LAS VEGAS, Nevada — Over the last two races the Golden Gate Racing Team and driver Michael Self have undoubtedly been dealt their fair share of ill fated luck in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West. After mechanical woes took them out of the top five in Utah and an early crash in qualifying at Iowa, the veteran team that hails from San Francisco and carries the support of the powerful Richard Childress Driver Development program is ready to roll the dice in Las Vegas this week and return to championship contention.
"We’ve been strong at every short track we have been to, so I have no doubts that our speed will carry into the Bullring."— Mike Self
“This is definitely the race we need to turn our luck around in, get a solid finish and start chasing this championship again,” said Utah’s Michael Self, driver of the RCR #21 that carries the primary sponsorship of Bay Bio Diesel and the Golden Gate Meat Company. “Everyone at the team has sat down together and we’ve learned a bunch throughout this season. I know we are on the right track, we just have to put all the pieces together.”
Owned by San Francisco businessman Jim Offenbach and his wife Patricia, the Golden Gate Racing Team is decades strong in many forms of competition. Undoubtedly the strongest aspect of this team is its ability to rally back to the top when the cards are down. Every member of the Golden Gate Racing Team practices optimism as if it is a mission statement and they are all ready to take the green flag at the competitive Vegas Bullring.
“This team is always ready to go, that’s what I love about these guys,” said Offenbach. “They have a great ability to look forward and move on and never let a little tough luck slow them down. We have great equipment thanks to the strong support of Richard Childress and a great team that uses that equipment to its utmost potential. I feel a little luck coming our way in Vegas.”
The Bullring at Vegas is one of the most competitive tracks in the region. It’s fresh surface and configuration that spans .375 miles offers moderate passing room for a short track. For Self, the short track venues have been his strong suit so far in the 2011 NASCAR K&N Pro Series West and Vegas should be the site where this young, passionate driver that is bursting with talent will be able to shine.
“We’ve been strong at every short track we have been to, so I have no doubts that our speed will carry into the Bullring,” said Self. “I’ve had some really strong runs at all the short tracks I’ve been to in the past and I’m excited about getting to a new track that so well known for its good hard racing. It’s our time to shine and the whole Golden Gate Racing Team is bringing the package we need to run the best with these next few races. I’m as excited and enthusiastic as ever about getting the chance to represent the strength of this RCR/Golden Gate Racing Team.”
Entering the Vegas event, the Golden Gate Racing Team is currently eighth in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West standings.. They sit 197 points behind series leader Greg Pursley. Self has scored two top ten finishes this season thus far. The coming weeks will be busy for the team. Following Vegas they will head to Infineon Raceway in Sonoma where they will field two cars on the road course with Austin Dillon in the #31. Following the race in the wine country the team will return to the popular Toyota Speedway in Irwindale on July 2.
The #21 Golden Gate Racing Team/RCR Chevrolet carries the sponsorship of RCR, Bay Bio Diesel and the Golden Gate Meat Company. Additional associate sponsors that support them are the Richard Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma, Hill Meat Company, Corte Madera Tow, 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.
