L A T E S T  N E W S

RCR Signs Caisse to its NASCAR Nationwide Series Program

Richard Childress Racing has signed Sean Caisse to drive its No. 2 Chevrolet Impala SS in a limited number of NASCAR Nationwide Series races in 2009 and a more expanded program in 2010.

The 23-year-old driver from Pelham, N.H., is scheduled to make his RCR Nationwide Series debut next month at Nashville Superspeedway. Caisse will drive the No. 2 Chevrolet Impala SS at the June 6 Federated Auto Parts 300 and a yet-to-be-determined number of other Nationwide Series races this season before a more expanded program in 2010.

“Getting a chance to drive for Richard Childress Racing is a huge opportunity for me,” said Caisse. “RCR has been around for 40 years and had a lot of success so driving for them is the best fit moving forward in my career. I worked with Dan Deeringhoff (crew chief for RCR’s No. 2 Chevrolet) and all the guys at a test session last week and we already have a great chemistry. I’ve been fortunate to have had some success over the years in ARCA and the NASCAR Camping World East Series so I think I’m ready to take the next step.”

Caisse earned his first ARCA RE/MAX Series win in April 2009 at Rockingham (N.C.) Speedway in just his sixth series start. He earned rookie of the year honors in the 2005 NASCAR Camping World East Series and went on to capture seven series victories over the next two seasons. He then earned two top-five finishes and a pole position in just five series starts in 2008. Caisse has one Nationwide Series start, at Dover (Del.) International Raceway in September 2006, and one Camping World Truck Series start, last October at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway.

“Sean brings a lot of young talent to our Nationwide Series program,” said Childress. “He has had a good deal of success in his short career and we think he will make a strong contribution to RCR’s Nationwide Series program. The plan is to get Sean into as many Nationwide Series races as possible this year and then team him up with one of RCR’s Sprint Cup Series drivers for the 2010 Nationwide Series season.”

Caisse Involved in Incident on Lap 92 at Toledo Speedway,
Finishes 25th

TOLEDO, OH (5-17-09) - Sean was running in the top 5 from the green flag on during the ARCA RE/MAX Series Menards 200 presented by Federated Car Care at Toledo Speedway in Ohio. Sean ran well until contact with a lapped car around lap 60 caused slight repairs bringing him back out in 14th for the restart.

Sean had moved up to the 11th position when on lap 92 when he was involved in a 3-car incident involving rookies Steve Arpin and Joey Coulter, causing damage which left him on pit road for lengthy repairs. Sean returned to the track 13 laps down in 28th place on lap 111, and finished the race in 25th.

Caisse Wins Career-1st at Rockingham April 19th

ROCKINGHAM NC (4-19-09) - Veteran Ken Schrader dominated the Carolina 200 Sunday at Rockingham Speedway, but it was rookie Sean Caisse who walked off with the winner's trophy.

Schrader, after leading 185 of 200 laps, ran out of gas with less than three laps to go, opening the door for Caisse who sailed on through and into victory lane to earn his career-first victory in his sixth series start.

"Well I can say I've lost a lot of races before, not necessarily running out of fuel but tires going down or something; but I've never won a race this way," said Caisse, who only led three laps all day. "I can tell you it feels just as good."

Caisse, in the Venturini Motorsports Texas Corral-PME Engines Chevrolet, battled and chased Schrader all afternoon but could never find a way around the Fenton, Missouri driver until Schrader's tank ran dry.

"I won the race but I didn't beat him (Schrader). He was doing such a great job with throttle control. I did get to race him side by side for the lead. It would have been a lot sweeter if we could have all made one more pit stop and battle for the win to the end."
Schrader, who made it to pit road, lost a lap in the exchange and returned to finish seventh.

"They (Caisse/Venturini Motorsports) were the best car for 200 laps and that's what matters," said Schrader. "I didn't expect to go without a yellow for that long. I started conserving with about 40 laps to go but it wasn't enough. I am proud of the show the ARCA Series put on today."

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