Shane Lewis Pleased With Progress In Rolex Testing of BMW-FABCAR

Shane Lewis Pleased With Progress In Rolex Testing of BMW-FABCAR
  
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., January 6, 2004 - Shane Lewis completed three days
of intensive testing at Daytona International Speedway (DIS) yesterday.
Lewis, of Jupiter, Fla., was preparing for the 42nd Annual Rolex 24 of
Daytona endurance race in the Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series'
Daytona Prototype (DP) of Southard Motorsports with co-drivers Jack
Baldwin, Vic Rice, George Robinson and Steve Southard. The No. 7
PAP-PARTS BMW-FABCAR entry's best lap of one minute, 52.598 seconds
(113.820 mph) was set with Lewis behind the wheel of the Goodyear
tire-shod car. The Powell, Ohio-based race team will be attempting to
make its first Rolex 24 in the top class while Lewis returns for his
seventh Rolex 24 Hour classic. The January 31st Rolex 24 will mark
Lewis' eighteenth career 24 hour race. 
 
"We're still in test mode with the PAP-PARTS BMW FABCAR," said Lewis
following the test. "I'm really happy with our progress but there is
still more to do. We have a car that is extremely drivable for 24 hours,
now we just need some more outright speed. Every member of this team
from Steve [Southard, owner] to the drivers, to the crew and the FABCAR
and BMW guys are working all out to have a great car for us for the
Rolex 24."
 
Shane Lewis has been racing since 1989 with multiple race wins in
Grand-Am sanctioned events, in the IMSA Supercar and SCCA Pro Series and
the Historic SportsCar Series. He has starts in ARCA stock car
competition, at the Pikes Peak Hill Climb and is a former Daytona
Endurance Champion and Formula Ford Festival winner. He has driven in
six Rolex 24s and three 24 Hours of Le Mans- leading the race in GT
class in 2003. He has two overall and one class-victory at the 24 Hours
of Nelson Ledges. Lewis was honored as the 1998 Professional Sports Car
Racing Rising Star award winner. Lewis also serves as a test driver and
private coach.
 
For more on Shane Lewis please see www.ShaneLewis.com. To learn more
about Southard Motorsports, please visit www.pap-parts.com or
www.autoassets.com.
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Digital images and bio available upon request.
Editors, please do not publish any contact information other than web
sites.  Thank you.
 
Contact: Tom Moore, Shane Lewis Racing: 615-599-7034 (office),
404-229-3703 (cell), tom@darkhorsecom.com