Terry Borcheller - Infineon (Sears Point) Raceway preview

racing roots

Terry Borcheller will have a homecoming this week, returning to the track 
where he received his only formal race instruction. The Gainesville, Ga., driver 
has won 57 professional races en route to six professional driver 
championships, but he attended only one four-day racing school. The Bondurant School of 
High Performance Driving, previously based at Sears Point Raceway in Sonoma, 
Calif., gave him the confidence to chase his racing dream. Not only did 
Borcheller graduate from the school, but he was hired almost immediately as a racing 
instructor. 

"I have a great appreciation for the track and for the area; it's a special 
place for me. We have super friends there who we've known for a long time," he 
said. "My first and only driving school was the Bondurant School, when they 
were located there. I ended up going to work for them and they are still a 
personal sponsor for me. That one and only driving school that I ever did in my 
life solidified for me that I could do this."

inside secrets

The track, now called Infineon Raceway, will host an American Le Mans Series 
race on July 18. Borcheller and Johnny Mowlem of Maidenhead, England, will 
drive the No. 63 ACEMCO Motorsports Saleen S7R in the GTS class. Borcheller said 
his experience on the 2.53-mile road course is a valuable asset:

"A lot of teaching is not track-specific, but when you teach at Sears Point, 
you have to be track-specific because there are so many spots that can bite 
you. You have to really know the track before you can get to the edge. I think 
that's why I've always done well there, because I've had the inside knowledge 
of the track. My instructor, Chris Cook, was great."

fan base

The Sonoma track offers a diverse calendar of racing events, from go-karts to 
motorcycles, drag racing, stock cars and sports cars. Borcheller said the 
range of activities helps to cross-promote different forms of racing.

"Sears Point has a great fan base, which includes not only a sports-car 
crowd, but also the karting, drag racing and NASCAR fans who will frequent our 
event," he said. "It's great for sponsors like K&N Performance Filters."

details (PT)

The American Le Mans Series race is scheduled for Sunday, July 18 from 11 pm 
to 1:45 pm on the 2.53-mile Infineon (Sears Point) Raceway road course in 
Sonoma, Calif. The race will be telecast live on CBS starting at noon. Qualifying 
will be broadcast live on the ALMS Radio Web (americanlemans.com) on Saturday, 
July 17 from 2:15 pm to 3 pm, with race coverage on Sunday, July 18 from 10 
am to 1:45 pm.

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Sylvia Proudfoot
spur07@cs.com
403 287 3945