SPEED World Challenge Denver Media Advisory
MEDIA ADVISORY
SCCA Pro Racing SPEED World Challenge Championships
SPEED GT and SPEED Touring Car Round Nine
CENTRIX Financial Grand Prix of Denver Presented by PacifiCare
Denver, Colo.
Contact: Eric Prill, SCCA Director of Communications
(785) 250-7920 cell; eprill@scca.com e-mail
Event/Circuit: CENTRIX Financial Grand Prix of Denver Presented by
PacifiCare
Denver Temporary Circuit, Nine-turn,
1.647-miles
Qualifying: SPEED Touring Car: Saturday, Aug. 13, 11:45 a.m.
(MDT)
SPEED GT: Saturday, Aug. 13, 12:20 p.m. (MDT)
Green Light: SPEED Touring Car: Saturday, Aug. 13, 6:15 p.m. (MDT)
(standing start) SPEED GT: Sunday, Aug. 14, 4:15 p.m. (MDT)
Race Lengths: 50 minute maximum. Laps to be determined based on
qualifying times.
Television: SPEED Touring Car: Sunday, Aug. 14, 12 p.m. (MDT)
on SPEED Channel (2 p.m. Eastern)
SPEED GT: Saturday, Aug. 20, 12 p.m. (MDT) on
SPEED Channel (2 p.m. Eastern)
Media Notes: Results are available on the AP SportsWire, via
e-mail and on the Internet (www.world-challenge.com
<http://www.world-challenge.com/> ).
Timing/Scoring: Live Timing & Scoring is available for all sessions
through www.world-challenge.com <http://www.world-challenge.com/> .
Local Drivers: Brandon Davis (Denver), Tim Wiens (Westminster), Rick
Snyder (Arvada), Marco Ferrera (Broomfield), Bob Taylor (Parker), Skip
Sauls (Longmont), Branden Peterson (Breckenridge)
Records:
New venue for SPEED World Challenge
Point Leaders:
SPEED GT Drivers
Ps., Driver, Car, Points (Wins)
1, Andy Pilgrim, Cadillac CTS-V, 179
2, Tommy Archer, Dodge Viper, 177(2)
3, Robin Liddell, Porsche 911 Cup, 169 (1)
4, Wolf Henzler, Porsche 911 Cup, 155 (1)
5, Max Papis, Cadillac CTS-V, 144 (1)
6, Tony Gaples, Corvette C6, 123
7, Stu Hayner, Pontiac GTO, 120
8, Lou Gigliotti, Corvette C6, 109 (1)
9, Tim Wiens, Dodge Viper, 107
10, Mike McCann, Dodge Viper, 105
SPEED GT Manufacturers' Championship Presented by RACER Magazine
Ps., Manufacturer, Points (Wins)
1, Porsche, 43 (2)
2, Cadillac, 42 (2)
3, Chevrolet, 31 (2)
Dodge, 31 (2)
SPEED Touring Car
Ps., Driver, Car, Points (Wins)
1, Peter Cunningham, Acura TSX, 192 (1)
2, Randy Pobst, Mazda 6, 182 (2)
3, Pierre Kleinubing, Acura TSX 178 (3)
4, Eric Curran, Acura RSX, 164
5, Jeff Altenburg, Mazda 6, 151
6, Brandon Davis(R), Acura TSX, 145
7, Matt Richmond, BMW 325i, 144
8, Charles Espenlaub, Mazda 6, 120
9, James Clay, BMW 325i, 113
10, Seth Thomas, BMW 325i, 110
SPEED Touring Car Manufacturers' Championship Presented by RACER
Magazine
Ps., Manufacturer, Points (Wins)
1, Acura, 56 (4)
2, Mazda, 54 (2)
3, BMW, 43 (2)
4, Ford, 1
Storylines
AMERICA'S PREMIER PRODUCTION-BASED RACING SERIES
The last several years have provided the momentum for the SCCA SPEED
World Challenge Championships, and are now widely recognized as the most
diverse and competitive production-based racing series in North America.
With more than 15 auto manufacturers represented and a bevy of
world-class drivers, the SPEED World Challenge continues to serve the
interests of manufacturers, drivers and, most importantly, automotive
enthusiasts and race fans.
REWARDS ARE NO REWARD
When is a success reward unappreciated? When it's in the form of a lead
trophy in SPEED World Challenge's REWARDS program. While it has a wordy
acronym (Rewarding of Equalizing Weight Assigned to Reduce Driver
Sensitivity), the premise is simple. Should you do well and finish up
front, it's going to be more difficult the following week because you're
carrying lead in the passenger seat. First place adds 75lbs, with it
reducing in 15-pound increments to zero at sixth place. It starts coming
off in 10-pound increments at seventh down to -60 at 12th or worse.
WHO'S IT GOING TO BE IN GT?
With Dino Crescentini's guest appearance victory at Portland
International Raceway two weeks ago, SPEED GT has tied a record (with
1997 T2, 2000 Touring Car and 2002 Touring Car) for the most different
winners in a season at seven. Further, the class set a record with its
seventh-consecutive race in a single season without a repeat winner.
Only Tommy Archer has taken two wins on the season, at the opening two
races (Sebring and St. Petersburg). Other winners in 2005 include Max
Papis (Road Atlanta), Wolf Henzler (Mid-Ohio), Robin Liddell
(Cleveland), Max Angelelli (Lime Rock Park) and Lou Gigliotti (Infineon
Raceway). The series record for the most races without a repeat winner
is the Super Production/T2 class spanning from the last six races of the
1995 season through the first two races in 1996.
WHAT TO WATCH IN SPEED GT
One driver still looking for his first win of 2005 is SCCA SPEED GT
point leader Andy Pilgrim (Cadillac CTS-V). Pilgrim holds a narrow, two
point advantage over defending series Champion Tommy Archer based on
consistent finishes in the top 10 in each of the season's eight races.
Archer won the series only other temporary circuit appearance this year,
leading every lap after starting third at St. Petersburg. The lead
driver of the Denver-based 3R-Racing would actually hold an eight point
lead in the Championship if it weren't for two, separate five-point
fines for on-course contact. However, the team and Champion hope to
re-take the lead at their home event in front of their home fans.
Robin Liddell also remains in the hunt for the 2005 Drivers'
Championship despite some tough runs lately, including recovering from a
stop and go penalty in Portland for rolling before the standing start.
His AXA Financial/PFAFF Porsche 911 GT3 was fast at St. Pete, starting
and finishing second, so he hopes to break the streak of different
winners.
Wolf Henzler has been one of the fastest cars all year in the No. 55
Applied Materials/Farnbacher Loles Porsche 911 GT3 and comes off his
third-place finish at Portland fourth in points. Henzler was on the pole
at St. Pete and might have won if not for his own stop-and-go penalty
for jumping a series of restarts.
"Mad" Max Papis has had an up and down season thus far, highlighted by a
win at Road Atlanta and podium finishes at Mid-Ohio and Lime Rock Park.
He's also been amid controversy as well, winning the Road Atlanta race
after contact on the last lap with Robin Liddell (costing him 10 driver
points) and winding up on the losing end of run-ins with Tommy Archer at
Cleveland and Infineon Raceway (with Archer losing a total of 10
points). Papis is currently fifth in points in his Cadillac CTS-V.
The fastest guys over the last three rounds have been in Chevrolet
Corvette C6s, with Infineon Raceway polesitter and winner Lou Gigliotti
returning to the driver's seat of his LG Pro Long Tube Headers Corvette
(after Crescentini took it to victory lane at Portland) and Leighton
Reese, polesitter and leader at Portland before sliding off course and
back to second in his Banner Engineering Corvette, leading the charge.
Michael Galati put the Volvo of N.A. Volvo S60 R in the top five for the
first time ever at Portland. A street circuit could be just what the
all-wheel drive car needs to rise to the podium.
Stu Hayner has been making great strides with his GMAC Commercial
Finance/Trenton Forging Pontiac GTO, with two top five finishes in the
last four races.
WHAT TO WATCH IN SPEED TOURING CAR
With Denver kicking off the final three-race stretch of the season, both
the Drivers' and Manufacturers' Championship Presented by RACER Magazine
have tightened up coming out of Portland.
Peter Cunningham has led the way the entire season after taking the
Sebring season opener in his A-SPEC/RealTime Racing Acura TSX. At one
point the runaway point leader, Cunningham's REWARDS weight mounted
after starting the season off with five-straight podium finishes. The
last three rounds have proven to be a struggle, finishing sixth, ninth
and eighth, respectively.
Cunningham's recent struggles have opened the door for Randy Pobst, who
has gone from being 45 points behind after race five to just 10 behind
entering race nine. Pobst has been the man to beat in the last three
races, taking two of his season-high four Air Force Reserve Pole
Positions, a pair of seconds and his second win of the season in the
last month. Not only has Pobst closed on Cunningham for the Drivers'
Championship, but he's also brought Mazda back into the Manufacturers'
hunt, now just two points behind Acura.
If it weren't for bad luck, Pierre Kleinubing could be leading the whole
thing. The three-time Champion started the season off with a
disappointing 24th at Sebring after having mechanical difficulties, but
was the hottest driver for a period afterward, ripping off
three-straight wins at Road Atlanta, Mid-Ohio and Cleveland. However,
early-race contact with teammate Cunningham at Portland meant bent
suspension. He was, however, able to stick it out for a 16th-place
finish. He now trails Cunningham by 14 points.
While teammates Cunningham and Kleinubing have struggled with the
REWARDS weight, RealTime's lead RSX driver Eric Curran has kept Acura in
the Manufacturers race with two podiums in the last three races. At St.
Pete, he arrived race morning having never seen the track and ran from
27th to finish eighth.
"Mad Dog" Matt Richmond leads a trio of BimmerWorld Racing drivers in
their BMW 325i automobiles. Richmond is currently fifth in points and
scored his first-career podium finish at Portland. He too was very quick
at St. Petersburg. Richmond's teammates James Clay and Seth Thomas have
both been strong lately as well.
Denver University student Brandon Davis (A-SPEC/RealTime Racing Acura
TSX) comes off the best two finishes of his young career, with a seventh
at Infineon Raceway (after starting from the back) and a fifth at
Portland. The 19-year old is excited to race in front of his college
hometown, and will likely clinch The Winning Team Rookie of the Year
honor this weekend.
While Pobst has stolen the limelight recently in the Mazda camp, three
other drivers - Dino Crescentini (Mazdaspeed/Centric Parts/Tri-Point),
Jeff Altenburg (Mazdaspeed/Tri-Point) and Charles Espenlaub
(Sparco/Oakley/Tindol Motorsports) have shown the potential to hit the
top of the podium should Pobst's mounting REWARDS prove to slow him
down.
One driver who was fast at both Portland two weeks ago and has proven
his speed on street courses is Chip Herr, who hopes his string of
disappointing finishes will end at Denver in the Air Force Reserve Ford
Focus.
MANUFACTURER CHAMPIONSHIPS HEAT UP
Both Manufacturers' Championships Presented by RACER Magazine had major
shakeups in recent weeks. With its third-place finish at Portland,
Porsche became the third Manufacturer to lead the point standings in
SPEED GT this year. It takes over from Cadillac, who led since taking
the lead from Dodge at Cleveland. It's anybody's Championship at this
point, with Porsche leading Cadillac by one (43-42), followed by Dodge
and Chevrolet, both tied at 31. In SPEED Touring Car, Acura's lead was
further cut down with Pobst's Portland win and there are now two points
separating it (56) from Mazda (54). BMW is still not out of the hunt,
with 43.
SPEED WORLD CHALLENGE AUDIENCE
No racing series today captures the youth market like SCCA SPEED World
Challenge does and attracts new race fans to the track because of the
relevance of its cars. These are the cars that people drive, or wish
they were driving, and it has attracted a new demographic race fan to
which no other series has catered.
ESAYIAN HOSTS FORT CARSON SPECIAL-OPS GUESTS
A dozen active-duty Special Operations soldiers, many of whom recently
returned from the battlefield in Iraq, will take in the races this week
as guests of RealTime Racing Acura Racing team driver Nick Esayian. The
soldiers are part of Fort Carson's 10th Special Forces group, a unit
that has amassed more 1000 Bronze Stars, 56 Purple Hearts and seven
Silver Stars for extraordinary valor. Esayian is an ardent supporter of
the Special Operations Forces. He announced at the start of the 2005
season that he would donate his portion of season winnings to the
Special Operations Warrior Foundation (SOWF), a Tampa-based nonprofit
that provides a college education for children and survivors of fallen
Special Operations personnel. Throughout the season, Esayian has hosted
SOWF scholarship recipients as his guests at SPEED World Challenge races
around the country.
DENVER SUPERLATIVES
Three drivers have competed in the current Grand Prix of Denver event
driving in the Trans-Am Series. Brandon Davis competed in 2004,
finishing ninth. Mike Davis competed three times in 2002-2004 with a
best finish of 10th. Stu Hayner competed twice, and was the fastest
qualifier, set fast race lap and finished third in the 2002 event. Four
drivers competed in SPEED World Challenge at the old Grand Prix, which
was run in 1990 and 1991, including Tommy Archer, Peter Cunningham, Lou
Gigliotti and Andy Pilgrim. Cunningham, the series record holder for
wins, also has the most wins on temporary circuits, with nine. Other
drivers with wins on temporary circuits include Gigliotti (seven),
Pierre Kleinubing (five), Michael Galati (three), Randy Pobst (three),
Tommy Archer (one) and Andy Pilgrim (one).
LOCAL DRIVERS
Brandon Davis (Denver), Tim Wiens (Westminster), Rick Snyder (Arvada),
Marco Ferrera (Broomfield), Bob Taylor (Parker), Skip Sauls (Longmont),
Branden Peterson (Breckenridge).
LOCAL STORIES
- Brandon Davis spent the early part of this week searching for
apartments to move into for the fall semester at Denver University.
Davis, 19, will be a sophomore.
- Rick Snyder and his family made the commitment to jump into
the SPEED Touring Car Championship full time this year. A family-run
operation, Snyder has been developing a new, unproven car (Dodge SRT-4)
on tracks that he's never seen in hopes of running for top finishes in
2006.
- Skip Sauls and Marco Ferrera are competing in SPEED World
Challenge for the first time.
- Tim Wiens is a successful local businessman (owns FirsTier
Bank, founded Compass Bank) who got the racing bug about five years ago.
He hooked up with Englewood-based 3R-Racing and saw such potential that
he bought the team, which is still run by its founder Bob Raub.
3R-Racing accomplished what many believed to be impossible in 2004,
winning the drivers' championship with Tommy Archer with an
independently funded team, beating out the factory-funded giants from
Cadillac and Audi.
- Phil McClure is the third driver on 3R-Racing and also has
strong Denver ties. While he lives in Iowa, McClure owns McClure
Concrete, which is largely based in Denver.
_______________________
Eric Prill
Director of Communications
Sports Car Club of America
SCCA Pro Racing/SPEED World Challenge
785-357-7222, 785-232-7228 fax
800-770-2055 toll free
785-250-7920 mobile
eprill@scca.com
www.scca.com <http://www.scca.com> , www.sccapro.com
<http://www.sccapro.com> , www.world-challenge.com
<http://www.world-challenge.com>
