Among the All-Stars: Canadian driver Andrew Ranger to compete at NASCAR Showdown event

Source: Torchia Communications, delivered by CNW group.

TORONTO, Oct. 15 /CNW Telbec/ - After winning the first ever NASCAR
Canadian Tire Series championship, Andrew Ranger will be taking on the "best
of the best" at the NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown, a star-studded event on
the Irwindale, California half-mile oval, October 19-20.
Ranger, the 20-year-old driver from Roxton Pond, Quebec, earned an
automatic berth in the Showdown by winning the national title in his No. 27
Wal-Mart/Tide Ford. His all-star appearance was assured earlier this week when
Dick Midgley, the owner of Midgley Motorsports in Victoria, B.C., provided him
with a car and crew to compete in the event known as "the Daytona 500 of the
NASCAR Developmental Series."
"I'm really looking forward to this race, because it is a great chance to
see how you can do against the top drivers, and it is also an opportunity to
showcase your talent to a lot of people of influence in NASCAR racing," said
Ranger. "To be able to do this with such a well-respected team as Mr. Midgley
and his crew, I couldn't be happier with the way everything has turned out."
The Showdown, which is slated for 250 laps, brings together drivers that
have won a Grand National race, along with champions of the NASCAR
Developmental Series. The starting field for this year's race has been
increased to 40 cars.
"This is a tough competition," said Midgley, who has considerable
experience working with drivers in the All-Star Showdown. "Andrew has got
20-25 guys who are going to be real good out there. What he needs to do is get
familiar with the car and the race track, then push it in the last 50 laps.
One of the big things about a race of this sort is the exposure - a lot of
NASCAR people are watching, and that's when they pick up the best drivers of
each series."
While Midgley and his crew have never previously worked with Ranger, he
welcomed the opportunity to hook up with him for the all-star competition.
"Andrew is the Canadian champion, and Midgley Motorsports is based in
Canada, so it seemed like a natural fit," he remarked. "Andrew is pretty well
known everywhere. I haven't met him personally, but I've seen a few of his
races and I believe he is a very talented young driver."

About Andrew Ranger

At the tender age of 20, Andrew Ranger has already accomplished much in
his racing career. He won the Formula A Karting championship, captured
top-rookie honours in the Atlantic series and, in 2005, became the youngest
driver in Champ Car history to finish on the podium. He continued his winning
ways in 2007 by garnering the first ever NASCAR Canadian Tire Series
championship. Ranger is just as prolific off the track: a spokesperson for the
Victory Lap charity program since its inception in 2002, he has helped raise
almost $700,000 for the Children's Miracle Network and its affiliated Canadian
hospitals and organizations.

NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Awards Banquet

TORONTO (October 13, 2007) – Racing is not easy and winning a championship is even more difficult, but the hard work paid off for Andrew Ranger (No. 27 Wal-Mart/Tide Ford Fusion) and his team as they basked in the light of the Series Champions Saturday night at the Hilton Toronto/Markham Conference Centre. He was honored as the 2007 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Sirius Satellite Radio champion at the season-ending awards banquet. In this picture the Champion Team celebrate together with their awards proudly displayed!



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