January 3, 2001 (Palmdale, Calif.) - As Bob Farmer, owner of REF Motorsports, gets closer to a decision on a driver for the No. 4 Stick Only Transmissions, Maropulos Racing Engines, Speedway Engineering Pontiac in the Featherlite Southwest Series, NASCAR Touring for the 2001 Southwest Series season, he is stepping up efforts to locate a marketing partner interested in taking advantage of the tremendous exposure opportunities the series has to offer.
Farmer has talked with numerous drivers since the end of the 2000 season, and plans to try out several of his top picks in an open test session this weekend at Phoenix International Raceway.
"The response from drivers wanting to join us has been phenomenal, and we're very flattered," Farmer said. "We've been competitive the past two seasons with two different drivers, both of whom won the Most Popular Driver award at the end of their season with us. Thanks to the team and our former drivers, we have a track record that makes us attractive to drivers for the 2001 season."
Sean Woodside, the 1999 NASCAR Winston West champion, drove for REF Motorsports throughout the 2000 season, collecting the team's first-ever win, and adding four top-five and eight top-ten finishes to its list of accomplishments for a year-end finish of sixth place in the championship standings.
The 1999 season's driver, Dennis Dyer, also finished sixth in the point standings, with six top-five and seven top-ten finishes during the season.
Farmer has previously provided primary sponsorship through his construction company, Southwest Tenant Improvements, and has the support of a number of associate and product sponsors. This year, however, Farmer has his reasons for stepping into the marketing arena for his team.
"We have always run competitively on the level of funding I've provided through my company," Farmer commented. "We would like to step up the program this season and beyond, and are looking for a marketing partner to help us accomplish our goals and grow with us, while taking advantage of the exposure opportunities the Southwest Series offers."
The Featherlite Southwest Series, NASCAR Touring, is an enormously popular and extremely competitive series that will visit tracks in major markets throughout California, Arizona, Colorado, Nevada and New Mexico during the 2001 racing season. The series has launched the careers of stars such as Ron Hornaday, Jr., Kurt Busch and Kevin Harvick, and often enjoys cameo appearances by drivers from the Winston Cup, Busch Grand National and Craftsman Truck series.
For more information, see REF Motorsports' official Web site at http://www.refm otorsports.com.
Bob Farmer, owner of REF Motorsports, owns and operates the No. 4 Stick Only Transmissions, Maropulos Racing Engines, Speedway Engineering Pontiac in the Featherlite Southwest Series, NASCAR Touring. Sean Woodside, REF's driver for the 2000 season, won the 1999 NASCAR Winston West series championshi p after finishing second in the point standings in the series in 1997 and 1998. REF Motorsports finished 6th in the Southwest Series points standings in 1999, with six top five and seven top ten finishes during the season. The team finished sixth in the point standings for the 2000 season, with one win, four top five and eight top ten finishes.
