Empire Racing Group announced today that veteran John Ferrier will complete the organization’s three-car lineup for the Feb. 9 ARCA Racing Series season opener at Daytona International Speedway.
Ferrier’s No. 44 Chevrolet will carry sponsorship from Steve Green, an advocate and advisor for stem cell transplants. The car will promote the “877-4STEMCELL” number to encourage those interested in the benefits of stem cell transplants to obtain more information.
Green has worked with stem cell clinics abroad since he received a stem cell transplant to address pancreas and liver problems in 2007. The late U.S. Representative Ralph Regula (R-Ohio) first introduced Green to stem cell clinics in the Ukraine.
Green met Ferrier during last month’s ARCA testing session at Daytona and when he learned Ferrier was still seeking sponsorship for the race, Green decided to utilize the car and race as a way to promote awareness of stem cell benefits.
“There are so many issues that can be addressed with stem cells – autism, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, heart disease, Parkinson’s for example,” Green said. “Stem cells can help all aspects of your health.“I want people know to about this option and create awareness of all the possible benefits that stem cells can provide. We can change people’s lives.” It’s about quality of life!
Green, of Canton, Ohio, is a well-known entrepreneur, inventor, storm chaser and race car driver. With the help of his own stem cell transplant, he’s even contemplating returning to race himself, He currently coaches the Kiev Stallions, an American Football Professional Team in Ukraine. I’m having fun with a great group of people, Green says.
For now, though, he’ll settle to see Ferrier’s No. 44 877-4STEMCELL Chevrolet run up front in Saturday’s season opener.
“This is really just about getting the phone ringing and getting people who can benefit from stem cells to the right clinic,” he said. “I just want to see they get the help they need.”
Ferrier, 53, will be making his fourth consecutive start in the ARCA Racing Series season opener and sixth total. He has made 12 previous series starts with a career-best finish of seventh in 2013 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway.
“Stem cell research is the medicine of the future and I’m honored Steve would like to use our Empire Racing Chevrolet as a way to share awareness of this very important issue,” Ferrier said. “Even though some of the options may be limited in this country, people can still go to places like Ukraine for treatment and they are getting a lot of fantastic results.”
Ferrier has cut his racing teeth on dirt tracks, in particular running big block modifieds at Orange County Fair Speedway in his hometown of Middletown, N.Y. But he enjoys the opportunity to race stock cars and feels the best opportunity for success comes at Daytona and Talladega.
“Honestly, the reason is why I keep coming back is because at these races the playing field is very level. Everybody is on the same playing field and the chances at winning that race and doing very well is much greater than going to a Michigan or a Pocono or any of the other tracks,” he said.
Ferrier was in excellent position in last year’s Daytona race for a strong finish, which he also ran with Empire Racing. The scheduled 80-lap race ended up going into three overtimes with Ferrier running out of fuel in the final overtime but still managed a 15th-place finish.
“I don’t usually give myself credit as a driver, but when I got out of the car last year I felt I had just driven one of the best races that I ever did and I wasn’t disappointed at all,” he said. “I did just about everything that I was supposed to do – I drafted well, I side-drafted well, I stayed out of trouble. It was just very frustrating with how the race ended.”
ARCA Racing Series veteran Sean Corr and Thad Moffitt, grandson of seven-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion and owner Richard Petty complete Empire Racing Group’s Daytona lineup.
The Lucas Oil 200 driven by General Tire (80 laps | 200 miles) is the first of 20 races on the 2019 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards schedule. Practice begins Thurs., Feb. 7 with a two-hour session from 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. A final practice session has been etched in on Fri., Feb. 8 from 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Group qualifying is set for later in the day at 3:30 p.m. The season-opener for the 67th consecutive ARCA season is set to take the green flag on Sat., Feb. 9 shortly after 4:30 p.m. The event will be televised live on FOX Sports 1 (FS1), while ARCARacing.com will stream live timing and scoring throughout the entire weekend festivities.
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