NEWS FROM ANDY BELMONT RACING

NICK IGDALSKY LOOKING FOR A STRONG START TO 2010 IN MODSPACE FORD AT DAYTONA



MOORESVILLE, NC January 30, 2010 . . . Based on an outstanding practice session at Daytona International Speedway back in December Nick Igdalsky is optimistic about his chances in the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 ARCA Series race that kicks off the season on Saturday, February 6.

Igdalsky, Senior Vice President at Pocono Raceway, will be in the ModSpace sponsored No. 1 Ford fielded by Andy Belmont Racing. The team, based in Mooresville, NC, plans to run the entire 2010 ARCA Series Presented by RE/MAX and Menards.

A win would not be out of the realm of possibility at Daytona but the veteran race car driver, now a rookie on the ARCA circuit, would be happy with a top ten finish. He knows that the ARCA race at Daytona can be challenging with just being able to finish on the lead lap being difficult.

The Pocono Raceway executive has a great deal of racing experience to fall back on but he will be the first to admit that he is still learning when it comes to racing the heavy weight stock cars. “Andy Belmont has been educating me when it comes to drafting, getting into the pits and more,” said the recently married racer. “Andy is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to driving race cars and learning what makes them run. I am looking forward to learning much more at Daytona and other tracks on the schedule.”

Actually Igdalsky has experience on oval tracks and road courses covering a number of years. He has even been an instructor at the Bertil Roos Racing School and run in a number of Roos’ competitive events. In 20 career Bertil Roos F2000 Pro Series starts, Nick earned nine wins and 14 top three finishes. Nick is ranked seventh in all time series wins in only two full seasons of competition.

When Nick spent time managing the South Boston, VA Raceway he had the opportunity to gain some short track racing experience running in the 4-cylinder Budweiser Pure Stock class. By the fourth race he was a winner and had nine feature wins during his two years of racing in that class.

He also had the opportunity to run some open wheel races at the Virginia International Speedway.

During his college years he actually saved his own money to rent various cars and go racing on weekends in Sports Car Club of America competition.

At one time his family, his grandparents Dr. Joe and Rose Mattioli own Pocono Raceway, did not want him to race. However they can now see the benefit of knowing racing from both the business side and competition side.

During the December practice session Igdalsky only got to run about 15 laps in practice sessions. He was able to run consistent speeds in the 180 mph range. Car owner Andy Belmont felt comfortable with what the rookie had done and did not want to take any chances so they loaded the ModSpace Ford into the hauler and that was the end of practice.

“Nothing had really prepared me for the speed going into turn one at Daytona, “said Nick. “The forces were pushing my arms off the steering wheel and pushing my head back. First two or three laps were really a test of my skills. I would have liked to have run more laps but I think Andy made the right decision.”

“I am a sponge when it comes to gathering information. I think Andy is the guy who is going to turn me into a serious oval track racer. I don‘t want to be driving race cars unless I can be a winner. I am optimistic that the ModSpace team is going to be a very serious competitor in ARCA competition.”

Once Daytona is over he will be anxious to get to the second race on the schedule, which is set for the West Palm Beach, Florida Road Course. He has a lot of experience when it comes to road course competition.

The Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 at Daytona International Speedway is set for Saturday, February 6th at 4:30 p.m. Qualifying will take place on Friday, February 5th. The 80-lap race will be carried live on SPEED-TV.

-End-



MEDIA NOTE: We are happy to arrange interviews with Nick and/or Andy. Just give me a call at 267.934.7286. I will be in and out of the Daytona media center during the ARCA qualifying and race days. Ernie Saxton