GRAND-AM Championship Weekend

Chip Ganassi wins Championship for 2013

 Was waiting for this to post, unlike many motorsports it seems Grand AM gives good highlights of the race but are held off for a week.  Well better late than never and this series was just fantastic this year, quite possibly the most exciting road racing has been Grand AM, along with announcers Brian Till, Bob Varsha, Calvin Fish and Dorsey, you guys are the best!

It was the final race in the 14-year history of the Rolex Series, which is merging with the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón and will debut as the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship beginning with the 2014 Rolex 24 At Daytona.

Full Standings 2013

Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates won its seventh DP team championship in 10 years and fourth in a row, finishing six points ahead of Wayne Taylor Racing. Yacaman finished the race second in the Michael Shank Racing’s No. 6 Aero/Tuvacol Ford/Riley started by Justin Wilson, followed by Pruett and Rojas, who were seeking their fourth straight championship.

 “This is bittersweet,” Pruett said. “GRAND-AM’s been home for us for the last 10 years, and you hate to see it end – even though there’s a new beginning ahead. I enjoyed the last 10 years and everything we've achieved.  At least no one can break our records.”

63 Scuderia Corsa pulls the championship in GT, 44 Magnus Racing 2nd and 57 Stevenson Motorsports was 3rd in points.

As for the GX class 38 BGB Motorsports wins the series followed by 00 Visit Florida Racing/Speedsource and 3rd place goes to 70 Mazdaspeed/Speedsource, so the little engine that could pulls a 2nd and 3rd, pretty awesome for the first time out on the track!

Ford's new DP 3.5-liter V6 EcoBoost for 2014

 Alright a new series to look forward to and how about this, DEARBORN, Mich., Oct. 1, 2013 - As part of its continuing strategy to introduce product-relevant technology into racing, Ford announced today plans to bring its 3.5-liter V6 EcoBoost racing engine to the 2014 TUDOR United SportsCar Championship series. The new engine, which will debut at the 2014 Rolex 24 at Daytona on Jan. 25-26 and run the entire 12-race season, will power a new-look Daytona Prototype car, created with Ford corporate design influence.  Michael Shank Racing is on board as the first team to put EcoBoost power behind its DP car.

2014 Ford's EcoBoost 3.5 liter V6 Twin Turbo

Bringing a direct-injected, twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6 EcoBoost engine to the United SportsCar Championship in a field of competitive V8-powered entries.  We want to show Ford EcoBoost’s capabilities as an engine that provides both performance and fuel economy, on and off the track. 

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Grand Am Racing Road America

Grand AM News:

 It was the first GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series victory for both drivers of the No. 8 Starworks Motorsport BMW/Riley.  The turn of events that put Hartley and Mayer  of Franklin, Wis.  in victory lane began with misfortune for Starworks teammates Ryan Dalziel and Alex Popow, who won the Brickyard Grand Prix at Indianapolis in the No. 2 Soloson BMW/Riley.  Dalziel lost his engine exiting the pits after a stop with one hour remaining and came to a stop at the exit of Turn 1  bringing out the first caution of the race.  Action Express Racing finished second and third. Joao Barbosa finished 4.290 seconds behind Hartley in the No. 5 Corvette DP started by Christian Fittipaldi.  

Polesitter Dane Cameron and co-driver Wayne Nonnamaker dominated much of the race in the No. 42 Team Sahlen’s BMW/Riley.  Cameron broke an axle while leading on lap 54 – moments before the engine let go in Stephane Sarrazin’s No. 3 Corvette DP resulting in a spin to Wayne Nonnamaker in the No. 43 Team Sahlen’s BMW/Riley to bring out the final caution.

Bill Auberlen prevailed in a terrific battle with Patrick Long to join Paul Dalla Lana in winning GT in the No. 94 Turner Motorsport BMW M3, their third victory of the season.  Long finished second in the No. 73 Park Place Motorsports Porsche GT3 started by Patrick Lindsey, followed by Michael Marsal and Maxime Martin in the No. 93 Turner Motorsport BMW M3 and Indianapolis winner Jeff Segal, who was joined by Ken Wilden in the No. 61 R. Ferri/AIM Motorsport Ferrari 458.

The little engine that could, Joel Miller led the final four laps to take his fourth GX victory in the No. 00 Visit Florida Racing/SpeedSource Mazda 6, joined by three-time winner Tristan Nunez. Points leader Jim Norman and Spencer Pumpelly finished second in the No. 38 BGB Motorsports Porsche Cayman. 

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