Newman-Wachs Drivers Round Out The Top 5 At Miller Motorsports Park

Tooele, May 16, 2009: It wasn’t the desired result for NWR drivers John Edwards and Markus Niemela, who qualified today at Miller Motorsports Park (MMP) for Round 2 of the Atlantic Championship, but both will start in the top-five for tomorrow’s race. Edwards is fourth on the grid and Niemela fifth.

Coming off his first Atlantic victory at the season-opener in Sebring, FL, Edwards took an early lead in the Championship heading into this race weekend. The last time he visited MMP he won, racing in the Star Mazda Championship last year. While starting in the second row is not ideal for the young racer, he is confident that he has a fast race car. Unlike in years past, the Atlantic Championship race weekends will include only one qualifying session, as opposed to two. For both engineers and drivers, the pressure is on, as you’ve only got one chance to grab the pole.

John Edwards, #36 MAZDASPEED/ Nuclear Clean Air Energy/ Entergy/ Newman Wachs Racing:

“The car is fast, but for some reason I just couldn’t put a lap together in that session. My theoretical lap is much quicker than what the stop watch shows. We’ll just have to move on and focus on the race tomorrow, that’s when it really counts.”

Reigning Atlantic Champion, Markus Niemela, will start on the inside of row three for tomorrow’s race. He spun into the gravel trap on his last stint, hampering a shot at the pole position. Markus, too, won the last time he raced at MMP, driving in the Atlantic Championship Series late last fall.

Markus Niemela, #1 Mr. Jones/ Nuclear Clean Air Energy/ Entergy/ Newman Wachs Racing:

“We have quite a lot more potential than what we showed today. I couldn’t really get much out of the first set of tires and I kept getting stuck in traffic; I was being very cautious around other cars. Then, we put on the second new set of tires and the car was much better. Unfortunately I hit the 2nd curb in the chicane too hard, and it sent me spinning into the gravel trap. Sadly, that lap was up a considerable amount from my previous fast time. I’m looking forward to the race tomorrow and get a good result for the team.”