Key Motorsports Performance Concealed 
by Penalties at Las Vegas Motor Speedway

Mike Bliss, driving the #40 Key Motorsports Chevrolet, started 28th in Saturday’s Sam's Town 300 at Las Vegas. One-quarter of the field broke the previous track record in qualifying, making any accomplishment more remarkable. The 27th place finish while running matched last week’s effort at Auto Club Speedway.

The car unloaded fast-off-the-truck Friday, taking 10th fastest in first practice. That feat encouraged the team that difficulties experienced the prior week would not recur. Bliss and the #40 Chevrolet maintained similar practice times during Happy Hour.

“We had a fast car all weekend,” Crew Chief Gary Showalter said. “Our new engine performed well and the car gave us no problems.” The unsponsored team fared better than 23 other efforts including Kenny Wallace, Danica Patrick and 9 other sponsored teams.

Rain and track-drying activity delayed the start of the race for over 90 minutes, and pending weather raised concerns about completing the event without an extended stay. At 6:16 PM Pacific time, the field was turned loose on the track.

A competitor scattered engine parts through turns 1 and 2 for the first caution at Lap 6. Bliss avoided getting caught up in another incident on Lap 17. Just 20 laps after the start, the #40 Key Motorsports Chevrolet was scored 21st and was by Lap 53 one of only 24 cars on the lead lap.

The short and still-wet approach to pit road contributed to easy sliding—and difficulty slowing. A pit stop under green flag conditions drew a speeding penalty at Lap 56. A second speeding penalty while entering to serve the first resulted in NASCAR exercising a rule to hold the team an extra lap. The team returned to the track 35th and three laps behind the next competitor. With no further setbacks the #40 Key Motorsports team climbed back through the field steadily.

Mike Bliss piloted away from a two-car tangle between competitors near the exit of pit road on lap 83, when sprinkling on the track resurrected concerns about finishing the event in one day. At the halfway point raindrops were reported on pit road, and weather drew a caution flag. Luck the race was not stopped and the #40 Key Motorsports team returned to earn more positions. Bliss deftly avoided three more one-car incidents and a three-car accident on lap 171.

“I feel very bad about the pit road penalties,” commented driver Bliss. “We were more cautious after that and got no more.”

Showalter followed up, “We may not have gotten an accurate (tachometer) reading during pace laps because of the conditions.”

The “never-say-die” approach rewarded the #40 Key Motorsports team with 82 points in the fight for a locked-in position when 2010 owner’s points become the determining factor later this year. Mike Bliss and the #40 Key Motorsports Chevrolet will return to Bristol Motor Speedway for the Nationwide Series’ next scheduled event, the Scotts Turf Builder 300 on Saturday, March 20, 2010.

MIKE BLISS LAS VEGAS MOTOR 
SPEEDWAY NATIONWIDE ADVANCE

STAYING THE COURSE - Mike Bliss returns to Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the Sam's Town 300 Nationwide Series race behind the wheel of the #40 Key Motorsports Chevrolet. Seeking Primary sponsorship, the car will be wearing red, white and black colors.

FEATURED ASSOCIATE SPONSOR - Holiday Inn Henderson/East Las Vegas located at 1553 North Boulder Highway in Henderson, Nevada will be hosting a gathering with the Key Motorsports Nationwide car and team in attendance to celebrate the hotel’s position on the #40 Chevrolet’s fender. “We are looking forward to meeting with all of the race fans in Las Vegas Thursday evening,” said Bliss. “Race fans are such great people, their energy is contagious and I always get excited when I am able to spend some time hanging out with them.”

Quotes and Facts:

RETURNING AS A PREVIOUS POLE WINNER TO LAS VEGAS – The 2004 Nationwide race saw Bliss earn the envied position. Team and driver have a combined half-dozen Top-10 finishes separately at the track; the combination of the two should yield a high finish.

SHOWING IMPROVED RESULTS – “Gary Showalter's been working hard on these cars to put on a good display on this Western swing, we had a tough time but still were running at the finish last week.” Bliss continued, “That’s getting better, but this whole Key Motorsports Chevrolet team will show a lot more.”

ON LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY - Race length: 200 Laps/ 300 Miles Track layout: 1.5-mile Shape: D-Shaped Oval

Nationwide Schedule: All times are PT Thursday 7 p.m. - Haulers Enter Friday 10:00 a.m. - 10:50 a.m. - First Practice 1:40 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. - Final Practice Saturday 9:00 a.m. - Qualifying 1:30 p.m. - Sam’s Town 300

ESPN2 will begin broadcasting with live pre-race events at 1:00 p.m.

Mike Bliss Appearing At Holiday Inn Henderson/East Las Vegas Thursday, February 25, 2010

NASCAR driver Mike Bliss will meet with race fans at the Holiday Inn Henderson /East Las Vegas on Thursday, February 25, 2010.

Bliss, who will be in town to compete in both the Shelby American GT 350 Sprint Cup and Sam's Town 300 Nationwide Series events at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway this weekend, is scheduled to begin meeting fans at 8 pm. Bliss will be available to sign autographs and pose for pictures with race fans in attendance.

"We are looking forward to meeting with all of the race fans in Las Vegas Thursday evening," said Bliss. "Race fans are such great people, their energy is contagious and I always get excited when I am able to spend some time hanging out with them."

The popular Oregon native will carry the logo's of the Holiday Inn Henderson/East Las Vegas as an associate sponsor of his #40 Key Motorsports Chevrolet in the Sam's Town 300 on Saturday, February 27, 2010.

All race fans are encouraged to come out and meet Mike Bliss, along with members of his Key Motorsports team, on Thursday, February 25 at the Holiday Inn Henderson/East Las Vegas located at 1553 North Boulder Highway in Henderson, Nevada.