R3 Motorsports announced Friday that Mahindra Tractors will serve as the primary sponsor on the teams #23 Chevy that Mike Skinner will attempt to qualify for the 2009 Daytona 500. R3 Motorsports, which fielded a part-time Nationwide Series effort last season for driver Robert Richardson Jr., will attempt to qualify for its first Cup race with Skinner behind the wheel.”I first want to thank R3 Motorsports and Mahindra Tractors for this opportunity to race,” said Skinner. “The Daytona 500 is one of those things, that as a racer, it is an honor to be able to compete in. The crew has been busy working back at the shop to put a car out there that will be strongly competitive and qualify for the big show. Even though the team is very young and it is their first Cup race, there is a tremendous amount of knowledge and expertise at R3 Motorsports. I hope with my veteran status that I can lend a hand and produce strong results at Daytona.” The team plans to attempt to qualify for the first five races of the season and then continue on a race-to-race basis. Veteran crew chief Slugger Labbe will make pit calls for Skinner at Daytona.(SceneDaily)(2-6-2009)
