RAYBESTOS® ROOKIE CONTENDER PRACTICE DAY QUOTES FOR THE ALL STATE 400 AT THE BRICKYARD NASCAR NEXTEL CUP SERIES RACE AT INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY, AUGUST 5, 2004.
MIKE GARVEY, No. 66 EAS FORD:
ARE YOU GOING NUTS SITTING HERE WATCHING IT RAIN?
“We’d rather be on the racetrack, practicing and fine-tuning everything. We’re actually in a pretty good position. If qualifying does get rained out we’re in the field. It’s not as bad as if we were one of the other 11 cars that aren’t in the field if it rains. It’s nice to know we’re in there if it does ran out but it would be nice to get on the racetrack also.”
HOW DIFFICULT IS QUALIFYING GOING TO BE?
“It’s going to be hard. This is as good of a group of cars as you’ll see anywhere. I think the toughest group that you’re seen prior to this is probably Charlotte and this is every bit as tough or tougher. We’re going to have to be on the ball and really stand on it.”
HOW DIFFICULT IS IT TO RUN A REALLY GOOD LAP?
“There are definitely plenty of chances to make a mistake. That’s the whole key right there: don’t do it. It’s actually a fun track to drive because it’s challenging. It’s not just a regular oval. You’ve got to enter right and get off that corner. There’s four distinct corners, entries and exits, so you’ve really got to hit your marks. If you don’t hit your marks, you run out of room quick. It’s very technical and you better hit your spots.”
DID YOU FOCUS MORE ON RACE RUNS HERE DURING THE TEST?
“We worked more on short runs, just to look for speed to start with. We didn’t have a really good race motor here. We knew we were down on power but we tried to see how fast we could get that car to run. We didn’t do any long run stuff; five or six laps at the most. The position that we’re in right now is that we have to make sure that we get in the race first. It’s going to be nice because tomorrow there are two actual Happy Hour sessions, two 45-minute sessions, so that will work out good for us. We came back and put in our race motor in which we know has a lot more horsepower. Hopefully we can get the EAS Ford in there.”
HOW BIG OF FACTOR IS THE LOST PRACTICE TIME TODAY?
“Because we tested, I don’t think it’s bad. Everybody here right now is in qualifying mode. We’re all looking to qualify to get in the race. After all that is over, we’ve got the two Happy Hour sessions to go to our race setup, which is really nice. We don’t get that option a lot. Usually we have two hours or an hour to try to do both so for our team, this is actually very nice.”
HOW SPECIAL WOULD A GOOD RUN HERE AT INDY BE TO YOU?
“It would be huge, man. That’s what we’ve got to do. We keep digging and digging and we’re going to get it. It’s hard. You’ve got to remember that you’re racing against the best racers in the United States. That doesn’t make running 30th any easier to take. We’re digging hard and we’re going to keep digging and digging until we get in there.”
HOW SPECIAL WAS IT TO COME HERE AS A DRIVER FOR THE FIRST TIME?
“This is huge. I was telling all my friends back home that there’s two tracks that really give you goose bumps when you pull into: one was Daytona and the second one was here at Indy. Growing up where I did in Michigan, I used to come here every May and watch Indy
qualifying. When you come to some place as a little kid and you walk in, this place is huge and when you’re a little kid, this place is a monster. Every time I’m in Indy, I come over here. I look at the racetrack and go through the museum. To get the opportunity to race here is very big.”
®Raybestos is a registered trademark licensed to Brake Parts Inc. by Raybestos Products Company
Peak Performance Motorsports announced today a one-race primary sponsorship package by EAS, the world’s leading manufacturer of cutting-edge sports nutrition products and widely known for fueling top athletes in all sports. The company will join PPM for the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard next weekend. EAS will also be on board as an associate sponsor for the remainder of the 2005 season.More >
ROOKIE HONORS
Garvey Wins Raybestos® Rookie Of The Race at Pocono
Mike Garvey was the Raybestos® Rookie of the Race in the July 24 Pennsylvania 500 at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway, the first time this season he has been the top-finishing rookie. Garvey is the only driver other than Kyle Busch or Travis Kvapil to capture Raybestos® Rookie of the Race honors in 2005. Garvey finished 34th in his seventh career NEXTEL Cup Series start. MORE >
LONG POND YIELDS LONG DAY FOR JANI-KING TEAM
Garvey Finishes 34th in Return Trip to Pocono Raceway
LONG POND, Penn. – Mike Garvey was looking forward to this weekend’s return trip to the Pocono Mountains. Just six weeks ago he made his debut with the Peak Performance Motorsports team, and posted the team’s best performance of the season at the Pocono Raceway tri-oval. The group was hopeful that it would back up its earlier performance of 25th, and perhaps, improve its finish. Coming off a testing session at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the team thought it had gotten some information on its primary intermediate car that it would be able to apply to the Pocono 500. Garvey qualified in the 32nd position, four markers better than in his debut at the raceway in early June. “We were encouraged by the qualifying effort,” he explained. “It was the best of the season for this group. Our goal each time is to go and improve on our last effort. We started the weekend in the right direction.” Click here for the complete press release
Garvey Excited For Second Trip around Pocono
Written by Scott Walsh - The Times-Tribune 7/21/2005
Most everyone knows the story about how Carl Edwards drove the Roush Racing No. 99 Ford to victory in last month’s Pocono 500 despite never having previously driven at Pocono Raceway. What they probably don’t remember is that day, another driver also made his maiden voyage around the tricky 2˝-mile triangular track. While his story wasn’t as significant, it was almost as interesting and impressive as Edwards’ effort. Not only was Mike Garvey racing at Pocono for the first time, he was making his debut with the first-year Peak Performance Motorsports team. Hired only a week earlier to replace Hermie Sadler, Garvey drove the No. 66 Ford to a respectable 25th-place finish. Click here to read the rest of the article
UNDERDOG OF THE WEEK
Underdog Of The Week: by Dave Laurence July 19, 2005
Every week, the odds get longer for Independent and lesser funded teams. Every week, thousands of short track racers around the country dream about having a chance to compete in the upper echelons of NASCAR. Mike Garvey is a curiosity to those who don't know his background, but his road to Nextel Cup has been 25 years in the making. In 2005, he has attempted nine races, qualified for six, and oh by the way, has been running at the finish in each of his last three races. This week's Underdog Of The Week is Mike Garvey, driver of the #66 JaniKing Ford. Click here to read the article at RacingUnderdog.com
“Well Done” at New Hampshire - Focusing on Pocono
Written by: Michael Watkins - MikeGarveyFans.com July 19, 2005
The weekend looked awesome for Mike Garvey and the Peak Performance Racing Team at the New England 300. The weekend started off pretty good, Mike ran 38th in the first practice session, then 28th in “Happy Hour”, which is the Nextel Cup Teams final practice session. Not too bad for the first time at this track and a new racecar. Then came qualifying, which was the top priority, where Mike and the Team succeeded with 33rd place qualifying run. Hopes were high for the race, but after only 25 laps, the floor pan started to heat up and burn the bottom of Mike’s foot. By the 75th lap Mike had an ill handling racecar and 3rd degree burns on his foot. The team worked on the car every chance in order to make it easier for Mike to finish the race. Mike said, “If the car wasn't so tight and you could race it a little, then that might take your mind off of it (his foot).” The floor pan cooked his foot like it was in an oven. Mike was treated for the burns after finishing the race 36th only 4 laps down. The team is retuning this week to Pocono where Mike finished in the 25th spot on the lead lap last June. They plan to bring the same car back to Pocono and are excited about the weekend.
Mike Garvey might be a new name to some, but he has been dominating short tracks all over America for years. Mike has utterly dominated the ASA for many years and earlier this season was winning races in the USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series and now is stepping up to the elite NEXTEL Cup series. He has run in most racing series in America, including running two Craftsman Truck Series races and making twenty-one Busch series starts. His best Truck finish is 14th at I-70 Speedway and his best Busch finish is 14th also at Rougemont. At this point, Mike has run five NEXTEL Cup races with a best finish of 25th at Pocono in his first start with the 66 Peak Fitness Racing team. He may have started late, but this is the beginning of a great career for Mike Garvey in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup series. Click here for the Q & A with Mike
On the Short Track - July 13, 2005
Garvey is especially excited to head to Loudon this weekend for a classic short track race. He is a two-time winner of the All-American 400 at the Nashville Fairgrounds, which is recognized as one of the nation’s premier short track events.
“I’m definitely looking forward to taking the Jani-King Ford to Loudon. I love racing this type of track. I’ve raced at the Milwaukee Mille, and based on what I’ve seen, it’s got a lot of similarities. I’ve had some great runs at Milwaukee, won a couple times in fact. Even though I’ve never raced at NHIS, I still think I’ll be able to jump in the car and benefit the team right away because of my knowledge of short track racing. It’s apparent that we struggle on tracks where I’ve never raced, but this weekend is different since I have some experience on this style of track.” (Peak Performance Press Release)
Just not fast enough at Chicago
The Peak Performance Motorsports team will load up and go home early from Chicago this weekend. Mike ran a speed of 180.481 mph., just not fastest enough for the big show. This will be the second race in a row that Garvey has missed. The team looks forward to next week in New Hampshire. Go to NASCAR.com for more information about the USG Sheetrock 400.
Garvey Nominated to Michigan Motorsports Hall of Fame Class of 2005
Congratulations to Mike Garvey who was recently nominated into the Michigan Motorsports Hall of Fame Class of 2005. Mike is in good company, the other inductees are; Bruce Allen, Dennis Casteele, Canfield & Johnson, Dick Decker, Tim Felver, Curt Kelly, Harold Reynolds, Donnie Roberts, Mark Tate and Bill Whittington. The induction ceremony will be held at the Comfort Inn in Mount Pleasant on Sunday afternoon, November 6th. Visit www.mmshof.org for ticket information.
2005 rules unfavorable for Garvey at Daytona
After a 26th place run in Happy Hour practice Friday, Mike qualified 31st. Good spot right? Well, Mike actually missed the race. How could that happen you might ask. It has everything to do with the new 2005 qualifying rule for qualifying. Basically, Jeff Stec (owner of the #66) was 40th in owner points. NASCAR makes sure that the top 35 teams in owner points make the race. So Mike was pushed out of the field by drivers like Jeff Burton, Jeff Green, Ken Schrader, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Matt Kenseth, Sterling Marlin, Kyle Petty, Ricky Rudd, Carl Edwards, Jamie McMurray, Kyle Busch, Jeremy Mayfield and Dave Blaney. Garvey out qualified all of them, but because they were all in the top 35 in owners points they kept their positions. The only other driver to go home with Garvey was Kenny Wallace. More at Jayski.com
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Both practice sessions for the NASCAR Busch Series Winn-Dixie 250 and the NEXTEL Cup Series Pepsi 400 were washed out Thursday at Daytona International Speedway. Both series will now practice and qualify on Friday. Weather permitting the Busch drivers will take to the 2.5-mile superspeedway first on Friday from 8 - 9 a.m. (ET) with the NEXTEL Cup Series concluding the one and only practice session for both series from 9:10 - 10:30 a.m. (ET). The qualifying session for the Busch Series will now be 30 mins. later and will start at 2:15 p.m. (ET). Cup Series qualifying is still scheduled to start at 4:40 p.m. (ET). The Winn-Dixie 250 will take the green flag at 8 p.m. (ET). Pepsi 400: Qualifying Order - Garvey 26th fastest in practice (7/1/05)
New Rookie of the
Year Candidate
Despite
the NASCAR national touring season being
nearly halfway complete, three drivers
announced over the weekend their
intention of competing for their
respective series' Raybestos Rookie of
the Year awards. Former American Speed
Association and Hooters Pro Cup standout
#66-Mike Garvey in Nextel Cup, Busch
Series driver Jerry Robertson and
Craftsman Truck Series driver Clay Rogers
have been added to the list of eligible
Rookie of the Year contenders. (NASCAR.com)
Garvey, who is driving the #66 Jani-King
Ford, began receiving rookie points at
Michigan [in which he finished 36th, but
is listed on the ROTY weekly press
release of having only one point in the
convoluted rookie of the year points
system, he should have 9]. I do my best
to explain the system and have a ROTY page each year to act
as a guide for the fans.(6-28-2005)
Garvey Takes
Weekend Off
Who will run the
66 at Infinion? Heard that Garvey
will Skip the Dodge/Savemart 350.
So who will run the 66? Not sure,
but it's possible that the 66 will lease
the car to another driver. If
anyone knows, let me know.... UPDATE: The
66 driver will be Johnny Borneman III,
according to the Dodge/Savemart
350 entry liston
NASCAR.com.
Also, thanks to another Mike Garvey Fan
for bringing it to my attention.
BROOKLYN, MI –
Handling was an issue for the No. 66 Jani-King
Ford at Michigan International Speedway
Sunday, but despite the 36th-place
finish, the crew remains optimistic about
the future with new driver Mike Garvey.
After posting a solid qualifying effort
Saturday, Garvey was excited about the
prospects of a top-25 finish in the
Batman Begins 400.
Garvey’s
qualifying speed was just a tick under
190 mph, a time in which he and his team
were satisfied.
"The
Jani-King Ford was pretty solid that lap.
We got here and had a few problems in the
first practice, and then we over-adjusted
in the second practice and it was really
loose,” he explained after his
qualifying run. “The guys did a good
job and put their heads together and
tried to come up with what we needed to
qualify and the car was real solid right
there. All the guys on the team did a
great job and it's a pleasure driving the
car."
bChanging
his approach McDonough's Mike Garvey lands
a full-time ride at 42 - by Rick
Minter
PEAK
PERFORMANCE MOTORSPORTS ANNOUNCES
GARVEY AS DRIVER AND JANIKING AS
SPONSORread the press
release
Garvey
Confirms in an interview with
Paul Warner that He signed with
the Peak Performance Motorsports
#66 Team and that JaniKing will
go with him for 7 races.
Peak Fitness will take over
sponsorship after that. USAR Article by
Paul Warner
Garvey
Signs full time Nextel Cup ride
today!! Mike went to the #66
shop to sign the deal for the
remainder of the year and get
fitted for his seat and uniform
after former driver Hermie Sadler
resigns. The
official announcement coming soon....
I'm not sure what will happen to
the #17 or the #75 teams.
Going in Circles with Mike Garvey
The Peak Performance Motorsports team will load up and go home early from Chicago this weekend. Mike ran a speed of 180.481 mph., just not fastest enough for the big show. This will be the second race in a row that Garvey has missed. The team looks forward to next week in New Hampshire. Go to NASCAR.com for more information about the USG Sheetrock 400. 
