FAC Motorsports/KAT Motorsports Team Thread

[racingfreak1999]

BREAKING NEWS: Frank Azure to retire after 2013 season

FAC Motorsports owner Frank Azure has a lot on his plate for the upcoming 2013 season. He would like to return to the ASCC this year, he is taking part in the 6 Hours of Lime Rock, as well as competing for the Independent's Trophy in the TM Master Cup Series. This workload wouldn't be a issue for a younger driver, but Azure is trying to complete this at the age of 52. When he returned to the sport after he formed FAC Motorsports in 2007 he wanted to prove that he can run with the young guns. Which he was able to do by qualifying for Indy and Decatur last season and made the Chase in ASCC. People have wondered why Azure is taking on so much this season. Today during Independent's testing at Homestead, Azure answered those questions by announcing that he would retire after 30+ years in racing after the 2013 season.

"The reason I came back in the first place was to get this team off the ground and also to prove that I still had what it takes to run with the best of them. I have done that and then some. I've done all I wanted to do. I think this is the time to finally hang it up. All I am doing this season is it. I'm going out with a bang."

Azure started racing full time in 1980 in the NSCRA at the age of 19. He left racing in 1985 due to him thinking that his career wasn't going anywhere. He return to racing in 1994, running on and off until 1996 when he ran full in the Atlantic Sports Car League, where he had a best points finish of second in 2000. However, a crash in 2001 sidelined him until he decided to form FAC Motorsports in 2007. His final race at Decatur will come one month before his 53rd birthday.

[racingfreak1999]

(Yes I know this is a massive bump)

FAC signs sponsor for ARLA team; Nick Azure to stay in the car through end of 2013

It has been a difficult rookie year in ARLA so far for Nick Azure and the FAC Motorsports, who has 7 DNF's after 12 races.  With little to no outside funding to help with the repair costs along with Nick's inability to stay out of wrecks, many questioned whether or not Nick would stay in the car for the rest of the season.  But today, FAC announced as teams were unloading for the California 150 at California Speedway that they have acquired a much needed sponsor.  The team announced that they have signed Murphy's Law Auto Repair to sponsor the 46 car through the 2014 season starting immediately with this weekend's race.  With this deal, Nick Azure will remain the car for the rest of the season, though nothing has been decided on next season.

"I am very excited to introduce Murphy's Law Auto Repair as FAC Motorsports newest partner.  I'm glad we have obtained sponsorship despite our horrendous season.  This season has mostly been funded out of my own pocket, but again, I'm glad we got this deal complete and to be able to keep Nick in the car.  And we are looking to move forward from here" owner Frank Azure stated.  "We at Murphy's Law Auto Repair are happy to be apart of FAC Motorsports.  After the season they've had, we felt like this is a perfect business opportunity for us.  We look forward to future of both our operations" Murphy's founder Rick Murphy stated.

Murphy's will also be an associate sponsor for the remainder of FAC's teams.

[racingfreak1999]

Frank Azure hands FAC's FARC program to his wife; new name

FAC Motorsports has been really quiet about their 2015 FARC plans after a slightly improved 2014 season where they have been in the top 20 in points for a good part of the season. However, after qualifying for the 50/50 Sprints for the season ending FARC Lone Star Championships, owner Frank Azure announced that his wife Kathryn Azure would take over all FARC related operations after the season. It was questioned why Frank would forfeit control of the FARC program, but it is believed that one of the reasons could be that they want to put all their focus on bigger series.

"We want to increase the longevity of our team and at the same time we want to set up a platform in order to develop drivers. We thought that with the direction FARC is going in, we thought that putting so much into FARC would actually hurt our other programs. We didn't field a car in TM Lights this season for that reason. With that in mind, we thought it would be best for the whole team if the FARC program was its own seperate team." Frank stated about the move.

"I think the FARC team will be in good hand with Kate. She knows how to handle the business side of things, and plus she has a hell of a lot more patience than I do. *laughs* But anyway I think she'll do fine. The team will still be affiliated with FAC, but Kate will be the one making most of the business decisions. Think of this more as our development division."

Kathryn also announced that the new FARC program will go under the name KAT Motorsports. The team has expressed interest in returning full time in the Elite Series, but those plans could depend on what FAC does with Nick Azure. If they do return full time in the Elite Series, they have kept the option open on running multiple drivers if Nick does move to another series. The team will also likely field a car in the new Super Series. While there has been no word on drivers for that entry, it is likely Frank Azzaretto will retain his seat.

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