Rookie-of-the-Year Leader Brandon Whitt To Appear at NASCAR "Fan Fest" Before Taking on Challenge of Pikes Peak Oval

El Cajon, CA (May 15, 2002) - Nineteen year-old stock car racer Brandon Whitt will visit Pikes Peak International Raceway for the first time this weekend, as his family-run team attempts to master one of the largest and fastest tracks on the Southwest Featherlite circuit. Currently leading in the Rookie of the Year standings, Brandon will join fifteen NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series drivers at an autograph signing on Friday as part of NASCAR's "Fan Fest" promotion.

"I'm excited about racing on another one-mile oval," exclaims Brandon. "My only experience on a one-mile oval has been a pair of races at Phoenix. I love the speed of it, and I remember this feeling that the straightaways seemed to go on forever. We've never tested at Pikes Peak, so the Clean Line crew is going to have a major challenge to learn the track and setup the car in just ninety minutes of practice!"

Brandon is excited about competing alongside the NASCAR Trucks, who will be racing on Sunday immediately prior to the Southwest Featherlite race. "It's great exposure for us to be there with the trucks. It's a good way to get your name out there if you can run well in front of all the drivers, crew chiefs, and team owners. It's also going to be fun to participate in the autograph session with the Craftsman series drivers and get some truck fans excited about our Southwest Featherlite series."

A third generation racer, Brandon follows in the footsteps of his Grandfather Jim, his Uncle Tobin, and his father Dan Whitt, who runs the Clean Line Racing team. Brandon's best finish in his rookie season of Southwest Featherlite competition was a fifth place result at his home track in El Cajon on March 23rd. The only rookie to qualify for all four races, Brandon is ranked thirteenth in the overall driver standings, has qualified in the top ten for three consecutive races, and has finished all four main events.

The Craftsman Trucks race will start at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday May 19th, and the Southwest Featherlite race will begin thirty minutes after the end of the truck race. For more information on the race and the May 17th Fan Fest, visit the PPIR web site at www.ppir.com.