PRO FWD RUNNER-UP, KUBO, HEADING IN NEW DIRECTION

World Champion Lisa Kubo to Anchor Saturn Motorsports Race Team

CHINO HILLS, Calif. - Lisa Kubo, the first Pro FWD driver to break into the seven-second range (7.963 at Moroso Motorsports Park, April, 2004), has had a mutual parting with two-year sponsor Saturn Motorsports of San Diego. Kubo, who has been a part of the NHRA Summit Sport Compact Series since it's inception in 2001, was signed be APC Saturn of San Diego at the mid-point of the 2003 NHRA season and transitioned from a Hot Rod Honda Civic to a Pro FWD Ion Quad Coupe , winning the final event of the campaign in Pomona, Calif.

This season, the team, led by her crew chief and husband Gary Kubo, won a career high five races finishing second in the class points race. In the process, she set the category E.T. record at three tracks and finished the season with the top speed in class history.

"We want to thank Saturn Motorsports of San Diego and the director of our motorsports program Jim Epler for giving us the opportunity to showcase our talents and live the life that we have wanted for several years," Kubo said. "Now we have a chance to explore new avenues that could led to future success in the industry and a partnership that will support a winning program." Despite starting the process of finding a new sponsor, the Kubo Racing Team is currently preparing for the 2005 season, which they are hoping will be in a Pro RWD car. "It's been a goal of mine to run a Pro RWD car for the last few years," Kubo said. "The move will test my driving skills and push my abilities to the limit as well as give us a more marketable team in NHRA Sport Compact's most prestigious class."