Jimmy Kite Earns Second Top-20 in NASCAR Truck Series

MADISON, Ill., May 2, 2005 � Jimmy Kite continues his strong rookie season in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. The Stockbridge, Georgia-resident marked his second NASCAR start with his second top-20 finish earning 18th at Gateway International Raceway's Ram Tough 250. Kite qualified the No. 06 MRD Motorsports Chevrolet Silverado 32nd for the 250 mile race at the St. Louis-area oval and, despite dropping back in the opening laps, began to fight his way towards the front. He raced the red and neon yellow Dave Malcolmson-owned Chevy as high as 15th before the checkered flag fell on lap 160. Kite, who finished on the lead-lap for the second race in a row, has qualified for both the races he has attempted to start in the highly competitive Truck Series. Five drivers were sent home after posting slower times than the Missouri-native in qualifying at Gateway. By virtue of their impressive sophomore performance, Kite and the MRD team gained three positions, up to 38th, in the 2005 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series point championship with Saturday's run. The 06 Chevrolet has 215 points after two starts. Kite has the third most points earned for drivers who have entered two of the five races run in 2005. The likeable IndyCar Series veteran is fifth among rookie drivers in the point standings having finished as the second-highest rookie at Gateway. Kite will join the MRD Motorsports team- led by Bryan Berry- at Lowe's Motor Speedway on May 20th for the Quaker Steak & Lube 200 presented by Click It or Ticket. The MRD Chevrolet had a strong test at the 1.5-mile Charlotte, North Carolina oval in late April giving Kite� who has two IndyCar Series starts at Lowe's� confidence entering one of the toughest events on the circuit. The team will announce additional NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series events as they finalize the schedule for Kite and the 06 truck in the coming weeks.Jimmy Kite: “It was a lot of fun. I kind of handicapped us qualifying so bad and we had to start so far back. The biggest thing I learned in the first tire/ fuel stint was how much I still had to learn. The second stint I was really happy with. We picked up a lot of speed. The last two stints the tires just weren't as good and we were holding on until the end. This track's completely different than Atlanta. I learned a lot of different things here I didn't in Atlanta. It definitely takes a different style. I have a lot of fun running these things and I'm really enjoying working with Dave, Bryan and the MRD crew. We'll prepare and get ready for Charlotte now. I'm looking forward to going to Lowe's.”To learn more about Jimmy Kite, please visit www.JimmyKite.com. For the Jimmy Kite Fan Club, log-on to www.JimmyKiteFans.com. To keep in touch with Jimmy and the MRD Motorsports Team go to www.TeamMRD.com.###