Former NASCAR Champion Exchanges Wrenches for the Wheel

Redding, CA (June 17, 2011) Craig Raudman of Redding, CA will return to the NASCAR K&N Pro Series driver's seat when the series visits the picturesque road course of Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, CA June 24-25. Raudman has been working as a crew chief in the series for much of the past five years but will exchange wrenches for driving gloves and pilot the #22 Approved Memory/Davidson Equipment Sales/Heritage Cattle Co. Chevrolet in the Thunder Valley Casino Resort sponsored event at the 1.99-mile road course layout.



For the past three seasons, Raudman has acted as crew chief and driver coach for Jonathon Gomez but business commitments will prevent Gomez from making several of the remaining races on the schedule, so Raudman and his old car owner Dave Reed along with Ted Davidson were able to put a deal together with John Gomez to field the #22 car at Infineon.



"I am thrilled to have the opportunity to get back behind the wheel of a K&N Pro Series car," Raudman said. "Working as a crew chief has been a lot of fun but there is nothing like driving. I can't think of a better place to get back behind the wheel then at Infineon. I love the track and have had success there in the past."



Raudman had his best career NKNPS finish at Infineon back in 1997 when he finished fourth after leading most of the race before his battery died with just a few laps left to go. He also won at Infineon in the old NASCAR Southwest Tour back in 1997. Serving as crew chief for Raudman will be Ron Copeland who guided Gomez to the 2010 SRL Southwest Tour title and has worked on the Heritage NKNPS effort as the car chief the past two seasons. Dave Reed will continue as spotter, a role he has filled for much of Raudman's racing career.



John Gomez owns the Heritage Motor Sports team and is currently eighth in the owner's point standings for the NASCAR K&N Pro Series. Race rental opportunities exists for the remainder of the season. (see below)



Raudman has started 19 races in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series-West with is last start back in 2000. He has one top five finish along with seven career top ten performances. His best points finish was 13th after the 1998 season.



Craig Raudman is supported by Approved Memory, Davidson Equipment Sales, Heritage Cattle Company, and Century Boatland. Craig Raudman won the 2001 NASCAR Southwest Tour championship and has been a race winning crew chief in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series for the last five years. For more information about Craig Raudman, please log onto www.approvedmemory.com, www.jdaent.com, or NASCAR Hometracks.