NASCAR Driver Ricky Gonzalez Competes In Funkmaster Flex Super Series Invitational Race for Spike TV

August 17, 2004 -- The feature race, along with behind the scenes footage, driver confessionals and big name personalities from the television, music, sports and entertainment industries will air in late September/October on Spike TV to 90 million viewers. The combination race/reality/entertainment spectacular was seamlessly produced and managed with the joint efforts of RedMoxie and Spike TV.

RedMoxie is a new breed of entertainment company with the knowledge, talent and full-force energy required to reach a diverse audience with innovative, captivating and top-notch programming on premier networks, such as Spike TV and Lifetime TV.

Spike TV, the “network for men”, is a division of MTV Networks that reaches nearly 90 million homes and features the “Ride with Funkmaster Flex” TV series hosted by Funkmaster Flex, a NY radio DJ and automobile enthusiast.

Throughout the event, Flex motivated the drivers and pumped up the crowd as the drama unfolded. The 70-plus drivers battled it out for one of the 30 positions. The 30 starting drivers, including Ricky Gonzalez seemed both relieved and energized as the starting lineup was announced.

Ricky drove the late model racecar owned and driven by Mark St. Halaire, a regular competitor in the Late Model Division at the Waterford Speedbowl's. Mark and his team provided an exceptional racecar and quick, organized pit stops – not surprising since St. Hilaire racing is currently second place in points for the Speedbowl championship.

Ricky was thrilled to be involved in the race and to support diversity among drivers, team owners, crew and fans of motorsports. "I just want to say that I'm very excited to be a part of the Spike TV family and to have had the chance to compete in the inaugural Funkmaster Flex SuperSeries event.”

Ricky is currently the only Latino driver competing in any of the top three national NASCAR divisions and is working with the NASCAR Diversity Council to enhance the participation of minorities within the sport. Ricky's most recent NASCAR event was the UAW/GM Ohio 250 Craftsman Truck Series race at the Mansfield Motorsports Speedway on May 16th where he finished 26th without a scratch.

Since then, Ricky raced in two i Power DASH events (formerly the NASCAR Goody’s DASH series) at Ace Speedway in Burlington, NC and The Motordrome in Pittsburg, PA where he finished 9th. Ricky competed in the NASCAR Goody’s DASH Series during the 2002 and 2003 seasons, gaining valuable experience at tracks such as Daytona, Charlotte and Bristol.

For the remainder of 2004, Gonzalez plans to run additional Craftsman Truck races and likely some NASCAR Busch Series events as well. Plans are in the making for several associate sponsors and a primary sponsor for a full season of NASCAR Busch racing in 2005.

Gonzalez is grateful to the sponsors who have helped make his entrance into the upper tier of NASCAR racing possible. Those sponsors include MechanicsFoam.com, Almost Honest Hyper Harry and Sons, AutoEval.com, JoannesKitchens.com, Bell Helmets and Pourmans Pub.

Ricky and the Coqui Motorsports team will also continue their support of The Kyleen and Krysten Hyde Foundation , a not-for-profit organization with special meaning for Ricky, who lost one of his best friends after a long battle with CF at just twenty years old. The KKH Foundation raises funds to improve the quality of life for children living with Cystic Fibrosis. Additionally, future funding will be provide support for CF patients and their families in the form of scholarships and lung transplants

Kyleen and Krysten Hyde, two young sisters for whom the foundation was organized, died from the disease in 2003, just four months apart at the ages of 15 and 18. The girls’ family has close family friendship ties to Gonzalez' PR agent, Maureen Rafferty. To learn more about Cystic Fibrosis and the KKH Foundation, visit www.kkhfoundation.org .

Please visit www.RICKYGONZALEZ.com for updates on Ricky’s career, upcoming events and diversity news.

Direct any inquiries or requests for sponsorship packages to Maureen Rafferty of Motovation Motorsports Marketing at 908-904-8028 or mrafferty@rickygonzalez.com





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