Sunday Group Management

Rum Bum Wrap: Thursday at Barber

Rum Bum Wrap: Thursday at Barber

TV Info: SPEED, April 16, 2:00 PM ET

7 April 2011 (Birmingham, Ala.) – Rum Bum Racing drivers Matt Plumb and Nick Longhi are back in action this weekend at Barber Motorsports Park for round three of the GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge championship season. Rum Bum Racing is coming off a fifth place finish in the team’s home race at Homestead-Miami Speedway last month, and will look to recapture the championship points lead this weekend.

The Barber event opened with a promoter test day on Wednesday, with GRAND-AM staging two official practice sessions on Thursday afternoon. The No. 13 Rum Bum Racing has run flawlessly through the opening two days, setting the 7th-fastest time in the opening session before improving to net the 2nd-quickest time overall, closing out Thursday’s running as the fastest BMW.

“It’s gone pretty much to plan so far,” said Longhi, who will qualify the car on Friday. “We are really concentrating on how this car will be on the long run. This has always been a track that favored the Mustangs, so we’re working hard to have a car that is going to race well. Barber sometimes can be a tough race, with a lot of yellows making it a matter of survival. But hopefully we’ll just stay out of any trouble and Matt can be there at the end.”

“We had a pretty comprehensive plan for the weekend and so far we’ve come out and executed it,” said Plumb. “We tested here before the event and so we showed up ready to go. But with the strength that the Mustangs have here, we have really been pushing the envelope and trying a lot of new things with this car. I think we’ve made more changes to the car this weekend than we did all year long last year! So the Rum Bum crew guys have been putting in a lot of work but I think it’s going to pay off. We’re encouraged about the progress we’ve made and hopefully we can keep moving in the right direction. I think we’ll have a good car for qualifying, and hopefully an even better one for the race on Saturday.”

Friday’s qualifying will set the grid, with the race set for a Saturday (11:30 AM local). SPEED will broadcast the race on April 16th at 2:00 PM ET.

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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.

For additional information: www.sundaymanagement.com, https://sundaygroupblog.wordpress.com, www.facebook.com/sundaygroup, or twitter.com/Sundaygroup

Barber Motorsports Park Preview: Insight Racing

Barber Motorsports Park Preview: Insight Racing

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. 7 April 2011– Insight Racing will return to GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge competition this weekend for the Barber 200 at Barber Motorsports Park. The race marks the third round of the ten-event 2011 championship season as team continues to build momentum with its rookie campaign in GRAND-AM competition.

Insight Racing will welcome Jeff Westphal to the driving roster to share the No. 18 BMW 328i with Nico Rondet in Street Tuner (ST) class competition during the Barber 200 race weekend, with the team also contesting the top Grand Sports (GS) class with the No. 19 BMW M3 of Paul Gerrard and Martin Jenson.

After a disappointing Daytona season-opener, the Homestead Miami Speedway round showed some encouraging progress as the teams hard work began to yield tangible results. The No. 18 scored the Insight Racing’s first-ever top ten despite being frustrated by a penalty, while the sister No. 19 led the race before an all-too-close call with the wall thwarted the podium potential.

The weeks following round two have been busy, as Insight Racing moved into a new home base after the Homestead event. Insight Racing has also continued to grow staff to sustain the future plans for the team.

“We are looking forward to the Barber 200 and we intend to keep raising the bar,” said Insight Racing Team Principal & Director Gilbert Lynagh. “Barber is a magnificent facility and with the Rolex Series and IndyCar Series also racing this weekend, its is going to be a very big event. Our goal is simple-to improve every weekend and so far we’ve been able to do that and expect to keep getting stronger.”

Insight Racing Data Download, Barber 200: Round 3/10, 2011 GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge
Grand Sports (GS) Team Championship: P28
Street Tuner (ST) Team Championship: T-P17

Qualifying: April 8 – GS: 9:50 – 10.05 AM ET; ST: 10:15 – 10:30 AM ET
Race (2:5 hrs) : April 9, 11:30 AM ET
TV broadcast on SPEED TV – air date: 4/16, 2:00 PM ET

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

Melissa Dickson, Insight RacingDirector of Marketing
P: 419.778.9117


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.

For additional information: www.sundaymanagement.com, https://sundaygroupblog.wordpress.com, www.facebook.com/sundaygroup, or twitter.com/Sundaygroup

Burrows and Hopwood Target Success at Barber Motorsports Park in Kinetic and Kia Backyard

Burrows and Hopwood Target Success at Barber Motorsports Park in Kinetic and Kia Backyard

Contact: Matt Cleary, Sunday Group Management
media
(317) 908-2975-Mobile

Burrows/Hopwood have raced twice (2007, 2010) at Barber Motorsports Park
Best start/finish=2007 (P2 qual/P2 finish)

Notes: Adam Burrows new website launched: http://www.adamburrowsmotorsport.com/index.php
Q and A posted with Trevor Hopwood: https://sundaygroupblog.wordpress.com/2011/04/05/q-and-a-with-trevor-hopwood/
TV: SPEED, April 16, 2:00 PM ET

Birmingham, AL (6 April, 2011)– It might not be obvious by looking at the results, but Adam Burrows and Trevor Hopwood have opened the GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge season with two strong race outings.

Great speed from their No. 12 Kia Infinity Koup, shrewd race strategy from the engineering brain trust on the Kinetic Motorsports pit wall, and some quick pit work have combined to see the former series champions running competitively in the opening two rounds of the 2011 championship. Unfortunately, some bad racing luck has seen the hard work and strong pace not yet yield the sought-after results for the former series champions.

Returning to Barber Motorsports Park for round three of the GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge this weekend, the duo will look to put all the aforementioned go-fast ingredients to good use as they target a return to the Barber podium.

For the second consecutive GRAND-AM race weekend, there will be an active and sizable Kia presence at the event. After the rapidly growing brand served as Official Pace Car (Kia Optima Turbo) and title sponsor at Homestead-Miami Speedway, the proximity to Kia Motors Manufacturing (just down the road in West Point, Georgia) will see a large contingent of Kia guests on hand for the event. The race is also Atlanta-area-based Kinetic Motorsports home event, giving the Barber event even more of a “home game” feel for the squad.

“I’m really eager to get back in the Koup and get going at Barber,” offered Hopwood. “It has seemed like forever since Homestead! The team has a ton going on this weekend with all the Kia guests and I just can’t wait to get down there and take it all in. Hopefully we’ll have a little turn in our luck and can bring home a solid result.”

“This weekend has been circled on the calendar for quite some time,” said Burrows, who with Hopwood finished second at Barber in the 2007 event. “Kia Motors has given our team so many opportunities, and they are now offering the chance to their factory employees to see our cars in action. I hope we can put on a good race for them and that we can get a turn in our luck. Trevor and I have been on the podium at Barber before, and I’ll admit it’s a pretty nice view!”

Burrows will be visiting the West Point Kia plant on Wednesday prior to his arrival at the Barber Motorsports Park circuit.

The official running will get underway with Thursday’s practice, with practice and qualifying slated for Friday morning. The 2.5-hour race takes the green flag at 11:30 AM local, with SPEED bringing the broadcast April 16th at 2:00 PM ET.

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

For additional information:
www.trevorhopwood.com
www.adamburrowsmotorsport.com
You can also follow the teams progress at www.facebook.com/kiaracing.
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.

For additional information: www.sundaymanagement.com, https://sundaygroupblog.wordpress.com, www.facebook.com/sundaygroup, or twitter.com/Sundaygroup

Can Tim Bell Break Out at Barber?

Can Tim Bell Break Out at Barber?

Matt Cleary
Sunday Group Management
Media
317-908-2975

Mesco Rookie of the Year standings: Tim Bell, T-P4 (32 points)
Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge Championship Standings: Doran Racing/P9
TV: SPEED, April 16- 2:00 PM ET

6 April 2011–As a rookie racer in the GRAND-AM’s Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge, Tim Bell has a clear job description — learn as much as he can while moving up the order. But it is a challenging balance, as he has to temper his natural instinct to charge forward through the pack with the need to conserve the car for his teammate BJ Zacharias to drive to the finish. Endurance racing rewards not just the fast, but also the smart.

So far, with two GRAND-AM races under his racing belts, Bell has held up his end of the bargain, and then some. Driving for one of endurance sports car racing’s most well-known teams, Doran Racing, Bell has impressed in his first two pro race outings. This despite the fact that as a rookie, he’s racing on new tracks each weekend.

Beyond moving up the order while staying mindful of the big picture, another key part of Bell’s job list is to qualify the No. 14 Office Depot BMW 128i. Bell gets good marks on this aspect of the job as well, proving to be a quick study during the 15-minute qualifying sessions and scoring starting spots on the fourth and sixth rows in the opening two rounds.

While this Saturday’s Barber 200 race weekend will mark Bell’s debut run at the Birmingham-area track, it could well be the setting for his best result to date. Looking to combine his constantly-growing experience with the strong handling traits of the No. 14 Office Depot BMW 128i, Bell is hoping that the tight, twisty nature of the 17-turn circuit plays into his hands.

“My confidence is growing, but I know that it’s just my third GRAND-AM race and I’ve still got a lot to learn,” said Bell, who is also interested in pursuing a career in real estate in parallel with his racing activities. “I’m learning more every time I go out and I think that each race weekend I’m feeling more and more comfortable. At Daytona, for example, I wasn’t sure what it was going to be like to do a driver change during the race. It went fine, and now I know a lot more about what to expect in those situations.”

With two race finishes (16th at Daytona, 14th at Homestead) placing Bell and Zacharias ninth in the team standings, Bell is looking to put his rapidly accumulating experience to good use this weekend. “I’m hoping that this will be a good track for us,” said Bell. “I don’t want to get my expectations too high — I’m really focused on doing well in qualifying and having another good strong opening stint. But looking at all the tracks we are running this season, I’m optimistic that Barber will be one of the better ones for us. The BMW has great braking, and even though we might not have the full-on power of some of the turbo cars, hopefully we can make that up with a good handling car. It looks like a very fun track — highly technical. It’s a very busy track for the driver, every lap!”

The weekend schedule combines the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series with the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge as well as the IZOD IndyCar Series, Firestone Indy Lights, and Star Mazda runners. Bell, along with his brother Matt, look to take a break and indulge their motorcycle passion with a visit to the impressive Barber Motorsports Park museum which houses an amazing collection of motorcycles through the years as part of passionate park owner George Barber’s collection.

Barber Motorsports Park At-Track Schedule – ST Drivers

Thursday, April 7
TIME LOCATION NOTES
11:00 AM CTSCC Driver Meeting Toshiba Transporter
1:30 PM – 2:15 PM Practice – Continental Tire Challenge
4:35 PM – 5:20 PM Practice – Continental Tire Challenge

Friday, April 8
TIME LOCATION NOTES
8:00 AM – 8:30 AM Practice – Continental Tire Challenge
10:15 AM – 10:30 AM Qualifying – Continental Tire Challenge ST

Saturday, April 9
TIME LOCATION NOTES
9:00 AM CTSCC Driver Meeting
10:00 AM – 10:45 AM CTSCC Autograph Session Team Transporters
10:50 AM Pre-Race
11:30 AM START – Continental Tire Challenge Race (2.5 hrs)

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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.

For additional information: www.sundaymanagement.com, https://sundaygroupblog.wordpress.com, www.facebook.com/sundaygroup, or twitter.com/Sundaygroup

Momentum is Building for Matt Bell ahead of Barber Motorsports Park

Momentum is Building for Matt Bell ahead of Barber Motorsports Park

Contact: Matt Cleary
Media
317-908-2975

Attached PHOTO courtesy GRAND-AM Communications: Having already scored a debut pole and a pair of podiums with the machine, Matt Bell hopes to push the Chevrolet Camaro even further this weekend at Barber Motorsports Park in round three of the 2011 championship. The race will be broadcast on SPEED April 16 at 2:00 PM ET

Birmingham, AL (5 April 2011) – Matt Bell is looking to build on the positive momentum he established at Homestead-Miami Speedway as he heads to Barber Motorsports Park this weekend for the Barber 200 in Round 3 of the GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge.

Bell and Stevenson Motorsports co-driver John Edwards will share the No. 9 Stevenson Motorsports Camaro GS.R as GRAND-AM returns to the picturesque natural terrain road course located outside of Birmingham.

Once again kicking off the 2011 season at Daytona International Speedway, Bell bolted to the front to fight for the lead in the early stages of the race. Despite the encouraging race pace, a series of mechanical setbacks saw the effort net a 28th place finish, hardly what the young charger had been hoping for.

Putting that tough weekend in the rear view mirror for round 2 at Homestead Miami Speedway, Bell once again led the Camaro contingent in qualifying as he rebounded from Daytona with a positive step forward, and ran as high as 2nd during the early stages of the race. With Bell running two stints behind the wheel, the race was tough on man and machine alike. “By the end of the race we had no front swaybar, no alternator, no headlights, a problem with the transmission, no tires left and hardly any brakes,” said Bell. “So to finish 11th was awesome. Hopefully we can apply everything we learned at Homestead with an even better run at Barber.”

With an established record of putting the times down when the pressure is up, Bell has once again opened the 2011 season with stout qualifying performances in the first two rounds at crunch time. With two second-row starts in two races, Bell will look to make the most of qualifying at Barber Motorsports Park as the combined-class field boasts over 60 entries. Having qualified seventh in last year’s Barber 200 as the Camaro was just starting its development, the California native hopes to score an even stronger grid spot this Friday.

Although Bell may not have a podium result to show for it just yet, Bell has displayed dominant performances each time he has visited the Alabama road course. Last year’s event saw Bell run as high as fifth before a minor pit lane penalty forced an extra return to pit lane and resulted in a disappointing 14th place finish. In 2009, Bell drove a BMW M3 with Boris Said and was running third in the closing laps when the team determined that the car was short on fuel. Despite a late-race pit-stop for a splash of fuel, Bell charged to a 5th place result over a long green flag run to the checkered flag.

“We’ve always run well at Barber, but bad luck has kept us off the podium,” said Bell. “The Stevenson guys fought through so many problems at Homestead and we still came out of that race with some points for the championship. We worked well as a team and I was really happy with the progress we made on the engineering side. Even though the race didn’t go entirely to plan, the car continued to show progress all weekend long. That’s what we’ll try to focus on this weekend at Barber. We expect that Barber will reward some of the lighter cars, particularly in the braking zones, so it’s going to be tough. But the more we learn at tracks like Barber, the more we can apply that to places where we think the Camaro will be a little better suited.”

Bell will participate in a promoter test day on Wednesday, April 6, followed by official practice on Thursday, with one more practice session ahead of qualifying on Friday morning. The Continental Tire Challenge race is set to take the green flag on Saturday, April 9 at 11:30 AM prior to the Rolex Series Sports Car event. The race will air on 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.

For additional information: www.sundaymanagement.com, https://sundaygroupblog.wordpress.com, www.facebook.com/sundaygroup, or twitter.com/Sundaygroup

Adam Burrows Set for Kia Motors Road Trip

Adam Burrows Set for Kia Motors Road Trip

Kia factory pilot making visit to automaker’s U.S. plant in West Point, Georgia ahead of Barber Motorsports Park race weekend

Contact: Matt Cleary, Sunday Group Management
media
(317) 908-2975-Mobile

West Point, GA (5 April 2011)– Adam Burrows, driver of the No. 12 Infinity Audio Kia Forte for Kinetic Motorsports, will be packing his bags early ahead of the Barber 200 race weekend as the factory pilot will be visiting Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia (KMMG) in West Point, Georgia. Opened in 2009, KMMG has created more than 2,000 new jobs and produces the 2011 Sorento CUV, Kia’s best-selling vehicle for 15 consecutive months.

Burrows and co-driver Trevor Hopwood were signed by Kinetic Motorsports to drive for the factory Kia effort in GRAND-AM ahead of the 2010 season, and the duo brought the brand its first-ever North American race finish in its maiden outing at Daytona International Speedway.

“As I’ve become exposed to what Kia Motors is building and working on for the future, the more excited I get to be involved with this brand. Getting to visit KMMG and interact with team members is one more thing to look forward to. This will be my first visit to an automobile manufacturing facility, and I hope that it’ll be a kick-off to a great weekend for the Kia team.” said Burrows, who won the championship in 2007 with co-driver Trevor Hopwood. “We’ve been fortunate to meet a lot of Kia owners, dealers and members of the corporate team and I’m looking forward to meeting even more folks from Kia Motors this weekend at Barber. It is amazing how much growth Kia is currently experiencing, and I think that is mirrored by the fast-paced development of the motorsports program withKinetic. Last year, we were ecstatic to finish our first race at Daytona International Speedway and just one year later the team made it to the podium there.”

The visit is part of the buzz of activity surrounding the Barber Motorsports Park race weekend. Set just outside of Birmingham, the Barber Motorsports Park facility is a world-class race track with immaculate grounds and one of the most amazing collections of motorcycles in the world.

“We are cautiously optimistic about how competitive we will be this weekend,” said Burrows, who has a career-best finish of 2nd at the track. “With seventeen different corners, braking and handling are going to be key and those are both areas where the Forte Koup has shown strength from the very beginning.”

The official running will get underway on Friday with practice and qualifying. Following the day’s activities, Burrows and fellow Kia drivers Hopwood, Nic Jonsson and Michael Galati will host Kia dealers from the local Birmingham area at a fundraising dinner for Racin’ 4 Kids, an organization that raises funds for Children’s Hospital of Alabama. Dedicated. Saturday will see the Rolex Sports Car Series play opener to the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge, which will take the green flag at 11:30 AM local time.

PR inquiries about Adam Burrows and Trevor Hopwood should be directed to Matt Cleary at Sunday Group Management; 317.908.2975 (mobile) or media

For additional information:
http://www.kmmgusa.com
http://www.adamburrowsmotorsport.com/
www.trevorhopwood.com
www.Sundaymanagement.com
You can also follow the teams progress at www.facebook.com/kiaracing.

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.

For additional information: www.sundaymanagement.com, https://sundaygroupblog.wordpress.com, www.facebook.com/sundaygroup, or twitter.com/Sundaygroup

Q and A with Trevor Hopwood

Your birthday?

August 30, 1981

2. Your hometown?

Prosperity, Pennsylvania

3. Your current city of residence?

Lee, New Hampshire

4. Marital status? Kids/ Pets?

Married 2 years to Casey. 1 kid on the way, should arrive hopefully before Mid-Ohio (cutting it close!), dog- Sugar Bear 5.5 year old yellow lab female.

5. Racing career highlights?

There are too many to list, we always remember our first pole, first win, first lap led, things like that. But 3 stick out, 2007 Championship in rookie season, first professional win in 2008 at Watkins Glen in ST and being selected to drive for the KIA factory program.

6. How did you get involved with racing?

My father raced and it was natural for me to as well. I started karting at age 13 and moved to cars at 16.

7. What was your first race ever like?

Pretty crazy actually. I had a podium finish until I spun with 2 laps to go. Couldn’t take the pressure.

8. What is your favorite racing memory?

Probably winning at Watkins Glen in 2008.

9. If you could race at any track in the world, where would you go? What makes that track so appealing to you?

Definitely Spa-Francorchamps. It is one of the last classic F1 circuits still out there. It is the type of track that really suits my style, lots of elevation changes and high-speed corners. Plus, the constant threat of rain is great too.

10. What racecar would you love the chance to drive?

Williams-Renault FW14B. That car was mega-trick, active suspension, traction control, ABS brakes and it was towards the beginning of the semi-automatic gearbox era. Add to that, Adrian Newey aerodynamics. Mansell and Patrese dominated the 1992 season with that car.

11. What is your teammate’s biggest strength?

I think Adam is one of the best qualifiers in the series. He has that skill to really wring the neck out of the car and get every thousandth of a second possible, even if we were struggling up to that point. When it’s my turn to qualify we usually are a bit further back than if he would be qualifying. I race better than I qualify.

12. What are your pre-race rituals or superstitions?

Never shave on race day.

13. What racecar driver do you really look up to as a role model?

Ayrton Senna was always my hero growing up. The guy just won at all costs. He’s really my inspiration when we get to take part in a rain race. The guy was the master in the wet.

14. What are your non-racing hobbies and interests?

I love to cook, kart, ski, and play video games

15. Why do you love racing?

Competition and winning.

16. Who would you like to have dinner with, dead or alive?

My grandfather. He passed away before I was born. I’d love to eat and chat with him and see what he was like. All I know are the stories I’ve been told. I think we would’ve gotten along well.

17. What do you consider to be your greatest accomplishment?

Every day I just try to better myself, be a good person and do the right thing. I figure if I do that every day will be my greatest accomplishment.

18. Where do you see yourself in five years?

Hopefully still racing. I’d like to move up and get into some GT cars or Prototypes, but the racing in the Continental Tire Series is some of the best out there.

19. If you weren’t racing, what would you do?

I’d still be working in a school, but there would need to be some sort of adrenaline fix in my life. Skiing always has that, you are always on edge and at the point of disaster.

20. Where is one place you want to travel to and haven’t?

I’ve been pretty lucky and been to some really cool places in this world, but Japan has always intrigued me. The culture of that country and history is astonishing. Not to mention the architecture. It will be interesting to see how they rebuild from the earthquake and tsunami and I can only hope for the best for their country and people.

21. What kind of music would we find on your iPod during a race weekend?

Usually some rap or some hard rock. Need the pump up music!

22. What is your favorite movie?

The Big Lebowski

23. Favorite professional sports team?

New England Patriots

24. Favorite place/type of food to eat when on the road?

Adam and I always try to sniff out an Arby’s as soon as we land at each event. It’s our pre-weekend ritual for a meal, and then try to find one again on the way out. If we are out west, In-N-Out takes the cake. But to be healthy before a race we usually find a sushi bar or a place to get a nice piece of fish.

25. When you’re not at a race event, what would a perfect night be like for you? (ex. Pizza and a movie with your family, going out to a play with your friends, etc.)

Hanging out at home with my wife and the dog. I’ll cook a nice meal and then we will watch a movie while we eat and go to sleep early. I’m really a homebody and hate being away from home.

26. What’s the best thing about being part of the Kinetic team?

There are two things. The first is that it’s an honor to be a part of a factory racing program. There aren’t too many manufacturers that are involved in racing anymore but KIA has jumped in headfirst and that is great. The second is it’s more of a family instead of a team. Race results are important but we also manage to have a good time throughout the weekend.

Sale of 100th Anniversary Chevy to Benefit the Austin Hatcher Foundation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE       

April 4, 2011

Contact: Alissa Browning-Couch  alissa@hatcherfoundation.org 

SALE OF 100TH ANNIVERSARY CHEVY TO BENEFIT THE AUSTIN HATCHER FOUNDATION

Chattanooga, TN:  In celebration of its 100th anniversary, Chevrolet recently announced that it will auction a new special-edition 2012 Chevrolet to benefit the Austin Hatcher Foundation for Pediatric Cancer.

The car will be auctioned off at the Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction in West Palm Beach, Florida on April 9, 2011, with 100% of the proceeds going directly to the Foundation.

Before being auctioned, this special-edition vehicle will be featured in the Chevrolet 100th Anniversary display, within the GM booth, from Thursday, April 7 through Saturday, April 9. Chevrolet will be utilizing a new social media technology called TimeSplice, which will enable guests to take a stop action photograph of themselves with the vehicle and immediately share it with friends via text, email, Twitter or Facebook.

The sale of the car, lot number 654.1, will air live on the SPEED Channel.

Lot details can be found online through http://www.barrett-jackson.com/events/palmbeach/

“The Austin Hatcher Foundation is honored to be a part of Chevrolet’s 100th anniversary celebration” says Dr. James M. Osborn, Co-founder and Chairman of the Board at the Austin Hatcher Foundation, “and we look forward to using this generous donation to make a difference in the lives of pediatric cancer patients and their families.”


The Austin Hatcher Foundation for Pediatric Cancer’s mission is to erase the effects of pediatric cancer and optimize each child’s quality of life through essential specialized intervention beginning at the time of diagnosis and continuing throughout survivorship.

The Foundation provides services to children with cancer as well as their families through its cancer care center, Hatch’s House of Hope. The Foundation provides all services at no cost to the families. Services are funded solely by the generous donations of its supporters.

For more information, visit http://www.hatcherfoundation.org

Hatch’s House of Hope is a landmark pediatric cancer care center providing children and their families with the tools needed to cope and thrive at the onset of pediatric cancer, as well as the skills essential to live meaningful and productive lives as cancer survivors. The comprehensive services offered at no cost to families by Hatch’s include: problem-solving skills training, individual counseling, group counseling, marital counseling, family counseling, speech/language therapy, occupational therapy, equine therapy, music therapy, art therapy, academic coaching, cognitive assessment, social skills training, cognitive skills remediation, financial counseling, and diversionary therapy events for family enrichment.

Services are provided from diagnosis through treatment, during remission, and into adulthood. Since opening its doors in September 2009, Hatch’s has provided over 500 hours of services to children with pediatric cancer and their families. Erlanger Medical Mall in Chattanooga, TN, is the site of the first Hatch’s, which serves as the model for other Hatch’s in the planning stages nationwide.

For more information, visit http://www.hatchshouse.org

Barrett-Jackson is the producer of “the World’s Greatest Collector Car Auctions” in Scottsdale, Palm Beach, Orange County and Las Vegas. The 2011 Palm Beach Auction will take place April 7 – 9 at the Americraft Expo Center in Palm Beach, Florida. For more information, visit http://www.barrett-jackson.com or, for lot details on the centennial Chevrolet, visit http://www.barrett-jackson.com/application/onlinesubmission/lotdetails.aspx?ln=654.1&aid=363&pop=0

Sunday Group Media Notes, Barber Motorsports Park (Rolex Series)

Rolex Sports Car Series:

Podium return for Michael Shank Racing? Despite taking two top ten finishes in the first two races of the year and sitting sixth in the team championship standings, Michael Shank Racing drivers Ozz Negri and John Pew haven’t had the start to the year that the duo were hoping for. But racing the No. 60 Crown Royal Ford-Riley for a team that has made a habit of podium appearances at the picturesque track (2005, 2008, 2009, and 2010), the duo will look to make the most of the weekend. Between races, both Negri and Pew have been actively keeping sharp with lap after lap of practice on karts.

Racing Brothers, part two (Frisselles):

Burt and Brian Frisselle have raced with each other, against each other, and around each other for years.

This weekend, the duo will be fighting it out on track as Burt returns to AIM Autosport once again. The Canadian team returned to Rolex Series competition at Homestead and was right on the pace with a run to fourth place. The team just announced a new sponsor (GAMMA88) and will be primed for success.

https://sundaygroupblog.wordpress.com/2011/04/04/4-april-2011-1555/

Brian, who has four Rolex Series wins to his credit, will race with Doran Racing in the No. 77 Office Depot Dallara. Frisselle’s co-driver crashed out out of the Homestead race after the entry got off to a very fast start to the event. Running in a pro-am driver pairing, Burt will look to make the most of the Barber weekend as the NO. 77 fights back in the championship standings.

The two brothers have been keeping busy with some high-altitude training in Aspen–ride along here:

Sunday Group Media Notes, Barber Motorsports Park (Continental Tire Challenge)

Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge

Rum Bum Racing finished fifth at Homestead Miami Speedway. Not bad, right?

Well, it was actually the worst finish for the team since last July, having either won or finished second in the last three races of the season (winning the last two), and then winning again at Daytona. The team has started on the front row in the last four races. Now down (65-61) four points in the team championship, drivers Matt Plumb and Nick Longhi are looking to take it back.

https://sundaygroupblog.wordpress.com/2011/04/04/rum-bum-racing-looks-to-retake-championship-lead-at-barber/

http://rumbumracing.com/

Brother racers, take one (Bells):

Matt Bell and Tim Bell (Los Altos, Calif) are like any other siblings–highly competitive. But even though they will both be on track when the green flag flies on Saturday afternoon, the duo aren’t really racing each other, at least not for now.

Tim Bell is running for rookie of the year honors in the lower Street Tuner (ST) class, while his brother Matt Bell is driving in the Grand Sports (GS) class. Matt has several wins and poles to his credit while younger brother Tim has impressed in his opening two starts for Doran Racing.

Hometown for Kia, Kinetic:

Adam Burrows and Trevor Hopwood brought Kia the brands first-ever race finish in the debut running of the Kia Forte Koup to open the 2010 GRAND-AM season. Fast forward to this weekend and the former (2007) champs will be looking for much more as the duo pair up once again. The Barber race weekend is the home event for their team–Kinetic Motorsports (based outside of Atlanta) as well as just down the road from the massively impressive West Point Georgia Kia Motors assembly plant. Factory ace Burrows will be visiting the facility ahead of the race weekend, and hundreds of Kia guests will be on-site for the event.

http://adamburrowsmotorsport.com/

Driver Change for new team:

He’s driven in the Rolex Sports Car Series, but this weekend will be the first-ever race start in Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge competition for Jeff Westphal as he joins Insight Racing. The team campaigns two BMW’s (one in each class), with one of the most international driver rosters of the entire field (England, Denmark, US, and France). The Barber event is just the third race weekend for the newly-formed team, which recently moved to a new base in Hilliard, Ohio.

https://sundaygroupblog.wordpress.com/2011/04/04/insight-racing-tabs-jeff-westphal-for-barber-motorsports-park/