Chase Competition Engineering Is Latest Approved Daytona Prototype Chassis Builder

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (October 4, 2002) -- Grand American Road Racing Association has approved the chassis designs of Chase Competition Engineering in Richmond, Va., for competition in the Daytona Prototypes class. Company president Robert Chase has been a frequent competitor in the Rolex Sports Car Series, driving the Marcus Motorsports BMW M3 on several occasions.

"A new chassis jig is being built as we speak. The fabrication of the first car will start next week," Chase noted. "Our fixtures are designed multi-faceted, to build new chassis and to verify specifications on chassis after they have been raced. If one of our cars is damaged, we can put the chassis back in the jig and repair it rather than replacing it.

Chase added that he plans to drive the first car he is building and that a second one will be available for funded drivers or a team. "We will be ready for the 24 Hours and plan to run the entire Grand-Am schedule," he continued. "My company has designed a complete rolling chassis and Crawford Composites will be supplying the bodywork."

Chase noted that he is planning to use a Chevrolet LS6 engine in his first car. His company has an in-house engine department that builds winning engines for NASCAR competition and a chassis dyno. He said that his company will be selling complete rolling chassis to customers who will then choose their own bodies and engines from Grand American's list of approved suppliers. Turnkey racecars will also be available.

"We've been working for a while on this project," Chase said. "We've got our own suspension design and we're confident we've got a good car. Grand-Am's formula for the Daytona Prototypes makes it possible for constructors like us to build these racecars efficiently and very competitively."

"Robert has a lot of knowledge when it comes to building race cars," Grand American's Mark Raffauf noted. "He is associated with Townsend Race Cars in Ashland, Va. They build over 100 racecars a year for several NASCAR racing series." In the past three years Townsend cars have won over 700 races.

Raffauf also pointed out that Chase Competition Engineering is the tenth company approved as a Daytona Prototype chassis constructor. "It's good to have another company ready to build cars," he added. "As we get closer to next year's 24 Hour, the interest in purchasing cars is starting to explode. I am certain we will need this additional manufacturing capacity to meet demand."

Chase Competition Engineering has named its chassis the Orion. The company can be reached at (804) 798-9241, or (804) 909?9241, email -orniron@attbi.com.

Additional information about the Rolex Sports Car Series Daytona Prototypes, including photos, renderings and rules, is available online at www.grand-am.com. 

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For additional information contact Grand American Road Racing Association
Christie Hyde (386)681-4182; CHyde@grand-am.com