SCCA Pro Racing returns to BIR next weekend
NEWS RELEASE August 26, 2010 SCCA Trans-Am Series returns to Brainerd Intıl Raceway Pro racing event joins Coca-Cola Muscle Car Shootout for incredible Labor Day weekend lineup BRAINERD, Minn. After a 20-year absence, the SCCA Trans-Am Series is returning to Brainerd International Raceway Labor Day weekend, joining the 22nd Annual Coca-Cola Muscle Car Shootout for a spectacular three days of motorsports Sept. 3-5. The Trans-Am Series will be on BIRıs 2.5-mile, 13-turn Competition Road Course Friday for testing and tuning, and then racing will be featured Saturday and Sunday. On the drag strip, the Muscle Car Shootout will feature the third and final race in the Outlaw Street Car Series, where racers in the ³fast five² classes will be battling for a track championship. Qualifying takes place Friday and Saturday, with eliminations on Sunday. Itıs a Dual Event Weekend where a single ticket gets fans in to see both races. The Trans-Am Series has a rich history at BIR. It was one of the trackıs most popular events in the 1970s and Œ80s, starting with the Uncola Nationals in 1974, which attracted 17,000 fans. Professional racers like NASCARıs Ken Schrader and Jimmy Spencer were among those who raced in the series at BIR. But it was actor Paul Newman who attracted the most attention. He set a lap record during the 1977 Uncola Nationals and then won races in 1978 and 1979. He won his first professional race during the 1982 Trans-Am Series race here. The Trans-Am Series plays an integral role in BIRıs efforts to re-establish itself as a major road racing track. When BIR was built in 1968, it was a road course first and a drag strip second, hosting some of the top racers in the country at the time during its Formula races, the Can-Am Series races, AMA Superbike races and, of course, the Trans-Am Series. Over time, the emphasis changed to drag racing and all the big road racing events disappeared. That all changed when Jed and Kristi Copham bought BIR in 2006 and pledged to bring back world-class road racing. The following year, they built a new section of track that created the Competition Road Course, a highly technical and challenging track that will host the Trans-Am Series. This season is the second full season for competitive racing on the new road course. ³For the first 20 years of its existence, Brainerd International Raceway was known for its professional road races that featured guys like Bobby Unser, Al Unser Jr., Michael Andretti, Tom Sneva and many other racers that were household names at the time,² Jed Copham said. ³It was great racing for the fans and a really important part of BIRıs history. We wanted to bring that level of motorsports back for Minnesotaıs race fans.² The Trans-Am Series event includes racing all three days, featuring Pro Formula Enterprise, Vintage, Pro Spec Racer Ford and, of course, the SCCA Pro Racing Trans-Am Series classes. Friday is testing sessions, followed by practice and qualifying sessions Saturday. Racing begins Sunday morning and culminates that afternoon with the 36-lap, 90-mile Trans-Am Series Race. On the drag strip, the weekend is the grand finale for Outlaw Street Car Series, a three-race competition for drag racers in the Outlaw, Pro Outlaw, King Street, Real Street Unlimited and Real Street Natural classes. Racers have earned series points during the two previous races (Street Car Showdown and NAPA Auto Parts Show & Go) and now have one last crack at a track championship. With a number of other classes competing as well, the racing will be fierce all weekend, as more than 400 drag racers are expected for the summerıs last fling. The Outlaw classes feature exciting wheel-standing racing, where cars will cover the quarter mile in 6-7 seconds at over 200 mph. Off the track, fans will be treated to a classic car show in the trackıs infield and live music Saturday night by Monsters of Mock, a 1980s tribute band. ³The Muscle Car Shootout is an annual favorite for a lot of our fans,² Copham said. ³With on-site camping available, we get a lot of families that make this their last family vacation for the summer. Thereıs a lot to see and do on-site and some fantastic racing on the track. With the addition of the Trans-Am Series, and with the Outlaw Street Car Series wrapping up, fans are sure to see some incredible racing.² Tickets are available at the gate. Daily admission is $20 for adults and $10 for kids. Now in its 42nd season, Brainerd International Raceway is one of North Americaıs largest race tracks, featuring a world-class quarter-mile drag strip, the 3.1-mile, 10-turn Donnybrooke Road Course, the 2.5-mile, 13-turn Competition Road Course, 300 acres for rustic camping, 164 full-service RV sites and 12 on-site condos. BIR is about 120 miles north of the Twin Cities. For more information, visit www.BrainerdRaceway.com, or call 1-866-444-4455. Editors: For more information or photos, contact PR Coordinator Geoff Gorvin at 218-821-9513. DAILY SCHEDULE Thursday Noon - Gates open for racer and spectator camping. Friday 8 am 4:30 pm Testing for all classes TAS 8:40-9:10 am SCCA Pro Trans-Am Series testing - TAS 10 am-5 pm Time Trials open for all classes MCS 11:15-11:45 am SCCA Pro Trans-Am Series testing - TAS Noon 1st Round qualifying: Real Street, King Street, Outlaw & Pro Outlaw MCS 2:45-3:15 pm SCCA Pro Trans-Am Series testing - TAS 4 pm 2nd Round qualifying: Real Street, King Street, Outlaw & Pro Outlaw MCS Saturday 8 am 12:20 pm Practice sessions TAS 9 am 6 pm Drag racing time trials MCS 10-10:30 am SCCA Pro Trans-Am Series practice session 1 pm 3rd round qualifying: Pro Outlaw, Outlaw, King Street, Real Street - MCS 1:15-6:15 pm Practice or qualifying for all classes TAS 1:55-2:25 pm SCCA Pro Trans-Am qualifying session 2 pm Powder Puff time trial (time permitting) - MCS 3 pm Powder Puff eliminations (time permitting) - MCS 3:30 pm 4th round qualifying: Pro Outlaw, Outlaw, King Street, Real Street - MCS 6:30 pm 4 laps on the road course for competitors in the ³Street Classes² - MCS 9 pm 1 am Live music by Monsters of Mock at the Wheelie Bar & Grill next to the track condos Sunday 8:30 am Qualifying and racing begin - TAS 9 am Class eliminations begin - MCS 10-10:20 am SCCA Pro Trans-Am Series warm-up TAS 2:35 pm SCCA Pro Trans-Am Series pre-race ceremony & driver introduction 2:45-4 pm SCCA Pro Trans-Am Series Race: 36 laps/90 miles MCS Muscle Car Shootout TAS SCCA Trans-Am Series