BROOKLYN, Michigan (May 25, 2011) – – Despite only four hours of practice Wednesday at Michigan International Speedway (MIS) before Mother Nature invaded the “Irish Hills”, ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards championship contender Sean Corr and his Empire Racing team were pleased with their efforts
Fresh off their fifth consecutive top-20 finish at New Jersey Motorsports Park (NJMP) this past Sunday, Corr and his team led by team manager John Bellesfield and crew chief Howard Bixman steered towards the Great Lakes state ready to tackle the two-mile oval
With weather threatening, teams took to the track shortly after 9:00 a.m. with Corr in his No. 82 Roush Yates Performance / Roush Yates Engines / Empire Racing Ford Fusion following suit. At the beginning of their practice runs, Corr complained that his blue oval was tight but adjustments made by Bixman paid off with Corr’s lap times improving.
Just before 1:00 p.m., Corr had muscled his No. 82 Roush Yates Performance / Roush Yates Engines / Empire Racing Ford Fusion into the top-10 before the skies opened up and drenched MIS. ARCA officials concluded the test shortly thereafter leaving the freshman full-time ARCA team 10th overall on the speed charts with a lap of 39.358 seconds at 182.936 miles per hour.
“Our No. 82 Roush Yates Performance / Roush Yates Engines / Empire Racing Ford Fusion became faster with every run,” said Corr, who currently locks ninth in the ARCA championship standings. “Howard, John and the Empire team all did a good job despite the time restraints to make our car a lot better in a short amount of time. We definitely have some notes that we can build on when we return here in a couple weeks.”
Corr also described the continued confidence in Bixman, a native of Michigan who is calling the shots for the No. 82 Roush Yates Performance / Roush Yates Engines / Empire Racing Ford Fusion.
“Howard and I are really working well together,” Corr sounded. “He is fitting in nicely with the rest of the team and our communication continues to improve with every test and race we get under our belts. His coaching has also been a big help. Michigan is important race for us with it being in the backyard of Ford Motor Company but also being an event where we feel we really can show what our team is made of. We’ll get the car back to the shop, make a few adjustments and (hopefully) come back even faster.”
Corr’s No. 82 Roush Yates Performance / Roush Yates Engines / Empire Racing Ford Fusion was the fastest Ford during the test ahead of Chris Buescher of Roulo Bros. Racing (14th) and Tommy O’Leary IV (17th).
When the Goshen, New York native takes the green flag in The RainEater Wiper Blades 200 on Friday, June 17, he will make just his second start at MIS hoping to improve on his 18th place finish from last year.
“Michigan is a wide, fast track,” Corr explained. “Not only do you have to have a good handling race car, you need power under the hood and that’s not a problem for us thanks to Roush Yates Engines. We’re just looking forward to coming back and hopefully being that first car to take that checkered flag.”
Next up for the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards is the first stop of the year at a 1.5-mile facility. The Messina Animal Wildlife Stopper 150 from Chicagoland Speedway is set for Saturday June 4th set to launch at 5:00 p.m. live on SPEED. Corr will make his 16th career ARCA start and second at Chicagoland Speedway.
Recently, Empire Racing and BoomText officially announced the “Hard Corr Fans” program powered by BoomText, a mobile marketing campaign which allows fans to pledge towards becoming an official member of the Empire Racing team – not to mention helping three of Corr’s personal charities. To join the campaign, fans just simply have to text the word “CORR” to 411247 where they will receive an automated safe-secured link to join the “Hard Corr Fans” team.
For more on Sean Corr, Empire Racing and marketing partnership opportunities for the 2011 racing season, please visit empireracingllc.com.
Are you FORD tough? Connect with Roush Yates Performance Products and Roush Yates Engines through their official web site at roushyatesparts.com.
Connect with Sean Corr and Empire Racing through Facebook by clicking here.
Tweet with Sean Corr through Twitter @EmpireRacingLLC.
For additional input on BoomText, please visit BoomText.com.
About Empire Racing:
Established in 2009, Empire Racing LLC. (empireracingllc.com) is a two-tier professional Motorsports organization consisting of dirt and asphalt competition. Sean Corr, a 26-year old hailing from Goshen, New York pilots the team’s automobiles in the DIRTcar Series and Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA). In 2011, the team will attempt to run for a championship in the ARCA Racing Series with aspirations of moving into the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR). The team is headquartered in Goshen, New York with an additional operation in Mooresville, North Carolina.
