NGND East Series Team With Attitude
by Robert Elliott (original release on NASCAR.COM BUSCH EAST section)

A veteran NASCAR Busch East Series owner/driver, Jeff Spraker, will field a fleet of cars for a young, gun handeling female driver, Michelle Theriault, who will begin her first full season of NASCAR racing in the Busch East opener at Greenville-Pickens Speedway (SC.). We haven't figured out who Michelle is drawing down on...but we do know her sights are on the NGND East Series.
 

Spraker Racing is a familiar name in the NASCAR Busch East Series. A longtime driver, Spraker has experience in various series; he’s driven in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour and NASCAR Whelen All-American Series. Spraker Racing also builds and repairs a variety of race cars in his Mooresville, N.C. shop where Michelle works six-days a week. Michelle, and her sponsor Glock, Inc., joined Spraker Racing for the series full schedule of 13 events, plus the postseason NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown.
 

"I think Michelle has got a lot of potential," Spraker said. "She's shown a lot of promise in testing, and the tracks in the series fit her style. I think it will be a great experience for Glock, for Michelle, and NASCAR, too."
 

How sponsors are found - sometimes it's easier then you think

Glock, a leading manufacturer of hand guns preferred by law enforcement, was first approached by Michelle's father David Theriault two years ago regarding sponsoring his daughter's racing career and, according to David, Glock liked the idea and within weeks they had a sponsorship deal arranged. Team Glock will sponsor Michelle in seven ARCA events including the full NGND Busch East season.
 

As David tells it, "We were almost at the end of the line regarding Michelle continuing to race, as you know it's an expensive sport. I was reading a sporting magazine and saw a Glock ad, I live in Atlanta where Glock has an office, so I just called them, spoke with a marketing manager, they liked the idea and the rest is history as they say." Adding, "This has been Michelle's dream to run a full season in a series such as NASCAR's Grand National Division, racing with the best of the best..."
 

Although new to NGND Michelle has fifteen years of experience
 

Theriault of Bristol, Conn., will turn 21 on April 17, has methodically developed her racing career since starting as a six-year-old in quarter-midgets at the "Little T" at Thompson (Conn.) International Speedway in 1992. She advanced through Legends cars to Pro Late Models at Lanier National Speedway in Gainesville, Ga. Like Thompson, Lanier is a NASCAR Whelen All American Series track. She also competed in Late Models, Super Late Models and touring Late Models. She made one NASCAR Grand National Division West Series start in 2005 at Roseburg, Ore.

In March, Michelle and the new team put their efforts on the track for an ARCA race in Lakeland, Fla., now the team is focused on the East Series season opener. "We actually start testing our car at Greenville-Pickens next week to shake-down the car," Michelle said. Adding, "We'll probably go there and test one or two times just to get me acclimated to the feel of bias-ply tires because it's different from what I have been doing. They react a little bit differently. From testing, I'll be able to get the feel for what those do..."

Michelle will be running a composite body for a few events, with a spec-engine. And for the curious, Michelle was trained by Glock in all aspects shooting and firearm safety, she’s quite the markswomen. Gun toting or not we wish her all the best, she certainly defines the term Young-Gun, and is only the second female to race in the series since Carey Heath of Essex, Mass., who in 2003 raced full-time in the Busch East Series and finished 17th in the series points standings.