JACK BUSCH TAKES POCONO HEAT RACE WIN, STARTS ON POLE FOR AGT MAIN EVENT

Long Pond, PA- Jack Busch [number 05 Leifert Motorsports/Spiral Turbo Baffles/Spectro Oils Olds Cutlass] was not going to let a huge off during the morning practice session change his game plan of placing the 05 Olds atop the sheet for the American GT Challenge event at Pocono Raceway. Busch went off earlier in the day, causing body damage and some minor mechanical issues. The team repaired the car, and Busch went on to win the eight lap Heat Race, to set the starting grid for the 50 minute AGT event on Saturday afternoon. 

The AGT series was required to set the starting grid for the race by way of a Heat Race, after two cars spun in turn one, damaging the timing and scoring equipment. The equipment was beyond repair and an eight lap shootout format was selected to set the field for the race. The Heat Race grid was then determined using the morning practice times. 

Just two laps into the eight lap shootout, a light rain began to fall, creating slick conditions. Edison Lluch [number 72 El tuque/Don Q Rum Corvette] was leading at the time. However, Lluch overshot the entry point from the oval back into the infield road course section. This allowed several cars to over take Lluch, and Busch went by for the lead. 

For the next six laps, a determined Edison Lluch chased down Jack Busch, looking to regain his spot back out front. As the checkered flag dropped on the eight lap Heat Race, Jack Busch took the win in a photo finish, besting Edison Lluch by less than a nose. 

At the conclusion of the Heat race, the starting grid for Saturday's AGT event will be; 
Jack Busch 
Edison Lluch 
Mike Luftman 
Alan Freidman 
Woodson Duncan 
Gene Tataryn 
Frank Sanchez* 

Sanchez did not participate in the Heat Race. A transmission failure during the morning practice session sidelined the number 8 Banana Boat Suncare/Wet Ones Camaro. The Sanchez Motorsports team repaired the transmission and Sanchez will start shotgun on the field.

The American GT Challenge uses purpose built tube frame chassis cars, power by a V-8 & V-6 engine, with composite bodies, replicating series produced American touring or grand touring cars competing exclusively on Goodyear Racing Tires. For more information visit www.americangt.com. 

The American GT Challenge competes at Pocono International Raceway in Pennsylvania June 19th at 5PM EST.