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TRANS AM: Johnson Controls Triple Challenge Up For Grabs

25 October 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

Johnson Controls 100 At Las Vegas To Decide Bonus Winner

Miami --After finishing on the podium at both Long Beach and Detroit, Willy T. Ribbs (#16 Simple Green Chevrolet Camaro) holds a narrow three point lead, 53 to 50, over Brian Simo (#88 Tommy Bahama Mangusta Qvale) as the BFGoodrich Tires Trans-Am Series heads into the final round of the Johnson Controls Triple Challenge this weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The third round of the Triple Challenge, the Johnson Controls 100, will be run as part of the Grand Prix of Las Vegas on October 29 at 6:15 p.m.

Ribbs finished second to Tomy Drissi (#15 Drissi Advertising Ford Mustang Cobra) in the initial Johnson Controls 100 at Long Beach on April 16. Ribbs finished third in the second round on June 17 in Detroit behind Paul Gentilozzi (#1 Johnson Controls HomeLink Jaguar XKR) and Simo to take the lead in the Triple Challenge. Gentilozzi ranks third in the Triple Challenge standings with 49 points.

The Johnson Controls Triple Challenge will pay a guaranteed bonus payout of $27,500. The three Johnson Controls 100 races comprise the Johnson Controls Triple Challenge, which pays $20,000 to the driver who totals the most Drivers points over the three Triple Challenge races, and a bonus of three Drivers Championship points, a bonus that could decide the Championship title. The second-place Triple Challenge finisher will receive a $5,000 cash bonus with the third place driver receiving a $2,500 prize.

This weekends Johnson Controls 100 is Round 11 of the 12-Race BFGoodrich Tires Trans-Am Series. Gentilozzi holds a 30-point lead over Simo in the Drivers Championship points total, 248 to 218.

"To win the Johnson Controls Triple Challenge would be awesome," said Ribbs. "This is really the only title that I have a chance of achieving this season. I have been in the right place at the right time in the first two Johnson Controls 100s and the car was reasonably strong. But Simo and Gentilozzi are going to be all over me this weekend and the last round of the Triple Challenge will not be a piece of cake. I have my work cut out for me."

Weekend Facts

What: The BFGoodrich Tires Trans-Am Series enters Round 11 of its 35th season here as part of the Grand Prix of Las Vegas. This weekends BFGoodrich Tires Trans-Am race, the Johnson Controls 100, will be the 390th in Trans-Am Series history.

Television: Sundays race will be televised live by Speedvision. An encore presentation will be aired by Fox Sports Net on November 3 at 12:00 p.m.

Race Length: 40-laps of the 2.52-mile course for 100.80 miles

Text Provided By David Lang

Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot racing photos and art, visit The Racing Photo Museum and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.