Sellers Stellar in California All-Star Race

Irwindale, CA:  Peyton Sellers and the #83 Strutmasters.com/Woodall Chevrolet got one heck of a birthday present this weekend in the biggest short-track race of the year - the Toyota All-Star Showdown in Irwindale, CA.  After qualifying ninth among the country’s best short-track drivers, Sellers ran in the top five all night and finished second in the field of 40.

Sellers quickly worked his way from his ninth place starting position to fifth by lap twenty, and managed to avoid trouble in the dozen cautions of the evening (two of which were mandatory at laps 100 and 200 in the 250 lap race).  And, although the car suffered some minor damage to the right rear bumper cover with just 15 laps remaining, the patient Sellers found himself in second position at the final restart for the green/white/checkered flag.

The former 2005 Dodge Weekly Racing Series National Champion and 2006 NGND West Series Rookie of the Year challenged hard twice for the win on the final lap, but couldn’t quite pull past Joey Logano, this year’s NASCAR Grand National Division Busch East Series winner. 

“We had a great car tonight – I gave it all I had, and HC made all the right adjustments both times we came in,” said Sellers, referring to brother and noted crew chief HC Sellers. “Logano had us, and I just couldn’t quite get past him.  A second place here is a great reward for our whole team - we have a lot to be proud of this year.”

“Peyton has been getting more out of this car than it really had all season long,” said HC.  Sellers finished third overall among 74 drivers in the NASCAR Grand National Division Busch East Series earlier this month.  Most of the other teams that finished in the top ten in the series this year had roughly 2½ times the support that this family operated team has had. 

The team now returns to their home shop and many fans in Danville, VA to finalize plans for 2008.  Sellers Racing has been working with MediaFit, Inc. over the summer on sponsorship for either the NASCAR Nationwide (formerly Busch) Series or NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. “This team obviously has a ton to offer and is ready to compete at the next level,” said Michelle Soyars, CCO of MediaFit. “We have a very talented and experienced driver and a unique marketing package that’s received a lot of attention already.  Plus, it’s just a pleasure to work with such a genuinely nice family.”