[font=Times New Roman]ˇEl Combate de Velocidad![/font]
[font=Times New Roman]
September 20, 2004

Nuzzo Motorsports scores top ten finish at Homestead-Miami

Due to the shortened schedule, there was no qualifying session so the starting grid was set according to points. This put us at the back of the field. We were forth fastest in the morning practice so we knew the cars would perform well.

After the usual two pace laps, the green flag dropped to start the race on schedule at 2:45PM. We immediately went to work and passed about six cars by turn 3. By the second lap, we were running 4th and 5th class. By lap five, we had posted the fastest race lap, which was not bested until lap 52. At race end after 100 laps, we still had the fourth fastest race lap.

The MINI’s were running strong and looked great racing nose to tail cutting through traffic, out braking and out handling the competition. Everything was going great until the 21 car came into the pits with a mechanical problem. The engine had dropped a valve and the car retired behind the wall. A post race inspection indicated that the engine was a complete write off.

The 20 car was working well and continued in fourth position challenging for position. A full course yellow came out and we use this opportunity to take on fuel. The pace car usually picks up the overall leader by allowing cars other than the leader to go around the pace car, this is called a point by. This continues until the leader is directly behind the pace car. We though the pace car had the leader because after several pace laps there were no point by’s. We pitted for fuel and went down a lap to our class leaders because the pace car had not picked up the leader. When we went back to racing, we were still running forth but now down a lap which at this track is very difficult to get back.

On lap 52 we were called into the pits by the officials for a stop and go penalty under green flag conditions for aggressive driving. We were supposed to get a warning before getting pulled in but never did. During the penalty, we are not allowed to fuel or work on the car. When the next full course yellow came out, we made a driver change, took on fuel and changed tires. When we went back to racing, we were gaining on the seventh place car by almost 2 seconds per lap. The team owner for that car told me he was glad the race ended because in a few more laps we would have passed him for position.

We came away with 8th place in the most physically challenging race to date. The demands on the drivers and equipment proved that we are finally getting the reliability and consistency we have been working towards.

The Nuzzo Motorsports MINI Cooper still holds the Homestead-Miami [/font][font=Times New Roman]Speedway track record for fastest lap turned by an ST Class car[/font][font=Times New Roman]. Shane set the record in March of this year, breaking the former record by nearly three seconds.

“The team did a great job under very grueling conditions. The heat and humidity was unbearable and the shortened schedule put everyone to test and they all passed with flying colors.”

The seasons review summary:
We have run in the top five in our last four races. [/font][font=Times New Roman]Homestead we lead the race until a fire took us out. Watkins Glen we were running forth with four laps to go we had to pit for a splash of fuel and were caught out when the race ended under yellow. Mid-Ohio we started fifth but developed a misfire at the start. Miami we ran forth and fifth with both cars.
[/font][font=Times New Roman]
We next head to Virginia October 1-2 were we will defend our ST Class track record which we set last year.
Come out to cheer us on and stop by the paddock for an up-close look at the Professional race MINI Cooper’s.

Nuzzo Motorsports wants to thank all our sponsors for their support during the 2004 season.

[/font][size=3]MINI USA http://www.MINIUSA.com
Habberstad MINI http://www.HabberstadMINI.com
Grafik Dezine http://www.GrafikDezine.com
RPM Racing http://www.Rpmracinginc.com
Mini Mania http://www.MiniMania.com
Marren Fuel Injection http://www.injector.com/
BOSCH http://www.BOSCHUSA.com
BBS wheels http://www.BBS.com
The Drive Shaft Shop http://www.driveshaftshop.com
Cyntex Tuning - 610-738-8804
Shane Lewis http://www.shanelewis.com
Photos by Juha http://www.Photosbyjuha.com
Autosport Image http://www.Autosportimage.com
KW Suspensions http://www.kwsuspension.com
Phantom Grip http://www.phantomgrip.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.
###
[/size]