife, Alison and son, Charlie… took over laundry duty at home… threw a 2009 season kick-off party for the entire Braun Racing team at his home in Mooresville, NC..