TRANS AM: Dana Brewer signs with Victoria Motorsports for 2001

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

FAR HILLS, New Jersey--Bringing yet another new name to the Trans-Am series, Victoria Motorsports announced today that Dana Brewer, 43, of San Diego, CA, has signed on to contest the 2001 Trans-Am Series. Brewer will compete alongside previously announced G. J. Mennen, and Frank Cioppettini.

"We really enjoy bringing new people into the Trans-Am series," said June Cioppettini, co-owner of Far Hills, NJ-based Victoria Motorsports. "Dana is someone we really look forward to working with, and exposing yet more people to the Trans-Am, and the Trans-Am to more people."

"I'm really looking forward to my return to the cockpit after a bit of a layoff," commented Brewer, who raced in Europe in the British Formula Three series in the early 1990s. He finished a season high fifth at Donnington in his rookie year in 1990. In 1991, fielding his own team, Brewer came in sixth in the British F3 Championship, before moving on to a limited British Touring Car season in 1992 with a best finish of sixth at Silverstone. "I've driven against (former World Champion) Mika Hakkinen in '90, and against Mika Salo, Christian Fittipaldi and Alan McNish in Formula Three. This year, I really look forward to testing myself against the Trans-Am field. My goal is to be a serious contender for Rookie of the Year honors."

Brewer will be driving the #98 Cuttrade.com/Leap Wireless Chevrolet Camaro for the season. It will be one of Victoria Motorsports' new Vanquish RS2M chassis. Cuttrade.com is a Las Vegas-based company that markets prepaid discount gasoline cards. Leap Wireless International, a spin-off from Qualcom, has introduced its fixed price unlimited local wireless service named "Cricket" in cities such as Knoxville, TN, and Little Rock, AR. With plans to be in 35 cities by the end of this year, Leap Wireless International has 670 employees and a market value of $1 billion.

"We think Dana will be a good partner for our other driver, G. J. Mennen," said Frank Cioppettini, co-owner and President of Victoria Motorsports. "Dana's not new to racing, but he's new to this series, and G. J. can help him out. Between the both of them, we should see what our new Vanquish RS2M chassis can do. I think he'll be a strong candidate for Rookie of the Year."

Text Provided By David Lang

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