KEY MOTORSPORTS TAPS RICH RUBENSTEIN  AS VP OF OPERATIONS

Curtis W. Key, founder, owner and President of Key Motorsports, now a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series organization, has named NASCAR marketing and media relations veteran Rich Rubenstein as the company’s first Vice President of Operations.

Rubenstein founded and has served as President and CEO of On Track Marketing, Inc, a full-service motorsports marketing, management, consulting and media relations agency that has been a fixture within the NASCAR community since 1992.

The Matthews, North Carolina-based agency has managed and provided support services over the years for such notable sponsors as the Dollar General Corporation for Frank Cicci Racing with Jim Kelly, the Northeastern Supply Company, State Water Heaters, the Auto Ventshade Company, Winnebago Industries, Virginia is for Lovers Racing for the Virginia Tourism Corporation, Team Marines Racing, Texas Pete Hot Sauces, Exide Batteries, Easy Care Vehicle Service Contracts and Link-Belt Construction Equipment.

On Track Marketing will continue to operate with Rubenstein to remain as a consultant and the company’s CEO.

Rubenstein will primarily oversee the sponsorship procurement and support efforts for Key Motorsports. He will also supervise the company’s marketing and media relations activities and will assist Key in various other areas of the business including personnel.

“I have known and worked off and on with Rich for more than 12 years, and he brings a wealth of experience, a high degree of integrity and an excellent reputation to my race team”, Key stated. Key recently purchased land and two race shops in the new Performance Park off Shinn Farm Road and Highway 152 in Mooresville, NC.

Key returned to the NASCAR wars in 2003 after a 4-year hiatus, building a new 12,000 square foot shop on his plumbing company’s campus in Chesapeake, VA from where he ran a limited number of Craftsman Truck Series races due to a lack of sponsorship. His recent move to the new Mooresville facility, previously owned by Charlie Lagano and Joey Lagano Racing, will signal a return to full-time competition for Key Motorsports in the Craftsman Truck Series.

Directed by former truck series driver and now Key Motorsports Team Manager and Crew Chief Lance Hooper, the team will enter next month’s Daytona 250 at Daytona International Speedway to kick off the 2006 season with a driver still to be named.

21-year-old and up-and-coming driver Brandon Whitt, a winner on the circuit last year for Red Horse Racing but without a ride so far this season, tested the #40 Key Motorsports Chevrolet Silverado in Daytona last week and posted the 18th best speed. Whitt is on a short list of drivers that Key is considering for the seat. Key is expected to make a decision shortly.

Key Motorsports first opened in 1993 as a limited NASCAR Busch Series operation based in Chesapeake where Key owns and operates the highly successful Curtis Key Plumbing contracting business. Former Busch Series champion Tommy Ellis, 2004 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series titlelist Bobby Hamilton and veteran Tom Peck were amongst Key Motorsports’ first drivers.

Key then built a new shop in the Mooresville (NC) Motorsports Center in 1996 from where he prepared Busch Series cars that were driven over the years by two other former Series champions in Chuck Bown and Larry Pearson, Jeff Burton, 1997 Rookie of the Year contender Jimmie Foster with sponsorship from the Speed Vision and Outdoor Life Network, and multi-time ASA Champion Kevin Cywinski. Economic conditions with his plumbing business and the death of his brother forced Key out of the sport and back to Virginia in 1999.