Series Utah round 10 finale preview

25 Racers are Ready for Ford Racing Mustang Challenge Championship Finale at Miller

TOOELE, UT--17 September 09--This Saturday will see the final chapter of the ten-race 2009 Ford Racing Mustang Challenge season played out on the series home turf of Miller Motorsports Park's 24-turn, 4.486-mile circuit. 25 racers and their Ford Mustang FR500S machines are entered for the event as Mustang Challenge once again partners with the combined Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car and KONI Sports Car Challenge race weekend.

The Miller Motorsports Park round of Mustang Challenge competition will also be a celebration of sorts, as it marks the conclusion of a successful sophomore season for the series, which is the only nationally-operated race series that is owned and operated by a race track as the season fittingly races to a close on home territory.

Nine of the ten races are in the books as the Miller weekend has attracted the strongest entry of the year, with 25 Ford Mustang FR500S machines ready to go on Saturday.

2008 Mustang Challenge Champion Andrew Caddell, who was recently tabbed by Autoweek as one of ten "Next Generation" racers to keep an eye on, is looking to secure his second consecutive Mustang Challenge title this weekend. With his 47-point advantage over nearest points pursuer Ted Anthony Jr., Caddell could lock up the championship before the race even starts thanks to the bonus points on offer for qualifying.

But no matter how the Miller event goes, Caddell is having a season that any driver would envy, with three race wins and a podium appearance in every Mustang Challenge race to date this season. And the Washington native is not lacking motivation, as he knows that if he takes the title, Caddell would score an encore run in Grand-Am KONI Sports Car Challenge competition at Daytona with Ford Racing support as part of the Champions Package.

But Caddell's closest championship pursuer, Anthony, Jr., has also had a break through year and is far from conceding the crown just yet. The TC Motorsports racer won at Miller to close out the season last year, and then added to his resume with wins at Barber Motorsports Park and Homestead Miami Speedway in 2009, so count on a tough battle to the end from the Washington native.

And while the attention will be focused on the top slot in the championship battle, don't discount the other race that's on offer this Saturday--the championship showdown for third in the standings.

The racing in Mustang Challenge has been as close as ever this year, and the standings show that. With just the 45-minutes of action remaining in the season, there are three drivers who will look to make the most over every second at Miller Motorsports Park. With just 12 points separating Dan Aweida, Jason von Kluge, and Pratt Cole, the battle for third in the overall championship will go right down to the wire.

Ford Racing Mustang Challenge Notes, Miller Motorsports Park:

--Caddell an Autoweek "Next Generation" Racer:
Andrew Caddell was tabbed as one of the top ten drivers to look for in the September 7th issue of Autoweek as the esteemed bi-weekly listed the 2008 Mustang Challenge Champion as one of ten racers to keep an eye on in the future.

--Capaldi Racing welcomes a new driver:
Derek Skea will make his Ford Racing Mustang Challenge debut this weekend at Miller Motorsports Park, driving with Capaldi Racing. Skea calls Waxhaw, South Carolina home and has some Rolex Sports Car Series experience already under his racing belts as he readies for this weekend.

--Mustang Challenge racers ramp up for Miller weekend with run in NASA competition:
Pratt Cole and George Winkler were in race action last weekend, running in the American Iron category. Cole will look to move up in the championship standings this weekend from fifth in the order. The NASA tune-up was particularly good for Winkler, who emerged with a podium run after taking second place with his FR500S.

--Capaldi Racing making KONI Challenge debut:
It will be a busy weekend for Mustang Challenge racer Steve Phillips, who will team with Brian Smith to make his Grand-Am KONI Sports Car Challenge debut in a Ford Mustang FR500C this Friday as Capaldi Racing fields the No. 14 SoutherLee Motor Racing machine.

--Ted Anthony Jr. and D Rick Edwards join to race KONI Challenge:
Ted Anthony Jr. and D. Rick Edwards are slated to run in the Grand-Am KONI Challenge race on Friday with Compass360Racing. Anthony has previous KONI experience with the team this season, and will look to bring the iconic orange machine home up front as the championship-leading team does battle out West. Compass360 partners with the Ford Racing Mustang Challenge to provide key multi-media elements and internet presence for the series.

--TC Motorsports boasts four-car entry as Zach Lutz joins team with his No. 33 FR500S:
TC Motorsports will look to secure the championship if possible with Ted Anthony Jr., and will also hope to emerge from the weekend with the best collection of results in team history as the Washington-state-based team will sport a four-car entry this weekend. Rick Edwards and Steve Miller will also aim high once again for TC.

--Clicking with Click:
Experienced racer and Arizona resident (and Ford Dealer!) Jim Click will be back with the Mustang Challenge once again as he teams with Mike McGovern (3rd place, 2008 Mustang Challenge Championship) for this weekend's season-finale race. Click has scores of experience in a wide range of racing machinery, most of which boasts the Blue Oval. Welcome back, Jim!

Every car in the 2009 Ford Racing Mustang Challenge championship carries a small black "LHM"decal to commemorate the passion, vision, and commitment that Larry H Miller had for Ford and the Ford Mustang. The Ford Racing Mustang Challenge is just one of the countless living legacies of Mr. Miller, and the drivers, team, and fans of the Mustang Challenge are proud to honor his memory and carry on his passion. Thank you, Mr. Miller.

-credit: www.mustangchallenge.com