Continential Tire - DeMan Motorsport And American Harvest Endure Up-and-Down Race At VIR

BLAUVELT, May 18, 2011: A wet-and-wild race weekend that saw DeMan Motorsport literally endure its fair share of ups and downs – highlighted by a pole and race-leading run by David Murry in the No. 73 American Harvest/DeMan Motorsport Porsche Boxster – ended with mixed results Saturday, May 14, in GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge (CTSCC) Street Tuner (ST) class competition at Virginia International Raceway (VIR).

The new American Harvest partnership moved off to a fast and successful start when Murry won the ST pole in the No. 73 in Friday’s qualifying session.

“It’s a great start for the American Harvest car,” Murry said after qualifying. “Rick DeMan did a great job prepping the car. It’s nice to have an American sponsor, and first out of the box, have a good result in qualifying. The whole weekend has been 50/50 weather wise, and we even sat out a few sessions when it was raining, but we decided even if it rains we have to go out before qualifying to get ready. It was a little damp in qualifying but not bad.”

Murry picked up right where he left off in Saturday’s race, had an outstanding start, and led a race-high 19 laps from the drop of the green flag. He lost the lead only when he pitted, DeMan took over, and the No. 73 remained in the front half of the field with about 90 minutes remaining in the two-and-a-half hour race. DeMan was settling down into his stint and starting to climb through the field when he slipped two wheels off course in Turn 10.

“I was just excited to be back in it, I was talking to the crew on the radio, we were moving up very quickly and the times were good,” DeMan said. “I came through Turn 10 and the car moved a tad outside. I dropped two wheels off to the right and figured I would just ride it down to the bottom, but as soon as I hit one bump or two the car started ping ponging sideways and next thing you know I am in the air, upside down.”

DeMan was uninjured but the No. 73 sustained heavy damage after no less than three barrel-roll flips.

“I am fine,” DeMan said soon after the incident. “Thanks to David Murry for putting the car on the pole and to American Harvest for such a great opportunity to get to this point. I disappointed a lot of people, including myself, and hopefully we will get an opportunity to get back out there. The other car is still running, I am going to get back out there, see how they are doing, and hopefully they will carry the torch for us.”

Murry’s strong qualifying run was backed up by a solid 16th-place effort in the 36-car ST class, by the No. 72 DeMan Motorsport Porsche Boxster and driver Jim Hamblin. After Hamblin’s solid opening stint, teammate Dan Ferguson drove the final half of the race and brought the No. 72 across the finish line in 24th place, just one lap behind the leaders.

The DeMan Motorsport-built No. 09 Trade Manage Capital Porsche Boxster of Steve Goldman and Sam Schultz also had a strong showing at VIR. The team joined Murry and the No. 73 on the front row and ran second early on before posting a 15th-place finish in the end.

Next up for DeMan Motorsport is the Memorial Day weekend event at Lime Rock Park where reigning GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series GT co-champion Jeff Segal and Nick Longhi are scheduled to share the No. 73 Boxster. The team is currently evaluating the status of the No. 73 entry after the VIR result. The No. 72 Boxster is also scheduled to be entered for the Lime Rock race.