Chase Austin Wins at Illiana Speedway

SCHERERVILLE, Ind. (May 24, 2005) – Hendrick Motorsports developmental driver Chase Austin finished his double-race weekend on top by winning the main event in the Limited Late Model class Saturday at Illiana Speedway. The 15-year-old Austin qualified fourth and quickly drove his No. 111 ditech.com Chevrolet to the front of the field, winning his first-ever race at Illiana Speedway and his first as a Hendrick Motorsports developmental driver. Currently driving for SS Racing through its developmental alliance with Hendrick Motorsports, Austin is racing a full-time ASA Late Model schedule in addition to various late model events. “It was a really fun race,” said Austin, a native of Eudora, Kan. “I’m very blessed to be out here racing with such a great team of people and I owe a lot of credit to my crew for preparing such a great race car.” Notoriously stoic crew chief Deon Deneau couldn’t help but smile after his young driver put on an impressive show for the Illiana crowd in his first start at the venue. “This is what we all work so hard for,” Deneau said. “We came here just to have a solid finish and we came out with much more. This kid continues to amaze me.” Austin will next visit Madison (Wis.) International Speedway, where he will enter ASA Late Model competition May 27.