SAN FRANCISCO, California — The San Francisco based Golden Gate Racing Team and Richard Childress Driver Development have announced the addition of a second car and driver to compete in select events in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West. Defending series champion Jason Bowles of Ontario, Caliornia has been signed to drive the GGRT/RCR #31 Chevrolet that will carry the title sponsorship of the Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma.
"We are honored to have Jason and the Golden Gate Racing-RCR #31 in competition at Phoenix and feel Jason can keep the #31 up front for exposure of our Institute for Pediatric Trauma care for children."— Richard Childress
As early as April 8th, Bowles will begin driving in select events,for GGRT joining primary team driver Blake Koch at Phoenix International Raceway in the Jimmie Johnson Foundation 100. The event is the first of two season events for the K&N Pro Series at the one mile tri-oval. The event will be the first time in more than a year that the Golden Gate Racing Team will field two cars in a speedway event.
"We are honored to have Jason and the Golden Gate Racing-RCR #31 in competition at Phoenix and feel Jason can keep the #31 up front for exposure of our Institute for Pediatric Trauma care for children, " said Richard Childress, CEO of Richard Childress Racing and founder the Childress Institute. "We need to bring an awareness to the public and try to get as much support as we can . We wish the best of luck to both Jason and Blake in this exciting race."
In 2008 Richard and Judy Childress announced that they were teaming with the Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, North Carolina for what will one day become the nation's most comprehensive institute for pediatric trauma. The Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma will focus on key areas in treatment, education and training, research and prevention of pediatric trauma. The Institute's goal is to help lead others in the nation that are searching for ways to help save the lives of severely injured children and help those who survive on the road to recovery.
"I'm really excited about this opportunity to work with the Richard Childress organization and the Golden Gate Racing team, " said Bowles, who is expected to drive in 3 to 5 events for GGRT in 2010. "It's an honor to be representing the Childress Foundation and I hope we can be successful because it's all for a good cause. Phoenix is a good place to start this. It's been a good track for me. I think it's the perfect venue to get started."
Bowles has a solid resume in his young racing career. He began racing karts as a youngster, garnering numerous victories and claiming first in the CART Stars of Tomorrow program in 2000 and was invited to the Skip Barber Karting Scholarship runoff for the four following years. In 2003 Bowles was the CART Stars of Tomorrow ISS West Champion and one year later claimed the Karting Supernationals ICC Championship.
In 2006 Bowles transitioned from open wheel cars into stock cars when he raced his first season in a late model at Irwindale. One year later, Bowles advanced into the NASCAR West Series where his success has continued. In 2007 he was the Sunoco Rookie of the Year with three wins in his first season.
Bowles now has nine career victories in the series. In 2009 he clinched the series championship by 123-points, Following his recent championship, Bowles has set his sights on the NASCAR Nationwide Series and recently made his first start in the K&N Pro Series East in Hickory, North Carolina.
In addition to the Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma, the #31 Chevrolet that is owned by Patti Offenbach will carry the associate sponsorship of Bay Bio Diesel, owned by longtime GGRT team member Pat O'Keefe, for the Phoenix event and the others. In her first venture as the official car owner, Offenbach is excited about the opportunity to work with Bowles, O'Keefe and the Childress Institute in a venture that is all for a very good cause.
"I am thrilled to be involved with Richard and Judy Childress on this exciting project as the Childress Institute and their cause means so much to me," said Offenbach. "I'm hoping Jason can bring the GGRT/RCR #31 to the winner's circle so we can make winners out of all the children that need our help."
While the Daystar Television Network #21 of Blake Koch will continue to operate under talented crew chief Steve Portenga, the Patti Offenbach owned #31 sponsored by the Pediatric Institute and Bay Bio Diesel will also be in good hands as two time championship crew chief Ty Joiner has been signed as the crew chief to work with Bowles. Joiner is best known in the west series for his success with two time series champion Eric Holmes of Escalon.
Bowles will make his Golden Gate Racing Team debut and will bring the Childress Institute of Pediatric Care to the spotlight this Thursday at Phoenix alongside GGRT's Blake Koch who currently ranks ninth in the series standings. Qualifying will begin at 3.p.m. followed by the 100 mile event which takes the green flag at 5 p.m.
For an in depth look at the Golden Gate Racing Team and additional news visit their recently redesigned website at www.goldengateracingteam.com. To learn more about the Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma and their cause visit their website at www.childressinstituteforpediatrictrauma.com
