INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana — Sarah Fisher, of Sarah Fisher Racing (SFR), will make her 74th Career IndyCar Series start this weekend at the Indy 300 at Kentucky Speedway. This race marks the anniversary of the partnership between Fisher and her primary sponsor, Dollar General.
Dollar General came on to the scene before the Kentucky race last season, when Fisher's team lost funding from their original primary sponsor. The company has returned to partner with the series' only team owner/driver for SFR's sophomore season and has helped the new race team boast a one hundred percent growth rate from last year.
"We are so happy to have our friends at Dollar General by our side again this year," said Fisher, who will make her eighth start at Kentucky Speedway on raceday. "This race marks the anniversary of a great relationship between the race team and our sponsor. Kentucky was our first race with Dollar General by our side and they have supported us ever since."
That wasn't the only first Fisher experienced at the 1.5- mile asphalt track in Sparta, KY. Kentucky Speedway houses a number of Fisher's firsts. She had her first podium finish of third in 2000 at the track. In 2002, she was the first woman to win a pole position and she followed that record up by leading the first 26 Laps of the race that same year. The 28-year old still holds the track record there.
"I love racing at Kentucky Speedway," said Fisher. "I've had some of my best runs at this track and I can't wait to put another one on the books."
Among the fans watching Fisher set new records this year will be the Cincinnati Zoo's eight-year-old cheetah, appropriately named "Sarah." Fisher met the cheetah last week when the zoo announced that Sarah, the cheetah, was to have a race of her own. The fast feline will attempt to break the record for the quickest land mammal in September when she competes with an African cheetah, also vying for the title.
The Cincinnati Zoo announced the record attempt at a press conference with Fisher, in conjunction with Kentucky Speedway and Cheetah Outreach, a group organized to raise awareness and funds to support cheetah conservation.
Fisher's namesake will cheer her on to victory at Kentucky Speedway's fourth and final race weekend of 2009. The track will host both the IndyCar Series and Firestone Indy Lights this weekend, beginning with Friday practice sessions and qualifying. The activities will continue with two races on Saturday and a concert, featuring modern-rock group, Carolina Liar. Tickets can be found at www.kentuckyspeedway.com.
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About Sarah Fisher:
At just 28 years old, Sarah Fisher has already competed in eight Indianapolis 500's, been voted "Most Popular Driver" four times in two separate Series (IndyCar and NASCAR), been awarded "Indy's Best & Brightest Leaders Under 40" and enters her second season as a team owner in 2009. Fisher is the first woman to qualify fastest for a major North American open-wheel event, the fastest woman to ever qualify for the Indy 500 and is the youngest woman to compete at the legendary Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Fisher has been a guest or profiled on a variety of national platforms such as, LIVE! With Regis & Kelly, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Today Show, Glamour, People and Forbes Magazine, to name a few. In 2008, she formed her own race team: Sarah Fisher Racing (SFR), and made her first start as a team owner in the IndyCar Series' Indy 500. In May 2009, Fisher made her eighth start in the Indy 500, marking the most number of starts for a woman in the 93-year history of the race. Fisher's next IndyCar Series race is at Kentucky Speedway on Saturday, August 1. The race will be telecast live in High Definition (HD) at 8 p.m. (EDT) on VERSUS. The race will air live on the IMS Radio Network, XM channel 145 and Sirius channel 211. The radio broadcast also will be carried on www.indycar.com, with broadcast coverage summaries available at www.indycar.com and www.sarahfisher.com.
Website: http://www.sarahfisher.com
About Sarah Fisher Racing, LLC:
Sarah Fisher Racing (SFR) is an auto racing team that competes in the IndyCar Series, founded by IndyCar Series veteran racer, Sarah Fisher. Fisher announced plans to become the IndyCar Series first female owner/driver and the youngest team owner on February 27, 2008, at Homestead-Miami Speedway alongside her father-in-law and Team Co-Owner, John O'Gara. The team will compete in at least six IndyCar Series events in 2009, which includes the Indianapolis 500 with backing from Dollar General Stores.
Website: http://www.sarahfisher.com
