RFM Front Page News

Long Beach and VIR World Challenge Races Air Wednesday on SPEED
Photos © SCCA/Mark Weber
TOPEKA, Kan. (April 29, 2008) – From the streets of Long Beach to the greenery of VIRginia International Raceway, SCCA Pro Racing SPEED World Challenge has it all on SPEED, Wednesday at noon and 1 p.m. (EDT).

The Long Beach SPEED GT race Presented by Applied Computer Solutions gets things started at noon. Local favorite Brandon Davis starts his No. 10 SCA/Sun Microsystems Ford Mustang Cobra on pole for the second-consecutive race. Just like the previous round at Sebring, Davis has defending SCCA SPEED GT Champion Randy Pobst lining up next to him on the grid. Pobst gets a great start his No. 1 K-PAX Racing Porsche 911 GT3, but arrives at Turn One with too much steam and runs wide, sending him back to sixth. Luckily for Pobst, the yellow flags come out shortly thereafter and he’ll have a shot at making up lost positions on the restart. In fact, several more full-course cautions throughout the race will give Pobst, as well as Andy Pilgrim, a shot at challenging young Davis for the win. Tune into SPEED to see if Davis can hold off the veterans at Long Beach for his first-career SCCA SPEED GT win.

Next at 1 p.m. it’s Round Two of the SCCA SPEED Touring Car Championship at scenic VIRginia International Raceway. Quite the opposite of the Long Beach race preceding it, the SCCA SPEED Touring Car race runs green from start to finish, giving polesitter Chip Herr (No. 97 Tindol Motorsports MAZDA6), Kuno Wittmer (No. 44 Acura/RealTime/Eibach/Red Line Acura TSX) and Pierre Kleinubing (No. 43 Acura/RealTime/Eibach/Red Line Acura TSX) plenty of opportunities for door-to-door racing. As if the SCCA SPEED Touring Car drivers didn’t already have their hands full, the skies above are threatening to open at any moment. As the pressure builds throughout the race, some of the field’s fiercest competitors will crack and others will break through and surprise you. Don’t miss the fifth-closest finish in series’ history on SPEED.

If you miss them the first time, the races will re-air on SPEED, Thursday, May 1, at 3 a.m. and 4 a.m. (EDT).

Horton Motorsports / Landsystems Racing to Campaign Dodge Viper in SPEED World Challenge GT Championship
Photos © Nathan Colwell
MURRIETA, Calif. (April 7, 2008) - Horton Motorsports has announced that they will support driver Stu Frederick, in the 2008 SCCA Pro Racing SPEED World Challenge GT Championship.

Currently, the team is campaigning a full-season SCCA SPEED Touring Car effort with driver Patrick Lindsey. “Adding Stu to our team now gives us solid entries in both Touring and GT,” states Horton. “Stu is a very complete and impressive driver. We all expect to be sharing in some great results this season.”

Frederick, of Del Mar, Calif., begins his season with his No. 57 Dodge Viper Comp Coupe at this year’s Long Beach Grand Prix scheduled for Sunday, April 20. Meissner Jacquet Commercial Real Estate Management will be on board as the car’s sponsor for the event. The team has also committed to run at the 2008 Utah Grand Prix at Miller Motorsports Park in May, then plans to run an abbreviated schedule throughout the remainder of the season.

Horton Motorsports has supported Frederick’s racing efforts over the past several years including his 2006 SPEED GT debut at a rain soaked Mosport in Ontario, Canada. Frederick finished 18th out of 34 entries.

“It is great to have the strength of a team like Horton Motorsports, and sponsors like Meissner Jacquet behind me this year.” Frederick said. “We hope to get some quick testing in with the new car before hitting the streets of Long Beach. They have a bunch of walls up there, don’t they? I am thrilled to be racing again in such a competitive and exciting series like SCCA SPEED World Challenge GT. To compete against some of the best road racers in the world is beyond description.”

SCCA SPEED GT at Long Beach Presented by Applied Computer Solutions will take place April 17 – 19. The race will air on SPEED Wednesday, April 30, at noon (EST).

Good Friday, Good Racing: SPEED World Challenge Season Openers on SPEED
Photos © Lisa Salazar 2008
TOPEKA, Kan. (March 20, 2008) – It will be a Good Friday indeed when the opening rounds of the SCCA Pro Racing SPEED World Challenge Championships air on SPEED, Friday, March 21.

The action begins at noon (EDT) with the SCCA SPEED Touring Car race. Pierre Kleinubing starts on pole in the No. 43 Acura/RealTime/Eibach/Red Line Acura TSX and is flanked by teammates Kuno Wittmer and Peter Cunningham. The RealTime crew pulled off a podium sweep at the 2007 season finale, could they pull it off again in the 2008 season opener? Former RealTime driver Nick Esayian could have something to say about it, starting fourth in his new ride, the No. 34 BimmerWorld BMW 325i, and just behind him are MAZDA6 pilots Chip Herr and Charles Espenlaub. SPEED Touring Car always starts the season with a bang at Sebring and don’t expect anything less Friday on SPEED.

Next at 1 p.m. (EDT) it’s déja vu for the SPEED GT field, when rain prompts a single-file rolling restart in place of the usual standing start. Save for one car, the entire field takes the green on dry tires, but unlike Sebring last year, this rain isn’t letting up, and yellow flags make the race a game of strategy rather than speed. Brandon Davis starts from the pole in the No. 10 ACS/Sun Microsystems Ford Mustang Cobra after qualifying was red-flagged, but he has rainmeister and defending SPEED GT Champion Randy Pobst sharing the front row with him. Can the No. 1 K-PAX Racing Porsche find the grip to beat Davis’ Mustang to Turn One and who will brave the puddles the longest before switching to rains? Tune into SPEED to find out!

If you miss them the first time, the SCCA SPEED Touring Car race from Sebring will re-air at 3 a.m. (EDT), Tuesday, March 25, followed by the SCCA SPEED GT race at 4 a.m.

Divided into two separate series and races (SCCA SPEED GT and SCCA SPEED Touring Car), the SCCA SPEED World Challenge Championships are American’s top production car-based series. SCCA SPEED World Challenge events are a maximum of 50 minutes in length, feature standing starts, and regularly have grids of more than 30 cars composed of the world’s most popular manufacturers. For more information see www.world-challenge.com

Global Motorsports Group Enters 2008 World Challenge Season with Three Car Effort
Photo © SCCA/Mark Weber
SANTA ANA, Calif. (March 12, 2007) — James Sofronas, President of Global Motorsports Group, has announced that he will once again be piloting the familiar blue, No. 14 GMG Porsche 997 GT3 in the 2008 SPEED GT Championship with the addition of two teammates to help Porsche capture the Manufacturers’ crown.

Dino Crescentini (Stoptech Brakes/Centric Parts) and Sean Allen (BMC Group) have joined GMG Racing this year, adding a significant advantage to the team’s efforts. Crescentini and Allen have a vast amount of racing experience and both feel that the three-car assault will help lift GMG to the top step on the podium.

"I can't wait for the season to get started," Sofronas said. "With 2 new teammates and new car for 2008, we expect to be running up front early on. Pre-season testing has shown that all three drivers are extremely competitive. With data coming from three drivers, the engineers will be able to compare valuable information, aiding the time with set up, which we weren't able to do last year. We continue our longstanding relationship with Moton shocks and Eibach springs for 2008 which will allow us to quickly adapt to the new Toyo R888 tire.

“World Challenge is the ideal venue for us to compete in. In fact, over the past 12 months we have developed our own ‘World Challenge’ collection of suspension and exhaust products for our street tuning line, which is new for 2008. Having competed in the series for many years it was only logical for us to develop products and complete packages for Porsche automobiles. Our success in SPEED GT directly translates into the products we produce for street cars. It gives us a test bed for performance tuning packages that focus on improved handling, braking, aerodynamics and safety while maintaining the comfort and everyday reliability of these highly tuned automobiles.

"We had some mechanical issues in 2007 that were out of our control, preventing us from gaining crucial Championship points," Sofronas added. "This 2008 season, however, will be a new chapter. With three brand new 2008 GT3s using our proprietary GMG suspension components and new Moton shocks, we should prove as competitive as ever against some of the best drivers in sports car racing!"

GMG Racing will be put to the test in the SPEED GT season opener at Sebring International Raceway, March 14, at 4:40 p.m. (EDT). The race will air on SPEED Friday, March 21, at 1:00 p.m. (EDT).

GMG, the premier Porsche tuning facility in Southern California, develops, tests and manufactures racing and high performance components for both the street and track, many of which can be found on all three of their SPEED GT Porsche 997 GT3 Cup entries. GMG Vice-President/Co-Owner and Technical Director Fabryce Kutyba recently announced the introduction of GMG's WC (World Challenge) collection, a line of performance products for Porsche automobiles, which will focus on the 996TT, GT2 and 997 GT3 and RS, 997TT and 997GT2.

RealTime Acuras Ready for 2008
10-Time World Challenge Champs to fight for 11
News from RealTime Racing
SAUKVILLE, Wisconsin (March 7, 2008) – The RealTime Acura team is busy putting the finishing touches on its SPEED World Challenge Touring Cars in preparation for next week’s season opener at Sebring and the entire 2008 championship. As they did last year, the 10-time series champions will campaign five production-based Acuras: four TSX sedan models and one RSX sports coupe.

The driver line up will see RealTime stalwarts Peter Cunningham and Pierre Kleinubing joined by second-year RTR pilot Kuno Wittmer. New to the squad in 2008 is a driver who, like his teammates, brings an extensive history with the Acura brand: Grand Am Koni Challenge Endurance series veteran Glenn Bocchino.

Cunningham and Kleinubing are responsible for eight of RealTime’s World Challenge Drivers’ Championships (four a piece) and 51 of the team’s record 64 race victories (25 and 26, respectively).

Wittmer will look to score his first Touring Car win this season, but he finished up 2007 as the highest placing Acura shoe in the points. Kuno’s great consistency put him third overall, while Pierre and Peter ranked fourth and fifth.

Bocchino will enjoy a busy year behind the wheel of two different Acuras. His Team i-MOTO Racing team has already won the 3-hour Koni Challenge opener at Daytona and will contest that entire championship with its two-car Acura TSX team. Glenn’s teammates there include Kuno and his brother, Nick Wittmer, as well as RealTime leader, Cunningham.

RealTime Crew Chief Paul Truess likes his team’s chances this year to add to its substantial trophy case. “We know this year’s battle won’t be any easier than last season, but the guys on the RealTime crew are hungry so our competition better prepare for a fight! We had previously tested twice on the new specification tire and we just completed our final pre-season shakedown on our way to Florida.”

After the traditional start in Central Florida, the World Challenge circus winds its way around North America, including return visits to places like Miller Motorsports Park near Salt Lake City, Lime Rock Park in northwestern Connecticut, Finger Lakes region of New York’s Watkins Glen, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and the season finale at Road Atlanta.

The RealTime Acura team is sponsored by Acura, Acura Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles, Red Line Oil, Eibach Springs, buyBrakes.com, Sparco, Hawk Performance, Brembo, A-SPEC, BOSCH, Total Auto Body, PACT and A-YES.

Tony Ave Racing Enters SPEED GT with Joey Scarallo
News from Tony Ave Racing

Photo ©SCCA/Digital Racing Photography
MAIDEN, N.C. (March 7, 2008) - Defending SCCA GT-1 National Champion Tony Ave Racing, of Maiden, N.C., has teamed up with its former Trans-Am driver Joey Scarallo, of Hauppauge, N.Y., to compete in the 2008 SCCA Pro Racing SPEED World Challenge GT Championship.

For their full-season effort, the team has purchased the Chevrolet Corvette campaigned last season by SPEED GT Rookie of the Year Brian Kubinski.

“Given the limited timeframe to prepare for the season, we didn’t really have the time to build our own car from the ground up,” Ave said. “We’ll see what we can learn from this year, and intend to expand to two cars in SPEED GT for 2009, as well as get into the Touring Car ranks, provided the series has the momentum we’re hoping for.

“Joey Scarallo was an obvious choice for us, as we ran at the front in Trans-Am in 2005 together. He has tested our ARCA stock cars and we will be running him some in that arena, but his Trans-Am experience combined with his desire to get back to the front, where he belongs, matches up well with our desire to establish the team as a World Challenge front runner. Unfortunately, we got a very late start, but by the third or fourth round, we should have the bugs worked out. The only variable is the car at this point. Once it’s right, Joey will be tough.”

“I miss Trans-Am, but at the moment World Challenge is where it’s at as far as sprint-style road racing goes,” Scarallo said. “I’ve run up front in Tony’s cars before, and we are both confident that he and his crew will figure out this style of car in time for me to make a strong run as the season rolls on.”

Group A Wheels is already onboard as a sponsor and future announcements regarding additional marketing partners will follow.

Whelen Engineering Prepares for SPEED GT Championship Bid in 2008
Photo © SCCA/Weber 2007
OLD SAYBROOK, Conn. (March 3, 2008) - After winning 40 percent of the SPEED GT races in 2007, Eric Curran and Sonny Whelen are preparing for even greater success in 2008. Whelen Engineering has announced their return to the SCCA Pro Racing SPEED World Challenge GT Championship with the Drivers’ Championship as their sole focus.

“This is a huge year for us,” driver and team sponsor Sonny Whelen said. “Ted Marsh and his team have worked incredibly hard preparing our Whelen C6 Corvettes. I’m positive Eric [Curran] and I will hit the track at Sebring with our best chances ever in World Challenge.”

“I think World Challenge fans saw what an incredible team Whelen Motorsports has become,” Eric Curran said. “Ted Marsh and his crew have shown what a determined group of guys can do against the big factory programs.”

Just days before the 2007 season began at Sebring, Whelen and crew chief Teddy Marsh learned that SPEED Touring Car standout Eric Curran was available for the season.

“Eric had helped us with some testing and we worked very well together,” team owner Ted Marsh said. “Sonny and I decided that the benefits of a multi-car effort would be worth the investment and we jumped at the chance to bring Eric on board.”

At the conclusion of the 10-race SCCA SPEED GT Championship, the addition of Curran would deliver four wins, a pole position at Mid-Ohio, four ‘Coolest Move of the Race’ awards, three fastest race laps and the distinction of having led more laps in SPEED GT than any other driver in 2007. The success of Curran and highly competitive drives by Sonny Whelen served notice that Whelen Engineering had become a powerhouse entrant in the toughest road racing series in North America.

“I’m so proud of the success our entire Whelen Engineering organization earned last year, but we’re still hungry to do even better,” Whelen added. “Our goal is to improve in every area in 2008 and go after the championship.”

Memories of 2007 have Curran counting the days until the first race gets underway in March. “Get used to the sight of both our red-and-white Corvettes running in the top 10. Sonny’s been preparing and training hard for the new season and I can’t wait to go into battle with him again.”

The opening round of the 2008 SCCA SPEED World Challenge GT Championship takes place on Friday, March 14th. Follow the team’s progress and look for exclusive in-car footage, updates, and photo galleries at www.Whelen.com and www.EricCurran.com

Woodhouse Performance Returns to GT with Driver Jeff Courtney and the Dodge Viper Competition Coupe
News from Woodhouse Performance Racing

Photo © SCCA/Weber 2007
BLAIR, Neb. (February 25, 2008) -- Bob Woodhouse is happy to announce the return of his Woodhouse Performance race team to the World Challenge GT series. Jeff Courtney will return to the driver seat after an outstanding rookie season in the GT series, where he took 7th overall in the points race, and completed all 10 races, in the No. 99 Dodge Viper Competition Coupe.

“We will again have Kenda Tires, MPI Coin, TJM Integrated Wealth Management, and Badger Components as our primary sponsors for the 99 car,” says Woodhouse. “It’s great to have them back, as well as JG Wheels, Foerster Signs, Karavan Trailers, Eibach Springs and Kicker all supporting the team from last year.”

“2007 was a great year for Woodhouse Performance and it is exciting to be back in 2008. We have created some dynamic team synergy that I look forward to refining this year,” says Courtney, “and we intend to prove the viability of the Dodge Viper Coupe in this series while several other teams from last year have now opted for other cars.”

“We are looking to announce Jeff’s teammate in the No. 13 Viper very soon,” says Woodhouse, who has been a steady fixture and a paddock favorite with his flashy cars, love for the sport and sense of humor. “Jeff was a great addition to the team last year with his patient driving style and strong pushes in the fourth quarter of every race. He keeps us in contention and we are convinced the best is yet to come with Jeff.”

Woodhouse says, “Jeff noted that we chose to stay with the Dodge Viper. This year will tell whether we are as dumb as we look, no one likes to lose, but we have faith in the product, it is reliable and given a chance, competitive. Stay tuned for the drama.”

Although Courtney was new to the GT series in 2007, his 7th place overall finish comes on the heels of his 2006 World Challenge Touring Car Rookie of the Year title. In the off-season his tires have been anything but cool as he has been busy with performance testing and recently placed 2nd at the Grand Am Koni Challenge in Daytona, Fla. Jan. 24-25.

The World Challenge GT series is revving up for their first standing start Mar. 14-17 at Sebring, with the next stop scheduled for the Grand Prix of Long Beach April 18-20.

Tri-Point Motorsports and MAZDASPEED Announce 2008 Driver Lineup

News from Tri-Point Motorsports
Photo © Tri-Point Motorsports
CANOGA PARK, Calif. (February 13, 2008) – Tri-Point Motorsports and Mazda had a stellar season in 2007 and are looking to repeat their success in 2008 with a fresh and potent driver lineup. SCCA Pro Racing SPEED World Challenge Touring Car competition is intense and provides an ideal venue for Tri-Point to showcase Mazda’s race driven engineering.

A trio of top-level drivers will lead the charge to defend both the Manufacturers’ and Drivers’ titles in the distinctive blue and white Tri-Point MAZDA6 race cars when the green flag drops at the traditional World Challenge season-opener, March 12-14, in Sebring, Fla. Returning for 2008 is longtime Tri-Point pilot and 2007 SPEED Touring Car Champion Jeff Altenburg. He will be joined by touring car veteran and friend Charles Espenlaub, making the move from Tindol Motorsports. Rounding out the Tri-Point squad is 2007 Mazda MX-5 Cup Champion Jason Saini who is making his World Challenge debut as he advances to the next rung of the MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development Ladder.

Altenburg has been a consistent and critical component of Tri-Point’s racing success and 2008 should be no exception. He will be shouldered with the difficult task of besting his 2007 record of two race wins, five podium finishes, and the Drivers’ Championship, all while wearing the iconic No.1 on the door of his MAZDA6.

“I am very happy to be trading my trusty No. 72 for the No. 1 on my MAZDA6 in 2008,” Altenburg said. “It will be a reminder all year of what was accomplished in 2007 through hard work, tough battles and support from many, many people. It’s good to know that we will have the continued support and expertise of companies like Comptech Engines, Stop Tech Brakes, Sachs Shocks, Chase Cams and, of course, MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development.

Joining the Tri-Point squad this season should be an easy transition for Espenlaub, who already has three years of experience behind the wheel of a MAZDA6, driving for Tindol Motorsports. Espenlaub played an important role in Mazda’s quest for a Manufacturers’ Championship, finishing ninth in points in 2007. Espenlaub brings with him nearly a decade of professional racing and instructing experience in a wide variety of sports and touring cars.

“I am really excited about the 2008 season for many reasons,” Espenlaub said. “I’ll be able to continue my relationship with Mazda and MAZDASPEED, who have given me an opportunity to work with the Championship-winning Tri-Point team. Another bonus is that I will join forces with my good friends and A-list drivers Jeff and Jason. This will be an incredible year and I hope to do my part in bringing home another championship for both Mazda and Tri-Point.”

Saini’s 2007 racing season was a runaway success in the ultra-competitive SCCA Mazda MX-5 Cup series where he scored a staggering five wins in eight races, catapulting him to a Championship victory and into a Tri-Point MAZDA6 Touring Car courtesy of the MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development Ladder. The switch from a rear-drive spec MX-5 to the more advanced front-drive MAZDA6 will be an exciting challenge Saini is happy to accept.

“I’m incredibly excited at the opportunity Mazda is providing for me, advancing from the MX-5 Cup to SPEED World Challenge. It’s always been a dream of mine to drive in this series, and to get the chance to join a Championship team like Tri-Point is just amazing. I’ve got a ton of respect for what Tri-Point has accomplished, and I’m proud to drive for them in 2008.”

“There will obviously be a learning curve switching to front-drive, but the crew at Tri-Point has made the car handle so well that it’s like driving a race-car, not necessarily a front-drive race car. Also, the momentum nature of the MX-5’s I’ve been driving begs the same driving style as these Touring cars, so I think I’m ready to make the transition. The best part is, I’ll only get faster as the year goes on!”

Craig Nagler, owner and director of Tri-Point Motorsports, is once again ready to test the MAZDA6 against some of racing’s best.

“I am looking forward to defending our hard-fought Championships this year,” Nagler said. “It’s going to be very tough with all the great teams we race against in SPEED World Challenge.

“We are changing things up for 2008 by adding drivers Charles Espenlaub and Jason Saini alongside Jeff, and they are bringing a lot of excitement to our team. In addition, I think Jason has an excellent shot at winning Rookie of the Year. As we have been testing and making plans for the start of our season I really like the way Jeff, Charles, and Jason work together. Another important point is there will be very little change in our crew, which should allow us to continue where we left off in 2007.”

The new 2008 Tri-Point driver lineup makes their debut March 12-14 at the Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring Presented by Fresh from Florida, where they will begin their quest to keep the Manufacturers’ and Drivers’ crowns in the Mazda trophy cabinet.

Divided into two separate series and races (SCCA SPEED GT and SCCA SPEED Touring Car), the SCCA SPEED World Challenge Championships are American’s top production car-based series. SCCA SPEED World Challenge events are a maximum of 50 minutes in length, feature standing starts, and regularly have grids of more than 30 cars composed of the world’s most popular manufacturers. The 2008 SCCA SPEED World Challenge season begins March 12- 14 at Sebring International Raceway. For more information see www.world-challenge.com

Osborn Family on CNN
By Erin Cechal

[Link at end of article]
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (Feb. 7, 2008) - SCCA SPEED World Challenge competitor Jim Osborn and his wife Amy Jo will be featured on CNN Headline News this evening, Feb. 7, during the Nancy Grace program at 8 p.m. (EST).

SCCA SPEED World Challenge fans know Jim and Amy Jo best as Chili Pepper Racing and their work with several children’s charities, most notably, their annual motorcycle charity ride at Petit Le Mans to benefit the Lighthouse Family Retreat. Given the Osborn’s heartwarming commitment to improving the quality of life for children with cancer, it came as quite a shock to the World Challenge community when the couple’s first child, Hatch, was diagnosed with aggressive brain tumors shortly after the 2006 Petit Le Mans and passed away when he was only nine weeks old.

The tragic loss of Hatch has motivated the Osborns to do even more to help children and families battling cancer. In 2007 they established the Austin Hatcher Foundation (www.hatcherfoundation.com) to raise funds for pediatric cancer research and support families in need. That same year, Amy Jo created her own infant clothing line, A Mother’s Arms (www.amothersarms.com), with all proceeds going to pediatric cancer research. In August of 2007, Jim and Amy Jo were blessed with their second child, Zoë.

It comes as no surprise then, that the Osborns have been nominated for the “Nancy Grace Extraordinary Parents Contest.” The couple will be featured on the Feb. 7th telecast on CNN Headline News, talking about the Austin Hatcher Foundation, A Mother’s Arms and Jim’s racing in SCCA SPEED Touring Car with his groundbreaking biodiesel Volkswagen Jetta TDI.

Watch Nancy Grace on CNN Headline News tonight at 8 p.m. (EST) to learn more about the “extraordinary” Osborns.

UPDATE: Unfortunately the segment did not air. View it here:

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/ireports/2008/02/07/

.osborns.parents.cnn

World Challenge Schedule Picks up New Jersey and Road Atlanta in 2008

By Erin Cechal
Photo © SCCA/Weber 2007
TOPEKA, Kan. (Jan. 29, 2008) – SCCA Pro Racing has added a brand-new East Coast venue and classic American road course to the 2008 SPEED World Challenge schedule.

Following Round Six at Mosport International Raceway, the series will cross the border and head east to the brand-new New Jersey Motorsports Park in Millville, N.J., home of Thunderbolt Raceway. The 14-turn 2.25-mile road course will host the penultimate round of the SCCA SPEED Touring Car Championship and a SPEED GT doubleheader, September 26 – 28. The series’ inaugural event at New Jersey Motorsports Park will be held in conjunction with the ARCA/RE/MAX Series.

“The New Jersey Motorsports Park 2008 schedule features a terrific assortment of events – there’s something for everyone,” Joe Volpe Director of Motorsports, New Jersey Motorsports Park said. “I’m sure our fans will love watching the ‘all-or-nothing’ sprint racing SCCA SPEED World Challenge provides. It will be great to provide spectators with an event that features such a diverse field, including Lotus, Scion, Mazda and Cadillac, to name a few. We’re thrilled to host a race in this series.”

The final event of 2008 for both the SPEED GT and Touring Car categories will be the 11th Annual Petit LeMans at Road Atlanta, October 1– 3. This will be the 14th season, World Challenge has held an event at Road Atlanta and the second time the season finale will take place at the Braselton, Ga., track.

SCCA Pro Racing President and CEO Bob Wildberger hinted that a 10th event for SPEED GT was still a strong possibility.

“Everyone at SCCA Pro Racing has worked very hard to put together this year’s World Challenge schedule,” Wildberger said. “The addition of New Jersey Motorsports Park, an exciting new facility, and the return of a classic road course like Road Atlanta gives the 2008 calendar a nice balance of both historical and new venues.”

The start of the 2008 SCCA Pro Racing SPEED World Challenge Championships draws nearer with the traditional season opener at Sebring International Raceway March 12 - 14. To learn more visit www.world-challenge.com

CRP Racing to Run Brian Kubinski in 2008 SPEED GT Championship
News from Competition Race Parts Racing

Photo © SCCA/Weber 2007
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Dec. 28, 2007) — Competition Race Parts Racing has announced that it will run Brian Kubinski in the 2008 SCCA Pro Racing SPEED World Challenge GT Championship. Kubinski, of Plainfield, Ill., will drive a C6 Chevrolet Corvette.

CRP Racing, based in Charlotte, N.C., is well known for its race prep and engineering services. Nicholas Short, of CRP, engineered Kubinski's Blackdog Racing C6 Corvette in 2007, which earned Kubinski two top-ten finishes in 2007, including a fifth-place finish at Mosport, and the 2007 Piloti SPEED GT Rookie of the Year Award.

"I do believe we have a chance to win races and contend for the Championship in 2008," Short said. "We have the driver, we have the car, we have the engine package, and the resources of CRP Racing and Diamond Construction to take Brian Kubinski to the front of the pack."

CRP Racing is in the process of recruiting a second car to compete in the 2008 SPEED World Challenge GT or Touring Car Championship as teammate to Kubinski. Interested parties should contact Nicholas Short at CRP.

Nick Esayian Joins BimmerWorld SPEED Touring Car Team for 2008
News from Bimmerworld
DUBLIN, Va. (Dec. 13, 2007) - After years of racing the familiar orange and white cars from RealTime Racing, fan favorite Nick Esayian announced his switch to the winning blue and gold BimmerWorld BMW E90’s from Dublin, Va.

Esayian, ready to start his fifth season of SCCA SPEED World Challenge Touring Car, sees the move to James Clay’s team as a strategic, but friendly move, intended to boost his goals of becoming a regular visitor to the podium.

“There’s no drama in leaving RTR—they run a first class operation and we remain great friends. I just needed a change after last year,” noted Esayian. “Coming back for a fifth year would not have been a bad decision by any means, but I think the fans will be excited to see me in a BMW, along with Seth [Thomas] and James [Clay], battling the orange and white cars along with the Mazdas, Audis and all the other great marques.

“There is always a little bit of extra pressure and excitement when you are slated to battle guys you use to race with. I think we will convert some Acura enthusiasts over to BMW fans. I’m putting orange mirrors on my E90 so no one will have withdrawals….” he joked.

The switch to the rear-wheel drive inline-six cylinder BimmerWorld BMW isn’t a concern to Nick after mastering front-wheel drive cars with RTR.

“In 2004 the biggest adjustment in jumping up to a World Challenge car was not the front drive, but so much power in a front-wheel drive car. It took me a solid year to discipline myself not to just mash the throttle after the apex.”

A solid testing regimen is in order for Nick to get up to speed in his new No. 34 BMW.

“Most of the fast Touring Car guys can make the switch effectively with a few solid days of testing. The E90 is obviously a very balanced car to start with, so what BimmerWorld has learned over the last few years really equates to a strong car that should be extremely competitive in 2008. We will have the opportunity to test prior to Sebring, get acclimated to the car, and learn from what James and Seth have gleaned over the last few years. I am pretty excited to get into the car, but it should be a quick adjustment from the TSX.”

For Esayian, one of the joys of 2008 will be joining two good friends in a concerted championship effort.

“James and Seth were some of the first guys I met in my rookie year in 2004 and we have battled on the track and become good friends off the track. They always raced hard, clean, and overcame adversity. They earned a lot of respect in the paddock in doing so. Their team collectively has done and outstanding job in developing the E90 which was a formidable project. In terms of going into battle in 2008, I think we will be a force to be reckoned with. The E90 is fast and reliable, the team is experienced, and the three of us are in a position to help one another get atop the podium and potentially a championship. I can’t wait!”

Team owner James Clay is equally as excited to have Esayian in the BimmerWorld fold.

“What can I say—he’s really fast, the fans love him, the series officials respect him highly and he’s a real team player,” Clay said. “I know that with Nick in the No. 34, we’ll have the strongest BimmerWorld team yet.”

As Clay and Thomas work to add more wins and a championship to the team’s history, Esayian knows what’s needed for him to chase a title with BimmerWorld.

“For four years I’ve watched these guys overcome various challenges that would have forced other teams to put the cars on a trailer and go home,” Esayian said. “More than any other sport, racing has its challenges, and the key is to be prepared, be smart and never quit, and the BW guys clearly demonstrate these traits. They had some great results last year including Joey Hand posting a win at Mid-Ohio and James and Seth being on the podium. With three consistent drivers we should be a pretty solid threat.”

While he’s focused on the challenges ahead of him in a new car and new team, Esayian also knows how critical delivering consistent results will be in his hunt for a title.

“I don’t think you can win a championship if you DNF more than once, so being consistent is critical. There are a couple of guys who have won a race here or there, but also manage to crash their way out of the points race. It’s a balance to push hard and not overstep the laws of physics. I’ve had some podium opportunities and have not capitalized on them, so first and foremost, I need to focus in 2008 and finally get some champagne sprayed in my eyes!”

Along with the new team and car, Esayian is also bringing a new sponsor to dress his car.

“One of my companies is marketing a book on TV called Debt Cures ‘They Don’t Want You to Know About’. It’s an extremely popular book focused on helping people get financially healthy. You see stories every day in the media regarding debt, mortgages, etc. Certainly our goal is to make money, but also to help people feel like they are not alone in getting over the hump financially. Our racing effort will support the sale of the book.”

It’s Esayian’s ongoing commitment to a charity that should also resonate with fans and teams wanting to make a donation to a very worthy foundation in 2008.

“Of course we will continue our support of the Special Operations Warrior Foundation. The foundation provides grants to the children of Special Forces soldiers killed in action or training. It’s really moving to meet some of the kids we have helped. The Special Ops guys always pick an event to come out and support us at the track which is always a treat. These guys are larger than life and you can’t help but feel great about giving something back to them.”

With the team of Clay, Thomas, and Esayian now in place for 2008, BimmerWorld’s impressive, winning year in 2007 looks set to be topped. If Nick has anything to say about it, he’ll be the first BimmerWorld driver in 2008 to spray champagne…in his eyes…

Tri-Point Suits, Hoods and Hats with MUTTS Artwork up for Auction
Photos © MAZDASPEED and Lindsey Hooper
IRVINE, Calif. (November 29, 2007) – The suits, car hoods and hats featuring MUTTS comic strip characters Earl and Mooch used by Tri-Point Motorsports during the final two rounds of the 2007 SCCA Pro Racing SPEED World Challenge Touring Car Championship will be available for auction beginning December 1.

Working with the Humane Society of the United States and the MUTTS to promote the adoption of shelter animals, series Champion Jeff Altenburg carried MUTTS character “Earl” the dog on his suit and car hood for the final two races at Road Atlanta and Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Randy Pobst’s suit and hood were fashioned with “Mooch” the cat.

“This was the best season ever for the Tri-Point Mazda team and we greatly enjoyed being able to end the season with the fun of carrying The HSUS and MUTTS message,” team owner Craig Nagler said. “The fan reaction was fantastic. People thanked us for what we were doing.”

Both of the hoods and custom Sparco suits will be auctioned off to the highest bidder on Autoweek.com, with all of the funds raised going to the Humane Society of the United States. Additionally, Sparco made only 50 MUTTS hats for the Tri-Point team, of which six will be up for auction, complete with signatures from Altenburg or Pobst and MUTTS cartoonist Patrick McDonnell. McDonnell has also signed an 11 x 17 art print of the MUTTS comic strip that ran on October 18, 2007, featuring Mooch as a race car driver.

All items will be available for bidding December 1 – 11 at www.autoweek.com/HSUS just in time for Christmas.

For more information about SPEED World Challenge and the items available in the Tri-Point/MUTTS auction, visit www.world-challenge.com

SCCA Speed World Challenge Set To Return to Mosport In 2008
Series set to make its 18th appearance at Canada's Home of Motorsports
Photos © Jamie Longmuir 2007
BOWMANVILLE, ON (November 21, 2007) — Six classic racing venues have been confirmed for the 2008 SCCA Pro Racing SPEED World Challenge schedule. Among these destinations is Mosport International Raceway's famed 4 km road course, which will host the Series (both GT and Touring Car), for the 18th time as part of the Mobil 1 presents the Grand Prix of Mosport, Aug. 21-24. Mosport has hosted more SPEED World Challenge races than any other track in Series history.

For the third year in-a-row, the SPEED GT cars will hit the streets of Long Beach in April with the Champ Car World Series and American Le Mans Series. The following weekend, SPEED Touring Car teams are off to Virginia International Raceway to join the Rolex Sports Car Series. The 2008 event will mark only the second time in history the series has raced at this venerable road course.

In May, both classes reunite for a showdown in the desert at Miller Motorsports Park in Utah with the American Le Mans Series. The series returns to historical Watkins Glen International in June with the Rolex Sports Car Series, and then joins the American Le Mans Series and the Indy Racing League for a repeat a highly successful event at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in July, followed by Mosport.

The remainder of the schedule is expected to be announced shortly.

MPME, Modified to Field Supercharged Scion tC in Limited 2008 SPEED World Challenge Touring Car Program
Photos © Modified Magazine
OAKLAND, Calif., (November 8, 2007) - Marshall Pruett Motorsports Engineering (MPME), Modified Magazine, and Scion have partnered to build and run the first professional road racing entry for the youth-oriented Toyota brand.

“Scions are a familiar sight at import drag racing events, drifting events and car shows, and have some of the most active car clubs in America. In 2008, professional road racing is the next place you’ll see a Scion competing,” noted team owner Marshall Pruett.

With the car set to debut at the Sebring, Fla., opener in March of 2008, the MPME team will be undertaking a partial World Challenge schedule. “Frankly, my schedule and responsibilities as a journalist won’t allow me to run the car in more than a handful of races—three to four are all we have planned for now, though there will be plenty of testing away from the SPEED cameras,” noted Pruett.

The veteran road racing crew chief and engineer-turned motoring journalist for SPEED sees the debut of a new car and manufacturer to the SPEED TC series as nothing but an indicator of the series’ strength.

“In reviewing the series to choose from, World Challenge offers the most brutal, uncompromising, and spirited touring car racing on the continent. I’d rather develop a new car in the most challenging environment available, and that’s what I’ve chosen by bringing the Scion tC to SPEED TC.”

Ancaster, Ontario’s Dave Pratte, Senior Editor for Modified Magazine and winner in the Canadian Touring Car Championship, looks forward to the starting lights turning green at Sebring. “World Challenge has always been my goal as a driver. I get to write about the best and brightest in the import/tuner car world, so what better way to serve our readers than to share my pro racing exploits with them in a Scion tC. I really want to put Modified’s readers in the driver’s seat with me, so that can share in the excitement”.

Pratte is also familiar with the FWD layout of the tC and racing on the same tires used in World Challenge. “My CTCC Honda is a front-driver, and we race on Toyo’s, but I still have a lot to learn to take on heroes of mine like Peter Cunningham and Randy Pobst. We know we have a huge mountain to climb with developing the car and I have a lot to learn with the new tracks I’ll run. Even if we’re a ways off the top cars next year, expect for us to be learning all the time and enjoying ourselves with the support of Scion fans at each round.”

The tC, believed to be the first supercharged entry in the SPEED TC category, also marks the debut of the incredibly popular Scion brand to professional road racing. Pruett was equally as careful when approaching manufacturers to partner with. “In the import and tuner world, the Scion brand is king for new car sales; look at what they’ve done with their massive catalog of aftermarket parts for all of their models. With SPEED Touring Car serving as the home for import and tuner cars, the Scion tC is the best fit possible for the category.

To demonstrate the aftermarket options available for the tC from TRD, the MPME team has worked with Scion to use as many parts direct from the TRD catalog as possible. “What TRD has done with their performance parts catalog is just amazing—these aren’t just for show, or to look cool at a car show; everything they sell is developed and tested by their staff of engineers and racers. TRD stands for ‘Toyota Racing Development’ and there’s a reason for that: their parts for the street are infused with this ‘Racing Development spirit.”

From that catalog, everything from the Stoptech developed big brake kit, Quaife manufactured limited-slip differential, TRD Supercharger, quick-shift kit, and strut tower brace will be used in battle.

Transformation of the tC from a street car to full-fledged SPEED Touring Car was carried out by TC Design of Milpitas, California, the same outfit used to transform the SPEED GT Subaru Pruett ran in 2006. “Tony and Joe Colicchio have recently surpassed the two hundred and fifty mark for race cars they’ve built—beyond their ability to do incredibly skilled and well engineered work, they’ve been instrumental in turning the tC around in record time.

Also under TC Design’s guidance, the first set of professional Moton dampers for the Scion tC have been developed. “I work closely with Lex Carson of Moton USA on a regular basis, and between the two of us, we’ve come up with the same damping advantage Moton’s other SPEED Touring Car customers are used to,” said Colicchio. TC Design has also developed custom suspension for the Scion tC for the rigors of World Challenge racing that compliment the Hotchkis anti-roll bars that are installed.

The Design scheme for the car is open for voting at www.Modified.com “We figured everything else about the Scion tC is customizable, so why not let our readers, racing fans, and Scion nuts pick from four different designs we commissioned Marvel Comics artist Jon Sibal to create. The winning scheme will be applied to the car for the 2008 season.

With TC Design building the Scion tC for SPEED TC, the use of the initials ‘TC’ will be a common sight with the program. “We’ll be putting the myth that ‘good thins happen in threes’ to the test next year!” Pruett said.

Details about the car and team will soon be available at www.tctouringcar.com, as well as www.modified.com and in Modified Magazine.

Impressive Season for Jeff Courtney in World Challenge GT
Season Recap: No. 99 Kenda Tires/ProMPI/Karavan Trailers/Badger/JG Wheels/ Foerster Signs/Eibach Springs Dodge Viper Comp. Coupe
News from Woodhouse Performance Racing

SLINGER, Wis. (Oct. 29, 2007) — Jeff Courtney and the No. 99 Kenda Tires/Pro MPI Dodge Viper posted a solid season in the SPEED World Challenge Series, finishing seventh in the overall standings and impressing in his first season in the GT division.

Courtney, nabbed to drive for Woodhouse Performance after impressively winning Rookie of the Year in the Touring Car division in 2006, made a successful and notable transition into the Dodge Viper Competition Coupe, a completely different animal than his AWD Audi in the Touring Car Series. And it had its challenges within the series. The Woodhouse Performance team worked hard all season to overcome the competition deficit with the Viper in a series where domination by Cadillacs, Porsches and Corvettes kept them from competing for the win each week. Although frustrating, it was fuel for the fire for Courtney, who, despite the difficulties with the levelness of the playing field, impressed with his consistency.

The opening race of the season was telling for Courtney, as he posted an 11th place finish right out of the box. A monsoon-like rain hit the Sebring International Raceway the morning of the race, forcing Courtney to make his first start in a Viper in wet track conditions. But the combination of challenges didn't faze him. The new team, new car, new division, new group of competitors and slippery racetrack couldn't keep him from his signature clean, consistent racing. Starting off the season just outside the top-10 in points? Not bad.

At Long Beach, a new set of challenges arose: A tight street course, a group of folks from sponsor company ProMPI/MPI Coin to impress and limited track time to prepare for the race. But the resilient Courtney was awarded the Sunoco Hard Charger Award, after picking up 16 positions on his way to a 13th-place finish.

The third round of SPEED World Challenge GT competition took place at Miller Motorsports Park in Salt Lake City. It was the site of Courtney's first top-10 finish, of both his GT career and the season. He left 11th in the championship standings, just four points out of 10th. The next race would help him break into the coveted top-10.

That next race featured NASCAR NEXTEL Cup series star Kasey Kahne joining in the World Challenge festivities as teammate. Courtney would make the best of Round Five on the modified oval of Lowe's Motor Speedway and finish fifth in the No. 99 Kenda Tires/ProMPI Dodge Viper. It was his first top-five of the season and it was also a finish one spot higher than the celebrated Mr. Kahne – something to write home about. Heading to Round Six at Watkins Glen, Courtney was sitting 10th in the season standings, on-track to start the second half of the season in prime position.

The next three races, taking place at Watkins Glen International, on the streets of Toronto, Canada and at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, would produce solid top-15 finishes and confirm his newly-tabbed nickname 'Mr. Consistency.' Through the finishes he maintained his spot in the top-10 in points, while at one event hosting a special group of 100 sponsor guests. At Mid-Ohio Kenda Tires associates cheered Courtney on from a front stretch hospitality tent, watching their No. 99 Dodge Viper race its way to the front after one of their associates gave the command to start engines to the entire SPEED World Challenge GT field.

With two races remaining in the season, SCCA made a competition adjustment to the entire field that helped the Vipers become more competitive, and it showed in Courtney's results. It was just the ticket Courtney needed to level out the playing field and kick his performance into high gear.

Round Nine took place at the historic, super-speedy Road Atlanta. The race itself could only be summed up in one word: Craziness. But for Courtney, it was one of his best of the season. He started out the weekend by posting his best qualifying effort to date, a seventh, and making his way through the multi-car wreckage resulting from a downpour of rain that came about midway through the race. He came out of the carnage cleanly in second, and had it not been for a first-time-in-SCCA-SPEED-World-Challenge-history extension of the race, Courtney would have gotten the first podium of his GT career. Still, the strategy and skill of Courtney and the direction of crewmen Erik Messley and Eddie Martin led him to a sixth place finish at Road Atlanta, one of his favorite tracks on the circuit. Again, Courtney left sitting inside the top-10 in the championship points, one solid finish away from solidifying a spot there in his opening season of GT racing.

Then came the finale, at none other than Laguna Seca Raceway, in the beautiful hills of Monterey, Calif. The challenging road course and well-known corkscrew has given drivers funny feelings in their stomachs for years. The track was one Courtney knew he could tame, in part because of his confidence in the preparation of the Viper by Rick Maxwell and Ashley Wick. Qualifying saw consistent Courtney post his best qualifying run of the year, a fifth. Courtney told the team he felt like he had a chance to give the leaders a run for their money. But an unfortunate weight penalty after qualifying forced him to start at the back. An aggressive drive to the front found Courtney gaining 15 positions in the opening laps of the race and in the battle for 12th before the mid-point of the race. Much to his dismay, a mechanical issue would slow his drive, forcing him to nurse the Viper home to an 18th place finish. However the championship points position was not in jeopardy, and Courtney would hold his place in the top-10 in points.

The Slinger, Wis. native and former Panoz Series champion finished seventh in the SPEED World Challenge GT championship points standings, scoring 151 overall. He finished in the top-10 four times, the top-five once and the top-15 in each of the rest of the races, with the exception of Laguna Seca.

At the banquet, Courtney thanked his sponsors Kenda Tires, ProMPI, MPI Coin, Badger Tire and Wheel, Karavan Trailers, Foerster Signs, JG Wheels, and Eibach Springs for giving him the opportunity to race in the SPEED World Challenge series in 2007. He placed emphasis on the fact that he wouldn't be racing without their support.

"Despite some fighting with the series to make our cars competitive, and a few driver mishaps, I felt like we put together a good season and learned a lot this year," Courtney said. "I'm really looking forward to going racing next year, whether it be in SPEED World Challenge, American LeMans or another professional series. The high competition level in World Challenge GT and the great support from the crew at Woodhouse Performance helped me raise my game this season to a level where I am confident that I will be competing for wins and possibly a championship next season."

ProMPI is an MPI company, offering an innovative variety of quality promotional products tailored to market your brand. www.prompi.com

SPEED World Challenge Finale Races Air Sunday
Photos courtesy SCCA/Mark Weber 2007
TOPEKA, Kan. (October 26, 2007) – Tune into SPEED on Sunday, October 28, to watch all the SCCA Pro Racing SPEED World Challenge Championship finale action from Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.

First, at 3 p.m. (EDT), it’s the SCCA SPEED Touring Car race with Championship-hopeful Randy Pobst on pole in his No. 73 MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development MAZDA6. Pobst’s teammate and Championship leader Jeff Altenburg starts eighth on the grid in the No. 72 MAZDA6 and needs to finish in the top four, should Pobst win, to earn his first World Challenge Championship. Altenburg’s chances seemingly go out the window when a dropped wheel at Turn Six causes a flat tire and requires a pit stop. Pobst has his hands full, however, with the Acuras of Peter Cunningham and Pierre Kleinubing. Get ready to hit the replay button, because what happens next is unbelievable.

The SCCA SPEED GT race is next at 4 p.m. Pobst, once again, is on pole in the No. 22 K-PAX Racing LLC/Jim Haughey Porsche 911 GT-3, but lines up next to the man hoping to reclaim the Manufacturers’ Championship for Cadillac, Andy Pilgrim. Pobst takes the early lead, but the No. 8 XM/Mobil 1/Motorola/Bose Cadillac CTS-V lurks in the shadows, waiting for the Porsche to make a mistake. Will the two have a dual for the lead similar to that in the Touring Car race? Set your TV on SPEED to find out.

If you miss the finales the first time around, catch them again on Thursday, November 1, at 3 and 4 a.m. (EDT).

For all the latest news about the SCCA Pro Racing SPEED World Challenge Championships, visit www.world-challenge.com.

SCCA Pro Racing and SPEED Renew Relationship for 2008
Photos courtesy Keith D. Rizzo and Craig Elliott 2007
MONTEREY, Calif. (Oct. 20, 2007) – SCCA Pro Racing and SPEED announced today that the SCCA SPEED World Challenge Championships will again be broadcast on SPEED in 2008, marking the 13th year of its partnership.

For the 10th-straight year, each SCCA SPEED Touring Car and SCCA SPEED GT race will feature one-hour broadcasts on a tape-delayed basis on the network, generating 20 hours of unique programming.

“We are very pleased to continue our partnership with SPEED Channel,” SCCA Pro Racing President & CEO Robert Wildberger said. “This series has experienced tremendous growth in the last 13 years and much of that is due to SPEED’s involvement. We have a lot of items in the works to enhance the programs, including a larger broadcast presence on the Web.”

“It gives us great pleasure to continue the longest-running relationship SPEED has with any sanctioning body,” SPEED Senior VP of Production and Network Operations and Executive Producer Rick Miner said. “SCCA Pro Racing provided the first racing event on SPEED in February of 1996 and continues to be a pillar of our motorsports programming.”

The 2008 season will be the 19th year of SCCA Pro Racing SPEED World Challenge competition. In 1999, SCCA Pro Racing and SPEED Channel formed a partnership with the series, naming SPEED as the title sponsor in addition to its broadcast partner. Split into two, separate race series—SCCA SPEED GT and SCCA SPEED Touring Car—the World Challenge Championships feature the cars people drive the way they wish they could drive them. SCCA SPEED World Challenge—this is how racing should be.

SPEED is the nation's first and foremost cable television network dedicated to motor sports and the passion for everything automotive. From racing to restoration, from mainstream to the ultimate extremes, SPEED delivers quality programming from the track to the garage. Now available in more than 78 million homes in North America, SPEED is among the fastest-growing sports cable networks in the country, the home to NASCAR on SPEED and an industry leader in interactive TV, video on demand, mobile initiatives and broadband services.

NayKid Celebration - White Earns 8th, Lux Top Rookie in World Challenge Finale
NayKid Racing Takes Season Best Finishes in SPEED GT at Monterey Sports Car Races

News from NayKid Racing