Bryan Ortiz Wins Sunoco National Tour Rookie of the Year

Puerto Rican driver closes 2010 SNT season with fifth in King’s Ransom 150

North Wilkesboro, NC (November 4, 2010) … Bryan Ortiz finished fifth in the King’s Ransom 150 at North Wilkesboro Speedway to clinch the 2010 Sunoco National Tour Rookie of the Year. The Puerto Rico driver also finished second in the overall SNT points in his first year of competition.

After competing in the Drive for Diversity Combine a week ago, Ortiz entered the final Sunoco National Tour with momentum hoping to score his first victory of the 2010 season for the BD Racing with Sterling Marlin team. However, Ortiz was not able to practice prior to qualifying because of water in the gas issue.  Therefore, his qualifying laps were not as competitive as normal. But, with the field inverted for the start of the King’s Ransom 150, Ortiz would start on the outside of the front row.

The 21-year old Puerto Rican jumped into the lead on the first lap and held the top spot for twelve laps. At the twenty lap mark, Ortiz radioed to the crew that he was having a problem with the power steering. Hoping to “hang on” until the midrace caution at lap 75, Ortiz dropped to sixth in the running order.

During the “halftime break”, the BD racing with Sterling Marlin crew was able to correct the power steering issue for the final 75 laps. Sunoco National Tour officials had a fan draw a number from a hat to be the number of cars inverted for the final 75 lap segment. When the fan drew “six”, that put Bryan Ortiz on the pole for the final segment of racing in the 2010 season.

Just as he did at the start of the race, Ortiz jumped into the lead. However, this time the talented SNT rookie held the top position for thirty laps before eventual race winner Jeff Choquette passed him on lap 106 because of problems with the power steering again. Ortiz would continue to run very competitive laps and take the checkered flag in the fifth position.

As Jeff Choquette was celebrating his win in Victory Lane, Bryan Ortiz and the BD Racing with Sterling Marlin Team held their own celebration on pit road.

“First, I want to thank Bob Varney (Crew Chief) and the whole team,” Ortiz stated. “This was my first year, and I learned so much. We had our ups and downs, but that happens to everybody. I’m so grateful to this team and all their hard work this year. I wanted to reward them with a win, but that wasn’t to be.”

“I want to thank all of our sponsors for their support this year,” Ortiz continued. “I’m fortunate to have the support from so many people this year. When you consider that every track we went to was my first time there, I’m proud of the accomplishments of this team. We finished second at Rockingham (NC), won the pole at Milwaukee, and were competitive each and every race. To win the rookie of the year and finish second in points is truly an honor, but none of that would have been possible without a hard working, dedicated team and all of our supporters. Thank you very much.”

So, as the curtain closes on the 2010 Sunoco National Tour, what does the future hold for Bryan Ortiz? Certainly, the 21-year old Puerto Rican has a bright future in motorsports, and his path to stardom in this sport will be fun to follow.

Congratulations Bryan Ortiz and BD Racing with Sterling Marlin on your 2010 season and your Rookie of the Year honor.