FORMER HENDRICK DEVELOPMENT TEAM SS RACING SIGNS MÜNTER
Indianapolis, IN (April 4, 2006) -- SS Racing has signed race car driver Leilani Münter for the 2006 racing season. Leilani will run a combination of ASA, USRA Super Late Model Series and NASCAR Elite division along with an extensive testing program. Three time ASA Champion and Winston Cup veteran driver Butch Miller will serve as Leilani's mentor and coach.
Münter and SS Racing plan to run approximately 30 races this season including events in the ASA Southern Division, ASA Northern Division, and ASA Challenge Series. Leilani and SS Racing will race in the USRA Super Late Model event on June 10 at Texas Motor Speedway during the race weekend with the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and the Indy Racing League. Her last race of the season will be on November 9 at Phoenix International Raceway in the NASCAR Elite Southeast Series during the NASCAR Nextel Cup weekend which also features the NASCAR Busch and Craftsman Truck Series.
"Leilani is an exciting addition to SS Racing," said team owner Ken Smith, "Leilani has proven she has talent, now SS Racing will give her the opportunity she needs to further develop those natural abilities. She is going to spend a lot of time behind the wheel of a race car this year and we look forward to watching her develop as a driver."
For the past two seasons, SS Racing has fielded cars for NASCAR Powerhouse Hendrick Motorsports' driver development program. Hendrick development drivers Kyle Krisiloff (Craftsman Trucks) and Chase Austin (USAR Pro Cup) have both driven for SS Racing in addition to Daytona 500 Champion Jimmie Johnson's younger brother Jarit Johnson.
"I am honored to be racing with SS Racing this season," said Münter, "Clearly they are top quality organization. What a wonderful opportunity to get to race with a team that has experience developing young drivers for an organization like Hendrick Motorsports. This will be my first full time season, I'm going to get a lot of seat time and I can hardly wait."
"I am really excited to work with championship racer Butch Miller and short track veteran crew chief Deon Deneau and race such well prepared cars as evidenced in the amount of victories they both have had in ASA," said Leilani, "I am so impressed with not only Deon's knowlege of race cars, but his willingness to teach me. I want to learn as much as I can from Deon and Butch."
About SS Racing
SS Racing is a professional race team led by owner and president Ken Smith who has over 25 years of business experience. Ken has one philosophy that he has used over the years that is simple - "Work hard and do what you say you are going to do." Ken adds, "These are simple words, but so important as a service provider. Anyone who aligns themselves with SS Racing can be assured one thing we will give you what we promise."
During years 2004 and 2005 Nascar Powerhouse Hendrick Motorsports tabbed SS Racing as one of their “Driver Development” alliances. Though Hendrick Motorsports dropped their driver development program in 2006, SS Racing still maintains a close relationship with the organization and receives many benefits that will enhance the team as as well as any potential sponsor. These include pit access, shop/building tours, pit practice, referrals, performance assistances, discounted parts, and media training.
For more information visit ssracingonline.com.
About Leilani Münter
Leilani will carry the colors of Konica Minolta as her primary sponsor in 2006. In addition to racing in the NASCAR Elite Division and ASA, she is a race instructor at Fast Track High Performance Driving School and a special correspondent for NASCAR.com. She is a Hostess "Race Diva" alongside IRL's Danica Patrick and NHRA's Melanie Troxel.
Leilani Munter began racing stock cars in 2001 on circuits throughout the USA. She made her first late model start in 2003 at the South Boston Speedway, where she placed 9th. Leilani set the record for the highest qualifying effort for a female stock car driver at Texas Motor Speedway when she started 4th and finished 7th in her debut in the ROMCO Super Late Model Series in 2004.
Born in Rochester, Minnesota, Leilani once worked as a stuntwoman and photo double for actress Catherine Zeta-Jones.
For more information on Leilani visit leilanimunter.com.
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