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| Team Cheetah Racing has Great 2004 Season | C.A.R.S. Racer Marketing
Orlando FL. - The Arnold and Damaris Diaz owned, Cheetah Racing team, had a great season in the 2004 Fastruck series.
A Rookie team and Rookie driver with veteran owners approached the season just wanting to be competitive and set goals of top ten finishes. What they ended up with was six wins, including the Sportsman and Fastkids divisions. They would lead the points on several occasions and would end up 4th over all and take "Rookie of the Year" honors.
The team's driver is George Morales, who started driving at age 17 in the Enduros at the famed Hialeah Speedway. He then built a Mini-stock and also drove in Streetstocks, Thundercars and Late Models all with limited success. He stated, "We did not have any money, and did not really all know what we were doing." George was then asked to drive a Bus for Arnold Diaz. Arnold told him he could win. George jumped in it and won and their relationship began to grow from there.
Arnold and Damaris, who have owned race cars in several divisions including Enduros, Bombers, Figure 8's and Buses, have had good success over the years, but mainly do it for family fun.
In November 2003, Arnold and George began discussing plans for 2004. They decided on trying the Fastruck series. Arnold went out and purchased a James Glover truck and a second truck from Tom Carter. They then began preparing for a tough Rookie season.
The crew is made up of friends and family, who win and lose together. They support their driver and owners no matter what.
The team is led by crew chief Thomas Cepeda, who learned from his self called uncle, the veteran Joe Winchell. He handles chassis setup and organization on race day. Team spotter Chris Stockton helps with preparation and race day duties. Gabe Hernandez is the Rig driver and details the beautifully kept Chevy trucks. Shannon Winter in the Scorer and handles PR for the team. That brings us to George's son, Joey, who helps with whatever dad needs and likes to eat. Oh yeah, He also drives in the Fastkids when possible and won this year as well. Mason Love would also drive the truck to a victory in the Sportsman division.
As I covered this team this year I realized that although they are a Rookie team they did not run like Rookies. George said it best when he told me "this team works like they have been together for ten years." " I have good trucks when we get to the track, so we can concentrate on the race. I am very thankful and blessed to have the Diaz family as owners, they are the best. The crew is great and they are my family.
"We are proud of what this team accomplished in 2004, we saw a lot of new tracks with many challenges but George and the crew handled it all very well and professionally," said Arnold and Damaris. "We want to thank our sponsors Express Tire & Service, Metro Truck Collision and 11th Ave. Auto and Truck Recyclers. We want to return to Fastruck next year, but there are some things that we were not happy with this year and we are waiting to see what happens with the new leadership they have, but we are all equipped for our two truck effort and feel we can challenge for the championship.
It takes a complete team effort and this team has placed themselves among the top for winning races and possibly a championship.
So watch for the #96 Express Tire & Service, Metro Truck Collision and 11th Ave. Auto & Truck recyclers Chevy in truck competition and victory lane in 2005.
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