First Busch Series Attempt for Feese at Kentucky

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (June 15, 2004) – Blake Feese, who recently joined Hendrick Motorsports' driver development program, will enter his first career NASCAR Busch Series event on Saturday at Kentucky Speedway, team owner Rick Hendrick announced Tuesday.

A native of Saybrook, Ill., Feese has earned top-10 finishes in each of his three ARCA Series starts this season, including a win at Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway on April 9.

Feese, who started driving quarter midgets at age 10, is a veteran of World of Outlaws, USAC and All-Star sprint car competition. In May 2003, he went to Victory Lane at Lowe's Motor Speedway's Dirt Track in the Outlaws Showdown Feature.

Hendrick Motorsports has formed a developmental alliance with NEMCO Motorsports that will allow Feese, 22, to drive the organization's No. 87 Busch Series entry at Kentucky, with primary sponsorship from ditech.com.

In 2003, NEMCO assisted with the progression of current Busch Series championship contender Kyle Busch, who posted two runner-up results, three top-10 finishes and five top-10 qualifying efforts in seven races driving the No. 87 Chevrolets.

In April, Hendrick Motorsports announced that Feese and 21-year-old Boston Reid would be entering select ARCA events through a developmental association with Bobby Gerhart Racing. The program has garnered five top-10 finishes in five races.

Hendrick also signed 18-year-old Kyle Krisiloff, who is currently competing full-time in the American Speed Association with Hendrick ally SS Racing.