Driver Spotlight on Rolex Driver Terry Borcheller
Driver Spotlight on Terry Borcheller DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Dec. 17, 2001) -Rolex Sports Car Series driver Terry Borcheller is one of the busiest drivers in racing. In 2001, he was concentrating on making a run for the GT championship, balancing a family life and appearing at several speaking engagements at churches across the country on behalf of Motorsports Ministries. Along the way, he took home three GT-class victories, finished third in the GT class driver championship and most importantly, became a father for the third time. Borcheller also raced in three series in 2001 and has plans to do so yet again during the 2002 season. Competing in new Rolex Series and Grand-Am Cup classes with two new teams in 2002, Borcheller is welcoming his new challenges and focusing on winning a championship. THE BASICS Series - Rolex Series; Grand-Am Cup Class - SportsRacing Prototype II; Grand Sport II Team - Rand Racing; Bell Motorsports Car - #8 Nissan Lola; #54 BMW M3 Date of Birth - March 22, 1966 (Age 35) Hometown - Phoenix, Ariz. Birthplace - Hialeah, Fla. Spouse - Tracy (married 1995) Children - Amber (1987), Taylor (1998) & Trenten (2001) 2001 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS Nextel 250 - 1st GT Sun Automotive 200 - 3rd GT Lime Rock Grand Prix - 1st GT and Overall ConAgra Classic - 1st GT Virginia Festival of Speed - 1st ST Grand-Am Finale - 3rd GT Grand-Am Finale - 1st SRPII IN HIS WORDS... When did you begin racing? My first race was in a go-kart at the Fort Myers Grand Prix in 1979. My first experience was very exciting. I was leading the race with two laps to go and I flipped my kart. When did you know that you wanted to pursue racing professionally? I've always known I wanted to race competitively in some form. When I was younger, I wanted to race motorcycles. I used to design my own tracks in the woods and go out and race against my friends. But as soon as I got in a go-kart, I knew I wanted to race karts and eventually cars. Do you have any superstitions? None. What are your thoughts on the 2001 season? There were some highlights, but for the most part it was disappointing. I felt like we had the best shot at winning the GT championship with the new car (JET Motorsports V8 BMW M3 ), until all of the restrictions were added. Overall, though I am very thankful for the great opportunity that was given to me. We had a lot of fun. What was your most memorable racing moment in 2001? Not knowing if I was going to make it to the pits at the end of the Road America race. I ran four hours of a four hour and forty minute race. I actually crossed the finish line in the pits. I really thought I was going to pass out before I got the car stopped. It was very intense heat. The last two hours of the race I ran with no water and the air ducts had been torn off, so I wasn't getting anything to drink or any air in the car for two hours. It was extremely difficult. What are your plans for the 2002 season? I am going to run with Anthony Lazzaro in the Rand Racing Nissan Lola in the SRPII class. I will also be with Bell Motorsports again, only this time in the GS I class in Grand-Am Cup. I will be running a BMW M3 with Forest Barber, who is an off-shore boat racing champion and a Ferrari Challenge driver in 2001. What goals have you set for yourself? I want to be in the position to win the SRPII championship along side Anthony. I will miss out on one Grand-Am Cup race, so I would like to help put my teammate, Forest Barber, in the position to win the GS II championship. Talk about the importance of your family in your life. My family is very important. As all drivers who have families know, it's hard to keep a good balance of family and career. My wife, Tracy, has been very understanding throughout my career. My job takes a lot of my time. Racing is very demanding. When you're at the track it's 100 percent focus on your job and when your family is there, you feel like you're not giving them enough attention. The most important thing in my life is my time with God and second is that my family knows that they are more important than my job. My parents are also a huge influence. They are my biggest fans, and always have been. My dad bought me my first kart. It was a father/son bond that we still share to this day. My parents are very enthusiastic about racing and are at almost every event. What hobbies do you have outside of racing? I like mountain biking, hiking with my kids, weight training, swimming and watching the greatest team in the AFC East, the Miami Dolphins. Who or what has been the biggest influence in your life? Jesus Christ has been the biggest influence in my life. I became a Christian in 1987 and it has been awesome. It hasn't always been easy, but my relationship with Christ has been very rewarding to me personally. How did it feel winning at the season finale right off the bat in the SRPII car? It was fantastic. It was my first experience competing in a prototype and to have my first time be a winning effort, it was even better. It was really only about the third time I had ever been in one of those cars. I think that is a good beginning for things to come next season. It was Anthony's first and only win in 2001. We joked before the race about it and he said he had to have a win. It was his last chance for the year. I was really happy to be a part of that. He got it! Are you looking forward to competing in the SRPII class next season? Absolutely. It's exciting for me because I am good friends with Anthony. We have raced against each other in go-karts since the early 80's. I have followed his career and watched it skyrocket. Bill Rand has taken a very big step with putting Anthony and me in the car. Bill is an owner who loves to drive. It's very exciting to have an owner who takes just as much pleasure seeing his team succeed as he does in driving. We've got all the right pieces in place to go for a championship. I can't wait. The 2002 Rolex Sports Car Series and Grand-Am Cup season will kick off at the 40th Anniversary of the Rolex 24 At Daytona, where Grand-Am Cup will race on Friday, Feb.2 at 2:30 p.m. and the Rolex 24 At Daytona will begin at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 3. Tickets are on sale for the event and may be purchased online at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling the Speedway ticket office at 386-252-RACE. More information on the Rolex Sports Car Series and Grand-Am Cup is available online at www.grand-am.com. -30- For more information: Grand American Road Racing Public Relations Christie Hyde (386) 681-4182 email: CHyde@grand-am.com