CRA: Bobby Murany enters rookie class 2002

Bobby Murany Enters Rookie Class

Salem, Ind. (February 27, 2002) – After producing two top-10 finishes in only five starts in 2001, Bobby Murany and R&M Engineering have announced their intentions to compete for Hubler Group Rookie of the Year honors in the CRA Sunoco Super Series in 2002.

“We had some great runs in 2001, so the entire team is excited about the upcoming season,” said Murany. “We showed last year that we have potential to run up front, but we have to put it all together.”

Last season, Murany, 32, made his first career start in the Sunoco Super Series at Salem Speedway and finished in seventh position. He followed that up with a fourth-place run at Illiana Motor Speedway in July. The Mt. Morris, Mich., driver also gained experience competing at Toledo Speedway, Indianapolis Raceway Park and Salem again later in the year.

Murany began his driving career in 1993 at Michigan’s Auto City Speedway, placing eighth in the street stock point standings. The following season, he switched to IMCA Modifieds at Owosso Speedway. Murany then raced on various asphalt and dirt tracks in Michigan until he took a year off from driving in 1999 to spot for ASA competitor Tristan Dupuis. Murany’s car owner, Bryan Robertson, served as crew chief and tire specialist on the same ASA team.

“It was a great learning experience to spot for Tristan in his rookie season in ASA,” commented Murany. “It’s unbelievable how much you can learn. The knowledge Brian and I learned in ASA took our Jasper Modified team to the next level.”

In 2000, Murany competed in 70 percent of the Jasper Modified Series events, finishing 6th in the point standings and winning a series-best four races. He recorded victories at Anderson Speedway, Illiana Motor Speedway (twice) and Salem Speedway.

“The Jasper Series was a great training ground to prepare for the Sunoco Super Series. You learn a lot of different tracks and have some pretty stiff competition,” added Murany, who is the most recent competitor to venture to the CRA from modifieds. Other former Jasper Modified competitors now racing in the Sunoco Super Series include Jeff Lane and Shelby Howard.

The 2002 Sunoco Super Series season opens at Anderson (Ind.) Speedway on Saturday, April 20. For up-to-the- minute coverage, visit the official series website at www.sunocosuperseries.com.

-cra-