To say that the upcoming Fathers
Day Weekend is a huge weekend for 19-year-old Chad Finley would be an
understatement. Not only will it be very busy racing in two events at two
different facilities, the two tracks couldn’t be further from opposites and the
two cars that Finley will be driving are at the most opposite ends of the
spectrum one could imagine.
It all begins on Friday, June 17th with by far the busiest day of the DeWitt,
Michigan drivers’ career as he’ll be at Michigan International Speedway in
Brooklyn, Michigan first thing in the morning for Tech Inspection and Practice
for the Alliance Truck Parts 250 for the NASCAR Nationwide Series as Finley will
be looking to make his debut in NASCAR’s second series the following day.
While he’ll be behind the wheel of the #25 Auto Value – Bumper to Bumper Parts
Stores & Certified Service Centers / AutoParts2020.com Ford for Team Rensi
Motorsports (TRM) turning laps in Practice around the huge 2.0 mile oval in the
Irish Hills, his own Chad Finley Racing (CFR) JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Presented
by GM Performance Parts machine will be sitting in the pit area preparing for
the third JEGS/CRA/GM event of the 2011 racing season; The Dixie 100 Presented
by JEGS.com at Dixie Motor Speedway in Birch Run, Michigan
With Practice on-going at M.I.S., Finley won’t be able to shake down his
JEGS/CRA/GM machine, the #42 Rain Eater Wiper Blades / AutoParts2020.com Ford at
Dixie during JEGS/CRA/GM Practice. So veteran Pro Late Model standout, Leo Smith
will be behind the wheel of Finley’s JEGS/CRA/GM ride during Practice with
Finley expected to make the nearly two hour trip from Brooklyn to Birch Run,
Michigan in time for Keyser Manufacturing Qualifying.
“Friday will be lot of fun. Both TRM and CFR crews have worked really hard for
this day. We got things worked out to where hopefully I can make it to Dixie in
time to just jump in and qualify.” The excited DeWitt, Michigan stand out
remarked. “I can’t thank JEGS/CRA/GM and Dixie Officials enough for working with
us on trying to make all of this happen. I am very focused on both tasks at hand
here to make a very special weekend for us all” He added.
Heading into Dixie, a 4/10s (0.400) mile progressively banked d-shaped paved
oval, Finley sits a solid fourth in the JEGS/CRA/GM points standings, just 21
markers out of the points lead currently held by veteran Eddie Hoffman. Finley
is coming off an impressive third place finish at Columbus Motor Speedway in
Columbus, Ohio in the CoughlinCars.com 100 Presented by JEGS.com back over the
Memorial Day Holiday Weekend on Saturday May 28th.
The JEGS/CRA/GM series did travel to Anderson Speedway in Anderson, Indiana the
following weekend; Saturday, June 4th, for the Anderson 100 Presented by
JEGS.com, but after Qualifying 12th, the Anderson 100 Presented by JEGS.com was
postponed to Saturday July 9th due to weather in the area right after Keyser
Manufacturing Qualifying.
As for the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at M.I.S., and in an ironic twist, when
he gets behind the wheel of the Team Rensi Motorsports ride over the Fathers Day
weekend, he will follow in his father, Michigan Motorsports Hall of Fame
Driver, Jeff Finley’s footsteps. The elder Finley also made his first NASCAR
Nationwide Series start with Ed Rensi at the season opener at Daytona
International Speedway back in 1999 (When the series was still known as the
NASCAR Busch Series)
My dad drove for Ed Rensi and we’ve known him and (President) Ronnie Russell
since 1998 and have a great relationship,” The 19-year-old explained. “Ed has
helped me throughout my career and we were able to put together some sponsorship
with Auto Value who has also been with me every step of the way as well.” Finley
is no stranger to the Brooklyn, Michigan speed plant as he finished seventh in
an ARCA Racing Series Presented by Menards event there in 2010. “It’s home and
we felt like it would be a really good place to start,” he added. “I just can’t
thank everyone enough for making all of this happen.”
The Alliance Truck Parts 250 will see Qualifying getting underway on Saturday,
June 18th at 11:10a.m. With 46 teams entered, Finley will have to earn his way
into the show on his Qualifying time since Team Rensi Motorsports in currently
not in the top 30 in NASCAR Nationwide Series Owners Points. Finley will look to
be one of the 43 starters who will take the green flag LIVE on ABC starting at
3:30p.m.
Sporting decals on the side of the #25 Team Rensi Motorsports Ford at M.I.S.,
will be; Auto Value / Bumper to Bumper Parts Stores & Certified Service Centers,
who have over 5000 locations throughout North America offering quality auto
parts and first class dependable service. Also supporting Finley’s NASCAR
Nationwide Series debut are the Airlift Company, Rain Eater Wiper Blades, and
AutoParts2020.com.
As for his JEGS/CRA/GM machine and for the remainder of the 2011 racing season,
Finley’s No. 42 Howe Racing Enterprises chassis, sporting a Ford Fusion body
with power from a Phil Harper Crate Engine will carry sponsorship from; Rain
Eater Wiper Blades, as well as AutoParts2020.com, Auto Value / Bumper to Bumper
Parts Stores & Certified Service Centers, Airlift Company, Joe Gibbs Driven
Racing Oil, NorthsideTowing.net and M.P.H. Promotions.
Rensi Motorsports PR
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