NEWTON, Iowa — Michael Self and the Golden Gate Racing Team are geared up and ready for one of the most prestigious events on the NASCAR K&N Pro Series Schedule. It’s the annual Pork “Be-Inspired” 175 East -West Combination Race presented by Tompkins Industries and it’s ready for the green flag this Saturday at the famed Iowa Speedway in Newton Iowa.
"We have the best crew and one of the hottest young drivers and their day is coming in victory lane very soon."— Jim Offenbach
This event will mark the fourth segment in the 14-race season for the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West. The event brings the drivers from the eastern series face to face with those from the west for a giant event which results in the best of the best making the cut for the feature race. In the past, the Golden Gate Racing Team has fared well in the Iowa event. Self and this veteran team are looking forward to returning to the competitive .875 mile oval that is home to some of the most eager fans on the tour and has seen many of todays NASCAR stars in victory lane for the very first time.
“I’m excited to get back to Iowa and on the big track where I know we can shine as a team,” said Self. “This is a new track for me with the Golden Gate Racing Team and RCR, but I had a lot of fun and learned a lot at Iowa last year so I’m looking forward to applying it this time with my new team.”
In 2010, Self finished 33rd at Iowa with his former team. In the same race, the Richard Childress Racing Supported Golden Gate Racing Team finished 13th in the event with their former driver. This year with Self behind the wheel of the Shining Monkey #21 Chevrolet Impala, this San Francisco based NASCAR team is sure to be a force to contend with for both the competitors of the east and the west.
“This will be our biggest race with Shining Monkey on board so I am really hoping to give them a great show and get the strong promotion that they deserve,” said Self. “Iowa is a big track that takes a lot to be really fast at, but I know Steve Portenga and everyone on this GGRT/RCR team will give me the car I need. I’m looking forward to getting the chance at backing it up and finally getting the finish we all deserve.”
For Self and the Golden Gate Racing Team, the 2011 season has shown the strength and determination this team that was founded over two decades ago brings to the table. It has been a series of unfortunate events that have kept the #21 off the leader board in the three events that have taken place so far, not illustrating how competitive the duo of GGRT and Self truly are.
In the Phoenix opener, it was a late race collision that converted a top five finish into a 15th place for GGRT. In round two at Roseville, it was the handy work of another driver’s front bumper that removed Self from a top run. Most recently, it was a damaged transmission that resulted in failed gears at Utah that sent Self from a top five to a still very noteworthy eighth place on the road course. Now, the 20-year-old wheelman from Park City Utah and his team are ready to look lady luck in the eye and drive to the forefront in Iowa.
“This is definitely one of the most competitive races in the series,” said Jim Offenbach, owner of the Golden Gate Racing Team. “This team is due to have some better luck on their side, in every race this year we have been a contender for the win and we’ve just had some bad luck before the checkered flag fell. These guys are great, I love them. We have the best crew and one of the hottest young drivers and their day is coming in victory lane very soon.”
There are currently approximately 60 entries for this year’s combination race in Iowa, with drivers representing 22 different states and three other countries. The NASCAR K&N Pro Series East-West race is part of a big NASCAR weekend at Iowa Speedway as the NASCAR Nationwide Series will compete there on Sunday afternoon.
Currently, Self is 8th in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West championship standings. He has one top ten finish to his name and is 169 points behind the lead position. Overall, Self now has three asphalt racing victories in his young career. He has one fast time award, eight top fives and has finished in the top ten a total of 21 times behind the wheel of both Late Models and the NASCAR West rides. Named as a Richard Childress Development Driver for 2011, Self is looking for his elusive NASCAR victory and Iowa could very well be the site of the feat.
The #21 Golden Gate Racing Team/RCR Chevrolet carries the sponsorship of Shining Monkey and Bay Bio Diesel. Additional associate sponsors that support them are the Richard Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma, Hill Meat Company, Golden Gate Meat Company, Corte Madera Tow, Superior Farms, Harraka Racing Equipment Sales, Foodcomm International, Signco, Praxair and JW Web Design.
For an in-depth look at the Golden Gate Racing Team and additional news, visit their official website at www.goldengateracingteam.com. To learn more about the Richard Childress Racing Driver Development program visit www.rcrracing.com Michael Self's personal website can be found at www.michaelselfracing.com. All four entities can also be found on facebook, become a fan today. Saturday’s race will be broadcast on SPEED TV at a later date, check your local listings and watch the Golden Gate Racing Team in action.
