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Today marks the introduction of a new NASCAR motorsports organization combining the best of NASCAR experience with cutting-edge technology and engineering skills, Riley-D’Hondt Motorsports, LLC (RDM). Based out of Mooresville, North Carolina, RDM will be fully operational by the 2007 season, with an expected two teams in the NASCAR Busch Series, as well as a NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series team competing in as many as five NEXTEL Cup “Car of Tomorrow” events.

“We’re ideally going to start off with three teams – two Busch Series and one part-time NEXTEL Cup team in 2007,” said Eddie D’Hondt, co-founder, co-owner and general manager, Riley-D’Hondt Motorsports. “Right now we don’t know to what extent each of these teams will participate in the 2007 season - as sponsorship unfolds, we will revise our schedules. RDM’s goal is to become a NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series powerhouse within five years, with up to four teams in contention for the NEXTEL Cup championship.”

D’Hondt’s RDM co-founder and co-owner is Bill Riley of Riley Technologies, a premier motorsports engineering and manufacturing organization, which is in the process of moving its operations from Speedway, Indiana to Mooresville. Among many other projects, Riley Technologies builds winning competition vehicles, including Daytona Prototypes for the Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series.

"I’ve wanted to get involved with NASCAR racing as a team principal for quite some time, and have been waiting for the right opportunity to come up,” said Riley, co-owner and performance director, Riley-D’Hondt Motorsports. “RDM is that right opportunity, with the combination of Eddie’s NASCAR mind and Riley Technologies’ extensive knowledge of race car engineering and manufacturing.”

Full sponsor, vehicle manufacturer and driver rosters are to be announced in the very near future. RDM is currently in negotiations with all parties.

The racing model for RDM is to run at least one NASCAR Busch Series team in concert with one to four NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series teams. The goal of the Busch Series effort will be to win races while creating a sustainable source of talent and engineering solutions to the Nextel Cup team(s). The Busch Series team(s) will focus on future driver development, as well as shock and suspension development.

RDM is co-owned by four principals: D’Hondt, Bill Riley, Bob Riley and Jim Matthews. Bob Riley, Bill’s father and founder/owner of Riley Technologies, will operate as RDM’s engineering director, with Bill’s assistance. Matthews, a sports car racing star, will assist the team with business matters and lend his road-racing experience to RDM’s driver roster as needed.

“We wanted to create a motorsports organization without compromise, with a strong emphasis on engineering and technology that’s not only geared correctly for today’s environment, but will be a dominant force in the future,” said D’Hondt. “Together Bill and I have had enough experience of all types with numerous racing organizations, as managers and owners, to know what works and what doesn’t. RDM is set up to succeed from the get-go.”

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