NASCAR Winston Cup Scene reporter Rick Houston has learned that Team Bristol Motorsports [#54 Hermie Sadler] owner Rick Goodwin has signed Leilani Munter to a driver development contract. Munter, who has raced Late Model Stock cars, will enter a number of races in another division, such as Busch North [BGNN], with an eye toward making a late-season Busch Series start, possibly at Memphis.(Winston Cup Scene Daily Newsletter)(1-16-2003)
UPDATE: Team Bristol Motorsports owner Rick Goodwin announced today that he has signed Leilani Munter to a driver developmental contract. Goodwin, the owner of the # 54 BGN team, plans to enter Munter into a driver training program for 2003, with hopes of entering the Rochester, MN native into a late season Busch Series race. “I am really excited about working with Leilani and hopefully leading her driving development into the Busch Series,” Goodwin said. “As many people know, I am very committed to the goal of having a full-time female Busch Series driver and I believe with the proper training, Leilani can be that driver. I think it would be wonderful to have a young lady in the Busch Series full-time, however I realize we must take the time and fully prepare her for the challenge. We will enter Leilani into a number of races in one of the feeder divisions of the Busch Series this season. In addition to beginning an extensive testing program, she will also travel with our Busch Series team and work in the shop on a daily basis. If she can prove to me over the course of the year that she is ready to drive a Busch Series car then we will enter her in the Memphis race in October, if not, we will continue to train her for the Busch Series.” Munter expressed her excitement of entering into the driver training program. “I am really excited about the opportunity to race for Team Bristol this year,” Munter said. “I can’t thank Rick Goodwin enough for believing in me and giving me this once in a lifetime opportunity. I look forward to the training schedule that Rick and I are currently working on and achieving the milestones we will set.” Munter graduated from The University of California, San Diego with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. While still in college, she began working as a model, following graduation she made the move to film. On the set of Cameron Crowe’s “Almost Famous” it was brought to her attention that she resembled a certain up and coming actress. Soon after, casting directors hired her to photo double for Hollywood starlet Catherine Zeta-Jones in Steven Soderbergh’s Academy Award winning movie “Traffic” and Revolution’s romantic comedy “America’s Sweethearts. Munter has also worked as a stunt double and precision driver in many films. Over the last few years Munter began to drive late model stock cars. Munter has also spent time in training with the Panoz GT Series and ARCA Series. Munter worked in 2002 as an instructor at The Richard Petty Driving School. Munter has recently relocated from Charlotte to Bristol, VA to be involved in the day-to-day operations of Team Bristol Motorsports. Team Bristol is presently negotiating with potential sponsors for Munter 2003 racing program.(Camp & Associates PR)(1-17-2003)
