Carlos Contreras Back In The Saddle With Rick Ware Racing At Atlanta

Carlos Contreras, the first NASCAR Hispanic-born driver rejoins Rick Ware Racing (RWR) for Saturday night’s Great Clips 300 at Atlanta (Ga.) Motor Speedway.

Contreras returns to Rick Ware Racing for the eighth time this season after a two-race road course stint with TriStar Motorsports at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International respectively.

The Thomasville, North Carolina-based team is dedicated on helping Contreras achieve his 100th career NASCAR National Series start in 2014. Currently, Contreras stands at 97 starts overall in a career that dates back to 1999.

RaceTrac will adorn the hood of the No. 23 Chevrolet Camaro, as the primary marketing partner in Contreras’ Atlanta Nationwide Series debut. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, RaceTrac has been serving guests since 1934 and now operates more than 370 convenience stores locations in Georgia, Florida, Louisiana and Texas.

“I’m looking forward to being back at Rick Ware Racing this weekend,” said Contreras. “It’s a big weekend for us, as we’re excited to have RaceTrac back on board for Atlanta. It’s a huge honor for us to carry their colors in their hometown race Saturday night.”

While the Mexico City, Mexico native doesn’t have a start at the track’s 1.5-mile surface, Contreras is hoping his prior mile-and-a-half experiences will pay off with a solid finish under the lights.

“Atlanta is a fast place,” Contreras added. “It’s important for our Rick Ware Racing team to keep ahead of the changing track conditions so we can find ourselves in a position for a good finish. We’ve made great strides this season, but there’s always room for improvement. I feel that some of my other mile-and-a-half runs will help us this weekend. A solid run for us feel like a (small) victory, especially in front of RaceTrac and their friends.”

“RaceTrac is proud to partner with Rick Ware Racing, and to support driver Carlos Contreras at the Atlanta Nationwide race on August 30,” said RaceTrac spokesperson Ashleigh Collins. “At RaceTrac, we live for fun every day, so partnering with the No. 23 RaceTrac Chevrolet Camaro is a perfect way to deliver on that promise.”

Car owner Rick Ware is looking forward to having Contreras’ back at the controls. 

“Carlos has done a great job for us this season,” he said. “We’re incredibly proud to carry the RaceTrac logos on Saturday night, and we feel that Carlos will not only represent them well again, but deliver a finish we can all be satisfied with.” 

In addition to RaceTrac, Lilly Trucking and Global Aircraft will serve as associate marketing partners for the 24th Nationwide Series race of the year, Contreras’s 97th NASCAR National Series start.

Following Atlanta, Contreras is schedule to pilot a Rick Ware Racing car at Kentucky Speedway, Texas Motor Speedway and the 2014 season-finale at Homestead-Miami (Fla.) Speedway in November.

Carlos Contreras PR