FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 10, 2012
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Chris Ferguson Ends Up and Down Weekend on a High Note with I-77 Win



Mt. Holly, North Carolina – Chris Ferguson spent the weekend behind the wheel of his Mike Mercer owned Barry Wright Race Cars Chevrolet Performance Late Model for a pair of Carolinas events. Ferguson’s weekend was one of ups and downs but he was able to end the weekend on a high note by picking up a $1200 victory at I-77 Speedway in Chester, South Carolina. “It was sure nice to redeem ourselves on Saturday night after everything that happened on Friday. I really appreciate all of my crew and supporters standing behind me and our team. I am blessed to have the opportunity to drive this car for Mike Mercer and his family and the sponsors that he has. I am proud to be a part of his program and to be able to win races for him.” Ferguson said.

On Friday night Ferguson and the Mercer Team traveled to nearby Carolina Speedway in Gastonia, North Carolina for the NDRA Road Show. Ferguson had previously won in his last NDRA Road Show appearance at The Dirt Track at Charlotte Motor Speedway a few weeks earlier. Ferguson and his team just missed the set-up in qualifying and Ferguson wound up 7th on the starting grid. “We made some changes after hot laps in anticipation of how the track would change and the track just didn’t change. So we had to dig out of a hole. We made some pretty unusual calls and took a gamble on changes for the feature and it was paying off.” Ferguson added. After starting 7th Ferguson quickly moved into the top 5 and then on lap 10 Ferguson took the lead. “I was pretty stoked to come through there. That was a good field with Ross Bailes, Ron Parker, Dennis ‘Rambo’ Franklin and those guys in front of us.”

Ferguson’s high quickly turned to a low as he noticed that his power plant was running hot while under a lap 12 yellow flag. “Carolina was pretty wet and we had just packed the radiator full of mud coming through the field. I sure hated to pull in but I didn’t want to take any chance on hurting the motor. So we had to give up the lead. It was tough but it’s just a part of racing. We will be back at Carolina again and it owes us one.” Ferguson said.

On Saturday Ferguson and his team made the decision to travel to I-77 Speedway in Chester, South Carolina. The team had flirted with heading to Eldora Speedway in Ohio for a big $5000 to win FASTRAK show but decided to stay closer to home to make sure that all was good with their 604 crate engine. “I really wish we could have gone up to Eldora but we just wanted to make sure we didn’t hurt our engine and that we had the overheating problem corrected. So we couldn’t take a chance of driving that far and running into problems. So I-77 was our best option and I am glad we chose it.” Ferguson turned in the 2nd fastest lap in qualifying and put his machine on the outside of row number 1 for the feature event.

At the start of the feature Newberry, South Carolina driver Brett Hamm got the jump from the pole but Ferguson rallied to his outside and used his high-side momentum to drive by for the lead. It was a lead that Ferguson would never relinquish. Ferguson led all 20 laps to capture the $1200 winner’s purse. “I can’t say enough for how hard this crew worked to get us ready. My guys Brandon, Justin, Ken, Nick and Mike they all busted their tails Friday and Saturday and I owed them this win. I was hoping we could get the lead early and set our own pace. But Brett (Hamm) laid down a good lap there in qualifying and then he got a good start. So I had to really hustle the car up high to get back by him. It all worked out in the end. I want to thank everyone that helps us on this car and on our Super Late Model. We couldn’t do any of this without them and appreciate them so much.” Ferguson said.

Ferguson and the Mike Mercer Chicken Hauler Express will now set their site on the Pop Pursley Memorial on Tuesday Night, July 3rd at Cherokee Speedway in Gaffney, South Carolina. Ferguson will participate in the Chevrolet Performance Late Model portion of the event only as he takes a couple of weeks off from his Warrior Super Late Model ride. “I am excited about racing the Mike Mercer car at Cherokee. We have such a great fan base there and so many friends that can come and support us. Hopefully we can get Mike and these guys another win. We are sure going to give it all we have.” Ferguson concluded.

Ferguson would like to thank all of the sponsors on the #22 Mike Mercer-owned Barry Wright Race Car including Burdette Trucking, Just Cuts Plus, D1 Enterprises, FK Rod Ends, VP Race Fuels, Hooker Harness, Ayden Racing, Ellison Racing Engines, Fragola Performance Systems, CV Products, and Mark Peckham Trucking.

Ferguson would also like to recognize all the sponsors on his #22 Warrior Super Late Model including Starrette Trucking, Hals Plumbing, Carver and Sons Roofing, Quality Landscape Materials,  Big A’s Custom Graphics, Keith’s Handyman Service, Randy Clary Race Engines, Warrior Race Cars, Quality Fasteners Inc,  K&N Filters, FK Rod Ends, Fragola Performance Systems, ThreeWide Clothing, Schaeffer’s Racing Oil and Lubricants, ButlerBuilt Professional Seat Systems, Hooker Harness, Port City Racing, Keyser Manfacturing, Griffin Radiators, Weld Wheels, Outerwears, RF Composites, KELCAR Motorsports Media, Hypercoil, CV Products, Indocil Art, Dixon Creations, Oakley, ASI Racewear, Air Speed Race Products, Hawk Performace, DirtXtra.com, Velocita USA, Brinn Transmissions, and Behrent’s Performance Warehouse.

For more information and to keep up with Chris’ 2012 schedule visit his home on the World Wide Web at www.chrisfergusonmotorsports.com  You can also follow Chris on Twitter @ChrisFerguson22
 
Chris Ferguson Motorsports
106 Dawn Dr.
Mount Holly, N.C 28120
1(704)-780-8785
Fergyracing022@yahoo.com
www.ChrisFergusonMotorsports.com