USAR: Richie Evans Jr. To Drive for Gary Hargett

Marshville, NC.(December 3, 1999) Gary Hargett has announced today that he has signed twenty-four year old Richie Evans Jr. of Mooresville, NC to pilot his racecars for the 2000 season in the USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series.

Richie Evans, Jr. is the only son of the late-great 9 time NASCAR Modified Champion, Richie Evans, Sr. Young Richie was nine years old when his father was killed in a practice accident in Martinsville in 1985. Since then Richie has continued to grow up around the sport from his home in Rome, NY where he raced Karts competitively, until his family moved to Charlotte, NC in the early 1990's. For the past few years Richie as been working as a mechanic and a jackman on the #33 Busch Series Team, BACE Motorsports.

Motorsports agent, Anna Marie Malfitana introduced Gary and Richie Evans Jr., and the two just clicked together right away.

Gary Hargett is a veteran crew chief and car owner in the short track stock car ranks in the southeast. He has worked with drivers in their early careers, such as Harry Gant, Dale Earnhardt Sr., and Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Most recently Gary has worked with Chad Mullis with their campaign in the NASCAR late model stock division, at Concord, NC Speedway.

Hargett resigned from his position with Mullis after the recent Myrtle Beach event, and is working out of his own race shop in Marshville preparing a program for Richie Evans Jr.

Gary Hargett is known for his ability to spot natural talent, and mold young drivers into winners. He is very optimistic about what he can do with the young second-generation driver, Richie Evans Jr.

"I have not been this excited to go racing in a long time. I have a good feeling about Richie. I remember his dad. I will be able to put him in my own racecars and I like being a car owner too. I think Richie inherited his dad's personality and talent, from what I have seen in testing him. We just need to guide him a bit, and we're gonna win some races." Says Gary Hargett.

Richie Jr. is just as excited; "I want to race. Gary is giving me that opportunity, and I really appreciate him believing in me. I feel really lucky to have found Gary, I want to learn everything I can from him, and I want to do a good job for him. I hope we can race together for a long time."

At this time the team is seeking sponsorship for their USAR Hooters Pro Cup Program, and with enough sponsorship they may run a few NASCAR late model stock car races in the Carolinas and surrounding areas permitting from the Hooters Schedule. Gary also feels this is the best venue to prepare Richie for the NASCAR Busch Series in two years.