Said 'flabbergasted' by new crew chief.

Frank Stoddard has joined MB/Sutton Motorsports as crew chief for the team's #36 Centrix Financial Chevrolet to be driven by Boris Said in a minimum of 10 races during the 2005 NASCAR Nextel Cup season. The newly-created team is part of the MB2 Motorsports umbrella.

36-year-old Stoddard has enjoyed success as a crew chief in NASCAR's premier division with a career record of 14 wins, 64 top fives and 98 top 10s. He started his crew chief career in 1998 with the #99 Roush Racing team and driver Jeff Burton.

After nearly five full seasons at Roush Racing, Stoddard became crew chief for the #22 team at Bill Davis Racing (BDR) in late 2002. While at BDR he worked with drivers Ward Burton and Scott Wimmer. Frank ended his affiliation at BDR near at the end of the 2004 season.

"I am really looking forward to this opportunity and working with Boris and Team Centrix," said Stoddard. "Boris' talent on the road courses is without question and what he has done already in a short period of time on the oval tracks has been impressive. He's certainly a quick learner and he will adapt well with good equipment and good team-mates in Joe (Nemechek) and Scott (Riggs).

"Another reason for my decision to join MB2 is that it's a growing organisation with a strong commitment to fielding top-notch teams," he continued. "And the opportunity to work with quality team-mates was also a big factor.

"It's hard going to a race track with a single-car team - it's like going to a gunfight with a dull knife. To work alongside Ryan (Pemberton, crew chief 01 U.S. Army team) and Doug (Randolph, crew chief No. 10 Valvoline team) will be a huge benefit."

"I am surprised a guy that good would want to work with me," beamed Said. "I am flabbergasted! He is one of the best and I am sure I will learn a lot from him. I am very happy about Frank being our crew chief, but it's also a little scary for me because that's one less excuse I have."

"We understand how critical it is to have the right people in leadership positions," added Robert Sutton, chairman and chief executive officer of Centrix Financial. "We are thrilled to have a savvy veteran in Frank Stoddard directing our team effort.

"He has an impressive background as one of the blue chip crew chiefs in the Nextel Cup Series, and his joining Team Centrix demonstrates our long-term commitment to making an impact in the premier NASCAR series."

The first race scheduled for Said and the #36 Centrix Financial team will be the season-opening Daytona 500, on February 20 at Daytona International Speedway.