Yet Another Front Row Start for Matt Bell

Yet Another Front Row Start for Matt Bell

Contact: Matt Cleary
Media
317-908-2975

Birmingham, AL (8 April 2011) – Matt Bell added yet another impressive qualifying performance to his long list of driving accomplishments on Friday. Known for laying down quick laps when the pressure is on, Bell scored a front row start with the No. 9 Stevenson Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro GS.R for the Barber 200 and Round 3 of the GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge.

Bell will share the driving duties with Jon Edwards as the duo look to build on their momentum from an 11th place finish in the Homestead-Miami Speedway round. The young Californian was immediately quick from the start of the weekend and ran in the top-10 throughout Thursday’s opening practice sessions. As Bell set out for one final practice early Friday morning, an on-track incident two laps into the session saw the entire Continental Tire field parked as the time for track repairs eclipsed the allotted time for practice.

Knowing that the tires have a narrow window of laps to score the optimum time, Bell wasted none during the 15-minute qualifying session to set the mark on his first flying lap. Even with the limited track time, Bell managed to lay down a blistering lap time of 1:37.060 – just one and a half tenths off the pole time.

“I’m really happy with it,” said Bell. “Going out with fresh tires was almost like a simulation because we never had new tires to play with so the fact that the team got the set-up this close without ever seeing what we were aiming for is pretty good.”

As Bell and co-driver Jon Edwards prepare for the Barber 200 event, the duo hope to capitalize on the team’s strong starting position.

“We’ll see what we can do tomorrow,” said Bell. “Hopefully we can stay out front and run a clean race. This track can create a lot of yellows so staying out of trouble will be key, and keeping the tires under you will pay off later in teh run so hopefully we can do both tomorrow.”

Bell and the pole-sitting Mustang machine will lead the field to the green at 11:30 AM Saturday, April 9 for the 2.5 hour event. Race coverage will broadcast April 16 at 2:00 PM (ET) on SPEED.

PR inquiries about Matt Bell should be directed to Matt Cleary at Sunday Group Management; 317.908.2975 (mobile) or media @sundaymanagement.com

For additional information:
www.sundaymanagement.com

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Matt Cleary
Sunday Group Management
media
http://www.sundaymanagement.com
317.908.2975 (m)


Based in Indianapolis, Sunday Group Management is a leading motorsports management and communications consulting firm.

Sunday Group Management works with clients in a variety of motorsports categories, including NASCAR Sprint Cup driver AJ Allmendinger, Riley Technologies, GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series organization Michael Shank Racing, Continental Tire, and several teams and drivers in Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge competition.

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