Sunday Group Management

Rum Bum Racing Looks to Retake Championship Lead at Barber

Rum Bum Racing Looks to Retake Championship Lead at Barber

TV Info: SPEED, April 16, 2:00 PM ET
Rum Bum Racing Championship Spotlight: GS Team Championship: P2, 61 points (-4)
Barber Rewind-2010: Finish P 19

4 April 2011 (Birmingham, Ala.) – With two dominant performances in the first two rounds of the 2011 GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge championship, Rum Bum Racing has picked up right where the team left off at the end of last season. Co-drivers Matt Plumb and Nick Longhi will look to capitalize on this momentum as the team gears up for round three of the 2011 championship and the Barber 200 at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama this Saturday (broadcast-SPEED, April 16 2:00 PM).

After kicking off the season with an outstanding race weekend that saw the team score both the pole and the victory in the season opening race at Daytona International Speedway, the Rum Bum squad once again set the bar high in round two. It was almost no surprise when Nick Longhi once again put the No. 13 BMW M3 on the Kia 200 pole for the second race of the season at Homestead-Miami Speedway, marking the team’s third consecutive pole winning performance.

While Rum Bum Racing had hoped to make a return trip to victory lane at the Rum Bum Racing home track, the race didn’t play out exactly to plan as the No.13 crossed the finish line with a respectable fifth place finish after fighting through the over 60-car combined class field. Despite yet another top-five result, the intense championship challenge of the series was clear as the result saw the team fall just out of the championship lead, a mere four points out of the top spot. But with a deeply talented crew, outstanding car prep, and top talents behind the wheel, Rum Bum Racing is looking to keep the momentum going and the focus is clear as the team heads to the picturesque settings of Barber Motorsports Park.

“Our overall objective is to score as many points as possible in every single race and to keep our focus on the championship,” said Plumb. “We want to go out and win every race, but we know that with the competition as intense as it is, we have to focus on just getting everything out of each weekend that we can if we aren’t on top. It’s going to be a very competitive year and earning points is key. We know that Joe (Varde) is going to make the right calls on the pit box and the Rum Bum guys keep delivering great pit stops, so hopefully we can just keep building on what we’ve started with a good run this weekend.”

Last year’s race at the natural road course was a disappointing one for Plumb and co-driver Gian Bacardi as the duo faced slippery track conditions and were forced to settle for a 19th place result. Rum Bum Racing hopes to turn their Barber luck around as they continue to build on the momentum they’ve already gained this year after closing 2010 on a hot streak.

“The No. 13 BMW M3 has been quick all season and hopefully we can continue to perform like that this weekend at Barber,” said Longhi, who has a top-ten finish at Barber Motorsports Park in Rolex Sports Car Series competition to his credit. “We’ve been good in qualifying, and we were strong at Homestead even though we didn’t come out of there with the podium that we were aiming for. It just shows how tight this championship fight is going to be, and we’ve just got our heads down to get as much as we can at Barber.”

On-track action opens with a promoter test day on Wednesday, April 6 followed by official practice and qualifying on Thursday. 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.

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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

Insight Racing Tabs Jeff Westphal for Barber Motorsports Park

Insight Racing Tabs Jeff Westphal for Barber Motorsports Park

Rolex Series racer set for Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge debut

4 April 2011 (Hilliard, OH) Insight Racing is pleased to announce that the team will welcome Rolex Sports Car Series veteran driver Jeff Westphal to co-drive the No. 18 Insight Racing BMW 328i with Nico Rondet in the Barber 200 at Barber Motorsports Park.

The race will mark the San Carlos, California native’s GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge race debut as GRAND-AM stages round three of the 2011 championship at the beautiful Barber Motorsports Park facility. The opportunity developed following a previous contractual commitment that will prevent Insight Racing’s regular No. 18 BMW co-driver, Tyler McQuarrie, from taking part in the event.

From Time Attack to formula car competition to the Rolex Sports Car Series, Westphal has raced a little bit of everything since first moving from karts to cars in 2004. The racing school instructor is eager to make this new line to his racing resume a successful one by joining a young but strong team like Insight Racing.

While the Barber weekend marks just the third race outing for Insight Racing, the organization has attracted experienced talent to several key positions within the group, including a number that Westphal has worked with previously.

“Even though this will be my first start with Insight Racing, I’ve worked with a lot of the group before,” said Westphal. “Steve Dinan was involved with the BMW I raced in the Rolex Series, and I’ve worked with Nico (Rondet) so I should be able to feel comfortable with the team and get to speed rather quickly. This will be my first start in the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge, but the time I’ve spent in the Rolex Series means that GRAND-AM’s rules and procedures are already familiar for me. There should be a good bit of track time for me to get comfortable with the track. I’ll be doing everything I can to get ready ahead of time–reviewing in-car footage and jumping on iRacing so I can be ready to go the moment I leave pit lane on Wednesday.”

“When this opening developed, we had a lot of interest from drivers who were hoping to join Insight Racing,” said Insight Racing Team Principal & Director Gilbert Lynagh “We interviewed several candidates and Jeff emerged as the right fit in and out of the car, so we are really excited to have him join us for Barber. We’ve made significant strides with the team, even just since the Homestead race, so we are eager to get back to the track next weekend and continuing to push our program forward and having Jeff be a part of that.”

The 2.5 hour Barber 200 race (11:30 AM Saturday/April 9) is set to broadcast on SPEED April 16. Updates and information will be available at www.insightracing.com.

-ends

For additional information:
www.insightracing.com.
http://jeffwestphalracing.com/

Melissa Dickson
Insight Racing
Director of Marketing
P: 419.778.9117

GAMMA88 Sponsors AIM Autosportʼs Daytona Prototype

GAMMA88 Sponsors AIM Autosportʼs Daytona Prototype

Company Excited to Join One of the Worldʼs Most Competitive Series

Woodbridge, Ont. (April 4, 2011) — AIM Autosport is pleased to announce the addition of GAMMA88 as the primary sponsor of its BMW-Riley #61 Daytona Prototype competing in the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16. GAMMA88 will sponsor AIMʼs Daytona Prototype for the next two races: The Porsche 250 at Barber Motorsports Park and the Bosch Engineering 250 at Virginia International Raceway.

GAMMA88 is a fuel and oil reformulator that significantly reduces fuel costs and emissions. By removing engine deposits and increasing engine lubricity, GAMMA88 increases fuel economy, increases fuel combustibility, extends engine life, reduces emissions, reduces maintenance and reduces friction and heat.

“GAMMA88 works from the moment it is introduced in fuel and oil, and allows an engine to use less fuel while producing more work,” said GAMMA88 owner, Dave Lageschulte. “GAMMA88 enables customers to cut fuel costs while becoming better stewards of the environment.

“We are excited about showcasing our product in one of the most competitive road racing series in the world. With AIM Autosport we have found a partner to help us meet our marketing needs in the Grand- Am Rolex Series.”

AIMʼs Grand-Am team has been busy applying eye-catching new livery to its car while using the month-long break between races to maximize their racing package, including a two day test to optimize the teamʼs DSSV dampers on Multimaticʼs multi-post test rig.

The Porsche 250 at Barber Motorsports Park, near Birmingham Ala., takes place from April 7–9 with a three-hour race starting at 4 pm on April 9. Race coverage will be live on MRN radio with delayed television coverage from SPEED at noon (ET) on April 10.

GAMMA88

GAMMA88 is much more than an engine cleaner and lubricant. GAMMA88 performs four functions: 1) reduces fuel use, 2) reduces carbon emissions, 3) cleans engine parts, and 4) extends engine life. Intended for use in combustion engines which use diesel and gasoline, GAMMA88 is registered with the US EPA, has been ASTM lab and dynamometer tested and is customer proven. Currently being used by commercial and independent consumers in the United States, France and China, GAMMA88 is becoming the fastest-growing fuel and oil supplement on the market today. For more information, visit www.gamma88.com or call 888-642-6628.

AIM Autosport
AIM Autosport is a professional motorsports team active in highly-competitive sports car and open- wheel racing series in North America. AIM has achieved success at every level through its operating efficiency, engineering skill, experience, dedication and stability of workforce. AIMʼs top-tier program is a Daytona Prototype entry in the Grand Am Rolex Sports Car Series.

Since its launch in 1995, AIM has built a winning heritage by fielding competitive cars for talented young drivers in junior development categories. That continues with multi-car teams in the Road to Indy® professional driver development ladder where AIM is a perennial pacesetter in the Star Mazda series. For more information, visit aimautosport.com or facebook.com/AIMautosport.

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AIM AUTOSPORT CONTACT:
Contact
Mark Jackson
416.891.0261
media

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

GAMMA88 Sponsors AIM Autosportʼs Daytona Prototype

GAMMA88 Sponsors AIM Autosportʼs Daytona Prototype

Company Excited to Join One of the Worldʼs Most Competitive Series

Woodbridge, Ont. (April 4, 2011) — AIM Autosport is pleased to announce the addition of GAMMA88 as the primary sponsor of its BMW-Riley #61 Daytona Prototype competing in the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16. GAMMA88 will sponsor AIMʼs Daytona Prototype for the next two races: The Porsche 250 at Barber Motorsports Park and the Bosch Engineering 250 at Virginia International Raceway.

GAMMA88 is a fuel and oil reformulator that significantly reduces fuel costs and emissions. By removing engine deposits and increasing engine lubricity, GAMMA88 increases fuel economy, increases fuel combustibility, extends engine life, reduces emissions, reduces maintenance and reduces friction and heat.

“GAMMA88 works from the moment it is introduced in fuel and oil, and allows an engine to use less fuel while producing more work,” said GAMMA88 owner, Dave Lageschulte. “GAMMA88 enables customers to cut fuel costs while becoming better stewards of the environment.

“We are excited about showcasing our product in one of the most competitive road racing series in the world. With AIM Autosport we have found a partner to help us meet our marketing needs in the Grand- Am Rolex Series.”

AIMʼs Grand-Am team has been busy applying eye-catching new livery to its car while using the month-long break between races to maximize their racing package, including a two day test to optimize the teamʼs DSSV dampers on Multimaticʼs multi-post test rig.

The Porsche 250 at Barber Motorsports Park, near Birmingham Ala., takes place from April 7–9 with a three-hour race starting at 4 pm on April 9. Race coverage will be live on MRN radio with delayed television coverage from SPEED at noon (ET) on April 10.

GAMMA88

GAMMA88 is much more than an engine cleaner and lubricant. GAMMA88 performs four functions: 1) reduces fuel use, 2) reduces carbon emissions, 3) cleans engine parts, and 4) extends engine life. Intended for use in combustion engines which use diesel and gasoline, GAMMA88 is registered with the US EPA, has been ASTM lab and dynamometer tested and is customer proven. Currently being used by commercial and independent consumers in the United States, France and China, GAMMA88 is becoming the fastest-growing fuel and oil supplement on the market today. For more information, visit www.gamma88.com or call 888-642-6628.

AIM Autosport
AIM Autosport is a professional motorsports team active in highly-competitive sports car and open- wheel racing series in North America. AIM has achieved success at every level through its operating efficiency, engineering skill, experience, dedication and stability of workforce. AIMʼs top-tier program is a Daytona Prototype entry in the Grand Am Rolex Sports Car Series.

Since its launch in 1995, AIM has built a winning heritage by fielding competitive cars for talented young drivers in junior development categories. That continues with multi-car teams in the Road to Indy® professional driver development ladder where AIM is a perennial pacesetter in the Star Mazda series. For more information, visit aimautosport.com or facebook.com/AIMautosport.

###

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

Busy Weekend for Allmendinger as he makes Global Rally Cross run in Best Buy Ford Fiesta

25 – March 2011- Having put the Ford Fiesta to the test in the deep forest of the Team O’Neil Rally school in New Hampshire and scorched the pavement with Ken Block’s Ford Fiesta with Richard Petty as an interested observer, AJ Allmendinger has already had some pretty interesting experiences behind the wheel of Ford’s compelling compact car.

The affable NASCAR Sprint Cup regular will add yet another Ford Fiesta experience to his resume this weekend as he is set to drive multiple World Rally Champion Marcus Grönholm’s Best Buy Ford Fiesta in the Global Rally Cross Championship at The Revolution at Irwindale Speedway, just down the road from Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California.

Allmendinger will take to the track on Saturday evening as a demonstration for the fans during the action-packed event weekend.

“When I first found out about this event, I really just wanted to come down and check it out,” said Allmendinger, who holds 16th in the NASCAR Sprint Cup standings ahead of Sunday’s Auto Club 400. “But then the next thing you know, I’m getting ready to get strapped into this 600+ horsepower Fiesta! I’m pretty excited to drive it on Saturday night, although I’m not so sure about trying it out in front of the huge crowd. Marcus is six-foot something, so I’m also hoping that they are able to move the seat a little bit forward for me. It’s also cool to have another event where Ford and Best Buy are so involved and I really think the fans are going to have a great time.”

Rallycross sees as many as six drivers line up to start at once, each piloting a high-horsepower compact car through race traffic over a challenging short course that features jumps, off-camber turns, hills and transitions between pavement and gravel. Drivers progress through a series of heat eliminations until the main event. Competitors race in either the two-wheel drive or all-wheel drive class in race-prepared, production-based vehicles. These are fast and nimble competition cars, with top-class competitors running 0-60 times in less than two seconds.

The innovative mixed-surface track also features a jump, something that is sure to add yet more excitement for the fans.

“No, no, nooooo,” said Allmendinger when asked about his taking to the air as part of his outing. “I got enough air last year at Talladega so I’m going to let the rally regular guys have that ALL to themselves!”

The race event is the first of a four round North American championship that will culminate at the X Games 17 in Los Angeles, CA July 31. Allmendinger will participate in some demonstration laps on Saturday evening as part of the intense race weekend.

ESPN3.com will stream live coverage over both days of The Revolution at the Toyota Speedway at Irwindale beginning at 4:00 PM eastern and 1:00 PM pacific. Uninterrupted coverage will feature all of the heat and main race action for SuperRally and RallyCross, plus driver interviews and commentary from the inaugural round of the Global RallyCross Championship.

Additional information:

Home 2023

Nhà cái uy tín nhất – Top 12 sàn cá cược trả thưởng cao nhất 2024

http://www.ajallmendinger.com

About Walldinger Racing, Inc.: Walldinger Racing was formed in 2006 to support AJ Allmendinger’s motorsports career by developing commercial opportunities and partnership programs.  

Rally legend Marcus Grönholm to compete in Global RallyCross Championship on March 25-26 in Irwindale, CA

Rally legend Marcus Grönholm to compete in Global RallyCross Championship on March 25-26 in Irwindale, CA

West Hollywood, CA (March 14, 2011 | GLOBAL RALLYCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP) – Two-time World Rally Champion Marcus Grönholm will travel to the United States to compete in the first round of the Global RallyCross Championship: The Revolution, taking place March 25-26 at Irwindale Speedway on the outskirts of Los Angeles.

Grönholm, who will pilot a 600-hp all-wheel drive Best Buy Ford Fiesta in the contest, joins a list of top-ranked international motorsport and action sport stars racing in the Global RallyCross Championship. Also planning to compete are three-time X Games Rally gold medalist Tanner Foust in his Ford Fiesta, Rhys Millen and five-time British rally champion Marcus Dodd in Hyundai Veloster rallycross cars, and Subaru Rally Team USA’s Dave Mirra in a Subaru WRX STI.

“Rallycross is good fun, with a lot of cars running at the same time,” said Grönholm. “It’s quite different from rally but it’s excellent to come to the USA and it feels nice to be involved again with the team.”
In addition to two World Rally Championship titles (2000, 2002), the legendary Finnish driver also won the 2002 Race of Champions and earned the Nations’ Cup at the contest in 2006. He also took on the 2009 Pike’s Peak International Hill Climb in a similarly prepared Ford Fiesta and will be reunited with the Olsbergs MSE team for this event.

“We are thrilled that Best Buy, the world’s largest electronics retailer, is working with Marcus Grönholm who has conquered the rally world twice,” said Mark Williams, president of Best Buy Financial Services.

Drivers in the Global RallyCross Championship are vying for a chance to win the first-ever series title – and a chance to earn an invitation to X Games 17 Rally competitions held in downtown Los Angeles this July. Two-wheel drive entries also have a shot at a $5,000 prize purse to benefit grassroots competitors at the contest.

The series will benefit from a multi-year programming relationship with ESPN, with Global RallyCross Championship broadcasts slated to follow NASCAR Nationwide and NHRA shows on ESPN and ESPN2 with live event streaming on ESPN3.

“We are involved in rallycross in the UK and this is a great opportunity for Best Buy to be involved in the new Global RallyCross series,” said Williams. “Our customers can play the video games featuring the cars and watch the races on their home theater systems – and all purchased from Best Buy!”

Racing this month will take place on an inventive dirt and tarmac track configuration on the
speedway oval. The highlight of the course is a huge gap jump that will see competition
cars fly 70-feet through the air. This is the first time a gap jump has ever been included in rallycross competition outside the X Games environment.

“We’re thrilled that Marcus Grönholm will join us for the first round of Global RallyCross
Championship,” said series co-founder Chip Pankow. “We are building a truly international series featuring top talent from around the world.”

In addition to the fierce door-to-door rallycross competition at Irwindale, drivers will also
be available for autograph sessions and a vendor midway will offer further entertainment
for fans. Tickets are just $25 for two days of racing, are available at http://www.global- rallycross.com. Fans can also find the series on Facebook (www.facebook.com/
GlobalRallyCross) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/GlobalRallyX) to sign up for a chance to win tickets and other prizes.

Competitors will next travel to a rural-industrial complex outside of Seattle, WA, for Round
2: Twin Peaks (April 15-16), and meet again in Colorado at the Pikes Peak International
Raceway for Round 3: Last Chance (June 17-18). Invitations for X Games Rally events will
be announced soon after the conclusion of the third and final round of the 2011 series.

The RallyCar organization will sanction the Global RallyCross Championship events.
Competitors in the Global RallyCross Championship may also elect to score points in U.S. Rallycross Championship events.

About RallyCross Management
West Hollywood, CA based RallyCross Management is the owner and organizer of the
three-round Global RallyCross Championship and manages invitations and competition

for X Games rally events. Working with ESPN, the company will bring the excitement of rallycross racing to millions of households in over 170 countries.

More Information
To find out more, including media credential access, ticket sales, competitor information
and registration details, visit http://www.global-rallycross.com | Find us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/GlobalRallyCross and follow us on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/ GlobalRallyX | Image: Marcus Grönholm’s Best Buy Ford Fiesta rallycross car.

Rum Bum Racing Programming Reminder: Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge on SPEED-2:00 PM ET Saturday

Rum Bum Racing Programming Reminder: Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge on SPEED-2:00 PM ET Saturday, March 19

19 March, 2011 – Don’t forget to tune in to SPEED today at 2:00 PM ET as Rum Bum Racing takes to Homestead-Miami Speedway for Round 2 of the 2011 GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge championship season. Drivers Matt Plumb and Nick Longhi scored a convincing win at Daytona to open up the season as the duo look to score a championship for the team in its sophomore season of GRAND-AM competition.

The No. 13 Rum Bum Racing BMW M3 will be back in race action soon as the championship heads to Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama, for round three on April 9.

For more information, check out:

http://www.facebook.com/RumBumRacing
http://rumbumracing.com/

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Insight Racing Moves to New Ohio Base

Insight Racing Moves to New Ohio Base

HILLIARD, Ohio, 9 March – Continuing the development and growth of Insight Racing, the organization has relocated from Dulles, VA to a larger, advanced facility in Hilliard, Ohio. The move was completed just prior to the second round of the GRAND-AM Continental Sports Car Challenge at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

“As we continue to effect the measures needed to make Insight Racing a premier motorsports operation, this move to a facility suitable to handle our ambitious plans is a crucial component,” says Insight principal, Gilbert Lynagh.

The new race shop provides Insight Racing all the necessary resources to develop and prepare the team’s GrandAm ST Class BMW 328i and GS Class BMW M3.

“A solid base of operation is the cornerstone of any successful enterprise, and we are excited to have that now,” adds Lynagh. “We’re committed to giving our technical and mechanical staff the facility and infrastructure that will enable them to utilize their skill in the most efficient and effective way possible.”

The new facility is located at 4601 Lyman Drive, Hilliard, Ohio 43026.

Link: http://insightracing.com/?p=599

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

Updated–Mission Accomplished as Bell Checks Homestead-Miami Speedway off the list

Updated, 3/6/2011

Mission Accomplished as Bell Checks Homestead-Miami Speedway off the list

Second GRAND-AM race start nets race finish and championship points

TV:SPEED March 19, 2:00 PM ET

Contact: Matt Cleary, Sunday Group Management
Media
317-908-2975

(6 March 2011) Running his rookie year of GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge competition, Tim Bell has a lot of new tracks to learn, race craft to study, and competitors to become familiar with as he jumps into the pro ranks of GRAND-AM racing. This weekend, the Doran Racing driver got to check a few boxes off that list as he delivered another solid performance in the Grand Prix of Miami at Homestead Miami Speedway on Saturday in just his second GRAND-AM race start.

Sharing the No. 14 Doran Racing BMW 128i with BJ Zacharias, the Homestead event marked Bell’s official race debut at the challenging track. Unlike many of the tracks that he’ll take on this year, Bell at least had some previous experience to build from as the race weekend was his second visit to the track in three months, having impressed Doran Racing in a December test at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

The event didn’t get off to the start Bell had been hoping for, as the BMW was not showing the typical strong turn-in traits in the corners, forcing Bell to show remarkable patience before getting back on the all-important power in almost every corner. But the talent pool at Doran Racing is deep, and the team focused on making improvements in braking as well as working to get the car’s movements to more closely match those of Bell’s hands with more rapid rotation at corner entry. That showed in Friday’s qualifying session as he moved up to net 12th on the ST Class grid.

The continual improvement from Doran Racing brought even more encouraging pace on race morning as the Office Depot BMW posted the sixth-fastest time in the morning warm-up.

Not looking to jeopardize the race outing while also aiming to move up, Bell used caution with a mix of aggression as he moved up to run 8th in the order. The huge 64-car field, however, had no lack of aggression as several yellow flag periods followed the opening green flag. But on every restart, Bell worked to hold ground and pick his spots to move up before the 2.5 hour race worked its way to the halfway point.

Turning the car over to his experienced teammate Zacharias, the hard work and track position that Bell had earned was thrown out the window as debris from one of the opening cautions punctured a tire and forced the No. 14 Office Depot machine back into pit lane for a costly green-flag pit stop. But the team and his co-driver never gave up, fighting back to take a 14th place finish as Bell notched another race weekend on his rapidly growing resume.

“It was another good weekend,” said Bell. “It was crazy out there, but I just tried to keep the car clean. Bringing the car home in one piece was the most important thing and we did that. The car was better with the new diff and it felt a lot better than how it was when we started the weekend, although you are always looking for more speed. We’re still developing the car, and learning what it likes so even though we didn’t have a top result, we made the most of what we had and learned a lot. I think we can build on this next round at Barber.”

The Kia 200 will be broadcast March 19 at 2:00 PM (ET) on SPEED.

Bell will continue to learn the ins and outs of the No. 14 BMW when he and Zacharias head to Barber Motorsports Park for round 3 of the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge April 7-9.

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Burrows and Hopwood Have Strong Start in Kia 200

Burrows and Hopwood Have Strong Start in Kia 200 Before Getting Spun

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

Homestead, FL (5 March 2011)– It is one thing to mess something up on your own. But when folks go out and put on amateur hour and ruin your day, it can be frustrating.

For the second consecutive race, Adam Burrows and Trevor Hopwood had their chances of success compromised with some sloppy driving by their fellow competitors.

At Daytona, a slam-from-behind in practice saw the Kinetic race effort slowed for the weekend, causing an issue that forced an extra pit stop at race time, compromising the result for the No. 12 machine. However, there was still a serious silver lining in the form of a podium for the sister Kia machine as Burrows helped as a drafting partner.

With scores of Kia guests on site as part of the Kia 200 race event at Homestead Miami Speedway and with the Kia Optima Turbo making a Pace Car Debut, hopes were high as as Burrows started the race from seventh on the grid. At the drop of the green, he moved up to run in the top five and flirt with a podium position.

Unfortunately, the race changed dramatically as Burrows was running in a straight line headed to turn seven, only to get turned sideways and spun off the track at high speed after getting hit from behind by an inexperienced competitor. The damage was severe enough to force a pit stop that despite some typically fast work from the Kinetic crew, required several laps worth of repair work before taking back to the track.

“We had a great Kia Forte Koup today and I can’t even begin to say how disappointed I am to get hit from behind and spun on a straightway,” said Burrows. “I guess the APR guys can’t really handle all that horsepower. The worst thing about it is that the car was so fantastic. I was running in the top five and just pacing myself in the early laps, trying to save the tires as much as I could. We really wanted to bring the Kia Motors guests a good result today and we absolutely had the car to do that. The next race at Barber is close to the Kia factory in West Point so we’ll look to make up for this disappointment with a good finish there.”

“We definitely had a strong car today, and I have no question that we’d have been fighting in the top five if Adam hadn’t been hit,” said Hopwood. “We were running times close to the leader even late in the race after the car sustained the damage from the hit. I at least had a blast before the race when we got to give hot laps to VIP’s in the Kia Optima Turbo Pace Car, so at least the day started off on the right foot–hopefully we can avoid getting hit from behind at Barber because we’ve started the year off with that happening twice and it’s so frustrating to have that happen when the car is so competitive like it has been. On to Barber!”

SPEED set to broadcast the race March 19th 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.Sundaymanagement.com
You can also follow the teams progress at www.facebook.com/kiaracing.

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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