Key Motorsports’ founder, Curtis Key, announced that he has relocated his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series operation from Chesapeake, VA to RACE CITY U.S.A. – Mooresville, NC. Key Motorsports was first formed in Mooresville in 1993 and competed in the NASCAR Busch Series through the 1998 season. After taking a 5-year hiatus to reorganize his plumbing contracting business, Key reformed as a Craftsman Truck Series team in 2003 in a brand new shop located on the Curtis Key Plumbing business campus in Chesapeake. “Virginia is rich in NASCAR history and fans”, stated Key “I wanted to have a team close to my business so I built the race shop right behind my plumbing warehouse. But running a NASCAR team in Virginia just proved to be quite difficult due primarily to a lack of experienced mechanical and technical personnel. It also should be easier to attract sponsorship for race team based in the same market were 90% of existing NASCAR teams are currently based”‘ Key added. Key Motorsports follows the Woods Brothers, Nextel Cup Series team operation in leaving Virginia for North Carolina, with the team of veteran driver Ricky Rudd making the move last year. Currently, only Morgan-McClure Motorsports Nextel Cup and HT Motorsports Craftsman Truck Series organizations in NASCAR’s top three touring series maintain full-time ties to Virginia. “We tried very hard to make a NASCAR team work in Virginia”, Key explained. “We hired crew members from North Carolina, sought sponsorships from several Virginia based companies and even became a member of Governor Warner’s Virginia Motorsports Coalition, but we didn’t receive any help. Making the move to Mooresville should enable us to grow and secure the elements we need to succeed in this business”, he added. Key purchased the buildings and adjacent property in Mooresville previously owned by Logano Motorsports and located at 222 Pit Rd, just off highway 152. Key Motorsports has entered two Craftsman Truck Series races recently with their Chevolet Silverado’s with Andy Houston behind the wheel. Lance Hooper, like Houston a truck series veteran as both driver and crew chief, is the team’s crew chief and team manager. The team is currently negotiating for Primary and Associate level sponsorships for the balance of races this season and for the entire 2006 season. For more information visit www.keymotorsports.us or contact Zac Boals at 704-663-1670.(Key Motorsports PR)(9-29-2005)
