TRG Going for Third Win in Rolex Series at Daytona
TRG
has won the last two
races they have run in the Grand-Am Rolex Series presented by Crown
Royal Reserve. The wins came at Virginia International Raceway and the Watkins Glen Six Hour. Andy Lally and RJ Valentine in the No. 66 Advanced Aerosol Acquisitions/TRG/Porsche and Peter Bassett and Spencer Pumpelly in the No. 67 Fisher Industrial/TRG/Porsche will be looking to add that third victory at the Brumos Porsche 250 to be run at Daytona International Raceway this Saturday, July 3.
TRG has a great history at the World Center of Racing. Team owner Kevin Buckler has won the Rolex 24 Hour, as a driver twice, in 2002 and overall in 2003. He also won it last year as an owner. Andy Lally has two wins in the Rolex 24 and Spencer Pumpelly has a Rolex Daytona watch as does RJ Valentine. Peter Bassett will race his first pro event at Daytona.
"I have run three Porsche Club of America track days and have done the tire test before the 24 Hour in 2009 and 2010, but this will be my first pro race at Daytona," Bassett said. "The layout is challenging and I love it. It is a big weekend with the NASCAR race running on the same day. TRG has a great history there and they know how to win. Our goal is to definitely win on Saturday."
Bassett's teammate Spencer Pumpelly is the 2006 Rolex 24 Hour GT winner.
"I think we have a car that will finally be able to keep up with the Mazda on the banking," Pumpelly said. "The keys to the race for us will be to keep the tires and the drivers cool in the heat. The last two races we have won, TRG has had great strategy, great pit work and the ability to save the car during the race for the last segment sprint to the finish. We will need all of that to be successful this weekend."
RJ Valentine will be back at Daytona looking for another win around the 3.56-mile modified oval road course. He was one of the winning drivers in TRG's 2009 Rolex 24 Hour win.
"After taking some time off, I am looking forward to going back to Daytona, one of my favorite tracks," Valentine said. "Especially with TRG, who I have a long history with and my great friend Andy Lally. I also like the heat, I prepare for it by riding my 18-speed bike in humid hot weather. Racing at Daytona in July is something I have always looked forward too."
Andy
Lally returns to
Daytona looking for some redemption from the Rolex 24 Hour in February.
The team led a lot of laps until the car had limp an agonizing lap as
it was running low on fuel, giving up the lead and the win."In order to have a successful July Daytona we need to really work on tire management," Lally said. "The pavement temperatures in July compared to when we raced there in January in the 24 Hour go up a lot. We will most likely see the hottest track temps of the year. This year will be even worse because we will be racing in the middle of the day.
These GT cars can really abuse tires and we will be focusing on trying to put a set-up on the car that might not be super fast over one lap, but one that will take care of the tires over a long run. I think we have a good shot here. We had a very good handling car at the 24, which doesn't always translate to the July event, but we have an idea of where to start. I'm thrilled to be back with RJ, the last time we were teamed up here we won, so maybe we can do it again!"
Team owner Kevin Buckler will bring his Daytona magic this weekend.
"Daytona has always been a great place for us," Buckler said. "We've always been strong there. I've won the race twice as a driver and again as an owner. The team and drivers always seem to come to this track with a little extra motivation. We have three previous 24 Hour winners in our cars this weekend and we will also be looking to get Peter into the winners circle as well. Our team also comes in as winners of the last two races we have run, three including the Continental race at Mid-Ohio, so we are really on a roll. We also have David Gilliland back in the No. 71 Chevy in the NASCAR Sprint Cup race, so it is a full weekend for us."
