Time for an update following our last race in Toledo.  Since then we’ve carried out a lot of work to take advantage of our excellent starts in this season’s stock car racing.

Our main objective was to get off to a good start and to finish in the races.  And that is exactly what we did, finishing 13th out of 45 at Salem and 19th in Toledo, despite a penalty relegating us to last place halfway through the race.  More remarkable, we finished in the lead lap at the end of the race, drawing significant attention.
 
Having well fulfilled our primary goals,  we are now in discussions with several large companies.  In the world of motor sports, nothing moves forward without the backing of solid partners and without continuing to progress and gather up maximum  experience before launching into the NASCAR series remains more than ever our ultimate goal.  

Since I decided to enter stock car racing in the USA, I have, on occasion, encountered skeptics.  It’s true that I come from a French and European world where automobile races occur only on Formula 1 circuits.  Beating the odds of adapting to American-style races, not only on oval tracks but with cars weighing almost 2 tons and generating 800 horsepower, was not easy by any means!

However, after these two races, those skeptics have changed their thinking.  We are now recognized as future adversaries.  The infatuation and enthusiastic support of American fans for a Frenchman rising to this challenge, as well as the increased media attention, further prove I am fully in the running.

Since 2003, when NASCAR officials invited me to the Homestead track in Miami, much has transpired.  At that time, I had occasion to meet with none other than Alain Prost.  He had gone there to get a better feel of  NASCAR racing as he was planning to start up a team.  I won’t forget the day that he phoned me to explain his plans and to ask me what mine were.  Unfortunately, nothing further developed with his project as the time was not yet ripe for launching a French team in NASCAR.  But for me, nothing has dampened my desire to race in this championship series.

The year 2007 found me behind the wheel in a NASCAR race on the Jacques-Villeneuve track in Montreal.  An earlier press release reviews the conditions and outcome of that race.  I will simply add that, as a result of that experience, I finally made the excellent contacts that have placed me in a favorable environment with team professionals who share the same goal of racing in NASCAR in the USA.

I deeply thank them all.  Without their help, achieving my goal would have been nearly impossible.

The Jack Bowsher team, currently under the direction of his son Todd, and Julie his mother, is for me the best team for making a good start in stock car racing.  Their passion for the sport is endless.  We share an excellent friendly relationship, and our experiences together have only brought us closer.  I will never forget the tears of joy of several team members, not to mention mine, at our first race together in Salem.  That weekend’s race was far from being an easy start.  The race was delayed due to incessant rain, and I had to dodge a number of  collisions on the track.  Finishing the race was about all we were expecting.  So to finish 13th, you can just imagine our excitement.

Today we are motivated more than ever to continue to progress.  We only need now to link up with our principal partner.  We can already count on those who have made it possible to make our debut.  And those who will make it possible for us to achieve our goal of getting into the NASCAR series, will soon be making their decisions.

I’d like to thank Christian Estrosi, Mayor of Nice, for his continuing support and also his staff’s kind assistance.

I’d like to also thank  my family, David R., Louella S., Jeremy V., Christian E., et Christian T., Pierre B., Gilles L., Jean-Marc V., Arnaud R. (US-Racing.com), Christophe Schwartz, Alexandre (website designer), Patrice D. (Sogno di Cavallino), Eric M. (Aeromagic), Nice-Matin, SHARK helmets, and, of course, the members of my team who welcomed me with open arms and who have done all that’s possible to provide me with the best of cars in the face of tight budgetary constraints.  Not to be forgotten are all those enthusiastic NASCAR fans, both in France and the USA, who have sent messages of support, and whose gestures of friendship provide me with incredible energy to continue to meet the challenge ahead.

Thanks again to all.

Until very soon on the USA tracks.

Regards,
Michel Disdier

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
Frenchman Michel Disdier Finishes Strong at Toledo
 
TOLEDO, Ohio (5-21-08) — After an impressive 13th place finish at Salem Speedway, Michel Disdier followed up with a respectable 19th place finish at Toledo Speedway.  ARCA’s hometown short track was the site for the Hantz Group 200 presented by Federated Car Care on Sunday May 18th.   
 
The Nice, France native was welcomed with open arms by the fans at the Toledo Speedway.  “All the people at the race track and fans were so very kind,” said Disdier.  “I am very thankful and happy for all the people that are supporting me.”
 
After a successful test at the Toledo Speedway in April, hopes were high for a great finish and exciting race.  Disdier’s qualifying

lap of 16.57 seconds put the No. 21 18th on the starting grid.  He made his qualifying attempt in a Ford fielded by the long-time ARCA/REMAX Series team Jack Bowsher & Associates Motorsports.
 
“I felt really good qualifying and at the beginning of the race,” stated Disdier.  “We had a really good start, the crew prepared a great car and I really had a good feeling.  I had confidence in my car, my crew and my ability to pass other cars.  I was more comfortable competing with the faster cars and drivers this time.  Toledo was a little tricky for me compared to Salem but, I still felt more comfortable behind the wheel and with the track at Toledo Speedway than Salem Speedway.”
 
With the 2008 season bringing so much exciting action and fierce competition to the ARCA/REMAX Series, there would be no exceptions for the Toledo race. In typical short track tradition with split second decisions, Disdier’s quick natural racing instincts were tested to the fullest potential and he responded well to the challenge. Disdier managed to avoid an early wreck right in front of him in the middle of turn three and four on lap 11 to bring out the first of many cautions for the day.
 
The yellow flag dropped once again on lap 64. With pit strategy in mind, the decision was made to send Disdier down pit road where Jack Bowsher & Associates Motorsports team made a routine pit stop for tires and fuel.
 

Just past the halfway point on lap 105, the yellow was displayed for rain and the red flag shortly followed.  Mother Nature was once again not cooperating with the teams on Sunday.  The teams endured rain, wind and hail before seeing the checkered flag.  After a two hour delay, the engines refired and racing resumed shortly after 5:00 pm.  
 
The race ended with a green, white, checkered finish.  Disdier crossed the finish line on the lead lap capturing the 19th place position.
 
“We ran in the top-20 almost the entire race,” said Todd Bowsher, team manager/spotter/mentor.  “I feel Michel used good instincts the whole day.  With more seat time under his belt, he can concentrate more on powering his way to the front of the field with confidence and aggressive moves in the future races.  We will use this experience to improve and build on for the next race.”

For more information on Jack Bowsher & Associates Motorsports, please visit toddbowsher.com. 
 
For more information on Michel Disdier, please visit michel-disdier.com.
 
 

Michel Disdier Racing Press Release

Michel made his ARCA RE/MAX debut at Salem Speedway on Sunday with an impressive 13th   

Michel Disdier Moves One Step Closer to His American          Dream

SALEM, Indiana (4-16-08)--Michel Disdier made his ARCA     RE/MAX debut at Salem Speedway on Sunday with an impressive 13th place finish. 

Disdier stated before the race, "I want to finish and finish   well."  Mission accomplished.

After a successful test at the Toledo Speedway last Thursday, Disdier and the Jack Bowsher & Associates Motorsports team was anxious to take the green in Sunday's Kentuckiana Ford Dealers 200 by Federated Auto Parts. Mother Nature was not cooperating with the teams on Sunday morning at Salem Speedway.

A long awaited break in the weather allowed ARCA to drop the green flag two hours after the original start time. Strapped into the famed No. 21 Jack Bowsher & Associates Motorsports Ford in the 24th starting spot, Disdier was eager to learn the ropes of a tough short track.  After starting the race under caution, the green was thrown on lap 16.  Cautious driving rewarded Disdier by avoiding a major pile up coming off of turn two on lap 30 where more than 10 cars were involved.  He moved to the 18th position when he took the green flag again.  The Nice, France native was more determined than ever to move forward through the field.  Just past the halfway point, the yellow flag dropped again.  Disdier would pull in the pits under caution where the Jack Bowsher & Associates Motorsports team changed four tires and fueled the car.After avoiding several more pile ups with his quick instinct, he knew what he had to do.  Becoming more comfortable with each lap, Disdier powered his way to a spectacular 13th finish. After the race Disdier states, "In 2002, I went to my first NASCAR race in Homestead, Florida and that's when I knew I could do this job.  My dream is starting to come true.  I'm touching it and now I am a little closer.  The Jack Bowsher & Associates Motorsports team is wonderful and they will help me with my dream!  It's been very hard to find the "right" team.  I now know that this (Jack Bowsher & Associates Motorsports) is where I belong."Team manager/spotter/mentor, Todd Bowsher added, "I feel Michel did a great job and we were very pleased with the progress of the entire weekend.  The 13th place finish was icing on the cake.  We look forward to a promising future."  After this weekend, Disdier added his name to the growing list of international drivers entering stock car racing in the United States. For more information on Jack Bowsher & Associates Motorsports, please visit toddbowsher.com

For more information on Michel Disdier, please visit michel-disdier.com

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