MATT BYRNE

1915 GAIL LYNNE DRIVE

BURLINGTON, WI  53105

PHONE:  (800) 924-8963

WEBSITE:   www.mattbyrne.com

For Inquiries:  Contact Team Managers – Jim or Debbie Byrne

News Release -  Driver on the Move – Matt Byrne

Byrne wins “Rookie of the Year” Title in the Great Lakes Allison Legacy Series. 

At age 13, Matt Byrne clinched the Rookie of the Year title in 2003, while also finishing 2^nd in the championship points for the season.  Matt moved on from karting at the end of 2002 to the ¾ size Winston Cup Car.  The team bought Erik Darnell’s (grandson of Bay Darnell) Ford Thunderbird.  In his first test drive in October of 2002 at Lake Geneva Raceway, Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, Matt was within six tenths of the track record. 

The schedule consisted of 15 races at 6 different tracks:   Mansfield, Ohio, Indianapolis Raceway Park, Indiana, Angola Motor Speedway, Indiana, Lake Geneva Raceway, Wisconsin, Rockford Speedway, Illinois, Kalamazoo Speedway, Michigan and New Paris, Indiana. 

Matt had no problems making the transition from karting to the stock car. He had qualified in the top 5 positions 10 times and had 5 finishing positions in the top 5.  He won his first Heat Race at Rockford, Illinois.  He led the Rookie points battle the entire season.   The average field consisted of 14 cars and the driver’s range from age 13 (Matt again being the youngest) to 61.  As in karting Matt has earned the respect of the other drivers by his sportsmanship and clean driving abilities. 

At age 13, Matt’s resume is pretty unique and impressive:

1998 - Started racing at the age of 8 at Badger Kart Club, Dousman, Wisconsin.  Highlights included winning the 2 cycle Jr. Sportsman Championship, and the “Rookie of the Year” title.  He is the youngest driver ever to win this honor since the inception of this facility in 1960.

1999 - Matt moved up to the next faster class in 2 cycle racing against competitors with 5 to 7 years more experience.  Highlights included finishing 2^nd in the Championship and being named “National Sprint Driver of the Year.” 

2000 - He began racing the WKA Great Lakes Sprint Series Division as a Jr. Sportsman series driver for the newly formed Paul Tracy Racing Karts.    Matt again was successful, winning the 2 cycle Yamaha Jr. Sportsman Championship. Also competing in the World Karting Association (WKA) National Series with Finishing in the top 5 for National Points.

2001 - He raced in the WKA Midwest Sprint Series He won Championships in both Yamaha Jr. Sportsman and HPV Jr. Sportsman. He also won the WKA Grand National Championship at Dousman, Wisconsin in the Yamaha Jr. Sportsman class.                                                                                            

                 He won both the Yamaha Jr. Sportsman and the HPV Jr. Sportsman classes at the Inaugural Briggs and Stratton Racetrack at Road America in Plymouth, Wisconsin.

                 Later that year he won the HPV Jr. class at the inaugural Track Challenge Event at Dousman, Wisconsin. Throughout the year he set fast time at several of the WKA events and finished 2^nd in the National Point Standings.

2002 - This was Matt’s optional year to move up to the highly competitive Junior classes on a Regional and National level.  He raced Formula Y, Supercan and HPV.  Matt, being the youngest competitor in the field our goals were to finish in the top 10 point standings for the year.

                Highlights included winning the WKA Winter Nationals at Lowe’s Charlotte Motor Speedway.  Setting fast time at the WKA Grand Nationals at Dousman, WI.

                 2002 – WKA Manufacturers Cup Finishes:

               Finishing 2^nd place in Supercan for National Points.

               Finishing 3^rd place in HPV Jr. National Points.

                Finishing 4^th place in Formula Y National Points.

 2002 – September 11, - Matt took his first test run at Lake Geneva Raceway, Lake Geneva, Wisconsin in an Allison Legacy Car.  Within 20 laps he was within Six tenths of the track record. He continued to test his own Allison Legacy Car in September and October at Lake Geneva and has logged in over 300 laps in preparation for the start of the 2003-racing season.

2003 - Running for Rookie of the Year in the Allison Legacy Series.

2003 –  RESULTS -       Great Lakes Allison Legacy Series Race Season Results - Matt exceeded the goals set for his Rookie year in the Series with winning Rookie of the Year Title along with Finishing 2^nd in the points Championship.  He is the youngest driver to win the “Rookie of the Year” title.

2004 - The team is looking forward to the 2004 season – The goal for this year will be competing for the GLALS Championship.  We also look forward to running a few national events and exploring some opportunities to make a move in to a Late Model.  

2005 – Matt made his move into the ASA Late Model Series at Madison International Speedway.  The team qualified for all but (1) feature at Madison International Speedway with (1) 6^th place finish and (3) heat race wins.

2006 – The team concentrated on qualifying for the 2006 racing season knowing there would be 30 plus cars on a weekly basis.  This proved to be our only success for 2006 as we were a top (10 ) qualifier consistently with (1)  top 10 finish and (1) heat win.  Mechanical problems kept our team from finishing far too many races.

As our team looks forward to the 2007 season, we believe that a change in chassis manufacturers is needed.  As a small budget team, we need to rely on  a chassis manufacturers support  for set-up information.  This proved to be a never-ending struggle with Port City racecars forcing our team to make this change for the upcoming season.