The Glen 250 post race report
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06-21-2004 | 02:22 PM
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The Glen 250 post race report
June 21, 2004
Dear Corporate Partners, Friends, Family and Fans,
The Glen 250 report
We arrived at the Glen on Thursday to find the skies cloudy and looking like rain. And, in true Watkins Glen fashion, the skies opened up as we began to unload. Once we opened the transporter and inspected the cars, we found both cars had shifted during trip, resulting in a broken windshield on the #20. Since we would not pass tech, or be allowed out on the track like this, we immediately went to work finding a replacement. We usually carry a spare, but not this time! We were able to locate a windshield and have it installed Friday morning in enough time to get through tech.
Friday morning the crew was busy going through the checklists and preparing the cars. The Grand Am techs had to inspect over 100 cars in just 5 hours. We passed tech just 30 minutes before we were to go out for our first practice session.
This weekend we had two practice sessions on Friday, one practice,
qualifying and the race on Saturday. The first practice was a 60-minute session. This was good for us as we were breaking in a new engine and collecting data on how the MINI's would perform on this 3.5-mile long racecourse. The tone was set early as a Black flag halted the practice on the 4th lap. All our drivers were able to get time in the cars during this practice session and afterwards we discussed the handling and made the necessary adjustments.
Practice 2 and 3 was more of the same with black flags halting sessions and interrupting practice.
Qualifying was next and the cars were ready, except for tires. It had been raining hard for over an hour. So we waited until the last minute to choose tires. We went with wets for both cars. As we pulled onto the track, the rain stopped but the track was soaked so it seemed like the right choice. David was in the #21 Car and got on track first with no one in front of him, a great position. I was in the #20 car and was positioned 3 cars behind David. A BMW just behind David was on dry tires. As we went out David was gone in a shot. The BMW was sliding all over the track and couldn't go fast. We had a hard time getting around him, but finally did about half way around the first lap. By the 3rd lap the line was drying out and the rain tires where getting slower. By the 5th lap, the cars on dry tires passed me like I was standing still! David turned a great lap early and qualified the 21 car 7th in class. I had a horrible qualifying and would start the 20 car at the back of the grid in 24th.
The skies cleared and the track dried by the time our race rolled around.
The race was filled with crashes, bringing out 7 full course cautions, which caused the race to go the to the 3 hour limit. Usually, the race goes the maximum number of laps (74 for this race) not the time limit. With GS cars being faster than the ST's, they usually complete the race in less than two and a half hours.
The RACE
David got off to a good start in the 21 car and was running up front until
the engine began to misfire and lose power. He continued to race hard, but was losing positions- mostly on the restarts after the first two full course yellows.
The third full course yellow came out on lap 28. I had started 24th was
running 10th in class when I brought the 20 car in. We added fuel and
changed tires. Steve got in the car and was ready to bring the car home to strong finish, unaware that he was about to be the cause of the fourth full course yellow of the race after just one lap in the car.
On his out lap, he was entering the boot, a high speed down hill, when a
Porsche hit him from behind, sending him off the track and into the tire
wall. It was a very hard hit, which finished the car for the day. Steve was taken to medical where he was checked over and released. The impact proved how tough our little MINI's really are-with most of the damage being to the sheet metal.
David pitted the 21 car just as Steve had left the pit stall. The 21 car
took on fuel and tires and Shane got in the car. Shane got one lap before the course went yellow because of the 20 car. As Shane drove by the boot he radioed in that Steve was out of the car and walking around, this was good news, as we knew he was okay.
The track went green and Shane began to do what he does best, work the traffic. The next full course yellow came out on lap 43. In just 10 laps, Shane has moved up to 4th in class.
Lap 50 brought out another full course caution the shortest of the race and on lap 54, the race went green. Unfortunately, the 21 car began to cutout and Shane had to pit under green for a splash of fuel. As luck would have it, as Shane exited the pits, the last full course yellow came out and the race would end under caution.
This was a great day for us! Our goal was to finish the race, something that has eluded us for a very long time. We accomplished that goal. And if not for the crash, the 20 car would have finished also. With the excitement of seeing the 21 car running 4th with 10 minutes left in the race then getting caught out with the yellows, we tend to think of this as not a great weekend but it was.
We had both cars in the top 10 at different times during the race. But more importantly, we have gotten the monkey off our back. The crew did an absolutely fabulous job. There were zero mistakes; our pit
stops were flawless and fast. Congratulations for a job well done goes out to everyone. We have our work cut out for us as we prepare for the next race at Mid-Ohio in August.
Watch the Television broadcast of The Glen 250 Race on Speed TV Sunday, June 27th
-- http://www.speedtv.com/programs/122/ -- Check your local listing for the correct time. The Speed's schedule says 6PM EST; Grand Am shows 2 PM EST.
Nuzzo Motorsports wants to thank all our sponsors for their support during the 2004 season.
MINI USA http://www.MINIUSA.com
Habberstad MINI http://www.HabberstadMINI.com
Grafik Dezine http://www.GrafikDezine.com
BOSCH http://www.BOSCHUSA.com
BBS wheels http://www.BBS.com
The Drive Shaft Shop http://www.driveshaftshop.com
RPM Racing http://www.Rpmracinginc.com
Mini Mania http://www.MiniMania.com
Marren Fuel Injection http://www.injector.com/
Autosport Image http://www.Autosportimage.com
Cyntex Tuning - 610-738-8804
KW Suspensions http://www.kwsuspension.com
Phantom Grip http://www.phantomgrip.com
Shane Lewis http://www.shanelewis.com/
Photos by Juha http://www.Photosbyjuha.com/
For further details, please contact Tony Nuzzo at 516-674-1441
In addition, visit http://www.nuzzomotorsports.com/ for race news, photos and video.
###
Dear Corporate Partners, Friends, Family and Fans,
The Glen 250 report
We arrived at the Glen on Thursday to find the skies cloudy and looking like rain. And, in true Watkins Glen fashion, the skies opened up as we began to unload. Once we opened the transporter and inspected the cars, we found both cars had shifted during trip, resulting in a broken windshield on the #20. Since we would not pass tech, or be allowed out on the track like this, we immediately went to work finding a replacement. We usually carry a spare, but not this time! We were able to locate a windshield and have it installed Friday morning in enough time to get through tech.
Friday morning the crew was busy going through the checklists and preparing the cars. The Grand Am techs had to inspect over 100 cars in just 5 hours. We passed tech just 30 minutes before we were to go out for our first practice session.
This weekend we had two practice sessions on Friday, one practice,
qualifying and the race on Saturday. The first practice was a 60-minute session. This was good for us as we were breaking in a new engine and collecting data on how the MINI's would perform on this 3.5-mile long racecourse. The tone was set early as a Black flag halted the practice on the 4th lap. All our drivers were able to get time in the cars during this practice session and afterwards we discussed the handling and made the necessary adjustments.
Practice 2 and 3 was more of the same with black flags halting sessions and interrupting practice.
Qualifying was next and the cars were ready, except for tires. It had been raining hard for over an hour. So we waited until the last minute to choose tires. We went with wets for both cars. As we pulled onto the track, the rain stopped but the track was soaked so it seemed like the right choice. David was in the #21 Car and got on track first with no one in front of him, a great position. I was in the #20 car and was positioned 3 cars behind David. A BMW just behind David was on dry tires. As we went out David was gone in a shot. The BMW was sliding all over the track and couldn't go fast. We had a hard time getting around him, but finally did about half way around the first lap. By the 3rd lap the line was drying out and the rain tires where getting slower. By the 5th lap, the cars on dry tires passed me like I was standing still! David turned a great lap early and qualified the 21 car 7th in class. I had a horrible qualifying and would start the 20 car at the back of the grid in 24th.
The skies cleared and the track dried by the time our race rolled around.
The race was filled with crashes, bringing out 7 full course cautions, which caused the race to go the to the 3 hour limit. Usually, the race goes the maximum number of laps (74 for this race) not the time limit. With GS cars being faster than the ST's, they usually complete the race in less than two and a half hours.
The RACE
David got off to a good start in the 21 car and was running up front until
the engine began to misfire and lose power. He continued to race hard, but was losing positions- mostly on the restarts after the first two full course yellows.
The third full course yellow came out on lap 28. I had started 24th was
running 10th in class when I brought the 20 car in. We added fuel and
changed tires. Steve got in the car and was ready to bring the car home to strong finish, unaware that he was about to be the cause of the fourth full course yellow of the race after just one lap in the car.
On his out lap, he was entering the boot, a high speed down hill, when a
Porsche hit him from behind, sending him off the track and into the tire
wall. It was a very hard hit, which finished the car for the day. Steve was taken to medical where he was checked over and released. The impact proved how tough our little MINI's really are-with most of the damage being to the sheet metal.
David pitted the 21 car just as Steve had left the pit stall. The 21 car
took on fuel and tires and Shane got in the car. Shane got one lap before the course went yellow because of the 20 car. As Shane drove by the boot he radioed in that Steve was out of the car and walking around, this was good news, as we knew he was okay.
The track went green and Shane began to do what he does best, work the traffic. The next full course yellow came out on lap 43. In just 10 laps, Shane has moved up to 4th in class.
Lap 50 brought out another full course caution the shortest of the race and on lap 54, the race went green. Unfortunately, the 21 car began to cutout and Shane had to pit under green for a splash of fuel. As luck would have it, as Shane exited the pits, the last full course yellow came out and the race would end under caution.
This was a great day for us! Our goal was to finish the race, something that has eluded us for a very long time. We accomplished that goal. And if not for the crash, the 20 car would have finished also. With the excitement of seeing the 21 car running 4th with 10 minutes left in the race then getting caught out with the yellows, we tend to think of this as not a great weekend but it was.
We had both cars in the top 10 at different times during the race. But more importantly, we have gotten the monkey off our back. The crew did an absolutely fabulous job. There were zero mistakes; our pit
stops were flawless and fast. Congratulations for a job well done goes out to everyone. We have our work cut out for us as we prepare for the next race at Mid-Ohio in August.
Watch the Television broadcast of The Glen 250 Race on Speed TV Sunday, June 27th
-- http://www.speedtv.com/programs/122/ -- Check your local listing for the correct time. The Speed's schedule says 6PM EST; Grand Am shows 2 PM EST.
Nuzzo Motorsports wants to thank all our sponsors for their support during the 2004 season.
MINI USA http://www.MINIUSA.com
Habberstad MINI http://www.HabberstadMINI.com
Grafik Dezine http://www.GrafikDezine.com
BOSCH http://www.BOSCHUSA.com
BBS wheels http://www.BBS.com
The Drive Shaft Shop http://www.driveshaftshop.com
RPM Racing http://www.Rpmracinginc.com
Mini Mania http://www.MiniMania.com
Marren Fuel Injection http://www.injector.com/
Autosport Image http://www.Autosportimage.com
Cyntex Tuning - 610-738-8804
KW Suspensions http://www.kwsuspension.com
Phantom Grip http://www.phantomgrip.com
Shane Lewis http://www.shanelewis.com/
Photos by Juha http://www.Photosbyjuha.com/
For further details, please contact Tony Nuzzo at 516-674-1441
In addition, visit http://www.nuzzomotorsports.com/ for race news, photos and video.
###
Last edited by tnuzzo; 06-21-2004 at 02:42 PM. Reason: formatting