By Meredith Kaplan Burns
Laguna Beach, California (June 8, 2011) – Nine Racing, the USAC midget race team, and Venturini Motorsports, of Concord, North Carolina, have formed an alliance that will enhance the scope of their respective driver development programs. Currently both teams are focused on the development of young drivers seeking to take their racing careers to the next level of professional racing. With over 60 years of combined championship experience, the two teams are considered by many racing insiders as the elite team in their respective racing series.
“Venturini Motorsports has a great history of developing young driving talent and a tradition of winning races in the competitive ARCA series,” sid Steve Lewis, owner of Nine Racing, Inc. “I am very pleased that we have worked out an arrangement with Bill Venturini Sr. and Venturini Motorsports to be able to offer our Nine Racing driver candidates an option to be able to join and work with one of the finest teams racing today in the ARCA series.”
The teams will work together to identify and mentor young drivers seeking the right opportunity and path to further their driving careers. The newly formed relationship between Nine Racing and Venturini Motorsports provides each team with a larger scope of driver services and a better opportunity to assist drivers to develop and define a career path based on their racing goals.
“It’s an honor to work with Steve and his organization,” added Bill Venturini Sr. “Steve has a remarkable reputation in the industry and has played a pivotal role in the career development of so many of today’s top drivers. It’s nice to be recognized for the hard work we’ve put into our program. We share the same passion and dedication to the sport. I think it’s a perfect fit for both our organizations.”
Nine Racing currently competes in the USAC Mopar Regional and National Midget Pavement Series and the USAC Midwest Ford Focus Pavement Series.
The Nine Racing team has launched some of the greatest names in auto racing today into the nation’s major professional series. Tony Stewart, Kasey Kahne, Jason Leffler, JJ Yeley, Mike Bliss, Stan Fox, Kenny Irwin Jr., Stevie Reeves—these are just some of the drivers who have earned wins in the famous #9 race cars of Nine Racing.
Current Venturini Motorsports driver, Darren Hagan, drove for Nine Racing in 2008 while European driving star, Ali Jackson, is splitting time behind the wheel for both teams in 2011.
To learn more about Nine Racing, please visit www.nineracing.com, and for more information about Venturini Motorsports, please visit their website at www.venturinimotorsports.com.
Nine Racing’s 2011 sponsor lineup includes K&N Engineering, Eibach Springs, Weld Racing, Klotz Synthetic Lubricants, Penske Racing Shocks, Performance Friction Brakes, ASE, Earl’s Performance Plumbing, SSi Decals, PJ1, and Hoosier Racing Tire.