Self stomachs tough weekend to drive to second place in Portland

Aug. 30, 2012 - PRLog -- Self stomachs tough weekend with second place Portland run
By Bill Sullivan, GGRT-RCR Media Relations
PORTLAND, OR  (7-26-12)  - Heading to the Pacific Northwest ,it was no secret that Utah's Michael Self and the Richard Childress Racing Driver Development supported Golden Gate Racing Team would be a force to contend with as the NASCAR K&N West rolled into Portland, Oregon. Known for his success on the road course, Self lived up to such expectations, driving to a second place finish in the Napa Salute to the Troops 125 on the 1.967 mile road course.
   "Once again this team and our whole organization has amazed me and more than met my expectations and those of many others," said Self, who was racing Sunday while fighting off a stomach ailment that sidelined him for several days before the race. "The team put together such a good car for me and we had everything we needed to contend for the win once again.
   After a pair of strong runs in practice, Self qualified third for Sunday's race with a top speed of 92.762 miles per hour. The effort placed him behind series point leader and defending champion Greg Pursley who earned the pole position and former champion Eric Holmes who started second on the grid.
   At the waving of the green flag, Pursley set the pace while Self immediately drove the Rockwell Watches/Golden Gate Meat Company #21 Chevrolet into the runner up position and locked Pursley in his sights for the entire event. Pursley would never relinquish the lead for Sunday's event while Self would run the entire race within striking distance of the leader. Self continually closed in on Pursley through the technical portions of the track while holding off the efforts of Holmes despite his physical condition all the way to the finish line.
   "The kid is tough as nails," said Jimi Z., owner of the Golden Gate Racing Team. "We are very proud of Michael. He showed his true colors in this race and his desire and passion to perform well for this team by hanging in there with a fever and feeling under the weather. Watching his performance Sunday, you never would have known how poorly he was feeling, he was just tough as nails all day long."
   As anyone in the sport is aware, the Golden Gate Racing Team is the only NASCAR Team on the West Coast that is supported by NASCAR Sprint Cup Icon Richard Childress and Richard Childress Racing Driver Development based in Welcome, North Carolina. With his busy schedule following his NASCAR Cup teams and maintaining his corporation that employs hundreds, Childress makes time to pay close attention to his San Francisco based development team. Self's recent strong run definitely caught the attention of Childress.
   "The boys at GGRT are going good work and it's really showing," said Childress. "I'm proud of them and hope they keep up the good work."
   Self's second place finish marked his seventh top five finish of the season in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West and his 8th top ten finish overall. Currently Self and the Golden Gate Racing Team are sixth in the series point standings, just nine points behind Holmes with three events left on the tour in 2012.
   "Greg Pursley drove a great race and unfortunately I made a couple of mistakes but they are all things that I am still learning from,: added Self. "It was a tough weekend in terms of how in terms of how I was feeling dealing with food poisoning the whole time I was at the track but I'm fortunate to have an awesome supporting, understanding and helpful team behind me,"
   The NASCAR K&N Pro Series west will now head to Albuquerque, New Mexico at Napa Speedway on September 29th followed by All American Speedway in Roseville on October 13th and Phoenix International Raceway on November 1oth to wrap up the 2012 championship. Self has two victories to his name thus far in the series and is focused on another before he closes chapter on his strongest season in NASCAR competition.
   "We're going to keep this momentum up and get that extra little bit we need to nail another win or two here before the end of the year," said Self."
   Michael Self' and the Golden Gate Racing Team/RCR Chevrolet carries the sponsorship of Rockwell Watches, Richard Childress Racing Driver Development, Pat O'Keefe's Bay Bio Diesel, the Golden Gate Meat Company and Dr. Michael Self Plastic Surgery. 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 Sullivan Images Media Specialties.
   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 follow Michael Self on twitter you can find him @mself-21. To find our more about Michael Self's newest sponsor visit www.rockwelltime.com.  Media materials for the Golden Gate Racing Team/RCR Development provided by Sullivan Images Media  www.sullivanimages.net  email: sullivanimagesmedia@gmail.com