Greg Usher to Make T.M.I Two Car Effort

MILWAUKEE, Wis. (March 25, 2000) -- Throop Motorsports Inc. (T.M.I.) announced today its intention to run a second team for driver Greg Usher with associate sponsorship from Lenders Bagles and Nickles Bakery. Usher will run each of the 20 American Speed As sociation (ASA) ACDelco Series events in 2000 and is eligible to compete for the Pat Schauer Memorial Rookie of the Year title.

The team will operate out of the Throop Motorsports/Meijer Racing shop under the guidance of shop manager Chip Caputo. Caputo also serves in the capacity of crew chief for teammate Butch Miller, who makes his return to ASA from the Craftsman Truck and Busc h Grand National Series. Chris Roth, a well-known and respected veteran crewman in ASA, will step into the role of crew chief for Usher's 2000 campaign.

"This is an awesome opportunity for me," said Usher. "Look at the talent I have surrounding me. A three-time ASA National Championship car owner in LeRoy Throop, a three-time ASA National Champion teammate in Butch Miller, a shop manager in charge of race car preparation who's a former ASA National Championship crew chief and a very talented race team. This year's rookie class looks to be the largest and perhaps the most talented I've ever seen in any motorsports series, so I'm sure I'll be needing all th e support my T.M.I. teammates can give me to keep the #45 car in the chase."

Usher competed in six ASA events in 1999, posting top-10 qualifying efforts in all six events with two top-10 finishes, highlighted by his fifth-place run at Berlin Raceway in Marne, Mich. T.M.I. owner LeRoy Throop, along with partner Carl Hartman, kept a watchful eye on Usher's 1999 efforts.

"Greg did very well last year, considering the great odds he was up against with his limited experience in these cars," Hartman said. "He showed both LeRoy and myself that he can be a legitimate contender for the Rookie of the Year title. We're certainly excited to be able to bring this effort to T.M.I."

Throop is no stranger to success in the ASA series. Two times he has won the championship with driver Butch Miller. He also was the team owner when veteran driver Bob Senneker won his only ASA National Championship title. Additionally, he has won the co veted Pat Schauer Memorial Rookie of the Year title with driver Johnny Benson Jr. and has headed successful efforts for such notable drivers as Glenn Allen, Dave Sensiba and Adam Petty.