VISIT FLORIDA RACING RIDING A WAVE OF MOMENTUM TO THE WEST COAST SWING

April 15, 2015 Leave a comment

Media Contact: Kyle Zimmerman, Hi-Rev Racing

KZimmerman@hi-revracing.com/(336)575-8725

www.sdr-motorsports.com

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (April 15, 2015) – Momentum is a word in racing that can carry a significant number of meanings. While the physics definition is certainly applicable, Visit Florida Racing has a different kind of momentum as the 2015 IMSA TUDOR United SportsCar Championship invades the challenging streets of Long Beach for the Tequila Patrón Sports Car Showcase.

After posting their second consecutive podium finish in the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Fueled by Fresh From Florida, Visit Florida Racing is off to a great start in their championship quest. The strong start was something team owner Troy Flis knew his team could accomplish, and something they had to do to make a serious run at the 2015 IMSA TUDOR United SportsCar Championship.

"When we sat down after Petit Le Mans last year and evaluated our season we had some key areas we wanted to improve," said Flis. "The Twelve Hours of Sebring didn’t go our way last year and as a result we put ourselves in an early season hole.

"This year we went to Daytona and improved our finishing position and we went to Sebring and backed that finish up with another third place result. A fast start was something we wanted to accomplish and hats off to our guys, we’ve done that and we’re headed to Long Beach in a great position."

The NO. 90 VISITFLORIDA.COM Racing Chevrolet Corvette Daytona Prototype ranks second in the team standings as the series moves to one of the more difficult events on the calendar, a challenge that driver Michael Valiante knows the team is ready to face.

"Long Beach is a really tough race," said Valiante. "You have to have speed, which after Sebring we know that we’ve got. Qualifying is really important because of the difficulty in passing. Long Beach is extremely unforgiving with the temporary barriers and walls that they bring in so you have to be sharp and focused and you can’t make any mistakes or your day is going to be cut really short.

"As a team this year, we’ve done a great job overcoming in-race struggles and scoring two podiums, now it’s time to adjust our focus to sprint races and keeping the positive momentum rolling."

Flis echoed the confidence of his driver, while understanding the challenges the entire team will face at Long Beach.

"The strong start to the year is exactly what we wanted to achieve," said Flis. "Now we have to focus on putting the best car possible under Richard and Michael and making sure that we execute flawlessly in the pits. We are only going to have one opportunity to get it right in Long Beach so we have to nail it.

"The Tequila Patrón Sports Car Showcase is our shortest race of the year but its one of our biggest events in terms of the attention it receives and the history of racing on the streets of Long Beach. We are in an excellent position to get our first win of the season."

Visit Florida Racing is part of a top-three sweep of the team prototype standings for the Corvette DP’s and Coyote Cars heading into the Tequila Patrón Sports Car Showcase.

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