Jeff Shafer to Make Atlantic debut

JEFF SHAFER PREPARES TO MAKE KOOL/TOYOTA ATLANTIC DEBUT

LAS VEGAS, NV (MAY 26, 1998) The Milwaukee Mile has long been regarded as a track of "firsts". Among others, Rick Mears and Greg Moore both scored their first CART win there while Al Unser, Jr. won his first oval race at the legendary track. This weeke nd, Milwaukee will be host to another first as 1996 Team Green Academy winner Jeff Shafer makes his debut in the KOOL/Toyota Atlantic Championship driving for the PPI/Arciero-Wells team. Shafer, 22, will drive the new Swift 008.a Chassis, sponsored by th e Derek Daly Performance Driving Academy (DDA).

"Jeff is an exceptional talent who came to our attention through our Team Green Academy American Driver Development Program," comments DDA owner Derek Daly. "We are delighted to be a supporter during this critical step in his career path and look forward to positive results over the season, starting with Milwaukee."

"I am looking forward to this weekend as a learning process," comments Shafer, a North Hollywood, CA native. "Milwaukee is very unique, with it being relatively flat all the way around and it will take some adjusting on my part. It will be real importan t for me to work up to my comfort level and get into a rhythm. After that, we will start working on speed."

Shafer's past experience includes Karting, Barber Dodge and Formula Fords. During the 1997 season, he competed in the US F2000 series, where he scored a victory and three pole positions in the developmental Nemesis chassis. Earlier this year, he placed in the top ten at both the Orlando and Phoenix F2000 events.

Shafer successfully tested with the PPI team earlier in the spring at Firebird Raceway and Buttonwillow. In addition to this weekend's event at Milwaukee, he is scheduled to compete at races in Toronto, Vancouver, Elkhart Lake and Houston with PPI.