“Top Driver” wins opportunity to race an ARCA Series event

(Concord, N.C.) December 1, 2010 … Bryan Ortiz has been selected to compete in Richard Petty’s Driver Search III on December 6-9, 2010 at Charlotte Motor Speedway and Concord Speedway in North Carolina, and the road course at Carolina Motorsports Park in Kershaw, South Carolina.

Named for the NASCAR Hall of Famer and winningest driver in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series history, Richard Petty’s Driver Search is a unique training camp and competition for aspiring race car drivers looking for an opportunity to advance their careers. The program, limited to 12 participants, focuses on the core skill set necessary for success at the highest level in motorsports.

Over the course of the four days, competitors will demonstrate their abilities and learn from industry experts in the areas of car control, endurance, track management, adaptability, race practices, passing exercises, car knowledge/feel, mechanical knowledge, speed, communication, and marketability. Performance in the driving modules is assessed throughout the program by state-of-the-art computerized timing and scoring, video, and data acquisition technologies. Renowned road course racer Marcus Ambrose and two-time NASCAR Nationwide Series Champion Randy Lajoie will be among the guest instructors for the four-day competition.

“It’s been a couple of crazy months recently in my racing career between the finish of the Sunoco National Tour and being invited to the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Combine,” Ortiz commented. “I had a very successful test at the Combine, now I have another great challenge that I am really looking forward to, Richard Petty’s Driver Search. It’s going to be great because I’ll have the opportunity to meet and work with Sprint Cup drivers and, of course, the ‘King’, Richard Petty.”

“The Driver Search will be a tough competition,” Ortiz, the 2010 Sunoco National Tour Rookie of the Year added. “I will be against 11 other drivers that were chosen to compete. I am very prepared for this program, and with the test consisting of different modules between road courses, karting, ovals, and media, I really believe that I have a chance of winning the ‘Top Driver’ award.”

At the conclusion of the final day of competition, one of the participants will be named ‘Top Driver’ of Richard Petty’s Driver Search III and will be awarded a fully supported opportunity to qualify for, and compete in, an Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) event in 2011.

It’s already been a memorable year for 21-year old Bryan Ortiz. The talented Puerto Rican driver has earned Rookie of the Year honors in the Sunoco National Tour, and was selected to participate in the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Combine. However, the best may be yet to come for Bryan Ortiz.

Follow Bryan Ortiz on Facebook (Bryan Ortiz Racing), Twitter (twitter@BryanORacing) or www.BryanOrtizRacing.com.