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Keyed Up Motorsports Announces Sprint Cup Debut
Raymond Key, younger brother of NASCAR Nationwide Series team owner Curtis Key, announced today he is currently assembling a Sprint Cup Series team with assistance from Key Motorsports. Key's Sprint Cup team, Keyed Up Motorsports, plans to debut in the 2010 Daytona 500.
Key Motorsports, based in Mooresville, North Carolina, is providing technical and engineering support as well as engines, personnel and shop space to Keyed Up Motorsports for the Sprint Cup effort.
"I have watched him run for years and it seems like everything is coming together this year," Raymond Key said of his elder brothers Nationwide program. "I feel that Curtis and the Key Motorsports team have the technical knowledge and ability to make us competitive in the Sprint Cup Series. I am very happy with our progress so far, he has our cars cleared through the NASCAR inspection process and has the engine program up and running. Curtis has a great gift of organization."
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Curtis Key founded Key Motorsports in 1993 and originally fielded the #05 Chevrolet in the Nationwide Series, known at that time as the Busch Series, with 1988 Busch Series champion Tommy Ellis and the late Bobby Hamilton as his drivers. Key Motorsports entered the NASCAR Truck Series in 2004 and competed in that series until 2008 before moving back to the Nationwide Series full time in 2009. Mike Bliss, Scott Wimmer, Aric Almirola and Jeffrey Earnhardt are among the drivers who have made starts in Key Motorsports prepared Chevrolets this year.
The #40 Key Motorsports Nationwide Series team is currently 22nd in owner points with three races remaining on the schedule. Scott Wimmer is scheduled to drive the #40 at Texas, Phoenix and Homestead to finish out the 2009 season.
"I am excited to be working with Raymond and Keyed Up Motorsports on the Sprint Cup program," Curtis Key said. "Raymond has traveled with our Truck and Nationwide teams and has been a lot of help to us. He has wanted to start his own team and he feels it is the right time."
Keyed Up Motorsports will field Chevrolets purchased from Dale Earnhardt, Inc., with the team being committed to the first five races on the 2010 Sprint Cup Series schedule which include Daytona, California, Las Vegas, Atlanta and Bristol.
Curtis and Raymond Key, both Virginia businessmen who developed their companies from humble beginnings, have selected #90 for the Keyed Up Motorsports entry, a number that is rich in Virginia racing history.
While no announcements were made regarding a driver or sponsor for the #90 Keyed Up Motorsports Sprint Cup Series team, team owner Raymond Key says it will not be a start and park team.
"I love racing and we are here to race," Raymond Key said. "Curtis has always raced his cars and that is what we are going to do."
PaddockTalk Perspective
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