LONG POND, PA…..If you are to battle at 200 mph Daytona’s 2 ½ mile super speedway, it helps if you have a “Big Machine” under you. Chase Mattioli will be doing just that in his “Big Machine” #14 Belmont Racing Ford Taurus. The Big Machine Label Group, the envy of the record industry, has a star studded artist roster that includes signature artists such as Taylor Swift, Reba McEntire, Jewel, Trisha Yearwood, Jack Ingram, Jimmy Wayne, Billboard's "New Country Artist of 2009" Justin Moore, Steel Magnolia, The Band Perry, Fast Ryde and Sunny Sweeney. This event is Mattioli’s 3rd visit to Daytona, having competed there in the 2009 Koni Grand Series race and the 2009 ARCA race. A 20 year old Pennsylvania native, Mattioli, a sophomore at NYC’s Fordham University, will take to the Daytona high banks today at 12 noon for practice for the February 6th Lucas Oil Slick Mist / ARCA 200.
Mattioli has a Big Machine for Daytona
“I watched Chase race at the Fairgrounds in Nashville when he was a barely a teenager and Big Machine Label Group is thrilled to be with him at Daytona,” commented Scott Borchetta, founder, President and CEO of Big Machine. Chase has grown up in and around racing and has the off track maturity of a seasoned veteran. With our support and that of his family and crew, we are confident that Chase will march his way to the top of the field, just like all of our stars,” Borchetta concluded.
This past Sunday at the 52nd annual Grammy Awards, Big Machine’s Taylor Swift had her dreams come true, as the 20-year-old singer-songwriter won four trophies, including Best Album - “Fearless”, Best Country Album - “Fearless”, Best Country Song - “White Horse” and Best Female Vocal Performance - “White Horse”.
“When I was kid and dreaming about being a great race car driver, Mr. Borchetta was doing it as a driver, winning multiple championships at Nashville’s Fairgrounds Speedway. I am honored and humbled to be mentioned in the same breath with his incredibly successful Big Machine Label Group and such world renowned artists. I hope to make them proud,” Mattioli commented.
Mattioli is no stranger to super speedway racing. In his 1st Daytona test, in the fall of 2008, he was 3rd fastest in last day single car runs. In last years’ Daytona ARCA event, engine problems forced him to start dead last. Within 30 laps, he went from 43rd to 15th, before getting caught up in one of Daytona’s “Big Ones”. His 1st ever visit to Talladega saw him qualify 10th fastest and running as high as 3rd before his engine let go.
A good run for Mattioli at Daytona could mean big money for Clearbrook Treatment Centers. Since 1972 Clearbrook have been providing effective treatment programs for adults and adolescents who suffer from alcoholism and/or chemical dependency. If Mattioli finishes in 15th or higher, Clearbook will receive $25,000, with $250,000 coming their way if he wins. Both contributions are funded by insurance annuities, secured through one of the international leaders in creative insurance solutions, Massachusetts based HCC Specialty Underwriters, www.hccsu.com.
About Big Machine
Scott Borchetta founded independent label Big Machine Records in September 2005 and serves as its President/CEO. In its first year Big Machine scored its first #1 single (Jack Ingram's "Wherever You Are"), placed five singles in the Country Top 30, received a nomination for Record Label of the Year, and placed all three of the label's three new artist releases in the Top 10 Most-Played New Artists of 2006 (as monitored by Mediabase and reported by USA Today and Country Aircheck).
Big Machine's signature artist Taylor Swift (the CMA and AP's reigning Entertainer of the Year and the American Music Awards' 2009 Artist of the Year) was the best-selling all-genre artist of 2008 and her current album, Fearless, repeated her success when it became 2009's highest-selling album of the year across all genres. Fearless - the Country Music Association, Academy of Country Music and American Music Awards' 2009 Country Album of the Year - has spent more weeks at #1 atop the Billboard Top Album chart than any other album in the last 10 years with an astounding 11 weeks at #1. Taylor re-wrote the record books when her worldwide smash single "Love Story" became the first ever Country crossover single to hit #1 on the Billboard and USA Today Top 40 airplay charts. Her follow-up single, "You Belong With Me," repeated the same feat.
Big Machine Records, was Billboard's #1 Top Country Album Imprint of 2009, decorating it as the highest-selling record label group on Music Row. In 2009, Big Machine partnered with Universal Republic to create Republic Nashville. The Big Machine Label Group's current artist roster includes Taylor Swift, Reba McEntire, Jewel, Trisha Yearwood, Jack Ingram, Jimmy Wayne, Billboard's "New Country Artist of 2009" Justin Moore, Steel Magnolia, The Band Perry, Fast Ryde and Sunny Sweeney.
In 4 years, Big Machine Records artists have received 6 Country Music Association Awards, 6 American Music Awards, 4 Academy of Country Music Awards, 4 CMT Music Awards, 3 Teen Choice Awards, 1 MTV Video Music Award as well as 13 GRAMMY Nominations, 5 People's Choice Award Nominations and 1 BRIT Awards Nomination.
About Chase Mattioli, www.chasemattioli.com
20-year old Chase Mattioli, a member of the Mattioli / Pocono racing family, has been burning rubber since the age of seven. Beginning his racing career at the Lehigh Valley Quarter Midget Track, right outside of Pocono Raceway's turn three, Chase always dreamed of running with the “big show”.
Climbing his way through the Bertil Roos Racing School, the Fast Track Racing School, the NASCAR Weekly Series, the Sports Car Club of America, the KONI Grand AM Challenge Series and the ARCA Series; Chase finally made it to the “big show in 2009, and competing in his very first NASCAR Nationwide Series event at Loudon, New Hampshire.
In 2010, Chase will be a regular in the 2010 ARCA Series Presented by RE/MAX and Menards Series, and compete in select NASCAR Camping World East, Camping World Truck and Nationwide Series races events.
When not at the track, Chase can be found at Fordham University in the Bronx, where he is a sophomore majoring in business and marketing.
