For Immediate Release: Gary Lewis Racing LLC Media Relations

Return to Montana 200 comes at just the right time for Lewis

SNOHOMISH, Wash. (July 15, 2013)-As a four-time winner of one of the biggest late model races in the country, Gary Lewis knows how important the Coors Light Montana 200 is to any race team. Looking to rebound from a string of misfortune, this weekend's 200 comes at a perfect time for the driver of the Leary Shock Shop Chevrolet.

"We've had a tough couple of outings that's for sure," Lewis said. "Running in the Summer Showdown (June 29) with a car capable of winning only to be sidelined with a broken trailing arm was not the way we wanted the night to end. We'd lost a motor the race prior in Wenatchee so this weekend's 200 is the best place for us to turn our fortunes around."

While calling Western Washington home, Lewis has made Montana Raceway Park his home away from home race track. Lewis has not finished outside the top-10 in any of his Montana 200 starts and has victories on the NASCAR Northwest Tour and ARCA Late Model Challenge Series to his credit from the high-banked Kalispell quarter-mile.

With MRP winnings approaching $60,000 since 1998, the Snohomish native knows what it takes to be successful when it comes to racing in the Flathead Valley.

"This team always has a good car when we race there. Some of our biggest wins have come in Montana and it would be nice to get another one this weekend. To do so we'll work on our handling in both grooves and be sure to stay focused on one step at a time from qualifying all the way through to the end of the 200 laps," Lewis said.

Lewis followed up his string of four straight Montana 200 victories with a top-3 finish in 2011 and a top-10 last year. Each of those runs came in different cars and the four-time late model champion will be in a new car again this weekend.

That challenge will not be a distraction, according to Lewis.

"Our Lefthander chassis has been on the track enough this season that the team and I have a good baseline developed for what it needs to be able to run in the front. That's shown in our strong qualifying efforts and good finishes until we ran into this little bump in the road. We have no doubt that this is a car capable of winning the Montana 200 and as a team have the experience needed to battle to the end for that goal."

Being part of the great history of the Montana 200 is what drives Lewis to aim for a fifth title, he added.

"This race is one of the biggest in the United States. Many of the best drivers in the country want to win it and when you look at an entry list from recent years they (drivers) come from all over to try. With NASCAR experience, track champions, touring champions and guys who just know how to race hard, the 200 is something that when you win it you know as a driver you've had an opportunity to be there at the end against the best racing has to offer.

"That's what drives me to win the 200 again."

Qualifying for the Montana 200 is set for Friday night with positioning races to follow. The 200-lap finale gets underway Saturday night with coverage at RacingWest.com

Over the weekend, Mike Leary, Roger Avants, and Chris Eggleston attended this 2011 IMIS (International Motorsports Industry Show) located at the Indiana Convention Center.  Overall it was a great success as the Leary team got to see and meet with many familiar and new faces.

The main goal for this business trip was to meet face-to-face with a lot of our venders that we deal with on a daily basis as it really helps put a face to each person we talk to.  Beyond that, Leary Racing Products established many new relationships over the weekend and look forward to announce their direct partnership with you soon.

Additionally, Mike Leary was asked by QA1 precision suspension to teach a shock seminar directed toward a packed room full of people.  Based on the positive feedback that each person shared with us, everyone was excited to hear Mike’s take and philosophy on shocks.  Mike shared the following; “I think this trip was extremely productive.  I really enjoyed sharing the responsibility in teaching the QA1 seminar and was honored that they let me speak beyond their behalf.  Not only was it a lot of fun, it was great for business as two new race teams approached me at the conclusion of the seminar and allowed us to drum up new business for the up and coming spring.  I hope to build a new long-term relationship with these two race teams as well.”

Other seminars that our Leary staff attended included a hyperco seminar taught by Freddie Query explaining suspension technology which included jacking force, “rap rate,” spring preloading, bump stop timing, roll center/instant center and much more.  The last seminar the Leary team attended was the Gale Force Seminar taught by NASCAR Camping World star Cale Gale as he and his father shared their insight on suspension technology and what has been successful for them in the past.  Cale (Gale) also used Mike Leary to help explain certain aspects of shock technology that applied to the on-going discussion that occurred throughout the seminar.

A few reputable people had the following to say about the IMIS Trade Show:  Yates Racing Engines

“When

Robert Yates Racing Engines:

“When you talk about performance and racing, you're talking about Daytona or Indianapolis. Indy is where I love to come. This is where you come to do business and we do more business here than anywhere else. We were so excited about last year and we're happy to be here this year!”

Winters Performance Products:

“Being back in Indy again is where we want to be. Geographically it’s a great experience. You can come from every different direction and Indianapolis is fabulous. We’re already signed up for next year, paid our money and saved 10 percent, ready to go!”

Overall, the whole Leary Racing Products team thought this weekend was very worth their time in effort to help bring Leary’s customers the most up-to-date shock and suspension technology as well as the most innovative and price competitive products.  Everyone here at Leary’s wants to thank all of our loyal customers for a great 2011 year and can’t wait to see what 2012 brings us.

Please don’t forget to bring in your shocks to have them dyno'ed and freshened up before the beginning of the season as February through March get well booked up!  Many customers bring their shocks in with skepticism thinking there is nothing wrong with their shocks and then soon find out in many cases, their shocks have bent shims causing the shocks to dyno out off the charts and can be the driving force behind an ill-handling racecar.