[media-credit name=”Chad Finley PR” align=”alignright” width=”300″]
[/media-credit]DeWitt, Michigan (Friday, August 10th, 2012): Chad Finley Racing is very pleased to announce the addition of 2011 ARCA/CRA Super Series Champion & Rookie of the Year, Derrick Griffin to the CFR organization. The South Bend, Indiana standout will serve as Interim Crew Chief for CFR’s primary driver, 20-year-old Chad Finley for the remainder of the 2012 racing season.
“We are very honored that Derrick has come on board to help us out for the rest of the 2012 race season. Chad and I have known Derrick and his father since 2001 when we raced Go-Karts in the WKA (World Karting Association) series.” CFR Car Owner Jeff Finley said. “They are a great family with a tremendous background in motorsports.” He added.
Griffin comes into the CFR camp armed with credentials including his Championship & Freshman titles in the ARCA/CRA Super Series a season ago. “Derrick’s Championships last year speak for themselves. His knowledge he acquired from working with Bobby Blount over the last several years warrants this opportunity.” Finley explained. “Mike (Staszak) and I feel in our never ending pursuit to win races and be a contender week in and week out that Derrick can assist us with those goals.” Finley continued.
Former Crew Chief, Jimmy D. Smith has stepped away from CFR in order to pursue other opportunities within the Motorsports Industry. “There are simply not enough words to express our sincere thanks to Jimmy D. and his family. He helped us build CFR to what it is today.” Finley added. “Together we got many top fives in 2011 and we captured our first Win and two Fast Qualifier Awards this year. This is the part of the business that is very hard for Mike and I. He possesses a tremendous amount of talent and we wish him all the best in his future endeavors.” He stated.
As for the racing on the track, it was another doubleheader weekend for Chad Finley and the Chad Finley Racing Team on Friday & Saturday, August 3-4th as on Friday,August 3rd at Dixie Motor Speedway, located south of Saginaw in Birch Run, Michigan hosted the ARCA/CRA Super Series in the running of the Mid-Michigan Toyota Dealers / Draper 125.
The 125-lap main co-headlined “Big One X” with the Winged Sprint Cars of the Auto Value Super Sprints Series. “We had a decent run there. We struggled all night fighting a loose race car. It was a handful in the race.” Chad Finley remarked. “I think that’s the hardest I’ve had to drive all year to hang on to it. To bring the car home fourth was a good day to say the least.”
Then on Saturday, August 4th, a trip to Berlin Raceway, located west of Grand Rapids in Marne, Michigan for the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour 10th race for The Berlin 100 Presented by JEGS.com & Boyne Machine Company was on the agenda for the CFR team.
“We just missed it at Berlin. We just could never get the grip we were looking for.” The younger Finley continued. “We tightened it up more before qualifying and it was snug. But then it got super loose again in the race to where I could barely hang on to it. So I felt we should park it before I wrecked it.” The 20-year-old driver from DeWitt, Michigan ended”
10 races into the JEGS/CRA season, Finley has recorded one event win, the first of his career in CRA, which came back on May 26th in the CoughlinCars.com 100 Presented by JEGS.com at Columbus Motor Speedway in Columbus, Ohio. His win is part of his three top fives and five top 10 showings which all tie in with his first career Boyne Machine Fast Qualifier Award, which came at Lucas Oil Raceway in Clermont, Indiana last weekend. Heading into Berlin, Finley is fifth in the season long title chase.
The 20-year-old Finley is amongst the all-time leaders in most statistical categories in the second year JEGS/CRA tour as he is currently tied for second all-time in career top five, tied for the most career top 10 finishes, fifth all-time in career laps led, tied for third all-time in career appearances, and second all-time in career laps completed.
All of Finley’s CRA cars sport identical black paint schemes as well as the familiar #42, and for the rest of the season, sponsorship support on each Ford Fusion comes from; Auto Value Parts Stores & Certified Service Centers, as well as AutoParts2020.com, XLT Engineering, NorthsideTowing.net, Rain Eater Wiper Blades, JEGS.com, Nalett Trucking, Howe Racing Enterprises, The Air Lift Company, Joe Gibbs Driven Racing Oil, Memphis Wood Fire Grills, Staubli Products, QuicShine99, Hyperco, Maurer’s Textiles, Superior Racing Images, & M.P.H. Promotions.
To learn more about Chad Finley Racing and to inquire about additional sponsorship opportunities available for the remainder of the 2012 racing season, log on to the CFR website at: www.chadfinleyracing.com You can also follow CFR on Facebook as well as Twitter, just log onto: www.facebook.com/chadfinleyracing and:www.twitter.com/chad_finley
