The 2009 ARCA Daytona test was a very successful outing for BMR. With team owner Bill Martel still at home recovering, the team was lead by veteran crew chief Teddy Brown all weekend. "Not having Bill here was tough, but right now we just need him to get better." said Brown, "We want him to be all healed up for the season so he can be back down here when it counts in February." Teddy lead the crew through a light tech session on Friday, handling manly the overall car templates and the fuel cell certification for 2010. With Kyle not available on Friday to drive the car, the team called upon Clayton Rogers to come on Friday and shake out chassis BMR005, and to see how good the baseline setup was. "Having Clayton come down to help us out like that was a real good thing. With Kyle not having ever driven on a superspeedway before, it was good to let an experienced driver just shake the car out, make sure nothing was loose, and it helped us take care of the body rub issues before Kyle got there, meaning all we had to do was get him seat time and experience", said Brown. Rodgers tested the car in the afternoon session on Friday, turning a lap of 51.105 seconds at 176.108mph during the rain shortened session.
Saturday morning brought driver Kyle Martel to the speedway for the first time. "Its such an inspiring place. I mean, you look at the track itself, the history, the driving greats who have run here..... to just get my chance to compete just blows me away. I really hope that we are able to add our names to that list of winners." said Kyle. The team's goals for Saturday was just to get Kyle as much seat time as possible, so ARCA would sign him off for race approval for February's Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200. Kyle, however, had other ideas, quickly putting the #43 high up on the speed charts. Between the morning and afternoon session, Brown had this to say "I've never seen a driver take to this place that fast. Kyle just got into the car and seemed to be able to feel it from the get go. We gave him the best car we could, and he just ran with it." The team spent all of Saturday and most of Sunday's sessions just refining the setup of the racecar, decided to call it a day early Sunday afternoon and head back North. The team was in the top 15 on the leader board all weekend, with Kyle's average time and speed for the weekend being 49.545 seconds at 181.653 mph.
After turning over a hundred laps this weekend, Kyle was feeling pretty confidant on the team's return in February: "Man, what a weekend. I've never felt so good inside a racecar before. Heck, Teddy and the guys claim I fell asleep while in the car between practice sessions I was so relaxed in there! But seriously, it was an amazing weekend. I can't thank the guys that came down and the guys back in the shop enough for getting me this car. I don't really know how to say it. But it felt "right" out there. I just felt like I knew exactly what the car was doing every time we moved. That Automotive Specialties engine just digs hard to pull this car around, and this test showed me alot about how these bigger cars drive, and in addition to helping us here, I think its going to help out intermediate program. I feel like I know I can drive it in a little deeper, a little harder now and it will stick. And drafting. Drafting was cool. We went out and working with Danica in the 88 alot- I think we can definitely work with her in February. Its a neat feeling, the car sucking up to another like that. But I think I know how to draft, how to pass, and I think we made some good friends to dance with when we come back in February. To say I'm excited is an understatement. I can't wait."
The team currently has support from Hanover Cold Storage, Finish Line Transit, and Mama Jeans Restaurant. Sponsorship and product opportunities are still available in 2010 for the 43 car. We have many packages available and they are all customizable based on price and exposure desired. For sponsorship inquires contact Bill Martel at 717-821-8684.
For for media and public relations questions contact Chris Hofmann. CLHofmann@gmail.com or 484-336-9010
Kyle on track Saturday afternoon.
Clayton Rogers getting ready to go out Friday.
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