For Immediate Release 

High Point Racing makes 2009 Auto Club Late Model Debut

With a shortened new schedule for the day, the High Point Racing team wasted no time getting their drivers up to speed in practice. Although the track was slick with above average temperatures for this time of year, the drivers were able to provide important feedback to their crew chiefs. Each team opted to spend limited time on the track rather then making adjustments for the heat.

Qualifying landed the High Point Racing cars with Beau Debard second fast, Huddleston third quick, Travis Motley fourth quick, Dallas Colodny eighth quick and Cassie Gannis in the twentieth qualifying position. With over thirty cars showing up to the first race of the year, Huddleston was pleased with the results of his team.

At the drop of the green flag, Beau Debard learned that the competition was eager to get to the front. Falling back on the start Beau Debard raced many laps side by side with Mike Johnson before making contact with the 85 car who had gotten underneath taking the battle for fourth position three wide. The crash would end the night for the young Reno driver who finished his first two races at Toyota Speedway in the top five.

Narrowly missing the accident, Dallas Colodny took advantage of the wreck and moved from the seventh position to the fourth spot. Dallas drove a clean race. Getting a great opportunity to run up front with the tough competition at TSAI, Colodny brought his race car home in the fourth position in his first race in the Auto Club Late Model division.

Cassie Gannis was involved in an early race incident with veteran driver George Ruark who returned to TSAI after taking the 2008 season off. Gannis escaped the incident un harmed but was forced to the end of the pack one lap down. Cassie received the “Lucky Dog” award on the final caution and went on to pass two more cars before the checkered flag fell. Cassie ended her night with a seventeenth place finish and a racecar in one piece. HPR is confident that Cassie will continue to develop and improve her finishing position.

Travis Motley proved that he will be a force to contend for the championship this year. He qualified a career best fourth position and was running with the top five before getting a bad start after one of the cautions and nearly wrecking the car in turn one. Motley did a great job of maintaining composure and regaining control of the car in turn two. Unfortunately, the damage caused during the restart would end Motley’s night.

Last year’s champion and High Point Racing team owner drove his Racecar Factory late model to a second place finish. Huddleston ran third until the final laps when Andrew Myers suddenly dropped back. Huddleston knows that it’s going to be a tough season racing against Joanides, Myers and his own cars.

High Point Racing also had one of the new S2 division cars on display for everyone to see. The new series at Toyota Speedway will run a spec car that resembles the Sprint cup Car of Tomorrow. 

More photos coming soon!