Hearn Motorsports Leaves Road America Frustrated, Eager for Next Star Mazda Event
Hearn Motorsports Leaves Road America Frustrated, Eager for Next Star Mazda Event ELKHART LAKE, Wis., August 22, 2005 - Hearn Motorsports had hoped to turn its luck around at Road America. However, at the end of the ninth race in the 2005 Star Mazda Series North American Championship presented by Goodyear, the second-year team owned by Riche Hearn (Henderson, Nev.) continued to suffer from other people's mistakes. Regular Hearn driver Brian Thienes (Huntington Beach, Calif.) in the No. 77 Thienes Engineering/ Hearn Motorsports Star Mazda suffered at the hands of a competitor while Rob Walker (Upland, Calif.) brought home the No. 65 Hearn Motorsports Mazda on the lead lap. With the 45-minute race at Road America behind them, Hearn is eager to move on to Mosport International Raceway in two weeks for the 10th round of the Star Mazda season. In 2005, the team earned its first Star Mazda pole position and podium at the Canadian facility. No. 65, Rob Walker - Hearn Motorsports Mazda Qualified: 25th (2:09.890), Finished: 18th Rob Walker made his second start with Hearn Motorsports this weekend at Road America. Walker continued to make steady progress under the watchful eye of Riche Hearn and the talents of the Hearn team. He moved-up from 25th on the grid to 18th at the checkered flag. He ran the full race distance, 15 laps, and was just over 30 seconds behind the leader at the 4.048-mile facility. The Road America event was the final race that Walker contracted to run with the team. Richie Hearn, owner: "Rob did an OK job out there. That was his final race in our contract with him. We hope to have two cars the rest of the year, and that is looking good. We should have the 70-car back at Mosport." No. 77, Brian Thienes - Thienes Engineering/ Hearn Motorsports Mazda Qualified: 17th (2:08.247), Finished: 26th Brian Thienes would again have a difficult weekend exasperated by the mistake of a competitor. While starting 17th, the Californian quickly began to work his way to the front of the field passing several cars on the start. But, like in the last several races he was struck from behind on lap five ending his day. The accident would send the No. 77 back to the paddock with serious damage. The Hearn crew will get the red and white Mazda back together and race ready in time for Mosport on September 3rd. Richie Hearn, owner: "Brian got hit from behind again. It is frustrating for all of us. He has been pretty quick early in the races but something always seems to happen that moves him back. Once you're back there anything can happen and usually does. We'll have his car ready for Mosport." Brian Thienes, driver: "We had a great start. Going into turn-one there was a huge wreck. I was able to drive all the way around it and came out of it in sixth place. I passed about five cars on the start and then around three or four spinning cars down in one. On the restart another car checked-up in turn-three and then someone didn't see it happening and just piled into me. I mean he hit me hard and that was it. I feel fine but it seems like every time I get up in the front something happens and someone nails me. We just need to come back at Mosport. That is my kind of track." The SPEED television broadcast can be seen on September 18th at 2 PM (EDT). For more on Hearn Motorsports please visit <http://www.richiehearn.com/> www.RichieHearn.com. More on Brian Thienes can be found at <http://www.thienesengineering.com/> www.ThienesEngineering.com.