FOR MMEDIATE RELEASE
June 23, 2011
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Matt Long Scores First Win of the Season in Lancaster Speedway Triumph

Lancaster, South Carolina – After a season filled with ups and downs Matt Long and his Circle K ThirstBuster Race Team have finally found their mojo. Long narrowly missed taking his first win of 2011 on Friday night at Gastonia, North Carolina’s Carolina Speedway, finishing second to Ron Parker. However on Saturday night Long wouldn’t be denied. “We had gotten a little down. We were struggling a little bit. But we took that trip up North last weekend and had two good runs and that really gave me a little confidence coming into this weekend. Our Rocket was really good at Carolina and Lancaster. It felt good to be leading races again.” Long said of his outstanding weekend.

On Friday night Long returned to Carolina Speedway for the NDRA Weekly Racing event where he turned in a 5th place qualifying effort. At the drop of the first green flag Long knew he had a car capable of winning. “I just took off. Everybody, or at least I thought everybody, was still struggling with the new configuration at Carolina but our car was just locked in. We got to the lead in about 5 or 6 laps and I was thinking we were finally gonna get back into that City Chevrolet Victory Lane but with just a few laps left Parker caught us. We had a hell of a race and in the end he was able to get by me to win. That guy is strong right now. He came from the rear of the field so congrats to him on the win. We will be back to try and beat him next week.” Long added.

Saturday found Long and the Circle K Team at Lancaster Speedway in Lancaster, South Carolina for another NDRA Weekly Racing event. Long laid down a lap in time trials which put him second quick overall just a few ticks behind quick qualifier Ross Bailes. “The car was great in the feature. We were able to grab the lead right off the bat and then led every lap to get the win. We really needed it. That really helps us to get qualified for the NDRA Roadshow that’s coming up in a few more months. We have worked really hard on the car the last few weeks trying to dig out of the hole that we seemed to be in lately. We haven’t been terrible by any means. In fact we have had several good runs this year but we needed to get that win to solidify that we were going in the right direction.” said Long.

This coming weekend Long and his team will head back to Carolina Speedway for the NDRA Weekly event. This weekend however Long will have some extra incentive to get his second win of the year. Carolina Speedway has placed a $500 bounty on Ron Parker. If someone can take the win and Parker finishes on the lead lap that driver will pick up an additional $500. Add to the longtime Matt Long Racing sponsor FK Rod Ends has added another $500 if an FK sponsored driver can pick up the win. With the bounty money and increased purse for the weekend Long will be gunning for a possible $2100 winner’s purse. Long will make a decision on Saturday racing closer to the weekend but he has narrowed it to ether the Fastrak Southeast Touring event at Hartwell Speedway in Hartwell, Georgia or the Fastrak Weekly event at Wythe Raceway in Rural Retreat, Virginia. Watch the website and the Matt Long Racing Facebook page for the schedule decision.

Matt would like to thank the following for their continued support of his Circle K Race Team : Circle K Convenience Stores, Heintz Performance, VP Racing Fuel, Integra Shocks and Springs, Port City Racing, FK Rod Ends, Kooks Custom Headers, Raceceiver, JM Adams Oil, Q Racing Oil, Franklin Racing, Dirtwrap, Jim Cook Transmissions, K&N Filters, Stock Car Steel, SRI Supplies, ButlerBuilt, City Chevrolet, , Valken Racing Wheels, MD3 Noses, Team Clay, KELCAR Motorsports Media, J&J Race Cars, Brembo Brakes, Fragola, and Simpson.

Race fans can keep up with Matt Long and his Circle K Racing Team in several ways. You can follow Matt on Twitter @MattLongRacing or you can “friend” Matt Long Racing on Facebook or you can simply point youir web browsers to the all-new www.mattlongracing.com . There you will find a fully up-to-date schedule as well as information about the team and their sponsors. The latest Circle K Team apparel will also soon be available via the site or at the Circle K Team Hauler at the track. For more information including store locations visit the Circle K Company website at www.circlek.com