LUGO\OLLIGES\SWIFT RACING READY TO DEFEND LAST YEAR’S RACE WIN AND TRICK TRUCK CHAMPIONSHIP AT BEST IN THE DESERT HENDERSON FABTECH DESERT CLASSIC

Henderson, Nevada (November 30, 2008). Coming off a first place finish in the Silver State 300 nine weeks ago, Team Ford #1 drivers Steve Olliges and John Swift are poised to mount another championship run this weekend at the Best in the Desert Henderson Fabtech Desert Classic. The reigning Best in the Desert Trick Truck champions are currently 21 points behind points leader and Vegas to Reno winner Rick D. Johnson, and need a first place finish in the unlimited Trick Truck division to have a mathematical chance of repeating as BITD series champions in 2008. Also vying for the Trick Truck championship are the Parker 425 winners, Huffman Motorsports, and Terrible’s 250 winners Will and Emily Staats. With the championship at stake, the Trick Truck pace over this short Henderson course is expected to be furious.




“We have completed more testing this year than ever before and this truck is really now the best it has been since I have driven it with Wayne,” said Olliges of the Lugo owned, Stewart Raceworks built and prepared Ford F150. “The recent incorporation of John’s ideas on the King shock valving and the newer motor from Patton Racing Engine’s makes the truck faster and easier to drive...even better than the truck we won with last race. I can’t wait to see how this thing will turn out. It will be an all out sprint for the win and the championship, and we are definitely ready for the challenge. “

“We have a pretty simple game plan for this race…drive as absolutely fast and smart as we can, and see where the chips fall at the end. We need to win our class to be in the championship hunt and we do not intend to make it easy for anyone else to wear the #1 next year,” said Swift, who, under the Swift Racing banner (http://www.swiftrace.com) with son Jonathon and Andy Waters, is also the reigning unlimited minitruck champion in BITD class 7200. Their team currently leads the points chase after another win at the Silver State 300 in the identically painted Team Ford Ranger. “I am happy to see that there are a lot of fast drivers with good trucks that are entered in this race, and even some who are not in the series points chase. It will make the championship that much more worthwhile to whomever wins it. I love the competition.”

Steve will again attempt to pocket his own money during Thursday’s time trials for the Team Ford Pole Award, which includes a one of a kind crystal trophy and $1000 cash. “I’m more motivated than ever to win my first pole,” said Olliges, jokingly referring to the economic downturn. “I am happy to contribute even in this modest way to help defray the costs of racing. Every little bit helps these days, even to the unlimited guys.”

Olliges returned last week from a successful launch of the Ford F150 SVT Raptor R in the Baja 1000, placing 3rd in SCORE’s Class 8 division as the driver of record with Greg Foutz and Randy Merritt. The Raptor SVT is Ford’s first foray into a “prerunner” production vehicle, and comes equipped with the industry’s only OEM triple internal bypass shocks, an electronic locking rear differential, and an optional 6.2L SOHC V8 with 400 hp and 400 lb ft of torque. The Raptor is 7 inches wider than the standard F150, designed specifically to accommodate the stronger and longer new upper and lower A arms, new tie rods and new half shafts. The Raptor will be available at Team Ford in the Summer of 2009. Visit http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2008/11/the-raptor-has.html and http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2008/11/the-f-150-rapto.html for more information about the production Raptor and the Raptor R.

Lugo\Olliges\Swift Racing is proudly sponsored by Team Ford (www.teamford.com), BFGoodrich Tires (www.bfgoodrichtires.com), King Shocks (www.kingshocks.com), and Stewart’s Raceworks (www.stewartsraceworks.com)

LUGO\OLLIGES\SWIFT RACING ROARS TO TRICK TRUCK VICTORY AT BEST IN THE DESERT SILVER STATE 300

Mesquite, Nevada (September 27, 2008). Over 300 miles of awe inspiringly scenic but brutally unforgiving terrain, Team Ford #1 drivers Steve Olliges and John Swift out ran some of fastest off road racers on earth to capture their first win of the year in the unlimited Trick Truck class. The reigning Best in the Desert Trick Truck champions held off a furious charge from class points leaders Jerry Whelchel and Chet Huffman, whose lone flat was likely the difference in the win, as the Lugo owned, Stewart Raceworks built and prepared Ford F150 finished less than 3 minutes ahead of the Huffman Motorsports entry. Despite running at a blistering pace for 6 hours and reaching speeds of over 120 mph, Olliges and Swift had another flawless day in their BF Goodrich shod, Patton Motors powered truck, which has finished every mile of every race both this season and last.

“What a great race we had with everyone this weekend,” said Olliges, who owns Team Ford in Las Vegas. “We had our best qualifying effort ever with a second in class on Thursday, finishing a few seconds behind Jerry Whelchel, who everyone knows is super fast. We were feeling really good about our chances for a first place finish in Trick




Truck in the race, and thought with our “secret weapon” John Swift driving the last portion, we might even be able to chase down the buggies for an overall. We just missed and ended up with a 5th overall.” Sam Berri in a Class 1500 Unlimited Buggy claimed the best 4 wheel overall time both in the race and in qualifying, and won the Team Ford Pole award, pocketing the $1000 cash prize for the second time in his career. Berri and Olliges are both in contention for the 2008 BITD King of the Desert Championship, awarded at the end of the year to the driver who is the fastest to finish every race mile of the season.

“I am just so happy that John is racing with us again. He is not only one of the fastest and winningest off road racers ever, but also he is one of the nicest guys you will ever meet.” Olliges’ and Swift’s last win together was over 10 years ago, when they were teammates on the legendary Ford Rough Rider team. During those years, Olliges became the winningest stock full driver in history and Swift compiled a record as one of the best off road racers ever, capturing countless wins and multiple championships in both his Ford Rangers and the dominant Ford Explorer. Under the Swift Racing banner (http://www.swiftrace.com) John, along with son Jonathon and Andy Waters, is the reigning unlimited minitruck champion in BITD class 7200 and their team currently leads the points chase after another win the Silver State 300 in their identically painted Team Ford Ranger.

“I want to first thank Wayne and Steve for giving me the opportunity to race with them this year. There is nothing like driving a 700 or 800 horsepower Trick Truck, and this one that Craig Stewart built is really a rocket,” said Swift, who is no stranger to the podium. “We made a couple of changes during testing in preparation for this tight, technical and fast course, which this really truck likes. Steve’s driving style is well suited to this type of course, and I really liked it too.”

Based on their qualifying positions, the #1 started three minutes after Whelchel in the #40. “Steve had a great race all morning with Whelchel and they exchanged the lead a few times. When I got in, we were leading slightly but were second physically on the course. I got stuck for awhile behind a buggy that was a little slower than us, and after I got around him, I decided to stay within a couple minutes of Huffman all the way to the finish to ensure the class win,” Swift reported, abandoning any chance for the overall. “My son Jonathon got a chance to ride with me at the end and he was a great help too. I had a blast in the truck with him and after I found out that our Ranger won too with Andy driving to the checkered...well…It was a really good weekend for all of the Team Ford trucks.”
Watch the in car video of the #1 Trick Truck winning at the Silver State 300 at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNaeXNNj_Zo

Lugo\Olliges\Swift Racing is proudly sponsored by Team Ford (www.teamford.com), BFGoodrich Tires (www.bfgoodrichtires.com), King Shocks (www.kingshocks.com), and Stewart’s Raceworks (www.stewartsraceworks.com)