New Track Record at South Alabama Speedway In The Rattler 250 For Chad Finley

Leads first 100 laps, runs in the top five before engine problems with 50 to go sidelines the #42

March 20, 2013

DeWitt, MI (March 20, 2013) – Armed with a new chassis, almost an entirely new pit crew and perhaps a new attitude, Chad Finley and the Chad Finley Racing Team made their first appearance of the 2013 racing season and it was the long trek south to the 37th annual Rattler 250 at the fast 4/10s (0.400) mile semi-banked paved oval of South Alabama Speedway, located north of the Alabama / Florida state line in Kinston (Opp), Alabama on March 15-17th.

The newly painted #42 G-Oil-GETG.com / Ford would be competing in the headlining Super Late Models 250-lap main on that Sunday Afternoon, March 17th, which also just happened to be Chad’s 21st birthday. The weekend started out on the highest note possible when the DeWitt, Michigan driver shattered the Track Record in Qualifying on Saturday, March 16th as Finley steered his new Port City Racecars machine to a blistering 14.779. He and 11 other teams beat Logan Boyett's old record which was a 15.164. Even more impressive is that Finley’s time beat the old mark by a whopping 0.385 seconds.

“Getting to start the race from the Pole was a bit of surprise to me. All week in practice we really concentrated on getting our racecar good on the long runs and playing out the scenarios we would see in the race to be ready for 250 laps.” Finley stated. “We made a mock Qualifying run Saturday morning and found out what we would need for later in the day as our car handled pretty differently on old tires then on stickers. To go down there our first time in the south and to break the track record is an awesome achievement but at the end of the day; we want to win races.” He added.

Starting from the best seat in the house, Finley would pace the field early on, opening up a several car length lead over his nearest rivals for the first 100 laps. When the mandatory caution flew on lap 101, Finley and all but one other car came down pit road for new tires. In a strategic move, Finley only took two tires while all of his competitors strapped on four new ones. In the race that allowed for 10 tires, this meant that Finley would have four new “shoes” for later in the race.

“We were on the same strategy as Kyle Benjamin and Freddy (Query, Benjamin’s Crew Chief), they just short pitted at lap 92 to get the lead instead of stopping at lap 100 like everyone else.” The now 21-year-old explained. “We had already played the scenario of two right side tires out in practice, so we were pretty confident in the changes we made during the stop. We just wanted to ride and stay in the top five till we came to get four tires at the end. It seemed as if we were the only two cars on this strategy. So I figured it was going to be a two man race.”

He would come out of the pits second as Benjamin would inherit the lead and Finley stayed in the top five for the middle stages of the race. After the last pit stop on lap 175, Finley has four new tires while everyone else only had two tires remaining and took those on during the stops. After restarting eighth, he got to as high as fifth before the engine began “laying down” before losing power which forced Finley to come down pit road under green and his day was over.

“I was just riding there biding my time with the tires waiting for the pressures to come up and knowing from experience earlier in the race I knew the leaders left sides were about worn out.” Finley continued. “We were about to make our run for it there and unfortunately the motor had different ideas. Can’t say enough about this entire CFR Team though, they worked their tails off all weekend long. Everyone there knew we were there though!” Finley would be credited with a 13th place finish in the official results.

Now the CFR Team will have some time to prepare for the next race on the 2013 schedule which is one of the biggest and most anticipated events in the Midwestern United States in recent memory as the ARCA/CRA Super Series and the ARCA Midwest Tour will team up for their first ever combo race together in the running of the 7-Up 150 on Friday-Saturday, April 19-20th at the historic ½ (0.500) mile high-banked paved oval of Toledo Speedway, located just south of the Michigan / Ohio state line in Toledo, Ohio.

“It’s hard not to be disappointed, but looking at the overall weekend and the speed we had and the drivability this new Port City Racecar had all week, I’m excited for 2013. I’m looking forward to getting to Toledo Speedway and starting our year off here up north,” He stated. “I had a bit of a different roll this week getting to make adjustments on the race car and calling the race. I learned a lot about our car and I am confident come April that we are going to be fast all season with this racecar.” He ended.

All of the cars in the CFR stable throughout the 2013 racing season will all sport Ford Fusion decals and carry sponsorship from G-Oil / GETG.com as well as Auto Value Parts Stores & Certified Service Centers, AutoParts2020.com, XLT Engineering, NorthsideTowing.net, Rain Eater Wiper Blades, The Air Lift Company, Memphis Wood Fire Grills, Bassett Racing Wheels, Affordable Tire & Service, Bosch Spark Plugs, Hyperco Suspension, Maurer’s Textiles, Superior Racing Images and M.P.H. Promotions.

For more information about Chad Finley Racing and driver Chad Finley and to also inquire about additional sponsorship opportunities for the remainder of the 2013 racing season, log on to the CFR website located at: www.chadfinleyracing.com You can also follow CFR on Facebook as well as Twitter, just go to: www.facebook.com/chadfinleyracing and: www.twitter.com/chad_finley