MOORESVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA (September 3, 2006) – Key Motorsports founder and owner Curtis W. Key, Sr. has become the first of several independent race team owners to join forces with Clay Andrews and commit to his team's participation in the Clay Andrews' Alliance Partners organization.

The passionate owner of Corona, CA-based Hype Manufacturing, Andrews built the NASCAR Busch Series teams that earlier this season shocked the racing world by winning a race in just its fifth start. That is when rookie driver David Gilliland took the checkers at Kentucky Speedway in an un-sponsored machine for Clay Andrews Racing, an organization that Andrews was forced to shut down several weeks ago when Gilliland departed for Robert Yates Racing with the opportunity to drive in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series.

“Clay was very emotional when he explained to me why he decided to shut down his race team,” Key stated. “He believed that he was betrayed somewhat, and felt the best way to handle the situation was to shut his doors. But this new project has re-invigorated him, and I like his determination and drive. I believe that he is on to something really beneficial for the independent race teams, and Key Motorsports has committed to the project,” Key added. Pictured Right: Key Motorsports VP of Operations Rich Rubenstein (second from right) and Clay Andrews shake hands after the new Alliance Partners program was announced in California.

The Alliance Partners concept was first unveiled at a motorsports charity fund raiser and awards dinner at the Pala Casino & Resort in Pala, CA on Thursday night and then expounded upon to the national racing media at a press conference at California Speedway this afternoon. Andrews was presented the Sherry Morris Inspiration in Racing Award by Greg Cozzo, producer and coordinator of his own radio show “Racing Radio”, at the Pala event for providing the time, money, equipment and technology that have given several young, aspiring drivers who ordinarily would never get the chance, the opportunity to compete and show their skills.

“I love NASCAR, but I love giving young, talented drivers the chance to show what they can do at the highest of levels,” Andrews explained.

“I discovered first-hand how independent teams can often struggle without having the technology, data, power and sponsorship money behind them, and that more often than not they are forced to go to one of the exiting Nextel Cup Series teams to get it. That takes a lot of money, and they often come out on the short end because they stand in line with other teams also seeking the same thing. They don't always get what they pay for. This Alliance will hopefully change that for the teams that believe in the strategy,” Andrews added.

The Clay Andrews' Alliance Partners project has been designed to give independent, single car or truck teams competing full-time in NASCAR's Busch or Craftsman Truck Series the very things needed to find success at this level of racing. Sharing testing and practice data, utilizing a unified engine program, sharing technology and sometimes personnel and sponsorship money are some of them.

“We have the technology, the manpower, the money and the sponsors behind this effort to make sure that teams can compete, and a manufacturer has endorsed the concept as well. We are excited about the project's ability to succeed,” Andrews exclaimed.

At least four teams will actively support the Alliance at this time with more expected to join as word spreads. Key Motorsports is the first Craftsman Truck Series team in the stable and has already purchased two of Andrews' Hype Manufacturing motors for competition this year. Andrews' engine manufacturing arm from the Busch Series team remains in business in Murphy, NC and will produce the horsepower for all of the teams in the Alliance.

“This could be the thing that finally gives us what we have been lacking,” Key said. “I have invested millions of dollars to this point to establish Key Motorsports within the NASCAR community and to know that we can compete every single week. The Clay Andrews Alliance Partners should supply the missing links to our infrastructure,” he added.

 

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