"We had planned and prepared our team to compete for the Sunoco Super Series season championship this year," remarked Ponstein, the 26-year-old Hudsonville, Michigan native. "When this opportunity to drive for John Bailey was offered to me, and I just couldn't turn it down!"

Ponstein had the opportunity to test the ARCA RE/Max Series car for the first time this past Wednesday at Toledo Speedway. Also on hand for the test was NASCAR Winston Cup veteran Kenny Schrader in preparation for the ARCA RE/Max Series event at Toledo Speedway on Sunday, May 4th, which will be Ponstein's debut with the ARCA RE/Max Series. Schrader was able to give Ponstein some pointers on how to handle the heavy 3,400lb stock car on the high-banked half-mile racetrack. Ponstein will also have the help of veteran crew chief Tom Sokoloski, who helped former ARCA RE/Max Series champion Tim Steele for several seasons. Ponstein also plans to compete with the ARCA Re/Max Series at Berlin Raceway on May 24th.

Sokoloski will also be the crew chief for Ponstein's starts with the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Ponstein is tentatively scheduled to make his debut with the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series at the Milwaukee Mile on June 28th. The John Bailey team also plans to make NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series starts with Ponstein at Indianapolis Raceway Park on August 1, Bristol Motor Speedway on August 20th, Richmond International Speedway on September 4th, and at Martinsville Speedway on October 18th. The team will use Ford trucks with Penske motors.

"I know there going to be a tough learning curve with the ARCA RE/Max Series car and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series truck," added Ponstein. "Most of my racing experience has been in a late model which is a lot different than the heavier cars and trucks I'll be racing in this season. The tough competition I raced against in the Sunoco Super Series last season will definitely help me with my racing in 2003."

Ponstein's racing career started in Snowmobiles were he claimed over 500 wins. From there Ponstein went stock car racing starting in a Factory Stock at Kalamazoo Speedway. In 1995 Ponstein moved up to a Super Late Model and was the Rookie Of the Year At Kalamazoo Speedway. Ponstein won over a dozen Super Late Model races at Kalamazoo Speedway and Berlin Raceway over the next several years, in addition to running six ASA Racing Series events in 1998. Ponstein moved on to the Sunoco Super Series in 2002 were he claimed the Rookie Of the Year Title with six top ten finishes, two top five finishes, and led a total of 40 laps on his way to a seventh overall finish in 2002 Sunoco Super Series points.

Additional information can be found at www.andyponstein.com