Lebanon, PA (12-27-09) - When you connect the dots between Lebanon, Pennsylvania and Daytona Beach, Florida, team Bobby Gerhart Racing, without batting an eye, fills the gap. Gerhart was born and raised Lebanon, and still calls it his home. And, he's won Daytona five times, more than any other.

However, there's another team rising out of the sleepy little eastern Pennsylvania town, and just beginning to scratch the surface in the ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards world.

Bill Martel Racing (BMR), a father/son combo, broke into the series in 2009. Team owner/crew chief Bill Martel - that would be the dad - and son Kyle Martel turned some heads in their inaugural season with some respectable results.

They also, as did 80-plus drivers, participated in the recent test at Daytona Int'l Speedway in preparation for the 2010 season opener - the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 February 6, LIVE on SPEED. Everyone, that is, except Bill, who's still home recuperating from a freak accident that happened in his home when, during a high-wind storm, a nearby tree fell on his house. Fortunately, he is expected to make a full recovery.

So in lieu of the team's regular ring leader, veteran crew chief Teddy Brown stepped in for Kyle's first go at the "World Center of Racing".

"Not having Bill here was tough, but right now we just need him to get better." said Brown. "We want him to be all healed up for the season so he can be back down here when it counts in February."

Despite the test getting underway Friday morning, the younger Martel would see the famous track for the first time Saturday morning.

"It's such an inspiring place," said Martel. "I mean, you look at the track itself, the history, the driving greats who have run here.....to just get my chance to compete here just blows me away. I really hope that we are one day able to add our names to that list of winners."

Before Martel got on the track however, stock car veteran Clay Rogers agreed to shake down chassis no. BMR005. 

"Having Clay come down to help us out like that was a real good thing," added Brown. "With Kyle never haven driven on a superspeedway before, it was good to let an experienced driver just shake the car out - make sure nothing was loose. It also helped us take care of the body rub issues before Kyle got in there, meaning all we had to do was get him seat time and experience."

After turning over a hundred laps on Saturday and Sunday, Martel was feeling pretty confidant regarding the team's return in February.

"Man, what a weekend," Martel said. "I've never felt so good inside a racecar before. Heck, Teddy and the guys claim I fell asleep while in the car between practice sessions I was so relaxed in there. But seriously, it was an amazing weekend. I can't thank the guys that came down and the guys back in the shop enough for getting me this car. I don't really know how to say it; but it felt right out there. I just felt like I knew exactly what the car was doing every time we moved.

"That Automotive Specialties engine just digs hard to pull this car around, and this test showed me a lot about how these bigger cars drive. In addition to helping us here, I think it's going to help our intermediate program too. I feel like I know I can drive it in a little deeper, a little harder now and it will stick."

It was also Martel's first experience with high-speed drafting on a superspeedway.

"Drafting was cool. We went out and worked with Danica in the 88 a lot. I think we can definitely work with her in February. It's a neat feeling, the car sucking up to another like that. But I think I know how to draft, how to pass, and I think we made some good friends to dance with when we come back in February. To say I'm excited is an understatement. I can't wait."

The team spent all of Saturday and most of Sunday just refining the setup of the car. The team was in the top-15 on the leader board all weekend, with Martel posting his best overall time and speed of 49.545 seconds/181.653 mph.

"I've never seen a driver take to this place that fast," added Brown. "Kyle just got into the car and seemed to be able to feel it from the get-go. We gave him the best car we could, and he just ran with it." 

The team currently has support from Hanover Cold Storage, Finish Line Transit, Mama Jeans Restaurant, Choice Hotels, and Sign-A-Rama Noristown, PA for 2010.  Sponsorship and product opportunities are still available in 2010 for the no. 43 BMR team. Available packages are all customizable based on price and exposure desired. For sponsorship inquires, contact Bill Martel 717-821-8684.

For media and/or public relations, contact Chris Hofmann CLHofmann@gmail.com or 484-336-9010.

Lebanon, PA (November 7, 2009)

The engines may be silenced for the winter, but there is plenty of work still going on in the BMR shop.  Coming off of a disappointing run at Rockingham last month, the team has been hard at work repairing cars for next season.  "Yea, Rockingham didn't quite turn out how we planned" said crew chief Ted Brown, "We spent alot of time testing and getting the chassis dialed in.  We had a really great car, and Kyle was biding his time and driving one of the best races of his career, but sometimes, you just can't escape other people.  Kyle did a good job of saving the car in the accident.  We came home with body damage, but it could have been a lot worse."

 ARCA Remax American 200 Next for car #43
(Lebanon, PA) 9-25-09

ARCA Remax Series rookie Kyle Martel is gearing up to go south Oct. 9, 10, 11 as he and his team compete in the American 200 at Rockingham Speedway.

Martel is coming off a very solid open test at Rockingham this past week, where he was able to put up an impressive 10th place time.  The team, led by veteran crew chief Ted Brown, have been working every day on the car to make it better for Kyle for his return trip to "The Rock".  Also now aiding the BMR organization is former TRD Engineer, Joe Lax.

The team will once again utilize BMR Chassis#003, the car Kyle drove to a tenth place finish at Pocono in August, and ran solidly at Chicago with.  Power will come from an ECR Engine tuned by C.W. Haas Racing Engines.  Current sponsorship for the race comes from Hanover Cold Storage, Finish Line Transport, Wagoneer Construction, and Mama Jeans Restaurants.
Sponsorship opportunities are still available for this race at Rockingham.  For sponsorship inquires, contact Bill Martel: 717-821-8684

Martel Gears Up For Chicagoland this weekend....
(Lebanon, PA) 8-24-09

ARCA Remax Series rookie Kyle Martel is gearing up to go south Oct. 9, 10, 11 as he and his team compete in the American 200.  Rockingham will be the 5th career ARCA Remax start for Lebanon, PA's Martel, his other starts coming at Rockingham, Chicago and at Pocono earlier this year.  In fact, the team will be bringing back out the very same car that Martel piloted to a strong 10th place finish a month ago at Pocono. Martel's volunteer crew, led by new crew chief Ted Brown, have been working hard to give Kyle the best possible ride for the race.

Sponsorship opportunities are still available for the #43 car for this race at Rockingham.  For sponsorship inquires, contact Bill Martel: 717-821-8684