Golden Gate Racing -RCR Development announce new Late Model race program

Feb. 11, 2012 - PRLog -- By Bill Sullivan, GGRT Media Relations

SAN FRANCISCO, CA  (2-10-12) –  For more than two decades the Golden Gate Racing Team has been one of the most recognized racing organizations in asphalt racing venues throughout the west coast. The team is known best for its success in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West where it carries the support of Richard Childress Racing Driver Development (RCR).  Now, the successful duo of Richard Childress and team owner and Jim Offenbach are taking their development efforts one step further with a late model racing development program.
In the coming weeks, GGRT/RCR will begin racing duel venues in conjunction with the NASCAR West Schedule. Offenbach and the boys of the bay will debut a new GGRT/RCR Development Port City Chevrolet Late Model for select events with a handful of different drivers behind the wheel to display their skills before one of the west's most powerful audiences of spectators and team owners throughout the West Coast.
   "We've considered doing this for some time and now we have put together a strong operation to make it reality," said Steve Portenga, Competition Director for the Golden Gate Racing Team. "GGRT and RCR Development will use this car and team as a tool to gear up potential drivers to one day enter the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West. The growth of the sport is important to us and finding talented drivers is an integral part of that growth."
   While today they are best recognized for their success and integrity in the NASCAR regional series, the Golden Gate Racing Team is by far no stranger to success in Late Model stock car racing. Since its inception, the team has had numerous victories as well as a championship in the NORCAL Racing Circuit with well known outlaw Lee Olibas behind the wheel.  Additionally, Portenga, GGRT competition director and crew chief, is a two-time NASCAR Southwest Tour champion with great success in the Late Model ranks.
   "GGRT has deep roots in Late Model racing out here," said Offenbach. "We've been very successful with a championship and many open show victories. Steve Portenga was very successful in these cars and has a great deal of knowledge to share in this new Late Model program. We should do extremely well and RCR has provided us with great motors for this program so we are ready to go. Let's go Late Model racing."
   In addition to supplying resources to the Golden Gate Racing Team, Childress is an active force in the development of up and coming drivers. Based in Welcome, North Carolina, Childress spends as much time as possible with Offenbach and the Golden Gate Racing Team when his busy schedule permits him to break away from the NASCAR Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Truck venues. Now one of the sports most successful team owners, Childress believes in grass roots racing as it was where he began back in 1965 when he purchased his first race car for $20. Today he recognizes the importance of the growth of NASCAR and the development of up and coming drivers.
   "I'm looking forward to the progress of the Golden Gate Racing Team-Richard Childress Racing Late Model Program," said Childress. "This program will play an important role in the development of these young drivers."
   The GGRT/RCR Late Model program will compete in as many Late Model races as feasible in conjunction with its busy schedule in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West. The team will utilize a number of drivers selected by Offenbach and Portenga to pilot the #21 Chevrolet at venues such as Madera, Roseville, Havasue, Stockton and more.
   The new program will debut in just a matter of weeks in Madera. The first driver to strap into the GGRT/RCR Development #21 will be Bobby Runyon Jr. of Denair, California. In 2009 Runyon was accepted into Ron Sutton's Winner's Circle Program and began successfully racing Formula Fords, capturing the 2009 SCCA San Francisco Region Formula Ford Championship. In 2010 Runyon advanced into USAC Ford Focus Midgets and later moved to open wheel modified stock cars where he has continued with great success.
   "Bobby Runyan Jr. will be our first driver behind the wheel and should do very well, he's got a lot of talent," said Portenga. "Throughout the season we will use different drivers and will announce them accordingly. This is all about developing young talent and getting them exposure on the track and in the headlines. GGRT has all the best tools and personnel to make these drivers successful."
  In addition to the new Late Model program, the Golden Gate Racing Team is geared up to run for the 2012 NASCAR K&N Pro Series West Championship with primary driver Michael Self of Utah behind the wheel of the #21 Impala.  Self will be joined in select events in the year to come by North Carolina's Austin and Ty Dillon who have been signed to drive the GGRT/RCR #31 throughout the season.

The Golden Gate Racing Team/RCR Chevrolets carry the sponsorship of RCR, Bay Bio Diesel and the Golden Gate Meat Company. Additional associate sponsors that support them are the Richard Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma, RCR Street Performance, Hill Meat Company, Corte Madera Tow, Harraka Racing Equipment Sales, Foodcomm International, Signco, Praxair and JW Web Design. The team is grateful for all of the support from their sponsors and looks forward to many which will return in 2012 along with new supporters.
   For an in-depth look at the Golden Gate Racing Team or to inquire about sponsorship opportunities, visit their official website at www.goldengateracingteam.com. To learn more about the Richard Childress Racing Driver Development program visit www.rcrracing.com All four entities can also be found on facebook, become a fan today. Public relations and media materials for the Golden Gate Racing Team are provided by Sullivan Images Media. www.sullivanimages.net.