Bourque Returns To NBES On Wave Of Momentum

WATERFORD, Connecticut (August 15, 2006) - - On a wave of solid finishes in the CASCAR Series and most recently the ARCA RE/MAX Series, NASCAR Busch East Series Rookie-of-the-Year candidate Pierre Bourque returns to his full season foray this Saturday at Waterford Speedbowl.

Bourque heads into the eighth race of the season looking to maneuver his way up in the series points standings as well as the close chase for Rookie-of-the-Year. Bourque gained one spot in the series standings with a solid performance two weeks ago at Adirondack International Speedway. Now with just a few races remaining schedule, Bourque looks not only for a significant gain but his first top-ten finish of the season.

Rewinding back the last two weeks, it’s been two finishes that Bourque won’t forget. In the Trois-Rivieres Grand Prix CASCAR event, Bourque started a very solid 14th and hovered just outside the top-ten before bringing home his No. 29 Dodge Charger to a very solid 12th.

Last Saturday, Bourque returned for his second career start in the ARCA RE/MAX Series. After starting in the back, he appeared more like a veteran than a rookie avoiding several late race accidents to collect a 21st place finish in his Superspeedway debut.

“The last two weeks were great additions to my racing resume. The CASCAR race was a lot of fun. A lot of twists and turns, but I finished on the lead lap and we were contenders. In the ARCA race at Nashville, I started my first Superspeedway ARCA event. I learned so much by competing in the ARCA race, it’s unbelievable. We avoided all the carnage and late race havoc and brought home a solid finish, now it’s time to get back down to business.”

Bourque, the only full time Canadian NASCAR driver competing in the sanction will once again have to battle the unknown as he’ll enter Waterford Speedbowl without any prior experience, but that doesn’t faze him as he takes the new endeavor as a welcomed challenge.

“I’m looking forward to this weekend’s race in Waterford. I’ve never competed at the Speedbowl, but I have great faith that my crew chief Dave McClure and the Fast Track Racing team will put a great car underneath me and we should have a great chance of scoring our first top-ten finish of the season.”

“I’m sitting 17th in the standings and I would like to reach the top-15 or higher, I think that would be a solid conclusion to my first year of racing. The Rookie-of-the-Year chase is still up for grabs and I think I can get my hands on that as well. There’s still a lot of racing left, we just have to make the best of it.”

Driving.Ca will adorn the primary sponsorship role this weekend. Driving.Ca is Canada’s No. 1 Automotive website.

In addition, Canada.com, Canada's biggest online community, Working.com, one of North America's top career sites, and Dose.Ca, a cool site that caters to hip Canadian urbanites coast-to-coast, will all serve as secondary sponsors on Bourque’s machine this weekend.

All four new sponsors are part of Canwest-Global, Canada's largest media company with interests in television, radio, newspapers and the internet. All four will be backing of Bourque’s NASCAR Busch East season, his remaining two CASCAR races, and his forays into ARCA.

“I’m really pumped about our new sponsors, especially after the great exposure the last two races,” he said, "they are leaders in their respective fields, both in terms of the way they use new technologies and the way they attract a sizable user base. I’m looking forward to helping them expand their reach into the North American stock car base, particularly within NASCAR's Canadian fan base, which according to public opinion polls, number some six million die-hard fans. It’s important to continue the stretch of good runs, because the fans will notice our car and take note. Our sponsors are our number one priority.”

Full Metals Minerals and Pollara Strategic Public Opinion, will also back Bourque’s racing effort this weekend as associate sponsors. “This team is surrounded by various and great sponsors. Every sponsor is important and I appreciate all of their efforts. Full Metals Minerals and Pollara Strategic Public Opinion have been with me all season and I know a top ten finish for them on Saturday night would be a great boost.”

When asked about the advantage of his recent races in the CASCAR and ARCA Series, Bourque mentioned, “It’s been great for me and my sponsors to continue racing. With this being my first full season of racing, I’m using the off weekend in the NBES to my advantage by acquiring more seat time in other venues. This will benefit me not only this weekend but the remainder of the season as well.”

The Big Y World Class Market 150 (150 laps/56.25 miles) is the eighth of 11 events on the 2006 NASCAR Busch East Series schedule. Practice begins Saturday, August 19th with an hour and a half session (1:30pm-3:00pm EST). Busch pole qualifying is on tap at 5:00pm EST with the race set to take the green flag at 7:30pm EST. The race will be broadcasted live on HDNet with SPEED enhanced replay on Thursday, August 31st at 5:30pm

In addition to running the full NASCAR Busch East Series in 2006, Pierre Bourque and Fast Track Racing will make limited starts in the ARCA RE/MAX Series. Bourque will also make his final CASCAR Series race next weekend with Whitlock Motorsports.

For further in site on Canwest-Global and its associates please log onto http://www.Driving.Ca , http://www.Canada.com , http://www.Working.com and http://www.Dose.Ca

For more information on Full Metals Minerals, please visit http://www.fullmetalminerals.com

For additional input on Pollara Strategic Public Opinion, please logon to http://www.pollara.ca

From Chris Knight, Fast Track Racing