January 11, 2004

THORSPORT DUO FAST IN DAYTONA TRUCK TEST

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - After more than 150 races as a one-truck effort, ThorSport Racing is expanding to two teams for the 2004 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series campaign. The first day of the two-truck effort went well Sunday, January 11 in the NASCAR Preseason Thunder testing sessions at the Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway as both ThorSport entries finished among the top-20 in combined speeds.

Tina Gordon led the ThorSport effort. She was 15th among 36 drivers participating in the test sessions. Tracy Hines, who flew to Florida overnight after racing in a Oklahoma Saturday night, was 16th quick in his first day with ThorSport.

Gordon's best lap around the 2.5 mile, high-banked oval was 50.446 seconds (178.409 miles per hour). Hines' fastest lap was 50.504/178.204. Bobby Hamilton led the testing sessions at 49.786/180.774).

The NASCAR Preseason Thunder continues through Monday, January 12.

January 10, 2004

GORDON AMONG FASTEST DOZEN IN INITIAL DAYTONA TEST SESSIONS

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Tina Gordon posted times among the fastest dozen NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series drivers participating in the NASCAR Preseason Thunder testing sessions at the Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway Saturday, January 10. Gordon was making her debut in a Chevrolet Silverado fielded by ThorSport Racing.

"I couldn't be happier with how everything went today," Gordon said. "For this to be our first day working together as a team, and for us to be in the top-12, is just fantastic."

Gordon was 12th-quick among 27 trucks which participated in the morning session at the high-banked, 2.5-mile oval. She was 11th of the 31 trucks which tested in the afternoon.

Gordon's best lap in the morning session was 50.930 seconds (176.713 miles per hour). Carl Edwards led the session (49.664/181.218). Gordon improved to 50.692/177.543 in the afternoon. Edwards led that session at 49.808/180.694.

The NASCAR Preseason Thunder continues through Monday, January 12.

January 8, 2004
Tim Stephens, Liberty Sports Management
(440) 725-5997
LibertySports@aol.com

HINES NAMED TO PILOT THORSPORT MENARDS TRUCK IN 2004

SANDUSKY, Ohio - Tracy Hines has been selected to drive the Menards Chevrolet for ThorSport Racing on the NASCAR Truck Series in 2004, it was announced Thursday by team owner Duke Thorson. Hines will make his debut with the team in this week's NASCAR Preseason Thunder testing sessions at the Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway.

"We spent a lot of time and put a lot of thought into this selection," Thorson said. "As we looked at it and analyzed what we needed, we realized that Tracy Hines was the right driver for our team now."

An open-wheel racing star, Hines made his NASCAR Truck Series debut in 2003 driving four races in an Ultra Motorsports entry. His best finish was 11th in an October event at the Texas Motor Speedway. Hines qualified fourth, a career-best, for that race.

"We really liked what we saw of Tracy Hines in those races," Thorson said. "He showed a lot more patience and maturity than most inexperienced drivers just making their NASCAR debut. He was fast, but smart, and brought his trucks home with quality finishes."

Hines is a championship-winning driver in USAC competition. He claimed the USAC Sprint Car title in 2002 and the USAC Silver Crown championship in 2000. In 2003, he finished second in the USAC Midget points, third in the USAC Sprint Car standings and third in the USAC Silver Crown points. Hines had 10 victories in USAC competition in 2003, six in Midget car competition and four in Sprint cars.

Hines, 31, is a native of New Castle, Ind. He'll team with Tina Gordon at ThorSport, making the veteran team a two-truck effort in 2004.

January 6, 2004

GORDON JOINS THORSPORT FOR 2004 TRUCK CAMPAIGN

SANDUSKY, Ohio - Tina Gordon has joined ThorSport Racing as the driver for one of the team's NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series entries, it was announced Tuesday by Duke Thorson, owner of ThorSport. Gordon will participate with the team in this week's NASCAR Preseason Thunder testing sessions at the Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway.

"We are happy to welcome Tina Gordon to our team in 2004," Thorson said. "We are confident that we will be able to work together to build a team that can showcase Tina's driving talent on a full-time basis in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series."

Gordon joins ThorSport after an abbreviated 2003 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series campaign. She started 11 truck events, posting two 13th-place finishes. Overall, Gordon was 25th in the drivers' point standings and fifth in the rookie of the year race.

"I can't begin to say how excited I am to be coming to ThorSport Racing," Gordon said. "I really look forward to working with Duke and Rhonda Thorson, Jerry Cook and the entire team. I'm definitely glad to be back in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. It's a great opportunity to be able to run every race."

Gordon is a native of Cedar Bluff, Ala. Prior to racing in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, she competed in the ARCA RE/Max Series and the NASCAR All-Pro Series. She started her racing career on the dirt tracks near her Alabama home.

She made her NASCAR Busch Series debut in 2003, finishing 10th at the Talladega Superspeedway in April.

Further details about the Gordon/ThorSport effort, including sponsorship and crew chief selection, will be announced soon.