2010 Grand-Am Rolex Series

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mlittle
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Keen, Gue Building Momentum........

Post by mlittle » Mon Aug 02, 2010 2:01 pm

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Drivers of the No. 41 Global Diving & Salvage Mazda RX-8 in the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series GT class, Leh Keen and James Gue know what it is like to have built successful careers and relationships, especially during the past few seasons in GRAND-AM Road Racing competition.

Keen is coming off a 2009 season that saw him co-win four races and take the Rolex Series GT title along with co-driver Dirk Werner. Meanwhile, Gue finished second in the 2008 and 2009 Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge Grand Sport (GS) points standings with Bret Seafuse, driving for JBS Motorsports. So it comes as no surprise that the pair is currently fourth in the GT championship, fighting for podium finishes weekly and at times even a victory. They have three podiums and eight top 10s - all consecutively - in nine races this season.

"James and I are two pretty laidback guys," Keen said. "I would say we are pretty different from each other but we get along great. He knows the importance of keeping the car in great shape and makes sure he does that each race."

Added Gue: "Driving with Leh has been good this year and I think we complement each other well. We get along off the track, and we push each other on the track. The biggest difficulty we have is fitting us both comfortably in the car as there is about eight inches difference in height between us."

So it's safe to say they continue to build the Dempsey Racing program - which last season consisted of one Mazda RX-8, the No. 40 for team co-owners Joe Foster and Patrick Dempsey. In the process of building their friendship, Keen and Gue are in the process of building even more outside the racing community.

The pair's efforts have been supported by Team Seattle, which raises funds for and awareness of the Seattle (Wash.) Children's Hospital. Team Seattle has, in the past, regularly raised money with a car competing in the Rolex 24 At Daytona. This season, Team Seattle stepped up its efforts for an entire season. While that gives Keen and Gue a chance at winning a championship, it also raises more money for Team Seattle; in fact, all the team's prize money is donated to the Seattle Children's Hospital. Through their efforts on the track, the race team is also helping to build a hybrid operating room, which will improve the way cardiac operations will function. "I was fortunate enough to visit the hospital earlier in the year and see first-hand the impact the racing program has on the hospital," Gue said. "We have had a tremendous amount of support from everyone at Team Seattle."

Two of the team's biggest supporters have been Seattle natives John and Jeri Graham, owners of Global Diving and longtime supporters of the Seattle Children's Hospital. That led them to the Team Seattle program, and after attending their first race just last year, they backed a full season for the No. 41 for the entire 2010 campaign.

So far, the relationship has proven worthwhile in several ways. Gue and the Grahams visited the Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, prior to the race at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, where Gue signed autographs and visited with children. Several team members also expect to visit The Montreal Children's Hospital in August during the penultimate round of the 12-race season at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

Seattle Children's Hospital, Nationwide Children's Hospital and The Montreal Children's Hospital are all participating hospitals in The Children's Circle of Care, which advances philanthropy that supports patient care, teaching, research and advocacy through educating and recognizing leading benefactors.

"We've always supported the children's hospital on a smaller scale, and now we're gradually advancing that," John Graham said. "We think we have something to contribute that will be beneficial to the hospital. I think we've got an extremely good group of folks here that we weren't responsible for putting together, but the chemistry is good and we've got good drivers.

"We think that our investment is probably going to get a three- or four-time return on money for the hospital. We're not in it for us. We're in it for the hospital. That's why we're here." In addition to the Grahams, other members of Team Seattle have worked with the Dempsey Racing stable in 2010. Some even shuttled drivers and team members between pit lane and campers during the Rolex 24.

Heading into the final quarter of the season, all involved with the No. 41 camp, including Gue and Keen, expect to meet one final goal - winning a race. They finished a season-best second at Lime Rock Park, and gave Dempsey Racing it's first-ever podium at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

"We were on fire at the Sahlen's Six Hours of The Glen (third place)," Keen said, "and the short course is one I really enjoy. We had a great setup for that race and I know we will be fast right out of the box for the sprint race." Added Gue: "The Dempsey Racing/Team Seattle crew has given us a great car at every race this year. We hope to finish out the season on a high note."
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Memo Join Team Sahlen for Upcoming Glen Race..............

Post by mlittle » Mon Aug 02, 2010 2:02 pm

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-----WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. - All around versatile driver Memo Gidley will be joining Team Sahlen at next weekend's Crown Royal 200 at Watkins Glen International in the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16.

Memo has raced everything from BMX Bikes to Go-Karts to Daytona Prototypes to Open Wheel Indy Cars to Front Wheel Drive Sedans, and achieved success in every discipline. Gidley's versatility is not just limited to land, as his first form of racing was in small sailboats. And recently Memo has taken up the sport of Jet Ski racing with considerable success.

"I am very excited to get a chance to drive the Mazda RX-8 in my first Rolex Series GT race," Gidley said. "I have always had a huge amount of respect for the GT class racers. I know that the cars can be difficult to drive fast, the racing is very close, and all the while they have to contend with Daytona Prototypes blasting by...I'm sure that is a very challenging combination. I love a challenge and I'm really looking forward to this experience with the Sahlen Team. And although we don't know much of each other, I have always gotten a great feeling about Joe Sahlen and liked what I have seen and heard about the team. I'm also really looking forward to working with Wayne and Will Nonnamaker and learning about GT cars. I can't wait for the weekend!"

Buffalo resident Joe Sahlen, who drives for and sponsors the team, is looking for the opportunity to have Gidley on the team. "I have been watching Memo race in the Daytona Prototype class for the past several years," Sahlen said. "He has shown great speed along with the ability to bring the car home in one piece. Our goal all year long has been to assist Mazda in winning the GT class Manufacturer's Championship. And we hope that having Memo on board with us will give us that extra boost to get to the front of the GT field. Especially since Watkins Glen is Sahlen's home track."

"Team Sahlen will be entering the No. 42 and No. 43 Mazda RX-8s for the event at Watkins Glen International," said driver Will Nonnamaker. "For the past three races, Team Sahlen has run in the top five in the later stages of the race. Team Sahlen has been working to capitalize upon this continued pattern of increased competitiveness into race results at end of the event. Everyone on the team is putting in extra hours to achieve the quest of a top three finish at the Glen."
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Six Grand-Am Drivers Join RRDC..............

Post by mlittle » Wed Aug 04, 2010 10:10 am

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Grand-Am veterans Brian Frisselle and Michael Valiante are among the six Grand-Am drivers selected to join the Road Racing Drivers Club for 2010.......


-----Six GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16 regulars were elected to membership in the prestigious Road Racing Drivers Club. RRDC president Bobby Rahal announced that Michael Valiante, Joey Hand, Memo Gidley, Brian and Burt Frisselle and Kelly Collins were among 31 new members of the club for 2010.

With a collective seven IRL/Champ Car championships, three Indy 500 wins and dozens of major U.S. and international road-racing victories, "this is perhaps one of the most impressive groups of new members to receive invitations to join the RRDC in the long history of the club," Rahal said.

"For 58 years, membership in the RRDC has been a badge of honor for outstanding racers and a select few others with legacy-level relationships to the sport," Rahal continued. "Membership, however, also infers the responsibilities of racing leadership, representing the best qualities of sportsmanship, taking an active interest in safety and helping new drivers launch successful and enduring racing careers."

The Road Racing Drivers Club was formed in 1952 as a way to give champion drivers a say in their sport, particularly in the areas of safety, and has evolved to serve the future of road racing by mentoring new drivers on both amateur and professional levels. The Club's membership includes leading industry professionals, race officials and motorsports journalists, in addition to prominent racing names.

Rahal is the 1986 Indy 500 winner and is co-owner, with David Letterman, of the 2004 Indianapolis 500 winning Rahal Letterman Racing team. Six-time SCCA National champion John Fergus is the Club's Vice President/Treasurer, and five-time SCCA National champion Tom Davey is the Secretary.

In addition to RRDC members lending their expertise to up-and-coming drivers, the Club presents three annual awards: the Phil Hill Award for rendering outstanding service to road racing; the Mark Donohue Award for personal spirit and performance at the SCCA National Championship Runoffs; and the Bob Akin Award - the top award presented to amateur and semi-professional racers - for speed with style, passion, sportsmanship and contribution to motorsports. The RRDC also supports the Team USA Scholarship, which has been assisting young Americans in the early stages of their careers since 1990.


And who were the 31 individuals selected this year?
---Ryan Briscoe - Mooresville, S.C. - third in 2009 IRL IndyCar Championship; 2007 ALMS Rookie of the Year; drives for Team Penske in IRL.
---Kelly Collins - Newport Beach, Calif. - 2008 Rolex Series GT class co-champion; second in 2009 and 2007. Top Corvette driver in the ALMS.
---Gil de Ferran - Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. - 2000 and 2001 CART Champ Car champion; 2003 Indy 500 winner; 1992 British F3 champion; 1995 Champ Car Rookie of the Year; set closed-course world speed record of 241.426 mph.
---Tony De Lorenzo - Bloomfield Hills, Mich. - his SCCA/IMSA racing career spanned 17 years, several sponsors and partnerships, and included consistent top-10 finishes; was elected to the Corvette Hall of Fame in 2008.
---Scott Dixon - Indianapolis, Ind. - 2003 and 2008 IRL champion; 2008 Indy 500 winner; three-time winner of the Jim Clark Trophy; two-time winner of Bruce McLaren Trophy.
---Chris Dyson - Pleasant Valley, N.Y. - son of longtime sports-car racer Rob Dyson, races in ALMS and manages Dyson Racing; 2003 LMS LMP 675 champion; second in 2005 LMP1 championship; fourth in 2004.
---Calvin Fish - Schaumburg, Ill. - 1987 Formula Atlantic champion; 1990 GTO class winner at Daytona 24 and Sebring 12; also competed in Formula Ford, IndyLights, Formula 3 and Formula 2000; currently an analyst for Speed TV.
---Marino Franchitti - London, Eng. - younger brother of Dario Franchitti; 2001 British GTO champion; also raced in Formula Vauxhall, FIA N-GT Series, FIA GT; currently drives for Patron Highcroft ALMS team.
---Brian Frisselle - Aspen, Colo. - son of sports-car racer Brad Frisselle; won final three races of 2003 Skip Barber National Championship; raced in Star Mazda Series; race winner in GRAND-Am Rolex Series, in which he currently competes.
---Burt Frisselle - Aspen, Colo. - also son of Brad Frisselle; made rookie debut in 2003 in the Barber Dodge Pro Series, finishing sixth overall. Earned pole, set fastest race lap and won his first race in the 2002 Formula Dodge National Championship; races in GRAND-AM Rolex Series.
---Memo (José) Gidley - Novato, Calif. - raced in Champ Car for Derrick Walker, Gerry Forsythe and Chip Ganassi; since 2005 has competed full-time in GRAND-AM Rolex Series; co-drove to 2009 Mexico City season finale win.
---Joey Hand - Sacramento, Calif. - began karting in 1995, earned three U.S. and seven National Championships; has raced in Formula Mazda Pro Series, the Formula Palmer Audi series in England, Formula Atlantic, GRAND-AM Rolex Series, Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge, ALMS and the SPEED World Challenge; Formula Atlantic 2001 Rookie of the Year.
---Tony Kanaan - Miami, Fla. - 2004 IRL IndyCar Champion and 1997 Indy Lights Champion; in 2004 completed 3,305 laps, making him the first IndyCar Series driver to complete every possible lap in a season; has also led 889 laps in 13 separate races to establish an IRL record.
---Denise McCluggage - Santa Fe, N.M. - a race-car driver from the 1940s to the 1960s, and a sports reporter for the New York Herald Tribune during the 1950s; received the 2000 International Automotive Media Conference's (IAMA) Recognition of Lifetime Achievement Award; was enshrined in the Automotive Hall of Fame in 2001; inducted into the SCCA Hall of Fame in 2006.
---Greg Pickett - Benicia, Calif. - 1978 SCCA Trans-Am Champion; has won Trans-Am races in four different decades; won GTO class in 1987 Sebring 12; returned to racing in 2007 and scored his 17th career Trans-Am win in 2009; scored an LMP2 class win in the 2010 Sebring 12.
---Ben Pon - Carmel Valley, Calif. - competed internationally in Porsche sports cars in 1960s and '70s; multiple class winner at LeMans and Nurburgring; has raced in FIA GT Cup and World Sports Car Championship; made one F1 start at 1962 Dutch Grand Prix which ended in a violent crash; vowed to never race single-seaters again.
---Graham Rahal - New Albany, Ohio - son of RRDC President Bobby Rahal; began racing karts in 2001; has raced in Formula BMW USA, Star Mazda, A1 Grand Prix, Formula Atlantic, Champ Car World Series and the Indy Pro Series; in 81 races earned three poles and seven wins; is the youngest winner in IndyCar history, winning the St. Petersburg GP in 2008 at age 19.
---Ed Swart - Rolling Hills, Calif. - career spans 50 years beginning with karting in Europe; started racing teams in the European FIA Touring Car Challenge Championship (three wins), the Dutch National Touring Car Championship (five wins) and FIA Sports/Prototype races; second in the Springbok Series in South Africa; member and former president of the Board of the Vintage Auto Racing Association; started the Historic Racing Organization (HSR-West in California) in 1999.
---Michael Valiante - Vancouver, B.C. - began as kart racer; was series champion and Rookie of the Year in his first Skip Barber Series season; raced in Barber Dodge Pro Series and joined 2002 Toyota Atlantic Championship (six wins); entered GRAND-Am Rolex series in 2006; from 2006-09 earned one win and numerous podium, top-five and top-10 finishes.
---Jimmy Vasser - Las Vegas, Nev. - 1996 IndyCar Champion, scoring 10 victories in the series; made CART debut in 1992 and set Indy 500 record for the fastest qualifying run by a first-year driver; in 2004 became co-owner/driver of PKV Racing (now KV Racing Technology); retired from open-wheel racing in 2006 but competed in Grand Am Series that year.
---Dan Wheldon - St. Petersburg, Fla. - 2005 Indy 500 and IRL champion; originally a kart racer in England, moved to the U.S. in 1999; raced in the F2000 Championship, Toyota Atlantic and Indy Lights series; moved up to IRL in 2002 for two events then was Rookie of the Year in 2003; his six victories in 2005 broke the IRL record for most victories in one season; won the 2006 24 Hours of Daytona, was second in 2009 Indy 500.
---Desire Wilson - Salt Lake City, Utah - one of five women to compete in Formula 1; entered one F1 World Championship Grand Prix in 1980 with a non-works Williams but failed to qualify; also raced in the 1981 non-championship South African Grand Prix; became the only woman to win an F1 race of any kind, at Brands Hatch in the British Aurora F1 series, featuring older F1 cars; has a Brands Hatch grandstand named after her; participated in IndyCar and sports-car racing events.
---Justin Wilson - Longmont, Colo. - 2001 International Formula 3000 champion; began racing karts in 1987; in 1998 was a finalist in the McLaren Autosport BRDC Young Driver of the Year Award and won the inaugural Formula Palmer Audi championship; graduated to the FIA International Formula 3000 Series in 1999; raced in Champ Car series and Formula 1; currently competes in IRL.
---Bruce Canepa - Scotts Valley, Calif. - former racer in a variety of disciplines, currently competing in Historic Racing; owner of Canepa Design, a leader in automotive design, restoration and sales.
---Peter Giddings - has rebuilt/supervised the restoration of a number of historic landmark racing cars since the 1950s; won the coveted "Phil Hill Trophy" in 1985, presented to him personally by Juan Manuel Fangio; is a multi-time champion of the North America Ferrari/ Maserati Historic Challenge.
---Vic Skirmants - North Branch, Mich. - raced a 1956 356 Speedster in Canada and in SCCA regional races; Canadian EP Champion in 1972; raced SCCA nationals from 1977-1997, qualifying for the SCCA Runoffs every year since 1978, except in 1979; has 310 first-place finishes in 696 races; now races in Vintage events.
---Ralph Thomas - Highlands, N.C. - has over 50 SVRA wins, six championships in Vintage GTP, the Sebring 12 and Daytona 24; holds two speed records at Bonneville; founded the "Highlands Classic" in 1986, a charity vintage sports-car event; worked for Brumos Porsche in the '70s and is now a builder in North Carolina.
---Scott Atherton - President and Chief Executive Officer of Panoz Motor Sports Group which includes the American Le Mans Series, Road Atlanta, Sebring International Raceway, Mosport International Raceway, Elan Technologies and International Motor Sports Association; serves on the board of directors for Panoz Auto Development and is active with ACCUS and ALMS.
---Jim Farley - Dearborn, Mich. - currently head of Worldwide Sales and Marketing, Ford Motor Company; started the Scion division of Toyota and served as the head of Marketing for Lexus/Toyota; is a "gear head," a Cobra owner and a staunch supporter of racing.
---Bruce Meyer - Beverly Hills, Calif. - one-time chairman of Petersen Museum in Los Angeles and highly-regarded in the Historic/Vintage automobile world; personal collection of cars includes many of the greatest ever designed (D-Type Jag, Ferrari 250 SWB, Ferrari Testa Rosa, and the famous "Belly Tank" hot rod).
---Bob Varsha - Atlanta, Ga. - the voice of Formula 1 racing in the U.S.; with fellow RRDC member David Hobbs, anchors the SpeedTV F1 races; in 2002 and 2003 was the host of network TV's Champ Car coverage, returning to Formula 1 in 2004; was also a part-time host/narrator for SPEEDTV's coverage of the World Rally Championship, and hosts the Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auctions on SpeedTV.
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Post by mlittle » Sat Aug 07, 2010 3:06 pm

WGI-2 Practice Session 1 Top-5
DP-1} #61 Pacific Mobile Ford/Riley, 1:05.235 sec
DP-2} #01 Telmex BMW/Riley, 1:05.429 sec
DP-3} #99 Gainsco Chevrolet/Riley, 1:05.551 sec
DP-4} #10 SunTrust Ford/Dallara, 1:05.598 sec
DP-5} #60 Crown Royal XR Ford/Riley, 1:05.604 sec

GT-1} #97 Stevenson Auto Camaro GT-R, 1:11.446 sec
GT-2} #07 Airjax Corvette C-6R, 1:11.475 sec
GT-3} #70 SpeedSource Mazda RX-8, 1:11.678 sec
GT-4} #30 Racers' Edge Mazda RX-8, 1:11.746 sec
GT-5} #57 Stevenson Auto Camaro GT-R, 1:11.757 sec


WGI-2 Practice Session 2 Top-5
DP-1} #10 SunTrust Ford/Dallara, 1:05.082 sec
DP-2} #90 Spirit of Daytona Porsche/Coyote, 1:05.090 sec
DP-3} #61 Pacific Mobile Ford/Riley, 1:05.150 sec
DP-4} #01 Telmex BMW/Riley, 1:05.198 sec
DP-5} #8 Corsa Car Care BMW/Riley, 1:05.574 sec

GT-1} #07 Airjax Corvette C-6R, 1:11.679 sec
GT-2} #70 SpeedSource Mazda RX-8, 1:11.806 sec
GT-3} #69 SpeedSource Mazda RX-8, 1:11.836 sec
GT-4} #97 Stevenson Auto Camaro GT-R, 1:11.846 sec
GT-5} #41 Team Seattle Mazda RX-8, 1:11.895 sec


WGI-2 Pro/Am Practice Session Times
DP-1} #60 Crown Royal XR Ford/Riley, 1:06.705 sec
DP-2} #77 McDonald's Ford/Dallara, 1:06.903 sec
DP-3} #75 Krohn Aviation Ford/Lola, 1:09.204 sec

GT-1} #43 Sahlen's Mazda RX-8, 1:12.004 sec
GT-2} #07 Airjax Corvette C-6R, 1:12.341 sec
GT-3} #97 Stevenson Auto Camaro GT-R, 1:12.894 sec
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Ganassi Duo Captures Pole for WGI-2

Post by mlittle » Sat Aug 07, 2010 3:08 pm

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----Series championship standings co-leader Memo Rojas ran a lap of 1:05.470 (134.718 mph) Friday on the 2.45-mile Watkins Glen International short circuit to capture the pole for Saturday's Crown Royal 200. Rojas will join Scott Pruett in the No. 01 TELMEX Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates BMW/Riley at the front of the grid for Round 10 of the 2010 GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16. The race takes the green flag at 6 p.m. Saturday (SPEED, live).

"It's great to win the pole," said Rojas, who shares a 19-point lead with Pruett over Ryan Dalziel in the Daytona Prototype class standings (267-248). "It's been a great season so far. We focus on doing the best we can, and I'm really overwhelmed by the number of wins we have so far this year. Now this pole position is in a good way to start the weekend."

Mark Wilkins was second with a lap of 1:05.642 (134.645 mph) in the session that was black-flagged nine minutes early due to an incident when Mark Patterson spun in the Inner Loop and was collected by Buddy Rice. Both cars are expected to be repaired for the race. "It was a tough session because of the incident, and it would have been interesting to see how it would have worked when everyone got their tires up to speed," Rojas said. "I think we were on the right page. I think we might have run a 1:04.6, but that's just quick thoughts."

Rojas and Pruett are seeking their seventh victory of the season, which would tie the single-season record set in 2007 by Alex Gurney and Jon Fogarty. The Ganassi duo won the Sahlen's Six Hours of The Glen in June, their third consecutive victory in the event on the Watkins Glen International 3.4-mile long circuit. It was the third pole position of the season for Rojas, breaking a tie with Ricky Taylor in that category.

Pruett did double-duty on Friday. In addition to practicing the DP car, he took a few laps in the No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice. Pruett is on standby in case regular driver Jeff Gordon's wife goes into labor this weekend. Taylor qualified third with a lap of 1:105.788 (134.067 mph). He will be joined on the second row by Jon Fogarty, who qualified with a lap of 1:06.020 (133.795 mph) in the No. 99 GAINSCO Auto Insurance Chevrolet/Riley he drove to victory with Alex Gurney in the series' previous race, at New Jersey Motorsports Park.

Sylvain Tremblay ran a lap of 1:11.762 (122.906 mph) to capture the GT class pole in the No. 70 Castrol Syntec Mazda RX-8, erasing Cort Wagner's mark set in 2003 in a Ferrari 360GT. "The car was good from the first session, and we just kept tweaking and tweaking it," said Tremblay, who is eight points (262-254) behind SpeedSource teammates Jeff Segal and Emil Assentato. "The team is firing on all rotors - not cylinders - right now. After the history we had at New Jersey (SpeedSource swept the GT podium), we're proving that wasn't a fluke. We're here for real, and we're out to chase this championship."

Andrew Davis qualified second with a lap of 1:11.785 (122.866 mph) in the No. 57 Stevenson Motorsports Camaro, followed by motorcycle legend Scott Russell, who ran 1:11.852 (122.752 mph).
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History Is Everywhere At the Glen.............

Post by mlittle » Sat Aug 07, 2010 3:10 pm

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----If you're heading to Watkins Glen International this weekend for the Crown Royal 200 at The Glen, make sure you take a good look around.......because what you'll see without looking very hard at all - both at the racetrack and in the surrounding areas - is history. Watkins Glen International calls itself the "Soul of American Road Racing," and it's definitely earned that distinction.

The circuit that currently hosts annual GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series events has been used for racing since 1956. In fact, The Glen was the home of the Formula 1 U.S. Grand Prix from 1961 through 1980. But the racing history in Watkins Glen, N.Y. dates to at least 1948, when races were held on streets and roads in and around the small town in the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York. Maps of the old circuit are readily available, especially at the International Motor Racing Research Center on 610 S. Decatur Street in Watkins Glen.

"One quick stop should be at the library," recommends David Donohue, who will co-drive the No. 59 Brumos Porsche/Riley with Darren Law on Saturday night, and whose family has a long and storied history at Watkins Glen. "You can get a map of the old track and drive around. Just to see what they raced on and the mentality of what a racetrack was back in the ‘40s is pretty interesting. It's pretty neat. It's a big track. It would be crazy fast by today's standards, but something about running through the woods and the fields at speed, you've got to wonder about people back then."

Donohue also suggests a hike around the gorge at Watkins Glen State Park and dinner at one of the restaurants surrounding Seneca Lake - or even dining onboard a boat in the lake. Other musts for racing history buffs have got to be stops at the Glen Motor Inn or the tavern at Seneca Lodge.

There is plenty to do and see at the racetrack throughout the weekend as well. In addition to on-track Rolex Series, Nationwide Series and Sprint Cup action, there will be live music at the Budweiser Tiki Hut - including a Saturday night appearance from American Idol finalist Bo Bice - and the McDonald's Kids' Zone for kids of all ages, as well many other activities. But the main focus, as always, is what's happening on the racetrack, and Donohue has some great pointers for those looking to maximize their viewing experience.

"I'd move around," he says. "Certainly, the bus stop, or the Inner Loop (at the end of the back straight) is an exciting place. You see the failure of patience there often, shall we say, especially if it's taken a guy a couple laps to get a move on somebody. Turn 1 is challenging to view from, because the cars pop into view about when they're getting on the brakes if you're on the infield. Now if you're on the outside of the track, you can see a pass develop a little bit more and you can see them fighting for position up through the esses, so if you're going to do Turn 1 viewing, do it from the outside of the track.

"Also, as the sun sets, that creates some interesting challenges. The second to last corner (Turn 10) becomes a challenge, and has been a challenge in the past, actually because of the infield lights. In the paddock, there are some really bright lights that sort of shine in your face and can cause visibility problems for the drivers. It has for me in the past."

And while weather concerns have played a role many times in previous events at The Glen, Donohue expects this weekend to be outstanding. "It looks like the forecast is about as perfect as you can get, with 80-degree temperatures during the day, low 80s, and 50-degree temperatures in the evening," Donohue says. "And a zero percent chance of rain. For a spectator and visitor, it's going to be a perfect weekend."
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Post by mlittle » Sat Aug 28, 2010 10:02 am

Current Grand-Am Standings


~~~DAYTONA PROTOTYPE STANDINGS
--Drivers Standings(top-10+)
t-1st}[1]Scott Pruett, 302 pts(7 wins)
t-1st}[2]Memo Rojas, 302 pts(7 wins)
3rd} Ryan Dalziel, 276 pts(1 win)
t-4th}[4]Max Angelelli, 272 pts(1 win)
t-4th}[5]Ricky Taylor, 272 pts(1 win)
t-6th}[6]Jon Fogarty, 261 pts(1 win)
t-6th}[7]Burt Frisselle, 261 pts
t-6th}[8]Mark Wilkins, 261 pts
9th} Mike Forest, 260 pts
t-10th}[10]Oswaldo Negri, 255 pts
t-10th}[11]John Pew, 255 pts
--Engine Standings
1st} BMW, 316 pts(7 wins)
2nd} Ford, 311 pts(1 win)
3rd} Porsche, 278 pts(1 win)
4th} Chevrolet, 262 pts(1 win)
--Chassis Standings
1st} Riley Tech., 322 pts(9 wins)
2nd} Dallara, 291 pts(1 win)
3rd} Coyote, 237 pts
4th} Lola, 209 pts
5th} Crawford, 17 pts

~~~GRAND TOURING STANDINGS
--Drivers Standings(top-10+)
t-1st}[1]Emil Assentato, 290 pts(2 wins)
t-1st}[2]Jeff Segal, 290 pts(2 wins)
3rd} Sylvain Tremblay, 286 pts(2 wins)
4th} Jonathan Bomarito, 267 pts(2 wins)
5th} Andy Lally, 266 pts(3 wins)
t-6th}[6]James Gue, 264 pts(1 win)
t-6th}[7]Leh Keen, 264 pts(1 win)
t-8th}[8]Andrew Davis, 250 pts
t-8th}[9]Robin Liddell, 250 pts
t-10th}[10]John Edwards, 244 pts(1 win)
t-10th}[11]Adam Christodoulou, 244 pts(1 win)
--Manufacturers Standings
1st} Mazda, 334 pts(6 wins)
2nd} Chevrolet, 277 pts
3rd} Porsche, 268 pts(3 wins)
4th} BMW, 213 pts(1 win)
5th} Ferrari, 32 pts
6th} Ford, 16 pts
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Post by mlittle » Sat Aug 28, 2010 10:14 am

Montreal Thursday Practice Session 1 Top-5
DP-1} #01 Telmex BMW/Riley, 1:32.300 sec
DP-2} #99 Gainsco Chevrolet/Riley, 1:32.679 pts
DP-3} #10 SunTrust Ford/Dallara, 1:32.798 sec
DP-4} #8 Corsa Car Care BMW/Riley, 1:33.053 sec
DP-5} #6 The Pit Stop Ford/Dallara, 1:33.540 sec

GT-1} #57 Stevenson Auto Group Camaro GT-R, 1:40.292 sec
GT-2} #97 Vin Solutions Camaro, GT-R, 1:40.535 sec
GT-3} #07 Airjax/Mobil 1 Corvette C-6R, 1:41.159 sec
GT-4} #69 SpeedSource Mazda RX-8, 1:41.317 pts
GT-5} #70 SpeedSource Mazda RX-8, 1:41.464 sec


Montreal Thursday Practice Session 2 Top-5/GT Class
GT-1} #69 SpeedSource Mazda RX-8, 1:40.108 sec
GT-2} #31 Whelen Engineering Corvette C-6R, 1:40.289 sec
GT-3} #57 Stevenson Auto Group Camaro GT-R, 1:40.292 sec
GT-4} #07 Airjax/Mobil 1 Corvette C-6R, 1:40.553 sec
GT-5} #97 Vin Solutions Camaro GT-R, 1:40.688 sec

Montreal Thursday Practice Session 2 Top-5/DP Class
DP-1} #99 Gainsco Chevrolet/Riley, 1:33.027 sec
DP-2} #10 SunTrust Ford/Dallara, 1:33.102 sec
DP-3} #9 Action Express Porsche/Riley, 1:33.321 sec
DP-4} #61 Pacific Mobile Ford/Riley, 1:33.574 sec
DP-5} #01 Telmex BMW/Riley, 1:33.641 sec
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Post by mlittle » Sat Aug 28, 2010 10:19 am

Montreal Friday Practice Session Top-5
DP-1} #8 Corsa Car Care BMW/Riley, 1:32.209 sec
DP-2} #99 Gainsco Chevrolet/Riley, 1:32.220 sec
DP-3} #01 Telmex BMW/Riley, 1:32.501 sec
DP-4} #10 SunTrust Ford/Dallara, 1:32.540 sec
DP-5} #61 Pacific Mobile Ford/Riley, 1:32.960 sec

GT-1} #07 Airjax/Mobil 1 Corvette C-6R, 1:39.317 sec
GT-2} #57 Stevenson Auto Group Camaro GT-R, 1:39.625 sec
GT-3} #70 SpeedSource Mazda RX-8, 1:39.659 sec
GT-4} #97 Vin Solutions Camaro GT-R, 1:39.739 sec
GT-5} #31 Whelen Engineering Corvette C-6R, 1:39.955 sec

Montreal Trueman-Akin Pro/Am Practice Class Leaders
DP} #77 South African Airways Ford/Dallara, 1:49.601 sec
GT} no posted time
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The Red Dragons' On Point in Montreal

Post by mlittle » Sun Aug 29, 2010 4:02 am

Image


Jon Fogarty and Boris Said used Chevrolet power to lead a record-breaking pair of qualifying sessions Friday at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve and capture respective pole positions for Saturday's Montreal 200, Round 11 of 12 in the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16. The two-hour race takes the green flag at 2:15 p.m. ET (SPEED, live).

Fogarty ran a lap of 1:31.524 (106.556 mph) to capture his second Daytona Prototype pole of the season in the No. 99 GAINSCO Chevrolet/Riley. In the production-based GT class, Said gave Marsh Racing its first Rolex Series pole with a lap of 1:38.895 (98.614 mph) in the No. 31 Whelen Engineering Chevrolet Corvette.

"It was a really good run for us," said Fogarty, who extended his series record to 16 career poles. "Circuit Gilles Villeneuve presents interesting challenges. You have to have the balance when your tires are good, but you have to get to that point without overheating your brakes - like getting all the stars to align. I was able to run clear laps and go hard, let things cool, and then go hard again. Each time I was able to improve and the time just came - not necessarily from pushing harder, but with the balance of the car."

Fogarty will be joined on the front row by Memo Rojas, who ran a lap of 1:31.839 (106.190 mph) in the No. 01 TELMEX BMW/Riley shared by points co-leader Scott Pruett. Rojas and Pruett have won seven of 10 races this season, and will be looking to break a tie for the all-time single-season record shared with Fogarty and Alex Gurney. They also lead the championship standings by 26 points (302-276) over Ryan Dalziel.

Ricky Taylor qualified third in the No. 10 SunTrust Ford/Dallara, a two-time Montreal 200 winner co-driven by Max Angelelli. He will be joined on the second row by Burt Frisselle, driving the lone Canadian-based DP, the No. 61 Pacific Mobile/Bio Sign Ford/Riley.

Brian Frisselle, who won the past two years at Montreal, hit the wall in Friday morning practice and did not qualify, although the No. 6 Pit Stop of Norris Lake Ford/Dallara co-driven by Michael Valiante will start at the back of the grid.

Said prevailed in a terrific back-and-forth battle with Andrew Davis in GT qualifying before claiming the pole on his final lap. It marked Said's first pole position since 2004, when he earned the top starting spot at another Quebec track - Circuit Mont-Tremblant. "I got Andrew and I was going to quit the session, but they said do one more after he nipped me so I went for it," explained Said, driving for the third time this season with Marsh Racing. "The guys have been developing this car with every race, and they're getting it better and better with each week. GM's got good power; it handles really well and it has awesome brakes."

Davis and co-driver Robin Liddell won the past two runnings of the Montreal 200 for Stevenson Motorsports in a Pontiac, but they are still looking for their first victory in the No. 57 Camaro.

"I thought I had the pole going in, but it was a great battle - and a great driver to battle with Boris Said," Davis said. "I hate to come up so short, but even though we've won this race the last two years, this is our best starting position so we're really hoping for a good run tomorrow. We've got a strong car and I know we've got the strongest team."

Motorcycle veteran Scott Russell qualified third in the No. 07 Banner Racing Corvette shared by Paul Edwards, and will be joined on the second row by Adam Christodoulou, driving the No. 68 MazdaSpeed Motorsports Mazda RX-8.

GT points co-leader Emil Assentato qualified ninth in the No. 69 FXDD Mazda RX-8 shared by Jeff Segal. They enter the event with a four-point lead (290-286) in the standings over Sylvain Tremblay.
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Pruett, Rojas Clinch Grand-Am DP Title

Post by mlittle » Sat Sep 04, 2010 4:03 pm

(from SA, 28 August 2010)
----MONTREAL, Quebec, Canada - The Montreal 200 on Saturday marked another milestone in what has been a dream season for Scott Pruett and Memo Rojas in the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16.

Pruett more than half of the two-hour, 62-lap race, while holding off Alex Gurney to give the team its first victory at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, its record-setting eighth triumph of the season, and in the process, clinching the team Daytona Prototype championship.

While Pruett and Rojas enter the Sept. 11 season-ending Utah 250 at Miller Motorsports Park with an insurmountable 35-point lead (337-304) over Ricky Taylor and Max Angelelli, both drivers need to drive 30 minutes to share their second driving championship in three seasons. If one meets that minimum and the other doesn't, a solo champion will be crowned. And ... if both fail to meet the minimum time in the car, they will still share the title.

Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates also clinched its fourth DP team championship with the victory. Pruett won the 2004 title with Max Papis - Ganassi's first year in the Rolex Series - while Pruett and Luis Diaz led Ganassi to the 2006 team title. Ganassi also won the title with Pruett and Rojas in 2008.

"What a glorious day!" Pruett said. "This has been one of those races that it's been difficult for us to get our hands around. It's exciting for us as a team to wrestle it to the ground today. It's truly been a dream season, and it takes some of the stress off going into Salt Lake City. That's another of those races where we've never been to victory lane."

Gurney finished second, 2.005 seconds behind, in the No. 99 GAINSCO Chevrolet/Riley started from the pole by Jon Fogarty. The defending DP champs entered the race sharing the record for most victories in a season, winning seven races and the championship in 2007.

Taylor and Angelelli finished third in the No. 10 SunTrust Ford/Dallara, another four seconds back. While they can mathematically tie for the championship in the Salt Lake City finale, the Ganassi team would prevail on the tiebreaker for winning more races.

David Donohue and Darren Law placed fourth in the No. 59 Brumos Porsche/Riley, followed by Antonio Garcia and Buddy Rice in the No. 90 Spirit of Daytona Porsche/Coyote (click here for the complete results).

Paul Edwards came back from being nearly a lap down to win in the production-based GT class, giving the Banner Racing Corvette its first victory of the season in the No. 07 Airjax.com/Mobil 1 Chevrolet Corvette. Co-driver Scott Russell - a former World Superbike champion and five-time winner of the Daytona 200 - scored his first victory on four wheels.

Edwards took the lead with five minutes racing, passing both Stevenson Corvettes of Robin Liddell and Ronnie Bremer on the same lap. The Banner Racing team also collected a record $35,000 Pirelli P-Zero Club bonus for being a first-time eligiblewinner for the first time in seven races.

Bremer and Gunther Schaldach finished second in the Stevenson Motorsports No. 97 Lala Motorsports/VonAllmen Capital Partners Chevrolet Camaro, while Liddell and Andrew Davis took third in the Stevenson No. 57 VonAllmen Capital Partners/Vin Solutions Chevy Camaro.

Jeff Segal and Emil Assentato finished fourth for the fifth time this season in the No. 69 FXDD Mazda RX-8, opening up an eight-point lead (318-310) over SpeedSource teammate Sylvain Tremblay in the championship. Tremblay, who shares the No. 70 Castrol Syntec Mazda RX-8 with Jonathan Bomarito, finished seventh.

Ryan Dalziel entered the race second DP in the championship - 26 points behind the leaders - but did not drive in the race after co-driver Mike Forest parked the No. 8 Corsa Car Care BMW/Riley with a broken ring and pinion after eight laps.

The lone Canadian-based DP was eliminated on the second lap when Burt Frisselle spun in his own oil on the second lap and spun into the guardrail approaching Turn 11, ending the day for the No. 61 Pacific Mobile/BioSign Ford/Riley co-driven by Mark Wilkins.

The third caution waved just before the one-hour mark when Mark Patterson spun the No. 77 McDonald's/South African Airways/PR Newswire Ford/Dallara into the tire barrier in Turn 4 while trying to hold off race leader Fogarty. Dion von Moltke was able to return to the race in the Doran Racing entry.

The race leaders took advantage of the caution for Patterson's incident to pit and change drivers. The final caution waved with 30 minutes remaining, setting up a 17-minute sprint to the finish.
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Post by mlittle » Sat Sep 04, 2010 4:19 pm

Current Grand-Am Standings


~~~DAYTONA PROTOTYPE CLASS
---DP Drivers' Standings(top-10)
t-1st}[1]Scott Pruett, 337 pts(8 wins)
t-1st}[2]Memo Rojas, 337 pts(8 wins)

t-3rd}[3]Max Angelelli, 302 pts(1 win)
t-3rd}[4]Ricky Taylor, 302 pts(1 win)
5th} Jon Fogarty, 293 pts(1 win)
t-6th}[6]John Pew, 278 pts
t-6th}[7]Oswaldo Negri, 278 pts
t-8th}[8]David Donohue, 277 pts
t-8th}[9]Darren Law, 277 pts
10th} Ryan Dalziel, 276 pts(1 win)
---DP Chassis Standings
1st} Riley Tech., 337 pts(10 wins)
2nd} Dallara, 301 pts(1 win)
3rd} Coyote, 263 pts
4th} Lola, 233 pts
5th} Crawford, 17 pts
---DP Engine Standings
1st} BMW, 351 pts(8 wins)
2nd} Ford, 341 pts(1 win)
3rd} Porsche, 306 pts(1 win)
4th} Chevrolet, 293 pts(1 win)

~~~GRAND TOURING CLASS
---GT Drivers' Standings(top-10)
t-1st}[1]Emil Assentato, 318 pts(2 wins)
t-1st}[2]Jeff Segal, 318 pts(2 wins)
3rd} Sylvain Tremblay, 310 pts(2 wins)
4th} Jonathan Bomarito, 291 pts(2 wins)
t-5th}[5]James Gue, 289 pts(1 win)
t-5th}[6]Leh Keen, 289 pts(1 win)
t-7th}[7]Robin Liddell, 280 pts
t-7th}[8]Andrew Davis, 280 pts
t-9th}[9]John Edwards, 267 pts(1 win)
t-9th}[10]Adam Christodoulou, 267 pts(1 win)
---GT Manufacturers Standings
1st} Mazda, 362 pts(6 wins)
2nd} Chevrolet, 312 pts(1 win)
3rd} Porsche, 294 pts(3 wins)
4th} BMW, 213 pts(1 win)
5th} Ferrari, 32 pts
6th} Ford, 16 pts
note...........drivers & others highlights in bold have clinched their respective 2010 championships'
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Dyson Racing Returns to Grand-Am Series

Post by mlittle » Sat Sep 04, 2010 4:21 pm

Image
Multimatic test driver Scott Tucker shakes down the Ford/Lola Dyson Racing will run at Miller Motorsports Park next week..........


---DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Dyson Racing, one of the dominant teams in the early years of GRAND-AM Road Racing, will make its return to the Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16, fielding a new Daytona Prototype in the season-ending Utah 250 at Miller Motorsports Park near Salt Lake City. Dyson Racing will partner with Godstone Ranch Motorsports to field the No. 16 Lola powered by a Roush-Yates Ford V-8. The car will be driven by sports car legend Davy Jones - an overall winner of both the Rolex 24 At Daytona and the 24 Hours of Le Mans - and John McCutchen II.

Dyson Racing was one of the founding teams of GRAND-AM, winning 16 races, two drivers' and three consecutive team championships from 2000 through 2002. The program will be run from the team's Poughkeepsie, N.Y. headquarters. "We were fortunate to hook up with some really great people at Godstone Ranch Motorsports with John McCutchen, Karen Garrett and their partners, who helped bring the effort to fruition," said Chris Dyson, Vice President and Sporting Director of Dyson Racing.

"I believe we have the fastest car in the series in the Lola and the best engine - the Roush Yates Ford," Dyson added. "There are some great people who have come to the table to make this happen. We are looking forward to racing at Utah with the goal of doing more races in 2011. We have won the Rolex 24 At Daytona twice and it would be great to go back there again with a proper, in-house effort."

The team joins Doran Racing, Krohn Racing, AIM Autosport, Michael Shank Racing and SunTrust Racing using Roush Yates Engines in DP competition. "Roush Yates Engines is excited to add another prominent partner to our solid list of Daytona Prototype teams in the GRAND-AM Rolex Series," said John Maddox, Sports Car Program Manager for Roush Yates Engines. "Dyson Racing won the Rolex 24 At Daytona twice with Ford power back in the 1990s, and we are happy to have them running with Roush Yates Engines in their return to America's most competitive sports car series."

The car was prepared by Multimatic, which recently tested the car three hours north of its Toronto, Ont. shops. Driver Scott Maxwell ran 60 laps without any flaws. "We are proud to have Dyson Racing running the Lola chassis in its return to GRAND-AM," said Stephen Charsley, Manager USA of Lola Cars International. "The new Lola has enjoyed success in Daytona Prototypes, and we look to enjoy continued success with a solid partner in Dyson Racing, along with the proven power of Roush Yates Engines. We would like to thank Multimatic for helping prepare the car and making this venture possible."

Jones brings a strong foundation of experience to the team, having been competitive in any car he has driven, from British Formula Three to NASCAR. He made his name in prototype racing with TWR Jaguar, winning 12 IMSA GTP races. He won the 1990 Rolex 24 Hours At Daytona and the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1996. In that same year, he was second in the Indy 500.

McCutchen began racing in the mid-1980s, driving Formula Renault and F3 in Europe. He recently re-entered the sport and finished fifth in the SCCA National Championship. He debuted in the Rolex Series in this year's Rolex 24 At Daytona, and has also teamed with Jones in the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge.

Godstone Ranch Motorsports was founded by Karen Garrett as a non-profit corporation to raise funds for the Texas Heart Institute in Houston. "Our desire is to have motorsports contribute to our daily lives and be more than just a sport," Garrett said.
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GT Battle Goes Down To Wire at MMP.........

Post by mlittle » Sat Sep 04, 2010 4:23 pm

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - A trio of SpeedSource drivers will end their battle for the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16 GT driving championship Sept. 11 at Miller Motorsports Park, which hosts the 12th and final round of the season.

Co-drivers Jeff Segal and Emil Assentato in the No. 69 FXDD Mazda RX-8, leaders of the standings since late April, hold an eight-point advantage (318-310) over SpeedSource team owner and co-driver Sylvain Tremblay, who drives the No. 70 Castrol Syntec Mazda RX-8. Tremblay's co-driver, Jonathan Bomarito, did not drive in the round at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, thus splitting their totals.

A long shot could be defending class co-champion Leh Keen and current co-driver James Gue, driving Dempsey Racing's No. 41 Global Diving & Salvage Mazda RX-8. They would have to finish third or better and hope Segal, Assentato and Tremblay do not score points in order to take the title. Bomarito could also win the title, but he'd have to finish fourth, with Segal, Assentato and Tremblay scoring zero points.

Segal and Assentato, paired together fulltime since the 2009 Rolex Series season, finished 16th in January's Rolex 24 At Daytona but have rattled off a consecutive streak of 10 finishes of fourth or better, including two victories and five podium finishes. They have led by as many as 10 points and as few as one since taking command of the lead.

Assentato, at age 61, is among the most experienced drivers in the field. He started, and then stopped, racing in the 1970s after an injury and founded a company called FXDD, one of the world's leading currency conversion companies, based in New York. He returned to racing in the 1990s in the Ferrari Challenge Series and the joined GRAND-AM's Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge in 2001. He competed in the first Rolex Series race in 2000 - the Rolex 24 At Daytona - and has been a fulltime competitor in the Rolex Series in every season but one since 2004.

Segal and Tremblay each seek to join Craig Stanton as drivers who have won titles in both the Rolex Series and Continental Tire Challenge. In 2007, Segal became the then-youngest champion - at age 22 - to win a Continental Tire Challenge Grand Sport (GS) crown, when he triumphed with Automatic Racing team owner Jep Thornton. Segal began karting at age 12 and driving cars at age 15.

Tremblay, a Continental Tire Challenge champion in 2001 in the GS class and again in 2004 in Street Tuner (ST), has been close before to winning the Rolex Series GT title. In 2007, he brought Mazda into Rolex Series GT racing, and won in only his second race, in Mexico City. He went on to lead the standings at one point, and entered the season finale at Miller with a chance to win the title. However, a first-lap accident totaled the team's Mazda RX-8, dropping Tremblay to sixth in points. Tremblay, whose best finish in points was third in 2008, founded SpeedSource - which prepares each Mazda RX-8 in the GT field - in 1995. The team has run Mazdas exclusively since 2004.

If neither Segal, Assentato nor Tremblay win at Miller but finish the race with the same number of points, Tremblay would earn the title on a tiebreaker based on second-place finishes (2-1; all drivers currently have two wins). Mazda has already wrapped up the Rolex Series GT manufacturer championship, and one of the two SpeedSource cars is expected to be crowned the team titlist, as long as they compete at Miller.
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Hometown Advantage for Magnus Racing............

Post by mlittle » Thu Sep 09, 2010 5:47 pm

Image

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah - It's only fitting for Magnus Racing that the season finale of the 2010 GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series would be at Miller Motorsports Park in Tooele, Utah.

The team, completing its first season in GRAND-AM, is based at the facility, and team owner John Potter makes his home in nearby Salt Lake City, Utah. And it was roughly eleven months ago that Potter made the decision to launch Magnus Racing as a fully-fledged Rolex Series GT class team, after driving for other GT class teams over the course of a season and a half. His GRAND-AM journey began alongside Craig Stanton, sharing a Porsche throughout the 2009 season, and fostering a friendship that has turned into road racing's version of The Odd Couple.

One of the rallying cries of Magnus Racing was to bring the fun back to sports car racing. The mash-up of team staff from Salt Lake City, Long Island, Montreal, Southern California, and even the Cayman Islands has created a team environment unlike any other in the GRAND-AM paddock. This is the same team, after all, that could be seen at New Jersey Motorsports Park in a Bounce House that was titled Magnus Racing East. Famously, its hospitality area often sees drivers and personnel from other teams stopping by for a quick chat and plate of food served by the team's mom, Lorie Bedell.

"I have worked with a lot of teams in my career, and by far this is the group that has the most fun," said Stanton, a 20-year sports car racing veteran. "All of the guys work their butts off and take their work very seriously, but there's no ego and no attitude, and no one pointing the finger when things go wrong - and at the end of the day, everyone is all smiles. It's a great environment and team to be a part of."

While the team has had its fair share of frustrations on track this season, there have been highlights. With Craig Stanton at the wheel, the No. 44 Magnus Racing Porsche GT3 took the pole and Stanton, Potter, and guest driver Jeroen Bleekemolen led the Sahlen's Six Hour at the Glen before being sidelined with an electrical problem. A few weeks later at the EMCO Gears Classic, Potter and Leh Keen co-drove the No. 44 Magnus Racing Porsche Cayman to second in the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge race, recording the first podium for the team in GRAND-AM competition.

And now, with one Rolex Sports Car Series race and one Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge race remaining in the season - and at his home track - Potter is excited, and maybe just a little bit anxious, to see the season out with a strong finish for his nascent team.

"This is definitely our home event, and we will have a lot of guests out, and that puts a little more pressure on us to do well," said Potter. "Craig and I had a good run at Miller last year and I definitely feel more confident this time around - and hopefully we've used up our allotment of bad luck this season. I think we might have used up enough bad luck for two or three seasons at this point."

And when asked about the adjustments he's made in 2010 as he became a team owner as well as a driver, Potter gets right to the heart of the matter. "It's really fun, because it's a big ego-trip and I can order people around," he says. "Someone get me a bouncy house!"
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