LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA- Rip Michels and the Ladco racing team has announced additional sponsorship for the 2004 season that will see him run the complete fourteen race schedule on the NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Southwest Series.
  In conjunction with Stock Building Supply of Raleigh, North Carolina, Michels will have James Hardie Siding Products, Guardian Insulation, PrimeSource Building  Products and Trus Joist as co-operating marketing partners. All four marketing partners will rotate as the predominate sponsor with their logo boldy displayed on the hood along with Stock Building Supply. Michels is the two time defending Super Late Model champion at Irwindale (CA) Speedway.
  “Our sponsors are really excited about the 2004 season,” said Michels, who will be entering his fourth NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division Southwest Series event and first at Mesa Marin (CA) Speedway this Sunday. “They love to do a lot of marketing

with the race team and they’re certainly good to work with. They do things first rate.”   
 Michels realizes how important it is to have top sponsorship on a race team, especially a team that does extensive travel.
  “It’s nice to have a sponsor group behind us that cares about this race team and who really cares about racing. In a day where major sponsorship is difficult to obtain, we are fortunate to have the support of this sponsor group behind us.”
 As for Mesa Marin Speedway, Michels heads into this Sunday’s event on familiar soil. He was the 1997 modified champion and has 8 career wins at the half-mile Bakersfield, CA based oval.  “We are really looking  forward to Mesa Marin. We ran well in a practice session there last week and I feel that we can really cause some excitement at this race.”
Michels is leading the series rookie of the year standings with 17 points and sits 21st overall in points after 2 events.
Additional sponsors include Ladco, Victory Circle Chassis, 1st Med, Redline Oil, Wilwood Brakes, Ringers Gloves, Schroeder Bars, Orme Brothers, Quarter Master, Circle Racing Wheels, Aurora Bearings, BCSportsimages, Johnson Oil Pumps, DJ Safety, Ron's Rear Ends and M&R Engines       
  Check out the new Rip Michels website at www.ripmichels.com. Michels will also have a special paint scheme on his Irwindale Speedway Super Late Model promoting the John Wayne Cancer Institute. Stay tuned for more as Rip Michels Racing looks to promote this worthwhile effort.