NWR Drivers Start 2-3 For Race At Trois-Riveres

Mundelein, August 15, 2009: Qualifying today for round nine of the Atlantic Championship at the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivieres was another close battle for pole position. Just like many that we have seen thus far in the 2009 season, it came down to the wire. Newman Wachs Racing drivers John Edwards and Jonathan Summerton were right in the thick of the fight, ending up 2nd and 3rd for tomorrow’s race.

Both NWR drivers were in the top-three during yesterday’s practice sessions at the 1.5-mile street course, but as Edwards indicated, it would come down to the wire for pole position. Just two-tenths of a second separate the pole sitter and 3rd place, with four-hundredths separating the NWR teammates. Summerton was quickest overall yesterday, and Edwards, 3rd, so both know they have the speed to contend for the win tomorrow.

Summerton won from the pole last weekend at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, and Edwards did the same the previous two rounds at Autobahn Country Club. The pair would like to keep the Newman Wachs Racing cars on the top step of the podium and continue their hunt for the Championship. Edwards and Summerton trail points leader by just 16 and 22 points, respectively.

John Edwards, #36 MAZDASPEED/ Nuclear Clean Air Energy/ Entergy/ NEI/ Newman Wachs Racing: (P2; Fastest Lap 58.832 seconds)

“It’s interesting being on the same team with Jonathan (Summerton). We’ve sort of had opposite weekends until now. I struggled when we came off the trailer, and he was quick. Then we went in the right direction and I guess they made some changes in the wrong direction. I was quite happy to be fighting for pole there at the end. It’s a bit disappointing, as always, when you don’t grab pole, but I was really happy that the car was where it is. We’ve improved a lot, because, quite frankly, I was very disappointed with fourth this morning in practice. It was really good to fix that and move back up to the front row. It’s going to be hard because the straights are very short here. Hopefully we just get a good start, settle in and then see if we can get quicker than Simona, but so far this weekend, she’s been right on pace in every session. We’ll analyze the car and see if we can make it better for tomorrow and hopefully get the win.”

Jonathan Summerton, #34 Nuclear Clean Air Energy/ Entergy/ NEI/ Newman Wachs Racing: (P3; Fastest Lap 58.872 seconds)

“It was definitely a hot session. I really don’t know where we went with the car. It definitely was not in the right direction. It’s very disappointing, actually, to be where we are after being so strong in practice. The guys did a great job on the car, we just made a little bit of a mistake with the set-up. It’s going to be a hard race tomorrow, a long race, and very warm, but we’re going to do our best. We’re going to go back there tonight and figure out what the problem was.”