JTG Racing solidifies team personnel for 2008 season

HARRISBURG, N.C. -- The last 180 days have been the busiest period that JTG Racing owners Jodi and Tad Geschickter can recall.

"We are embarking on our 14th season in the NASCAR Nationwide Series and we don't think things have ever seemed faster paced," Tad Geschickter said. "We also don't think we've ever been more excited about the team we've assembled for the upcoming season."

In addition to changing the nature of their business relationship with the Wood Brothers to allow each company to tighten spans of control and make quicker decisions, JTG Racing added several key players to its roster to build on the team's 2007 success.

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Former Hendrick Motorsports manager Butch Lamoreux was installed as racing operations director last August and his impact was immediately noticeable. The No. 59 and No. 47 teams delivered more top-15 finishes, more laps led and run within the top-10, and a higher average qualifying position than in the previous two seasons combined. Lamoreux spent two seasons with JTG Racing in the late '90s before moving to Hendrick Motorsports to broaden his horizons.

The team also announced that former Australian racing star and former DEI race engineer Walter Giles will serve as crew chief for Marcos Ambrose and the No. 59 Ford. Giles has amassed an impressive list of NASCAR accomplishments since moving to America 12 years ago. The list is highlighted by his work last season with DEI driver Martin Truex, Jr. as he posted his first Sprint Cup win and earned a spot in the Chase for the Nextel Cup championship.

"I'm really excited to work with Marcos," Giles said. "I've watched him for a long time, and have always been impressed with his skills in a racecar. I feel that Ambrose has what it takes to be successful at any level of NASCAR."

Engineer Ken Douglas is now JTG Racing's technical director. In recent years, Douglas helped develop Mo-tech Data Systems and drove the company's race data acquisition products to industry prominence. He also served as director of engineering for Stone Brothers Racing in Australia during consecutive V8 Supercar championships.

Scott Zipadelli will continue as crew chief for driver Kelly Bires and the No. 47 Ford. The pair showed real promise down the stretch in '07 and Zipadelli expects to build on that momentum.

"Last year was a learning experience for Kelly and me," Zipadelli said. "We all really came together as a team in the last few months of the season."

Greg Conner will serve as crew chief for the team's R&D efforts. In addition, he will be on the pit box for Ambrose' Nationwide Series races that fall on weekends when JTG helps alleviate some scheduling conflicts for the Wood Brothers by fielding a four-race Sprint Cup campaign for Ambrose.

With an eye toward the team's future, JTG Racing will continue its driver development program -- alums include Ambrose, Bires and a number of crew members. Scott Lagasse will pilot the No. 20 Craftsman Truck Series entry with guidance from veteran crew chief Gary Cogswell.

"I've known Scotty since his dad drove some road races for us in the '90s," Geschickter said. "He is a talented driver who has lacked the funding and career continuity to fully showcase his skill. We are thankful to Brad Nicholson and the Nicholson Group for delivering the sponsorship that we need to provide Lagasse his first full-time ride in a national touring series."

JTG will again help field Coleman Pressley, son of former JTG and Cup driver Robert Pressley.

"We will continue to watch Coleman's progress as he tours multiple tracks in his NASCAR Late Model and runs a limited ARCA schedule," Jodi Geschickter said. "Now that he is a high school graduate, he's at the race shop full time and it's great to have him around. It's early in his career, but his personality and multiple wins the past two seasons have the team convinced that he will be a winner for JTG Racing for years to come."