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David Green, SK Motorsports team looking forward to timely break
By Lee Montgomery - Associate Editor
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
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Once driver David Green makes it through this weekend’s Sam’s Town 300 NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, he’ll be able to step back and take a deep breath.
Green’s SK Motorsports team is barely a month old, meaning the upstart Toyota team has been thrashing to get cars ready, get people hired and get the shop organized. And, oh yeah, the team has had to get cars ready to race, too.
Busy? The 1994 series champion said he has “been on another planet” for the last month, often working 16 hours a day alongside crew members of the new team.
“That two-week break after Vegas is the most welcome two-week break I’ve ever seen in racing,” said Green, who was 30th at Daytona and 18th last week in California. “That’s going to be fun to take a breath of fresh air and really assemble our team.”
After the Vegas race, the Nationwide Series has two weekends off before returning to the track March 21 at Bristol Motor Speedway.
SK Motorsports, which is co-owned by Pete Szekeres and Jared Keeney, was officially formed Jan. 20. The team bought the assets of the former Fitz Motorsports team, including Fitz’s expansive shop in Mooresville, N.C., and the points from Fitz’s old No. 22 Dodge team that allows Green to race in each of the first five races of the season.
“Because of circumstances beyond our control, our hitting the green light went from September to Christmas to New Year’s,” said Green, who entered the year with nine wins in 387 career starts. “Ultimately, we hit the go button Jan. 20. I’ve been involved [in the sport] for a long time, and that’s by far the latest.”
Several cars were bought from the former Gillett Evernham Motorsports team, and because they were Dodges, SK’s small crew had to work long hours converting them to Toyotas.
Barely three weeks later, the team showed up to race in Daytona, and Green was indebted to the six crew members who helped prepare the cars with team manager Harold “Skeet” Lathrop and crew chief Jon Wolfe.
“I made sure I shook their hands and thanked them,” Green said. “Without their help, this couldn’t have happened.”
Green met Szekeres and Keeney through Lathrop and was immediately impressed. Szekeres, who owns a measurement and calibration company in Michigan, laid out his plans for the team to Green in one of their first meetings.
“Pete and Jared have stepped out and made a commitment,” Green said. “Making the commitment to get here, put everything in place, the building, to go through all the red tape we’ve had to go through just to get going shows me that commitment is there.”
Green initially suggested the team wait until May to make their on-track debut, simply to make sure everything was ready. But SK wanted to get going and included the points deal with Fitz, meaning they would indeed start at Daytona.
Green said the team has a budget in place to run the full season with or without sponsorship. For now, though, Green’s No. 07 Toyota doesn’t have a backer.
Eventually, the team wants to run two cars, and Szekeres said a second car for his son, Kris, will be entered in the two Nationwide road-course events, Montreal and Watkins Glen. Kris Szekeres has competed in the Grand-Am Rolex GT Series and would eventually like to compete full time in NASCAR.
When Szekeres’ time will come, no one knows. It’s been a whirlwind this far for the team.
“I’ve had a lot of fun at it,” Green said. “I just wish we had another couple of weeks.”
Mentioned Drivers: David Green
2009 Sprint Cup Race for the Chase Standings
Driver Standings after the Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts 500
| 1 | Jimmie Johnson | 6492 |
| 2 | Mark Martin | -108 |
| 3 | Jeff Gordon | -169 |
| 4 | Kurt Busch | -211 |
| 5 | Tony Stewart | -285 |
| 6 | Juan Pablo Montoya | -289 |
| 7 | Greg Biffle | -321 |
| 8 | Denny Hamlin | -352 |
| 9 | Ryan Newman | -411 |
| 10 | Kasey Kahne | -476 |
| 11 | Carl Edwards | -520 |
| 12 | Brian Vickers | -666 |
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Comments
6 responses to "David Green, SK Motorsports team looking forward to timely break". Post a Comment.
J. L. Steele said:
Feb 24, 2009 at 4:11 PMGood story. It's great to see David in the top 20 in points with a new team. Finally someone had the sense to hire an experienced, winning champion who knows how to take care of cars instead of going with another "young gun". They should pick up a sponsor quickly. I'd hate to see an all black car sitting in victory lane.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportScott Hall said:
Feb 24, 2009 at 5:22 PMGood for David. He's a really good guy who deserves a shot at a good ride. Good luck to the entire SK Motorsports team in 2009 and beyond.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportBecky Deline said:
Feb 24, 2009 at 6:05 PMOne of the nicest guys you'll ever meet and I am really happy to hear that he's racing this season. I wish him the best of luck!!!
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» Confirm Abuse ReportScott Farrington said:
Feb 24, 2009 at 8:00 PMWell This Longtime David Green fan Is Thrilled To See Him Back Behind The Wheel! If He Continues To Run As Well As He Has, They Should Have No Problem Picking Up A Sponsor.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportMax Finkelberg said:
Feb 24, 2009 at 8:32 PMDavid Green deserves a break. He finally gets a ride at SK Motorsports. Have I ever heard of that team? No. But does he have success, possibly get a top-15 or something? Yes! Go, David! After your break, you will have great runs!
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» Confirm Abuse ReportAnonymous said:
Feb 25, 2009 at 8:13 AMI WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME MORE DAVID GREENS AND JASON KELLERS BACK IN THIS SERIES GARY VETTER
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