Defending SPEED TC Champ Altenburg, TriPoint Split After Six Years

TOOELE, Utah (May 15, 2008) -- Defending SCCA Pro Racing SPEED World Challenge Touring Car Champion Jeff Altenburg has vacated the No. 1 Mazdaspeed/Stoptech/Racinghart MAZDA6 for the remainder of the season. Beginning with Round Three at Miller Motorsports Park this weekend, the car will be re-badged as No. 75 and will be driven by Jim Daniels.

Altenburg, who won the 2007 race at Miller Motorsports Park en route to his SCCA SPEED Touring Car Drivers’ Championship, currently sits seventh in points after two races.

“I'm going to miss those guys,” Altenburg said. “They are my family and after six years and many great adventures, it's time to move on. I wish them all the best.”

Altenburg will shift his focus to the DRC Motorsports SCCA SPEED GT effort, which currently has him 10th in points after driving two different Dodge Vipers in the first two races. The team plans to debut its new Lexus IS-F soon.

Daniels, of Germantown, Tenn., takes over the car at Miller Motorsports Park. The 2006 SCCA Pro Racing Mazda MX-5 Cup Champion has just two previous starts in SPEED World Challenge, but a wealth of Mazda experience.

This weekend’s SCCA Pro Racing SPEED World Challenge Touring Car Round Three race begins official practice Friday at 10:20 a.m. (MDT). To follow each session via live timing and scoring and session notes, visit www.world-challenge.com and select the SCCA Pit Board link for the event.