MILKA DUNO, HISTÓRICAS PRESENTACIONES EN LA SERIE NASCAR NATIONWIDE

* Milka Duno cumple metas en Homestead-Miami Speedway

Los Angeles, California (Noviembre 17, 2014) – Milka Duno llegó a la última carrera de su histórica primera temporada en NASCAR Nationwide Series a efectuarse en Homestead-Miami Speedway con dos objetivos: aprender y culminar la prueba. Y ella lo hizo.
Duno consiguió alcanzar respetables estadísticas durante su participación en ARCA Racing Series en su preparación para incorporarse a NASCAR, pero el salto de ARCA hacia NASCAR es más grande y difícil con una empinada curva de aprendizaje.
En su primera carrera en Nationwide Series efectuada en Kansas Speedway, Milka clasificó bien y tuvo una buena arrancada pero la máquina escapó de su control en las primeras vueltas y eso marcó un prematuro final en su estreno.

Con dos victorias en Homestead en la serie Rolex Grand Am, en esta ocasión fue la primera ocasión en la pista en un stock car, y ella tuvo mucho que aprender, y ella lo estuvo haciendo al mejorar y progresar en cada sesión.

Durante las sesiones de clasificación con miras a la competencia, un auto poco rendidor la ubicó en el puesto 39 en la formación de salida, en la que sería la ultra competitiva carrera de cierre de temporada.

Cuando la bandera verde ondeó para el día de la carrera, Duno comenzó a moverse y para la vuelta 120 se encontraba en el puesto 36. Pero Milka no había culminado su trabajo y consiguió avanzar otras dos posiciones hasta el lugar 34 en las últimas veinte vueltas de la carrera y registró además su mejor vuelta de carrera en la 201 de las 206 que constó la prueba.

“Esta fue apenas mi segunda carrera de NASCAR Nationwide”, dijo Duno. “Para esta carrera estuve tratando de ser más paciente porque en Kansas sentí que tenía un auto tan bueno que eso se transformó en un exceso de confianza y como resultado de ello me quedé con una invaluable e importante lección. Llegamos a Homestead con un grupo preciso de objetivos y hemos alcanzado cada uno de ellos. Al comienzo de la carrera el auto no estaba tan bueno, pero a medida que la prueba fue progresando pudimos efectuar las modificaciones en el carro en cada parada en los pits. Con la buena comunicación entre nosotros, esos cambios nos llevaron a la dirección correcta y por eso pude demostrar lo que puedo hacer cuando el auto tiene un buen rendimiento”.

“Nosotros llegamos a Homestead con la intención de que Milka completase la carrera de Nationwide Series y brindarle a ella la oportunidad de lograrlo”, dijo el propietario del equipo RAB Racing, Robby Benton. “Ella aprendió mucho en esta carrera y creo que también se ganó algo de respeto. Ella corrió una buena carrera sin tener incidentes o contratiempos. Competir a este nivel en esta pista no es un logro pequeño y estoy orgulloso de que Milka haya alcanzado la bandera a cuadros de manera respetable”.

La primera campaña de Duno en NASCAR la ha visto a ella alcanzar tres hitos históricos en el deporte hispano. Cuando ella debutó en su primera carrera en Nationwide Series en Kansas Speedway en octubre, ella se convirtió en la primera mujer hispana en competir en NASCAR Nationwide en los Estados Unidos y cuando ella participó en la serie Camping World Truck en Talladega Superspeedway, ella se transformó en la primera mujer hispana en participar en ese certamen. Al liderar algunas vueltas en Talladega, ella también se convirtió en la primera mujer hispana en encabezar una carrera de NASCAR National Series en los Estados Unidos.

“Ha sido una gran temporada en varios niveles”, señaló Duno. “Mis patrocinadores me brindaron una increíble oportunidad de alcanzar un gran sueño que tenía, como era el competir en NASCAR y estoy enormemente agradecida por ese respaldo. A lo largo de este recorrido también hemos alcanzado significativas marcas para el deporte hispano. Muchas gracias igualmente para el equipo RAB Racing, organización que ha depositado su confianza en mí al firmarme y otorgarme la oportunidad de completar mi debut en NASCAR con ellos”.

Milka Duno Accomplishes Goals at Homestead-Miami Speedway
2014 NASCAR SERIES SEASON A SEASON OF HISTORY FOR MILKA DUNO

Los Angeles, Calif. (November 17, 2014) – Milka Duno headed into the last race of her historic first NASCAR Nationwide Series season at Homestead-Miami Speedway with two goals – to learn and to finish – and that she did.

Duno had earned some respectable stats during her time in the ARCA Racing Series in preparation for her entry into NASCAR – but the jump from ARCA to NASCAR is a big and difficult one with a steep learning curve.

In her first Nationwide Series race at Kansas Speedway race Milka qualified well and had a very good start but the car went away from her in very early laps and ended her debut prematurely.

With two wins at Homestead in the Grand American Rolex Series this would be her first time on the track at Homestead in a stock car – and she had much to learn – and she was doing just that by improving and getting faster in each session.

In the qualifying session leading up to the race an underperforming car placed her 39th on the starting grid for what would be an ultra-competitive season finale competition.

When the green flag waved on race day Duno started to move and by lap 120 she was in 36th. But Duno was not done yet – and she would advance another two positions to 34thin the last 20 laps of the race – and setting her fastest lap of the race on lap 201 of the extended 206-lap competition.

“This was only my second NASCAR Nationwide race” said Duno. “For this race I was trying to be more patient because at Kanas I was feeling that the car was so good I became overconfident and as a result of this it taught me a valuable and important lesson. We came to Homestead with a definite set of goals and we accomplished all of them. At the start of the race the car was not so good, but as the race progressed we were able to make changes to the car during each pit stop. With good communication between us those changes were heading in the right direction so I was able to prove what I’m able to do when the car is performing.”

“We came to Homestead with the intent to have Milka complete a Nationwide Series race and provide her an opportunity to get that done, said RAB Racing owner Robby Benton. “She learned a lot in this race and I think she earned some respect as well. She ran a good race with no incidents or issues. Competing at this level at this track is not a small accomplishment and I’m proud that Milka was able to take the checkered flag respectfully.”

Duno’s first season in NASCAR saw her achieve three historic Hispanic sports history milestones. When she debuted in her first Nationwide race at Kansas Speedway in October she became the first Hispanic female driver to compete in a NASCAR Nationwide series race in the USA and when she competed in the Camping World Truck Series at Talladega Superspeedway she became the first Hispanic female driver to compete in the USA in that series also. By leading laps at Talladega she also became the first Hispanic female driver to lead laps in a NASCAR national series race in the USA.

“It has been a great season on many levels,” said Duno. “My sponsors gave me the incredible opportunity to fulfill a big dream of mine – to compete in NASCAR and I am supremely thankful for their support. Along the way we all made some significant Hispanic sports history as well. Many thanks also to the RAB Racing organization for signing me and giving me the chance to make my NASCAR debut with them”.

ABOUT MILKA DUNO

Duno has eight major race wins in the highest classes (Prototype) in the American Le Mans Series and the Grand American Rolex Series and the highest finish ever by a female driver (2nd place) in the 24 Hours at Daytona. When she won the Rolex Series Grand Prix of Miami she became the first woman in history to win a major international race in the USA. Duno was also the first Hispanic female driver, in the now 103-year history of the race, to qualify for and compete in the world famous Indianapolis 500.

In making her transition to stock car racing and her ultimate entry into NASCAR Duno has been competing in the ARCA Racing Series (ARCA) for the past three seasons. In her first full ARCA season in 2013 Duno finished the season 7th in the driver point standings and became the 2nd highest finishing female driver in ARCA’s history. She earned the pole at Talladega and led race laps at both Talladega and Daytona. Duno ended her 2013 ARCA season 3rd in most laps completed and 3rd in hard charger points.

Off the track Duno is a member of the Univision Deportes Network Formula One broadcast team as a commentator for their live F1 pre-race shows and live race broadcasts of all of the 2014 F1 races.

Duno also serves as a newly elected member of the 2014 Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) Women & Motor Sport Commission. The FIA’s most prominent role is in the licensing and arbitration of the Formula One and World Rally Championship series. The International Olympic Committee provisionally recognized the federation in 2011, and granted full recognition in 2013.

As certified Naval Engineer with four master’s degrees – earning the last three simultaneously – Duno is a firm believer in the value of education and is working through her “Milka Way” program to inspire youth to “Aim for the Stars” and achieve academic excellence. Duno has taken this message to children, students, parents and teachers at all school levels all across the United States and around the world – including Venezuela, Malaysia, Canada, Japan, Peru, Colombia, Argentina, Chile, Guatemala, Mexico, and Puerto Rico. For more information on Milka Way, visit www.milkaway.com.

Milka’s official website is available at www.milkaduno.com

Fans cans also logon to her official Facebook Fan Page at www.facebook.com/TheOfficialMilkaDunoFanPage.

Duno can also be followed on Twitter @MilkaDuno

Prensa Milka Duno