Newman Wachs Racing reunites with Summerton

SUMMERTON REUNITES WITH NEWMAN WACHS RACING FOR REMAINDER OF ATLANTIC CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON

Mundelein, IL (July 6, 2009) - Newman Wachs Racing announces today the return of Jonathan Summerton to their Atlantic Championship operation for the remainder of the 2009 season.

Summerton, who drove for NWR in 2008, finished 3rd in the Championship after claiming two wins for the team (Edmonton and Road America) in addition to a pole position at the season finale at Road Atlanta. He has spent the first part of 2009 competing in the Firestone Indy Lights (FIL) series as well as the Atlantic Championship on a race by race basis.

With the success that Summerton and NWR shared in last season's Championship, team owner Eddie Wachs decided to reunite with the young American. "I am glad to have Jonathan back with us. I think that he and John (Edwards) will both push one another and in turn, make each a better driver," states team owner Eddie Wachs. Summerton currently sits 2nd in points, just ahead of his new teammate John Edwards. The talented driver has been touted as one of the most promising young American drivers competing in the United States. He has been publicized as being a serious consideration for the U.S. team that plans on entering Formula One in 2010.

Jonathan Summerton #34 Nuclear Clean Air Energy/ Entergy/ NEI/ Newman Wachs Racing: "I am very excited to re-join the team and get back to our winning ways of last year. I appreciate the opportunity Eddie has given me and I am looking forward to winning the championship that the team deserves."

Newman Wachs Racing was founded by the late actor, Paul Newman and business leader, Eddie Wachs. Based just outside Chicago, NWR is in its fourth season on the Atlantic Championship series with two "Nuclear. Clean Air Energy" cars supported by MAZDASPEED, along with the Nuclear Energy Institute and Entergy Corporation. Newman Wachs Racing heads into its fourth year of competition in the Atlantic Series in 2009. In its four years of competition, NWR has earned 1 pole position, 4 victories, 9 podium finishes, and 17 top-fives. www.newmanwachsracing.com

The MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development program has identified the Atlantic Championship Series as the top rung of the open-wheel ladder and supports drivers at all stages of their racing careers. Starting with the Skip Barber Series and ending with Atlantics, the backing from Mazda is essential to young drivers' in their path to the top. The MAZDASPEED ladder grants a scholarship to the Champion of every supported Series, allowing them a chance to make the jump up and continue to live out their dream of becoming a professional racing driver. www.mazdausa.com

The Nuclear Energy Institute is the policy organization of the nuclear energy and technologies industry and participates in both the national and global policy-making process. NEI's objective is to ensure the formation of policies that promote the beneficial uses of nuclear energy and technologies in the United States and around the world. www.nei.org

Entergy Corporation is an integrated energy company engaged primarily in electric power production and retail distribution operations. Entergy owns and operates power plants with approximately 30,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity, has annual revenues of more than $13 billion and approximately 14,700 employees. Entergy is the second-largest nuclear generator in North America and safely operates plants that power more than 10 million homes in Arkansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, New York and Vermont. www.entergy-nuclear.com

-credit: nwr