Fontana - Rand Racing victory

California Speedway
race, March 23, 2002

four for four

Rand Racing collected its fourth victory in as many races, with first place 
in the SRPII class in the Rolex Sports Car Series race at California 
Speedway.  The team also scored its fourth consecutive class pole position 
and third-consecutive third place overall in the series.

Terry Borcheller of Phoenix qualified the No. 8 Rand Racing Nissan Lola third 
on the overall grid, but started second when the polesitter Judd Dallara was 
moved to the back of the grid after an engine change.  The Dallara passed for 
second place during the first hour, returning the Rand car to third.

Borcheller drove the first hour of the four-hour race.  Ralf Kelleners of 
Germany took the wheel for the second stint, Borcheller returned for the 
third and Bill Rand of Plano, Tex., drove the final stage.  The team held 
first in class and third overall throughout the race.

"Without our crew and the co-drivers I have, none of this would be possible.  
I owe everything to them," said owner/driver Rand.  He noted the absence of 
Borcheller's usual  co-driver, Anthony Lazzaro of Acworth, Ga., who was 
injured in a crash last week.  "It's too bad that Anthony isn't here - we all 
miss him and send him our best wishes and can't wait for him to be back in 
the seat again."

Borcheller said he was disappointed in the small SPRII field, but it didn't 
affect his performance.  "There was no pressure, but Ralf and Bill and I 
still drove as hard as we could," he said.  "It's gratifying to know that if 
there were 30 cars here, we still would have won.  I told Bill he's spoiled 
to have it this good.  Even when you're favored at every event, there's still 
a lot that can happen.  We just have a great team."

Kelleners agreed.  "Because we didn't have strong competition, we were 
driving against ourselves," he explained.  "We wanted to show what we can do 
with this kind of car, to perform well and do the best lap times possible.  
We had a perfect car, not too easy to drive because it was made to go quick, 
but everything went smooth and was just perfect."

The team's next race will be at Phoenix International Raceway on April 20.

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Sylvia Proudfoot
spur07@cs.com
403 287 3945