Alex Job Racing Ready for the
50th Rolex 24 at Daytona
Job Racing (AJR) is ready for the 50th
Anniversary GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series Rolex 24 At Daytona, Jan.
28-29, 2012.
The Florida-based team has been
busy putting the finishing touches on their two entries for the 50th
running of the historic race to be run at the World Center of
Racing. The No. 23 WeatherTech/Alex Job Racing Porsche will have
drivers Cooper MacNeil, Butch Leitzinger, Emmanuel Collard and Porsche
factory driver, Marco Holzer; and the No. 24 McKenna Porsche/Battery
Tender/Kensington/Koss Stereophones/Alex Job Racing GT3 Cup will be
driven by Michael Avenatti, Bob Faieta, Bill Sweedler, Fred Poordad,
and Cort Wagner.
The No. 23 WeatherTech/Alex Job
Racing Porsche had two strong tests in preparation for the big race
this weekend. The 23 guys were the fastest Porsche at the Roar test
three weeks ago and also put in quality miles at Daytona in
December. The team of four has experience, is in shape and is
ready to win.
"With it being the 50th
anniversary of the 24 at Daytona, I really want to do well," MacNeil
said. "Before the race I like to be both physically and mentally
prepared. I make sure that I'm healthy and in shape. After each stint
it is extremely important to sleep. Sometimes it's hard to fall asleep,
but it is necessary. My goal for the race is to go fast and make
sure I hand the car off to the next driver in one piece. The last time
my dad did an endurance race with the AJR team, they were at the 12
hours of Sebring in 1999. They finished second. The goal is to one-up
my dad! I drove at the 24 last year and had a rough race. I am
confident this year's run will turn out much better. This past year I
won with Alex in the Porsche, I won with the Risi team in the Ferrari,
and I won with Fall-Line in the BMW. It was a great year and I am
looking forward to this year."
"For the 24 hour, I try to get
something to eat as soon as I get out of the car, and then get back to
the R.V. to lie down," Leitzinger said. "I can usually get in a
couple of hours of sleep before I have to go again. It's not
really much of a sleep, but at least it gives your eyes a chance to
rest. I started coming to the Daytona 24 in 1985, working as a
crewman for my Dad's (Bob) team. The first 24 that I drove was in
1988 with my Dad, and my brother, Chuck Kurtz. We had a pretty
horrible race, losing about two hours for various repairs, but we still
finished fifth. Although everyone calls this a 24-hour
sprint race, you still have to keep something in reserve, and be ready
for the unexpected, because any time lost due to damage is going to put
you out of contention."
The No. 24 McKenna Porsche/Battery Tender/Koss Stereophones/Alex Job
Racing GT3 drivers Avenatti, Faieta, Sweedler, Poordad, and Wagner are
ready for the twice around the clock race. Each has prepared
their body, have faith in the AJR prepared Porsche and share similar
goals.
"Alex Job Racing does the most
important job in a 24-hour race - preparation," Sweedler said.
"Alex and the team have had amazing success in endurance racing around
the world. They have the experience and dedication to make sure
that the car has the best odds for a trouble-free race. As a
driver, I'm focused on running trouble free, one lap at a time.
It's a long race and the team that makes the least mistakes will have a
chance for a Rolex in the end! With Battery Tender as our sponsor
all the drivers on our team will be charged and ready during their
stints."
"As far as prep for the 24, I
take physical conditioning very serious," Faieta said. "I train
everyday doing uphill mountain-bike rides with my wife. We do an
eight-mile steep uphill ride and spend about an hour a day in the
gym. We have modified our diets the past two months and am at my
target weight of 150 lbs. Once we arrive in Florida, I will start
a hydration regimen leading up to the race. My personal plan for
the 24 is to give 110% for my team and support them in any way I can.
We will have a conservative approach in the beginning and turn it up on
Sunday. Our goal is a podium finish. We have the best in the
business in Alex Job Racing and should have a great run."
"I physically prepare by
running 15 miles per week, core workouts focusing on shoulders and
abdomen and neck," Poordad said. "Shifter karts also help me to
stay in shape. Mentally, watch a lot of film, review data, get plenty
of sleep and remain focused! I will eat after my driving stint,
and then try to sleep for two to-two-and-a-half hours, and then back to
the pits to start focusing on the next stint. My personal goals
are to bring the car back safely after each stint, run consistently and
take what the track gives me. I want us to have a strong showing and
aim for a top-10 finish. Stay out of the pits and out of trouble!"
"This is about the 15th time I
have run this race; I've won it with Alex, have finished second twice,
third once, and fifth twice," Wagner said. "My training consists
of a lot of high rep weight training versus lower reps and higher
weight throughout the rest of the year. I take up my cardio about
30%, so I am doing about an hour of high interval intermittent training
five days a week now. The key to the 24 hour is to be able to
unplug when you are not on deck or when you get out of the car after a
stint. It's paramount that you get out of the pits, take off the
wet suit, get something to replenish the electrolytes, get some
nourishment, shower, get a rub down and or just put some ear plugs in
and check out. Lay down and rest, close the eyes, and save your
energy for the next stint. So many people get caught up in the
hype of the event, which I do too, as it's incredibly exciting and
really an amazing race, but you have to force yourself to detach from
the happening and rest. The goal is to win. I am only going
to win, otherwise I would stay home. That's why I am with Alex
Job Racing."
Team owner, Alex Job, knows
that the race begins in the shop. His crew has meticulously
prepared the two Porsches and is ready to put them in the hands of his
nine drivers.
"We have done all the work we
can in the shop, now it is time to put them on the track," Job
said. "We will take a conservative approach at the Rolex 24
practices this weekend. The drivers will all get a lot of time in
the cars and get comfortable with the track and the traffic. If
we think we have a shot at the pole we will go for it. That is a
nice one to get because qualifying is on Thursday and you have two days
of bragging rights for your drivers, sponsor, crew and Porsche."
Alex Job Racing is one of the
most successful teams in sports car racing with 39 wins, including a
1999 Rolex 24 GT Class win. This record is supported by 46 pole
positions and 84 podium finishes. The team has won three
championships (GT in 2002, 2003 and 2004) complimented by their two GT
class wins at Le Mans. The team also boasts seven Sebring 12-hour
wins.
The GRAND-AM category suits one
of the most popular factory produced racing cars in the world, the
Porsche 911 GT3 Cup. Developed for Porsche's one-make series
around the world, the new version of the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup is based
on the road-going 911 GT3 RS. The power unit featured in the new 911
GT3 Cup is largely identical to the production engine of the 911 GT3 RS
with the same output of 450 bhp and the same maximum engine speed of
8,500 rpm.
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