IOWA FAMILY TIES DRIVING KYLE CATTANACH TO IOWA SPEEDWAY

Source: Kyle Cattanch Media Relations/db
Date: 05/16/2007

REDDING, California -- Kyle Cattanach, driver of the No. 59 Toyota of Des Moines Toyota Camry for Melo Motorsports has visited Newton, Iowa, home of the new Iowa Speedway, on a few occasions for family reunions. His maternal grandmother is from Newton, and his mom would bring her family back for a few family visits.

This time, the 22-year-old NASCAR Grand National Division, West Series rookie from Redding, Calif., isn’t going to Newton for a family reunion.

It’s business.

Cattanach, 22, loaded up the team’s new hauler on Monday and headed out for the three-day drive to Iowa where he will compete in his second NASCAR Grand National race on Sunday, May 20.

With some of his Iowa relatives in the stands and his parents each with official roles with the team, his mother, Kari, as the team’s scorer and father, Rick, as the team’s spotter, Cattanach is really looking forward to this race.

“When we heard they were building a speedway in Newton, Iowa, it was like it was meant to be for us,” Cattanach said of his dream of driving in NASCAR and moving up through the NASCAR ranks. “We just really wanted to try and make this race a reality and take part in the first NASCAR race there, and with the support from our Melo Motorsports team and Toyota of Des Moines, we are on our way.”

Toyota of Des Moines signed on as a sponsor for this race in support of the only Toyota Camry scheduled to be among the entries for the Featherlite Coaches 200, which will match teams from the NASCAR Grand National West Series and Busch East Series. The race will be aired live on HDNet and replayed on SPEED.

“Our job is to get into the field. We have to race our way in, so we will be focusing on making a good qualifying run,” said Cattanach, who finished 14th in his West Series debut at Altamont Motorsports Park on April 28th. “I’m confident in our team. The dedication these guys have displayed in getting us ready for this race is second to none. I just want to thank our team owner Marty Melo and my parents for making this a reality.”

Cattanach competed in two NASCAR Elite Division Southwest Series races in 2006, finishing seventh in his debut at Altamont and 14th on the one-mile track at Phoenix International Raceway. He also competed in a number of North State Challenge Series races, a touring Super Late Model series in Northern California.

In 2005, Cattanach finished second in the ASA Speed Truck Challenge championship, just 10 points out of first place. He was Rookie of the Year in the North State Challenge Series in 2004 and likewise finished second in his first full campaign in that series. He captured two main event wins that year.

In 2001 and 2002, Cattanach was the Pro Stock Division Champion at his local race track, Shasta Raceway Park. At the age of 15, he was the Rookie of the Year at Shasta Raceway Park in the Late Model Division for the 2000 season. Cattanach owns an Outlaw Karting title – in 1999-2000 at Red Bluff Pavilion.

Cattanach’s race weekend in Iowa kicks off on Thursday with an autograph session and the No. 59 on display at Toyota of Des Moines, from 3:00-6:00 p.m. The team’s first practice session on the 7/8ths-mile paved oval is Saturday at 5:00 p.m. for a one hour session. Qualifying is Sunday at 1:00 p.m., with the race scheduled for 3:00 p.m.

Associate sponsors for Melo Motorsports include: Essayons, Inc., Pepper Jack Kennels, Dan Gamel RV, Hawaiian Scene, Gerlinger Steel, Major Alarm, JW Web Design, PRAXAIR, Ringers Gloves and POWERade.

For more information on Melo Motorsports and driver Kyle Cattanach visit www.melomotorsports.net or www.cattanachracing.com. For more information on Toyota of Des Moines log onto www.toyotadm.com.

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