News

June 12, 2006

PAULSEN, C&R RACING ANNOUNCES A.J. FOYT TO PURCHASE NEW GENERATION
SILVER CROWN CHASSIS

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – Chris Paulsen, President & Owner C&R Racing, Inc., announces today that racing legend A.J. Foyt will purchase a C&R chassis for the 2006 USAC Silver Crown Series presented by K&N.  Foyt plans to use the series for a driver screening program; the driver is not yet announced.

Chris Paulsen states, “I'm really excited about A.J. Foyt getting into the K&N USAC Silver Crown Series. His credentials are well known by anyone in American racing and he will be a huge asset to this series. A.J.'s a hard core racer that likes to win and we are very pleased that he has chosen our C&R chassis for his team. I'm also excited that he wants to use this as a screening process for future candidates for his IndyCar program. The new Silver Crown Series is the perfect platform for young talented drivers to get experience on big, fast race tracks.” 

Bruce Ashmore, co-designer of the C&R chassis, said, “I am also excited about working with A.J. again and this time on a true American grass roots racing car.  It is great that he's chosen to run with C&R Racing in the Silver Crown Series.  I'm especially looking forward to working with A.J. on his driver screening program.  We intend to find a young fast American driver for the No. 14 Silver Crown car for this year, and if this person lives up to our expectations, they could be given the chance to qualify a second car for next year’s Indianapolis 500.”

Foyt has enjoyed a racing career that is second to none - his records remain intact despite being out of the driver’s seat for over 10 years.  The first four-time winner of the Indianapolis 500 continues to hold records for the most victories (67), most national championships (7), most victories in one season (10), and most consecutive starts in the Indy 500 (35). In USAC Silver Crown (formerly Dirt Champ Car) competition, he has completed over 1100 career laps leading 168 of those. Winning the title in 1972, Foyt’s driving career stats in that division include 2 victories, 4 second-place finishes, 8 top-five finishes and 10 top-ten finishes.

Now, Foyt will add ownership of the new generation USAC Silver Crown team to his list of credits.  

“I was intrigued by this new car designed for the Silver Crown Series,” said Foyt. “I saw the car during the IndyCar race weekend in Miami earlier this year and began talking to Chris about buying one. Bruce worked with me at the 500 in May and I had a chance to visit their shop in Indy. I liked what I saw and wanted to get involved.  I think it will be a good way to evaluate possible drivers for my IndyCar program down the road. Also, the Silver Crown Series has a strong purse structure and a good-sized point fund which makes the series worthwhile on the business end.”

"Having A.J. Foyt affliated with the new Silver Crown Series adds to the fact that this is our premier division in USAC," said Owen Snyder, USAC Technical Operations & Competition Director. "I feel his reason for joining us was the close, exciting racing he witness at Homestead. This new car and modified series is a perfect fit for A.J., who is a traditional USAC owner/driver and former series champion. It exemplifies what our intentions and expectations are for this division. A.J. definitely sees the advantage of the division, which can expose his or our drivers to new venues, some of the top facilities in the country."

The driver chosen for this program will be equipped with the best chassis in the series, the leading technology and a team of proven racers.  

 C&R continues to be the preferred builder and supplier to NASCAR Nextel Cup teams and supplies products to several of NASCAR Busch and Craftsman Truck Series teams, as well as teams from the Indy Racing League IndyCar Series, Champ Car, USAC Silver Crown, National Sprint and Midget Car Series, and top Off-Road Racing teams.
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