TRANS AM: G. J. Mennen signs with Victoria Motorsports

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

FAR HILLS, New Jersey--G. J. Mennen, runner-up in Rookie of The Year standings in 1999 and a third-year Trans-Am competitor in 2001, will be the driver of the #6 Motor Check/Onkyo America Chevrolet Camaro to be fielded by Victoria Motorsports it was announced today.

"Frank (Cioppettini) was nice enough to give me a couple of rides last season," said Mennen, a Cornelius, NC resident, "and we managed a third-place at Houston. We clicked, and ever since then I’ve been working toward putting a full season deal together with Frank. Thanks to Motor Check and Onkyo America, we’ve been able to do that, and I’m really looking forward to Sebring!"

"G. J. is a great young driver and a gentleman, and we’ve had our eyes on him for some time," said June Cioppettini, co-owner of Victoria Motorsports. "We think that, with our new Vanquish RS2M chassis, G. J. is just the kind of person we need to develop the car and start challenging at the front. We were very pleased to finalize this arrangement."

Global Technovations, with its’ Motor Check engine diagnostic systems, provides the medical checkup for your car. Onkyo America is a manufacturer of high quality audio speakers and home theater systems.

Mennen, 28, began racing in the Eastern Barber Formula Ford series, finishing second in the Eastern Championship that year. In 1995, he debuted in the Barber Dodge Pro Series, scoring his first professional podium finish at Lime Rock in 1997. He started his first two Trans-Am races in 1998, then contested the full 1999 season with RaceWerx as a teammate to 2000 Trans-Am champ, Brian Simo, finishing 11th in season points, grabbing podium finishes at Detroit and Houston. He also scored his first front row start at Sebring and copped fastest race lap at Mid-Ohio. In 2000, he started the year with Derhaag Motorsports, leaving the team after the first six rounds. He ran only twice, for Victoria Motorsports, in the second half of the year, scoring a third at Houston and a sixth at Las Vegas and still managed a 17th in season points.

Victoria Motorsports, headquartered in Far Hills, NJ with their race shop in Mooresville, NC, is in their sixth season of Trans-Am competition. Co-owned by June Cioppettini and her husband Frank, Victoria has developed a reputation for bringing more new blood into the Trans-Am series than any other team in recent years. Such drivers as Butch Leitzinger, Bobby Sak, Brian Pelke and Linda Pobst have all had their first Trans-Am rides with Victoria Motorsports, while Trans-Am veterans Tony Ave, Stuart Hayner and Willy T. Ribbs have also driven for the team.

Text Provided By Ritch Hanna

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