GM Racing Selects Marty Ladwig To Drive Pro FWD Chevy Cobalt In 2005
- Announces Factory Support For Nelson Hoyos New Sport-Compact Program

Two-time NHRA Sport Compact HOT ROD champion Marty Ladwig has been selected by GM Racing to be the new driver of its 2005 Ecotec-powered Chevy Cobalt Pro FWD entry. Ladwig will replace back-to-back Pro FWD series champion Nelson Hoyos who will continue to compete under the Chevy red bowtie banner with his own Driven2Win Pro FWD and Pro RWD Cobalt Racing teams. GM Racing will support several teams with varying levels of support this year (including Hoyos' new program) with the goal of making GM products the hardware of choice among sport-compact drag racers.

"Drag racing is all about going quicker and faster," said Ladwig. "The opportunity to continue with GM Racing as the driver of its Ecotec-powered Chevy Cobalt is a dream come true for me, and stepping up to the Pro FWD category should be a lot of fun. The GM Racing team has done a tremendous amount of work in the offseason to create more horsepower, but the aerodynamic improvements inherent in the design of the new Chevy Cobalt will most certainly mean another record-breaking year in our sport. It should be a very, very exciting season for the fans of sport compact drag racing."

Ladwig's on-track success during the last two seasons, his congenial, affable approach to the fans and media, and his familiarity with the GM Racing program made the '03-'04 NHRA HOT ROD champ the obvious choice to climb into the Pro FWD Chevy Cobalt. Last year, the San Antonio, Tex., resident rewrote the NHRA Sport Compact record book capturing five national-event victories and competing in eight final rounds to claim his second consecutive HOT ROD title. Ladwig's nine career victories are the most by any driver in the HOT ROD class, and he was also the first person in the hotly contested category to run in the sevens with a lap of 7.973 seconds on August 22, 2004, at Gateway International Raceway in Madison, Ill.

"We're proud to have Marty returning to the GM Racing program in 2005," said Carmen Smith, GM program manager for sport compact drag racing. "Not only is Marty a terrific driver, but he also works well with the fans and the media. Marty has proven over time that he is the right person for our program."

In 2005, the GM Racing team will compete in select NHRA and NDRA events. By 2006, GM Racing will transition completely out of its role as a factory team and will move fully into a team-support model.