::Leilani Munter.com::

MÜNTER SETS NEW RECORD AT THE 1.5 MILE TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY

Fort Worth, Texas (June 12, 2006) - Leilani Münter had a very impressive run at Texas Motor Speedway last Saturday. She was quick all weekend, posting the 3rd fastest time in practice on Friday and qualifying 5th later that day. In the race she ran as high as 3rd before finishing 4th in the Konica Minolta 100. With this run, Münter set the record for the highest finishing position for a female driver in the history of the 1.5 mile Texas Motor Speedway.

"This weekend is another step in a journey I began long ago," said Münter, "I have been working for this opportunity for many years."

It has been a long road for Münter who began racing stock cars in 2001 and moved to North Carolina in 2002 to pursue her dream of racing professionally. During her stay she has worked in body shops repairing damaged race cars, as an instructor at Fast Track High Performance Driving School, as a crew member in race shops doing everything from cleaning bathrooms to assisting building racing shocks. She went to the track with friends whenever she could, volunteering and learning as much as she could about the race cars.

"Everytime I worked on a race car, I was learning more and more about the sport and what it takes to make it," said Münter, "There is a lot more to racing cars than going fast and turning left."

Some of you may have seen Münter in her part time gig as a correspondent for NASCAR.com. She started working for NASCAR.com in January of 2004 and has been working for them ever since. She often is seen interviewing Nextel Cup and Busch drivers or crew members on the latest issues in the garage area. The videos, dubbed as "Leilani Reports," appear on NASCAR.com's Trackpass every Wednesday.

"It's a great job because I get to learn from the guys who are at the top of the game, where I hope to end up one day as a driver. One of the most surreal moments from this past weekend came when I was taken to the media center in the infield to be interviewed after the race," said Münter, "I have been to the media center so many times as a NASCAR.com correspondent but this time I was on the podium being interviewed about the race. It was wild."

During this time Münter was also getting as much seat time as possible in late model stock cars and anything else she could drive. Along the way she earned the respect of several in the garage area. Veteran Nextel Cup driver Andy Hillenburg took her under his wing last year and gave her a job as an instructor at his Fast Track High Performance Driving School. Of Münter he has said, "Leilani has the desire and potential to become one of the top drivers in the next generation of racing stars. Leilani has an understanding of what to do in a race car. She's not intimidated. She's not a good 'woman' driver. She's just a good driver."

"It got tough there for a couple years, "said Münter, "There were days that I charged racing tires on my credit card, and I wasn't bringing in the kind of money to cover that sort of thing. I just wanted to race so bad I had to make it happen."

All her hard work seems to have paid off for her this year-- she has two major corporations behind her this season. This year you can find her at your local grocery store on boxes of Twinkies as one of three "Hostess Race Divas" of which her counterparts are IRL Superstar Danica Patrick and NHRA standout Melanie Troxel. KONICA MINOLTA PRINTING SOLUTIONS is the primary sponsor on her race car this year and she is appearing in several magazine ads for the company. Her KONICA MINOLTA show car is traveling the country making appearances from Seattle to New York and everywhere in between. After years of hard work, she will run 30 races this year out of SS Racing in Indianapolis.

Her history-making run last weekend in Texas is already at the top of her list of racing memories.

"One of the most special moments was after I took the checkered flag, the safety crew and officials were along the inside wall as I was coming in to pit road," said an emotional Münter after the race, "They were waving to me and giving me thumbs up and it meant so much to me to see how many people were pulling for me out there. It was really special. This is a day I will never forget."

USRA Konica Minolta 100 RESULTS
1. (41) Chris Davidson, Pearland, TX
2. (03) Matt Merrell, Portland, TX
3. (29) Thad Felton, Woodlands, TX
4. (57) Leilani Munter, Charlotte, NC
5. (19) Kent Baltzell, Spring, TX
6. (79) Joe Aramendia, Seguin, TX
7. (71) Donny Kelley, New Caney, TX
8. (7) Tuffy Hudson, Ingleside, TX
9. (13) T. Wade Welch, Houston, TX
10. (70) Shawn Hunt, Houston, TX
11. (85) Thomas Tillison, Wellston, OK
12. (67) Kirby Caldwell, Beaumont, TX
13. (02) Matt Smith, Houston, TX
14. (16) Danny Pike, Red Oak, TX
15. (47) Ed Mann, Kingwood, TX
16. (99) Casey Smith, Austin, TX
17. (39) Hal Martin, Galliano, LA
18. (96) Greg Davidson, Pearland, TX
19. (88) Chad Wheeler, Muskogee, OK
20. (00) Kristin Bumbera, Sealy, TX
21. (36) Jonathan Beason, Broken Arrow, LA
22. (54) Todd McLemore, Austin, TX

USRA Konica Minolta 100 Qualifying Results
Pos. No. Name, Time, Speed
1. 96 Greg Davidson 34.910 154.683
2. 41 Chris Davidson 34.976 154.392
3. 99 Casey Smith 35.698 151.269
4. 19 Kent Baltzell 36.359 148.519
5. 57 Leilani Munter 36.454 148.132
6. 13 T. Wade Welch 36.526 147.840
7. 29 Thad Felton 36.787 146.791
8. 79 Joe Aramendia 37.325 144.675
9. 7 Tuffy Hudson 37.374 144.485
10. 03 Matt Merrell 38.067 141.781
11. 71 Donny Kelley 38.214 141.309
12. 39 Hal Martin 38.792 139.204
13. 85 Thomas Tillison 38.822 139.096
14. 67 Kirby Caldwell 39.080 138.176
15. 36 Johnathan Beason 39.185 137.808
16. 70 Shawn Hunt 39.462 136.841
17. 88 Chad Wheeler 40.097 134.673
18. 00 Kristin Bumbera 40.288 134.035
19. 47 Ed Mann 40.307 133.972
20. 02 Matt Smith 40.368 133.769
21. 54 Todd McLemore 40.369 133.766
22. 16 Danny Pike 42.891 125.901

USRA Konica Minolta 100 Practice Times
Pos. No. Name, Best Time, Speed
1. 41 Chris Davidson 35.003 154.272
2. 96 Greg Davidson 35.371 152.667
3. 57 Leilani Munter 35.980 150.083
4. 29 Thad Felton 36.001 149.996
5. 19 Kent Baltzell 36.236 149.083
6. 99 Casey Smith 36.349 148.560
7. 7 Tuffy Hudson 36.383 148.421
8. 13 T. Wade Welch 36.392 148.384
9. 79 Joe Aramendia 36.981 146.021
10. 03 Matt Merrell 38.162 141.502
11. 39 Hal Martin 38.325 140.900
12. 71 Donny Kelley 38.436 140.493
13. 85 Thomas Tillison 38.747 139.366
14. 67 Kirby Caldwell 38.918 138.753
15. 88 Chad Wheeler 39.274 137.496
16. 00 Kristin Bumbera 39.314 137.356
17. 70 Shawn Hunt 39.430 136.952
18. 36 Johnathan Beason 39.702 136.013
19. 02 Matt Smith 39.714 135.972
20. 47 Ed Mann 40.023 134.922
21. 54 Todd McLemore 40.028 134.906
22. 16 Danny Pike 42.401 127.355

Media Coverage from Texas
NASCAR.com: Münter Sets New Record for Female Drivers
Racingwest: Münter Finishes Fourth at Texas Motor Speedway
USRA Speed: Leilani Keeps Up with the Boys at TMS
Photo Gallery: Texas Motor Speedway Gallery
Texas Speed Zone: Race Recap from Texas
Radio: Listen to Leilani's Post Race Interview
Radio: Listen to Konica Minolta's Don Hsieh Interview
Radio: Listen to Leilani's Pre Race Interview
Off Site Link: Race Photos Gallery Two
Off Site Link: Race Photos Gallery Two
Off Site Link: Qualifying Gallery
Charity Event: Leilani Attending Sam Hornish Charity Bowl
Business Wire: Konica Minolta 100 Features Leilani Münter