Carmichael to Return to the No. 4 in 2010

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (January 27, 2010) – Continuing to show support to a remarkable athlete that over the years has done more to elevate the Monster Energy brand in the world of action and motorsports than any other, the Monster “M” claw will grace the green and black No. 4 Chevrolet Silverado of Ricky Carmichael in the 2010 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Joining forces with Turner Motorsports, LLC, Carmichael will compete in the entire 25 race NCWTS.

In the history of the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA), no other rider has won as many championships (15) and races (150) as Carmichael, earning him the nickname the Greatest of All-Time (the GOAT). He was also a record five-time AMA “Rider of the Year.”

The 30-year-old Clearwater, Florida native competed in 16 NCWTS races last season for Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI) scoring two top-10 finishes before moving over to Turner Motorsports for the final two Truck Series races of the year, where he drove the No. 31 Chevrolet. He also piloted a KHI entry in two ARCA Racing Series presented by REMAX and Menards races in 2009.

Carmichael will wheel the Monster Energy sponsored truck in all 25 NCWTS events. In addition he will steer a Monster Energy Chevrolet in nine ARCA races, beginning with the season opener at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway. “Monster has been a sponsor of mine for five years,” said Carmichael. “So it’s really an honor for them to continue to expand their motorsports efforts with me. I learned so much as a driver working with Kevin (Harvick) last year. He encouraged me to make the jump to Turner Motorsports because of the number of races I was going to be able to compete in. I know seat time is the key for me becoming a successful driver. Last season was a great year for me, but I am really looking forward this season.”

“We’re quite pleased to be back in NASCAR and supporting Ricky in 2010,” said Nick Gagliardi, Monster Beverage COO. “Ricky has been instrumental in making Monster Energy the No. 1 energy drink in America, and as we help him to reach his goals in racing, he’s going to help us in the marketplace with an entirely new sales and marketing program we’ve structured around him.”

Mike Fritts, who served as Carmichael’s crew chief in his first stock car endeavor in 2007, will again assume the role as crew chief for the 2010 season. The No. 4 Monster Energy team is locked in for the first five races of the season based on last season’s championship points.

For more information on Turner Motorsports or Ricky Carmichael visit RickyCarmichael.com and TeamTurnerMotorsports.com.

About Monster Energy:
Monster Energy supports the scene. Be it, MX, SX, surfing, BMX, go-karts, pit bikes, mountain bikes, PWC racing, off road, rally, insane distance jumping, MotoGP, road racing, supermoto, FMX, skate, rock crawling, wake, surf, snow “name it” seems athletes and bands are rockin’ Monster Energy more than anything these days. Check out the types – Original Monster Energy, Lo-Carb Monster, Monster Assault, Monster’s fruit juice hybrids dubbed Monster Khaos, Monster M-80 and Monster MIXXD, the ground-breaking Java Monster and X-Presso Monster premium coffee & cream drink line supercharged with Monster Energy’s blend, 3 oz. Monster Hitman Energy Shooters, Monster Import, and the new nitrous oxide injected Nitrous Monster. Everybody running the Monster Energy Mammoth MX will be diggin’ ‘em – so will you. On the Net at MonsterArmy.com and MonstErenergy.com.

About Turner Motorsports:
Turner Motorsports, LLC, established in 1999, embarks on its inaugural full season in NASCAR competition. Co-owned by Texas natives Steve and Sandra Turner, the racing organization is operated out of a 30,000 square-foot facility in Mooresville, N.C., which houses two NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Chevrolet entries piloted by James Buescher and Ricky Carmichael. In addition, Turner Motorsports fields part-time entries in the NASCAR Nationwide Series and ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards, with Carmichael behind the wheel and a full-time USARacing Pro Cup Series team with driver Logan Ruffin. For more information on Turner Motorsports, visit TeamTurnerMotorsports.com.
-TMS-

MORGANTOWN, W. VA. – MX Sports, producer of the AMA Amateur National Motocross Championships, is pleased to announce the formation of two new and exciting opportunities for amateur riders. The inaugural Ricky Carmichael Daytona Amateur Supercross Championship will take place on Sunday, March 7 at Daytona International Speedway, and on Monday, March 8, Carmichael will then host Ricky Carmichael University, the first public riding school ever hosted by the 15-Time AMA National Champion.

Both events will take place after the Daytona Supercross By Honda on Saturday, March 6, where those amateur families will have the opportunity to see the best stars in AMA Supercross, such as Chad Reed and James Stewart, battle in America’s toughest, most challenging Supercross event of the year.

“This is an unprecedented opportunity for amateur racers to ride at Daytona International Speedway,” said Tim Cotter, director of MX Sports. “Every horsepower buff knows what Daytona stands for. It is the heartbeat of the racing universe, and now amateur riders will have the opportunity to race on these storied grounds and learn from the Greatest of All-Time.”

“I’m super pumped to be involved with this,” said Carmichael, a five-time Daytona Supercross By Honda champion. “I feel like Daytona is one of my racing homes, and to be able to give back to the sport like this will be awesome. You never forget your roots. For the riders, this is an amazing opportunity to race on the Daytona track. I’m really looking forward to sharing my knowledge with them.”

MX Sports will organize the event by utilizing their nearly 30 years of experience operating the AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship at Loretta Lynn Ranch. The class structure will include 25 classes for youth riders on 50cc bikes all the way up to vet and senior classes. The race will follow a supercross format, using heat races and last-chance qualifiers to seed the field of riders into a main event in each class. Unlike the Loretta Lynn Ranch format, riders do not need to qualify at other races in advance in order to participate in the Daytona event. Full online signup information is posted on MXSports.com.

While amateur riders have competed at Daytona before, the Ricky Carmichael University event on Monday, March 8, is an unprecedented opportunity. The Ricky Carmichael University will feature the legendary Supercross champion and his team sharing exclusive riding secrets during a one-day-only Supercross camp on the Daytona track. It marks the first time amateur racers have had the opportunity to tap into the techniques and skills of the Greatest of All-Time.

The amateur track will run a basic layout similar to the Daytona Supercross By Honda with changes made to accommodate amateur and youth riders. Amateur riders and their families are encouraged to come down early and camp on the Daytona infield, where hookups are available.

“Both of these two events are great additions to our busy motorcycle schedule,” Daytona International Speedway President Robin Braig said. “Our Supercross course is legendary around the country and it’s a special opportunity for these amateur riders to test their skills on it, as well as learn from a legend such as Ricky Carmichael.”

Full information on the race and riding school is available at MXSports.com.

About MX Sports
MX Sports, Inc. is a Morgantown, West Virginia-based motocross production company. The group coordinates the AMA Amateur National Motocross Championships, which includes a national qualifying program consisting of 52 Area Qualifying races held annually from February through May and 12 Regional Championship races conducted in June at select motocross facilities across the country. The national championship event is held during the first week of August at the home of country music star Loretta Lynn in Hurricane Mills, Tenn. For more information, please visit MXSports.com.