DAYTONA BEACH, Florida (January 10, 2011) – – Just how bad or how early did Sean Corr want to arrive in Daytona Beach, Florida in preparation for this week’s ARCA Racing Series (ARS) presented by Menards test session? Bad.
Corr, the aspiring driver for Empire Racing plowed his way down the interstate Saturday night as the driver of the team’s 18-wheeler transporter arriving in the Sunshine State in the wee hours of early Sunday morning, officially become the first team to enter the track grounds for the first official test of the new year.
Corr will admit he’s not your average race car driver. Don’t let this humdrum New Yorker fool you though; he’s all about business when it comes to his duties behind the wheel of the No. 82 Empire Racing LLC Ford Fusion.
But, when the opportunity arises to sink in and get dirty or pull an all-nighter and drive to a test in hopes of potentially winning the biggest race of his racing career, look for Corr to strike his way through the crowd and flock to the front of the line.
“It doesn’t bother me at all,” said Corr, in reference to driving the team’s hauler to the 2.5-mile Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway. “We’re a team and I’m willing and able to do whatever it takes to put us in contention. I’d rather drive the hauler and allow the guys who bust their tails to get our Ford Fusion ready the ability to recharge themselves.”
The Goshen, New York native whose been hopscotching from The Empire State to Race City USA, otherwise known as Mooresville, North Carolina during much of the winter is fired up for this week’s three-day test for more reasons than he can count. A new year, some fresh faces, a desirable attitude and an ever-growing outlook has this avid dirt driver ready to make his presence well known on the asphalt.
“I’m ready for Daytona, even though it’s just a test,” noted Corr, who intends to run the full ARCA Racing Series schedule this year. “The desire and “want” from this Empire Racing team is like a disease. A favorable one. We want it and we’re going for it. I have a good feeling about the car we’re bringing to the track and hope we can unload in a zone that we’re comfortable with and just improve as the week progresses.”
The Empire Racing team-led by new crew chief and former ARCA racer Richard Johns will bring a new Ford Fusion with Roush Yates horsepower to the “World Center of Speed” after losing last year’s Daytona automobile in a multi-car incident at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway.
“I hate to lose a car the way we did,” recalled Corr. “We were running comfortably in the top-seven and the big one unleashed with nowhere for us to go. It happens. It stinks, but it’s just part of the game. We’ve been working hard though on making sure that this car is as strong or even stronger than the one we had last February.
It was though on February 6, 2010, Corr gave an intuition of his ability to draft with the best of the best in the ARCA Racing Series. After being knocked sideways and cutting down a tire in the late stages of the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200, Corr was able to wrestle his wounded but still strong blue oval from the back to a respectable 14th place finish after starting 26th.
“We worked that day as a team. We came from the back to the front and vice-versa all race long. I learned a lot and no doubt the experience will help me next month. Though, we’re talking about a whole new game with the track being re-paved. The track will be so smooth; your 3400-pound stock car will feel like a Cadillac. Nonetheless, our intentions are to go have a strong test and come back and have an even worthier performance in the race.”
Former Empire Racing crew chief John Bellesfield who will take the reins as team manager for the Mooresville, North Carolina-based operation this year is extremely optimistic about the approaching test.
“We’ve put a lot of endless man hours into putting this car together,” explained Bellesfield. “I think we’re going to have a real slick piece for the test and the race. The team is excited to see Sean so enthusiastic about getting behind the wheel. That energy from the driver only gives us, the team the motivation to give him nothing but the best.”
Following the test scheduled for this Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, Empire Racing will trek back to North Carolina and begin their final check-in list for the running of the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 set for Saturday, February 12, 2011 live on SPEED.
The team still enters the 58th year of ARCA competition without the foundation of a primary marketing partner. However, the team feels they are close to making some announcements in-time for the first of 19 ARCA races this season.
For more on Sean Corr, Empire Racing and marketing opportunities for the 2011 racing season, please visit empireracingllc.com http://www.empireracingllc.com/ .
About Empire Racing:
Established in 2009, Empire Racing LLC. (empireracingllc.com http://www.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.
