By running the two races at different events, the overall sponsor exposure is twice what was originally planned. Changes in the Diecast program has also been announced. Racing Champions is planning a new truck mold which will have new features including a hood-open design. The actual racing number that will be used on the truck is also undetermined at this time. Therefore production has been pushed back to allow these changes to be incorporated into the final run. The Goody's Dash Cow Car has had limited sales, so a much smaller production run is being considered for this piece than originally planned. Actual photos of the race vehicles may also be necessary to authenticate accurately the diecast piece. This may result in final delivery much later than originally planned, possibly into November, since it takes nearly 4 months to have the item go through Racing Champions Production Schedule. Since these are pre-sale pieces, only those units actually orderd will be produced, resulting in an extremely small edition, making it a most rare piece for the diecast collector.

April 20th 2002.. Alameda, Ca.

USS Hornet to go NASCAR Racing.
The USS HORNET Museum announced today an alliance with a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Team. HOL Racing will be entering a Craftsman Truck in two races in Virginia in September.

The truck will be decorated with the unique camouflaged paint design the aircraft carrier USS HORNET used during World War II. It features a 3-color design that created an optical illusion to the enemy when at sea. With the 60th anniversary of the beginning of construction of the USS HORNET on August 3rd 1942, the Hood of the truck will feature a full color rendering of the USS HORNET as it was when serving in WWII along with the 60th Anniversary "Laying of the Keel" logo.


A very personal relationship exists between the USS HORNET and HOL Racing. The driver of the truck, Shane Riffel, had a Grandfather who served aboard the USS HORNET during WWII as a navigator, and who's ashes were recently returned to the sea off the stern of the Hornet.

The specially decorated race truck will run at Richmond International Raceway on September 5th, and will race again at Big Daddy's South Boston Speedway September 21st.

"With the number of Naval Personnel stationed in Norfolk and Washington, D.C., we felt that having Shane in the special Hornet Truck for the two Virginia races would provide the greatest opportunity for the Navy folks to attend the race and watch the historic Hornet be represented in the race." Says Tom Granelli of HOL Racing.

Raising funds for the USS HORNET Museum is the primary goal of the alliance. The Carrier USS HORNET is a national treasure, having participated in two of the greatest events of the 20th century - World War II and the Apollo 11 manned space mission.

To help raise funds for the Non-Profit Museum and commemorate the USS HORNET, HOL Racing in cooperation with the Museum is producing a limited edition 1/24th Diecast replica of the Craftsman Truck that will be racing in Virginia. This Diecast will have the same paint scheme as on the actual race truck and will come in it's own Hornet Designed display box.



The Museum will be selling the Diecast Truck onboard in the Ship's Store and on their Internet site. It will also be available in selected stores and on Shane Riffel's site: www.shaneriffel.com You will also be able to order one by calling toll free 866-553-0649. Now peacefully moored at historic Alameda Point on San Francisco Bay, the USS HORNET is a timeless memorial to those who defended our American values and to those who have pursued America's technological advancements.

Whether its mission was projecting military might in times of war or supporting technological achievements in space exploration, the USS HORNET has continually maintained "A Heritage of Excellence." The Non-Profit Museum has a web site at: www.uss-hornet.org

Aimee Arrigoni, Director of Development at the USS HORNET Museum says: "We are very excited about teaming up with Shane and HOL Racing. It is a great opportunity for more people to learn about the greatest Aircraft Carrier to serve in World War 2, and the work we are doing at the Museum to keep the Heritage alive. Having a grandson of one of the original shipmates memorialize the USS HORNET in such a way is very emotional. It was less than a year ago that Shane came to the Hornet to honor his Grandfather's wishes and scattered his ashes in the waters off the Hornet. Now Shane has the opportunity to help preserve the ship his grandfather so loved. We are sure that Shane will demonstrate the same ideals in his racing efforts that so many veterans shared aboard the Hornet."

Shane Riffel, who has been driving NASCAR short track racecars for the past ten years, has raced at nearly every Short Track in New York and Ontario, Canada, and at Concord Motorsports Park. Since 1998 he has won three Championships, has had 12 race wins at 8 different tracks including a road course, and has logged 69 consecutive starts with 23 consecutive top 5's. Always a contender for the checkered flag, Shane has numerous records in his career. His wins have included prestigious tracks such as Oswego Speedway, Holland International Speedway, Mosport Park Road Course, Cayuga Speedway, Canada, and Concord Motorsports Park.

When asked about the USS HORNET race truck, Shane said: "60 years ago when the shipbuilders began to build the USS HORNET, although they knew the importance of what they were doing, I am sure none could have foreseen the success and history they were making. My grandfather served proudly on this ship and I am also proud to bring attention to the fine work the museum is doing in keeping the Hornet alive. Our goal in racing this truck is to increase awareness of the Museum and raise as much as possible for them. We are having the bed of the truck painted to resemble the flight deck of the Hornet and will be putting stickers on the bed that resemble fighter jets. With a $300 donation to the Hornet Museum, we will put a veterans name on one of the fighter jets, so that either a veteran or his family can have their name ride along with the Hornet Race Truck. They would also receive a signed photo of the truck and a close up of their "personal" fighter jet."

Director of Marketing Patrizzia Griffin added: "Every so often we are fortunate to have artifacts from the history of the Hornet made available to us. Shane's grandfather had one of the original commissioning pennants as a souvenir. This pennant will be placed in the truck during the race and then presented to the Hornet Museum where it will be placed on permanent display."

HOL Racing has pledged 100% of the net profits from Diecast & Souvenir Sales to the USS HORNET Museum. Their goal is to raise $100,000.00 for the Museum.