Kroger 200 - Josh Wise Notes

Josh Wise Makes NASCAR Busch Series Debut at O’Reilly Raceway Park

(July 26, 2007—Mooresville, NC) Michael Waltrip Racing development driver Josh Wise will make his NASCAR Busch Series debut driving the No. 22 Family Dollar/Supercuts Dodge for Fitz Motorsports this weekend in the Kroger 200 at the O’Reilly Raceway Park in Indianapolis.

“We’re excited to have Josh behind the wheel of our No. 22 Family Dollar/Supercuts Dodge. He comes to us with a long list of championships and accomplishments in his young racing career, so we feel confident he will make a successful NASCAR Busch Series debut with our team. We’ll bring him a fast car and feel certain he can handle the competition side of things with the same success he’s experienced in the past,” said team owner Armando Fitz.

Wise, the 24-year-old California native, began his racing career as a child in Quarter Midgets on his way to numerous victories and championships throughout his young career. In 1998 he was the Micro Midget Champion and by age 11 he won the Light ‘B Quarter Midget National Championship. From there he won the California Monza State Championship. In 1999, Wise debuted in and won the TQ Midget Car Series championship as well as earning the series Rookie-of-the-Year title.

With other titles and victories secured, fast forward to 2005 where Wise claimed the National Midget championship. In 2006 he clenched the USAC National Midget title, the Sprint fast qualifier championship and USAC Super License winner driving for Tony Stewart Racing before signing with Michael Waltrip’s driver development program.

MEET JOSH WISE:

Q. Do you come from a racing family?

A. My grandfather owned a few Quarter Midget cars so my father grew up around racing and loved it. My parents bought me one and allowed me to begin competing when I was 7-years-old.

Q. This is a big weekend coming up for you at O’Reilly Raceway Park as you’re making your NASCAR Busch Series debut with Fitz Motorsports. What are your thoughts?

A. Just what you’d expect I suppose. I really look forward to it and know it’s a golden opportunity for me. Fitz Motorsports No. 22 team has consistently run well all season long, so I know I’m in good hands and will have a great team behind me. I was really excited when I ran earlier in the year at New Hampshire in the NASCAR Busch East Series with Fitz Motorsports and I have to say that was a cool experience. I was able to be around some of the Fitz crew guys, so I don’t feel like they’re strangers in any sense of the word. I can’t wait to see what we can accomplish together in Indy this weekend.

Q. Are you nervous?

A. Sure, a little, but more excitement than nerves. I’m racing at a dirt track tonight and no matter where I compete or in whichever series, I put pressure on myself to win or at least perform well. I always do the best I can at any level of racing. I always prepare myself physically and mentally, so I know I’m giving it my best effort. You do get a little nervous, but after you know you’ve given it your all, then the results are the results. You definitely want everything to go right, to go your way, but that isn’t always the case since some things are simply out of your control. I can only control myself on the track, not the 42 other competitors. But, I’m really pumped up and excited.

Q. You will be working for the first time with crew chief Paul Wolfe, any thoughts about that since you’ve not worked together before?

A. A lot of people in the garage are saying so many positive things about Paul and the team he’s assembled over at Fitz Motorsports and their 2007 record shows why. I’m thrilled to be working with all of them. I’ve met Paul and he seems like a nice, laid-back sort of guy with a lot of knowledge about their race cars, so I know I’m in good hands and in good company with that whole crew.

Q. Talk about Michael Waltrip’s driver development program and what it means to your career.

A. Growing up I dreamed of racing open wheel cars. I got that opportunity from my parents originally, but I didn’t get to race a lot because we couldn’t always afford it. Actually my parents sacrificed many times and allowed me to race probably when we couldn’t even afford it, so I’m eternally grateful to them. Then an opportunity of a lifetime arose when I was asked by Tony Stewart to come over and drive for him. I moved to the Midwest and drove for Tony for three years in the USAC Series, but never really expected the opportunity with Michael Waltrip Racing to materialize. Everything just seemed to snowball with Tony helping me out. Tony got my name in the house with a lot of teams, but Michael’s program felt like the best program for possibly a long-term commitment with what they’re building over there. It’s been so cool this year getting to run some ARCA, Truck, Busch East and now Michael Waltrip and Armando Fitz are helping me with my NASCAR Busch Series debut. I also hope to do some more Busch Series races later in the year for Michael. This is a big learning experience for me with all the different kinds of racing I’ve done, but it will only serve to help me down the road in my racing career. I’m grateful to so many people for the extraordinary opportunities presented to me all along the way and I plan to use every one of them to my fullest potential.

Q. Is your ultimate goal the NEXTEL/SPRINT Cup Series or do you just take it a step at a time?

A. It’s great to have those ultimate goals and dreams, but I know I have to be successful today and not look far into the future. I need to be successful where I’m at today to get the opportunities of tomorrow. What I make of these times will determine my future and the rest will come.

Q. Tell the fans something about you they may not know.

A. (Laughs) A lot of people ask me this and I really must seem sort of boring. I have no big, deep, dark secrets other than I’m a racing fanatic. But, I will admit I love playing the guitar and would love to play it well.

Q. Maybe you can win one at the Nashville Superspeedway since that is their signature trophy to the winners.

A. That’s true. Michael and David Reutimann both have them in the trophy cases, so maybe I can add one of my own. That would be an absolute great trophy to own for sure.