FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Kevin Macvaugh
Bullish Racing Communications
(201) 342-8374
pr@bullishmotorracing.com
BULLISH RACING MAINTAINS RESOLVE DURING MID-SEASON CHALLENGE
MEMPHIS, Tennessee (July 27, 2005) – Despite recent statistics, the Bullish Motor Racing team are not about to hit the panic button. After a sixth consecutive race without a final round appearance at last week’s St. Louis NOPI event, the team heads to NOPI Memphis this weekend, the sixth race of the twelve-race 2005 NDRA XBOX Cup Series, undaunted despite the trend. In addition, team owner and driver Ara Arslanian and the entire team have renewed their resolve to continue through the development of their 2005 engine program.
“We have endured a very tough couple months of racing,” admitted Arslanian. “There have been new teething problems at every stage of our 2005 engine program, and it’s really had our team working non-stop to address the issues. We’ve never faced a challenge like this, but at the same time this is a team built for overcoming challenges.”
A very dense competition schedule featuring both the entire NDRA and NHRA schedules has contributed to the difficulty in advancing the twin-turbo, 3.4 L stroker 2JZ engine program. At last week’s St. Louis event, hiccups in the tune-up gave the StreetGlow-sponsored Solara an uncharacteristic fifth-place best qualifying time of 6.94/203 and a losing first round time of 7.52/203. Still, Arslanian has found the team’s perseverance a source of personal inspiration.
“A teething issue that's plagued our new non-intercooled tune-up was the culprit in St. Louis and the team has been dedicated in rooting out the issue. I have to admit it hasn’t been easy pulling up to the line knowing you don’t have the best setup possible, but these guys have taught me to keep my head up. We will get through this – maybe not this coming weekend or even the next weekend, but this team will eventually get past this speed bump. And when we do, you can bet that I will dedicate the win to the team - Fred Bauer, Loui Aspras, Kevin Macvaugh, Bert Gaertner, Scottie Draper, Charlie Bauer, Jason Seibels, and Mike Kim.”
The team spent the few non travel days between the St. Louis and Memphis dates going over the entire Solara, in preparation for an assault on the second half of the season. And despite the early round exits lately, the two-time reigning NDRA XBOX Cup champion remains firmly ahead in the NDRA season points and fourth in the NHRA Xplod Series championship.
In addition, while conditions didn’t allow the team to run the ground-breaking Bullish AEM Import Dragster at the St. Louis event, Arslanian and the team are planning to continue the pursuit of the first ever 5-second import pass with the dragster - the first entry into the NDRA Pro Extreme Compact category. In only two public appearances so far, the dragster has reignited the pursuit of E.T. barriers in the sport compact world. At Memphis, Arslanian and the team will be looking for the first full pass of the 262-inch wheelbase dragster, after minor parts failures scratched previous attempts.
“Obviously, there’s no championship for the import dragster this year, but it doesn’t really matter - the dragster is for the fans. This sport was built on pioneering visions and the dragster is the latest reality our tradition of breaking barriers. I think Memphis fans will be in for a real treat, regardless if they are watching the StreetGlow Solara or the AEM dragster.”
Fans not able to attend the race, but interested in following the event can follow the latest results on www.nopi.com. The entire event will also be recorded for television broadcast on NOPI Tunervision on SPEED, Wednesday nights at 8:00 pm and 11:00 pm. For more event information about the NDRA NOPI Memphis, please visit www.nopi.com.
Editor’s Note: Members of the media interested in attending the event are encouraged to contact Kevin Macvaugh, Bullish Motor Racing, (201) 342-8374 or Seth Rubin, Alan Taylor Communications, (212) 714-1280.
About Bullish Motor Racing
Bullish Motor Racing, based in Hackensack, New Jersey, is a premier professional sport compact drag racing team competing in both the NHRA and NDRA sport compact drag racing series. Owner/driver Ara Arslanian competes in a tube-framed Toyota Solara powered by a 1,600 horsepower production-based, turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-6 engine. In the past three years, the team has amassed an unprecedented 4 championships with their third consecutive NDRA Championship coming last year. In addition to the national titles, the team also currently holds and has held quarter mile ET and MPH world records in the NHRA and the NDRA, as well as numerous track records. www.bullishmotorracing.com
About Street Glow, Inc.
StreetGlow® defined a new category in the automotive aftermarket with the introduction of Auto-Neon® and has since inspired a new generation of enthusiasts with its extensive line of performance lighting products. Their cutting-edge line of StreetGlow and OPTXR by StreetGlow branded products continues to drive new automotive lighting trends and showcase the popularity of this emergent category. Named to the prestigious Inc. 500 list of America's fastest growing private companies for four consecutive years, StreetGlow, Inc. is the number one choice in Auto-Neon and performance lighting products worldwide. For more information, visit www.streetglow.com or www.optxbystreetglow.com
Bullish Motor Racing 2005 Season Statistics
NDRA NOPI Drag Racing Series
- NOPI Race Wars Firebird Raceway, Phoenix, AZ, March 19-20, 2005 Ara Arslanian: Qualified 2nd, 7.04-sec/202; Finished 2nd (redlight) Notable: First race with new 3.4L, twin-turbo engine program
- NOPI Race Wars DC Maryland International Raceway, Mechanicsville, MD, April 9-10, 2005 Ara Arslanian: Qualified 1stP, 6.755-sec/205.85-mph; Finished 1st (6.751-sec./204.57-mph d. Manny Cruz 7.953-sec./168.35-mph red-light) Notable: First race with new dual-rail fuel injection system; recorded a weekend best 6.751 pass in final.
- NOPI Race Wars Virginia
Virginia Motorsports Park, Dinwiddie, VA, April 23-24, 2005
Ara Arslanian: Qualified 3rd, 11.128 /83.12; Finished 1st (6.908/199.82) d. Don Nase 8.33/120)
Notable: Third consecutive victory matches career best win streak.
- NOPI South Florida
Moroso Motorsports Park, Morrison, CO, June 4-5, 2005
Event cancelled due to rain
- NOPI Rockingham
Rockingham Dragway, Rockingham, NC, June 25-26, 2005
Ara Arslanian: Qualified 3rd, 7.107/185.46; Semifinal Round (6.700 /206.48 l. Matt Scranton 6.638 /208.04)
- NOPI Bristol
Bristol Dragway, Bristol, Tennessee, July 9-10, 2005
Ara Arslanian: Qualified 2nd, 6.890/202.03; First Round (7.168/191.76 l. Brad Personett 6.938/206.76)
- NOPI St Louis
Gateway International Raceway, St. Louis, MO, July 30-31, 2005
Ara Arslanian: Qualified 5th 6.940/203.49; First Round (7.520 /203.74 l. 6.744/210.64)
Summer Sport Compact Slam
- BFGoodrich Tires Summer Sport Compact Slam
Old Bridge Township Raceway Park, Englishtown, NJ, July 2-3, 2005
Ara Arslanian: Match race vs. Bob Benza; 6.89/209 best E.T.
ABOUT OUR SPONSORS
Through our sponsors, team Bullish Motor Racing has been able to compete at the highest level of performance with the best resources and equipment. Bullish Motor Racing thanks all of our sponsors for their great support in making us a championship team.
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