Monthly Archives: August 2012

Brumos Set for Return to Watkins Glen, Ready for a Victory

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brumos-59Monday, August 06, 2012

Following their memorable Indy podium, Brumos Racing can’t think of any place they would rather be than heading back to Watkins Glen. The Glen has long been a special home-away-from-home track for the Jacksonville, Florida, based team. Since 1969, when it was the site of Hurley Haywood’s professional driving debut, to 2011 and Brumos’ first GT victory, the Glen has hosted many Brumos successes through the years. The Continental Tire 200 brings the Rolex Series back to Watkins Glen for the second time this season, but there are few similarities between the two events. From the longest race outside of the Rolex 24 to the one of the shortest at two hours, the races are run on different courses requiring completely different strategies. Last year Brumos showed great promise in the short race as the #59 qualified in 2nd with Andrew Davis and Leh Keen combining to lead the race for 23 laps.

Leh Keen is well aware of the Brumos legacy at the Glen, saying, “Brumos is always so strong at Watkins Glen that it’s almost not fair we get to race there twice each year!” Keen has a streak of his own to extend in 2012, having visited Watkins Glen’s Victory Lane each year since 2009. “For the past three years I have won a Rolex Series race at the Glen,” he explained. “I have won the Six Hour race twice and I won on the short course in 2010. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to repeat a Brumos win this year at the Six Hours, so we will have to win this race so that I can keep my streak going. I really love both races here, and the short course is just as much fun as the long one. It is not quite as difficult, technically, but it makes up for that in speed. It is very much a rhythm course. We are feeling great after our podium at Indy and racing for wins in each event. We have had three podiums this year, but we are still looking for that first big Brumos win. With four races left, we are pushing hard to get to back to the podium and to be there on the top step this time.”

For Andrew Davis, the short course is all about the speed. “I feel that we are taking strong momentum with us into our race at the Glen,” he said. “We had a week off and now we are ready to do battle. The short circuit is quite a contrast from the full road course we used for the Six Hour race, seeing that several tight corners and heavy brake zones are absent. What is left makes for some of the fastest average lap speeds that one can find anywhere in the world, so the race will certainly be exciting for the fans and drivers. What strikes me as the most impressive aspect of the short course is how we have to deal with the faster traffic. Since the lap times are quick we will see the DP’s more often, and they have been quite aggressive in the past. However, I am confident that everyone at Brumos will be prepared to take the fight to the competition and to make it two podiums in a row for the famous Brumos #59.”

The Continental Tire 200 at the Glen is Round 10 of the Rolex Series season and will be held on Saturday, August 11th at 6:15 PM ET. It will be broadcast on SPEED TV with coverage beginning at 6:00 PM and streamed live on MotorRacingNetwork.com.

MacNeil and Keen Awarded Third at Mid-Ohio

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895LEXINGTON, OHIO, (Aug. 4, 2012) – Alex Job Racing’s (AJR) Cooper MacNeil and Leh Keen drove the No. 22 Weather Tech Racing AJR Porsche to a fourth-place finish in today’s running of the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) Mid-Ohio Sports Car Challenge at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. However, at the end of the race it was deemed that the GTC Class winning No. 11 Porsche violated IMSA rules by having one driver spend too much time in the car resulting in their disqualification, awarding the last podium position to MacNeil and Keen.

MacNeil (Hinsdale, ILL) had the wheel for the start of the two-hour-and-forty-five minute race at the natural terrain 2.25-mile, 13-turn Mid-Ohio circuit. MacNeil had a strong start to the race driving the white and black WeatherTech Porsche to as high as third. The heat played havoc with the set-up of the car as the team was chasing the handling even during the race. So much so they pitted MacNeil under caution to make an early front sway bar adjustment, uncommon for the team from Florida.

Keen (Charleston, SC) took over on lap 41 and couldn’t drive up to the leaders in the GTC category. A bright spot on the day was the team finished ahead of the 34 car, their closest pursuers in the GTC championship.

“Pretty tough weekend all around,” Keen said. “The AJR guys worked real hard. We made a lot of changes on the WeatherTech Porsche. In the end we had a decent car, but not as good as the guys up front. We gained points on the 34 car that is key to Cooper’s championship run. That is the positive on the day. Cooper and I have finished on the podium in every race so far. We will take this one as a gift to keep that streak going.”

MacNeil still has a healthy lead in the GTC points standings.

“We kind of missed the set-up a little this weekend,” MacNeil said. “We just couldn’t get that small adjustment in there to get the car exactly like we needed it this weekend. We couldn’t get the rear-end stable. It always wanted to come around. And then we would transition to under steer We finished ahead of the 34 car which key to our championship run.

Team owner, Alex Job, had his team chasing the track all weekend.

“For some reason we couldn’t get Leh and Cooper comfortable with the car this weekend,” Job said. “That is unusual for us. They provide good feedback, and we need to come up with the combination of set-up to help them go fast. We weren’t way out of the Ball Park. We just needed that extra tweak to be able to take some time out of the really fast guys in the category. On the plus side we maintain a healthy points lead for Cooper, which is good, even though we were a little off this weekend.”

The team will travel to Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin for the Road America Road Race Showcase to be run Aug. 16-18.

Alex Job Racing is one of the most successful teams in ALMS history with 42 wins. This record is supported by 48 pole positions and 102 podium finishes. The team has won three championships (GT in 2002, 2003 and 2004) complimented by their two GT class wins at Le Mans. The team also boasts eight Sebring 12-hour victories.

The ALMS GTC category is specific to one of the most popular factory produced racing cars in the world, the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup. Developed for Porsche’s one-make series around the world, the new version of the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup is based on the road-going 911 GT3 RS. The power unit featured in the new 911 GT3 Cup is largely identical to the production engine of the 911 GT3 RS with the same output of 450 bhp and the same maximum engine speed of 8,500 rpm.

MacNeil and Keen will Start Fourth at Mid-Ohio

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894LEXINGTON, OHIO, (Aug. 3, 2012) – Alex Job Racing’s (AJR) Cooper MacNeil and Leh Keen will start the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) Mid-Ohio Sports Car Challenge at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course from the second row in GTC tomorrow, Aug.4.

The team utilized yesterday’s open practice and today’s official sessions to get the white and black WeatherTech Porsche to handle around the undulating 2.25-mile, 13-turn Mid-Ohio circuit. Keen had the controls of the No. 22 WeatherTech Racing Porsche for qualifying. He was able to post a time of 1:25.814. The time didn’t come easy as the driver from Charleston, SC pitted during the session in search of a better balanced car.

“It has been a little frustrating this weekend,” Keen said. “Yesterday we had a radiator pop on us, so we lost some practice time. The car on old tires is really good. We ran on older tires within two-tenths of my qualifying time. When we get on sticker tires the car doesn’t seem to want to work. Right now we have a chatter in the front and rear causing the car to skip across the pavement. Then when the tire gets some heat in it, the car handles well, but the “goodie” is off the tire by then. With Coopers points lead we are focusing on having a good race car. We will try some things in the morning warm-up and be ready for the race.”

MacNeil (Hinsdale, Ill.), who is leading the GTC driver points, is ready for a strong race tomorrow.

“We have been really working on the set-up of the car for qualifying, so Leh did a lot of laps today,” MacNeil said. “The traffic here is crazy. The track is busy with a lot of tight corners. The car is ok. The team is chasing the heat of the track. It is around 90-degrees out here today. The track surface is greasy and we are trying to get the WeatherTech AJR Porsche compliant with the track. We have some work to do, but we should have a good race car for tomorrow.”

Alex Job, team owner, is keeping the team focused on the championship.

“Leh was a little frustrated when he got out of the car after qualifying,” Job said. “The track is hot and that makes matching the car to the conditions sometimes difficult. What felt right this morning is no longer working in the heat of the afternoon. We have tomorrow during warm-up to try a change or two. We will get the car right for the race. We are focused more on a good race car than a good qualifying car.”

The Mid-Ohio Sports Car Challenge race broadcast can be viewed Aug. 4 at 2:00 p.m. EDT on ABC with live streaming available Aug. 4 at 12:45 p.m. EDT at alms.com.

Alex Job Racing is one of the most successful teams in ALMS history with 42 wins. This record is supported by 48 pole positions and 102 podium finishes. The team has won three championships (GT in 2002, 2003 and 2004) complimented by their two GT class wins at Le Mans. The team also boasts eight Sebring 12-hour victories.

The ALMS GTC category is specific to one of the most popular factory produced racing cars in the world, the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup. Developed for Porsche’s one-make series around the world, the new version of the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup is based on the road-going 911 GT3 RS. The power unit featured in the new 911 GT3 Cup is largely identical to the production engine of the 911 GT3 RS with the same output of 450 bhp and the same maximum engine speed of 8,500 rpm.

WeatherTech Racing’s MacNeil and Keen Ready for Mid-Ohio

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892TAVARES, FLA., (July 31, 2012) – Alex Job Racing’s (AJR) Cooper MacNeil and Leh Keen are taking a large GTC points lead into the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) Mid-Ohio Sports Car Challenge to be run at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course Aug. 2-4.

MacNeil (Hinsdale, Ill.) holds a 12-point lead in GTC over his closest pursuer, which is now his teammate Keen (Charleston, SC). Keen has moved into second place, even though he has missed a race due to a scheduling conflict. The third-place driver is 21 points behind MacNeil.

MacNeil kept in racing shape during the Le Mans break, running in selected SCCA events.

“Mid-Ohio is a great track,” MacNeil said. “I did a couple of races there a month ago in the BMW (SCCA) and cannot wait to take the points leading WeatherTech AJR Porsche there this weekend. Turn One and the Key Hole are important corners because they lead onto the longest straights on the track. Leh has already been there this year in a Porsche, so we will have the car handling great.”

Keen has ridden a roller coaster of emotions at Mid-Ohio.

“Mid-Ohio is kind of a special place for me,” Keen said. “I have had the ultimate highs and lows of racing there. I had a season-ending crash in 2007, but then came back-to-back wins in 2008 and 2009. Then we won the championship in the ROLEX Series there last year! It’s just one of those tracks for me. Mid-Ohio is a technical track that has a fast flow. It’s very important to have a good car as the track asks everything from the handling. Last year with Alex we had a great car and were running strong and looking for the race win. But, unfortunately, a mistake from the pace car ended in a penalty and took away our chances. We had a great weekend at Mosport and have extended Cooper’s lead into something we need to hold. We have to start thinking championship now, but the best way to win a championship is to win races. So we are definitely going for the win at Mid-Ohio this weekend.”

Alex Job, team owner, has the WeatherTech Racing team leading the points with a nice margin.

“With the Green Hornet team not finishing at Mosport that really helped our points lead,” Job said. “We even have Leh up there in second place, which is really nice. The points margin is good to have, but we know that anything can happen. Both Cooper and Leh have miles at Mid-Ohio already this season. We are going in there looking for another strong weekend. Cooper and Leh are really running well together, and the team is supporting them with a good car, great pit stops and strong strategy.”

The team travels to central Ohio for the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Challenge to be run Aug. 2-4. Qualifying can be viewed live Aug. 3 at 12:15 p.m. EDT on ESPN 3.com, the race broadcast can we viewed Aug. 4 at 2:00 p.m. EDT on ABC with live streaming available Aug. 4 at 12:45 p.m. EDT on ESPN3.com.

Alex Job Racing is one of the most successful teams in ALMS history with 42 wins. This record is supported by 48 pole positions and 102 podium finishes. The team has won three championships (GT in 2002, 2003 and 2004) complimented by their two GT class wins at Le Mans. The team also boasts eight Sebring 12-hour victories.

The ALMS GTC category is specific to one of the most popular factory produced racing cars in the world, the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup. Developed for Porsche’s one-make series around the world, the new version of the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup is based on the road-going 911 GT3 RS. The power unit featured in the new 911 GT3 Cup is largely identical to the production engine of the 911 GT3 RS with the same output of 450 bhp and the same maximum engine speed of 8,500 rpm.

Brumos Closes Out a Successful Indy Debut on the Podium

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indy-2012July 27, 2012

Following years of planning and preparation, competitors were eager to take to the track for the series’ first race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Besides its historical significance, the highly anticipated event promised plenty of excitement. There was no shortage of action in the race, which featured torrential rains and numerous incidents, resulting in nine full course cautions. Andrew Davis and Leh Keen managed to steer the #59 Brumos Porsche out of harm’s way to end their strong run in 3rd place, capturing a coveted spot on the Indy podium.

The inaugural Indy race was a dream come true for Andrew Davis, who qualified the Brumos #59 Porsche 911 GT3 in 4th place. “As an American driver, to be racing at Indy and now to be on the podium here is tremendous,” Davis said. “These one-day schedules are really tough, but the teams that are best prepared are the ones who are on the podium. I really commend the Brumos team for all of their hard work and for not giving up on us. The race was really eventful. We hadn’t been on the track in the wet at all, so the rain-soaked start was a challenge. It was close-quarters racing and I quickly realized it was going to be about survival. There were treacherous conditions and some really close calls with a lot of cars going off. We had great pit stops and strategy, and Leh did a phenomenal job his entire stint, but especially in the last hour. We thought we had something for the lead car, but racing is so competitive in the GT class that it can go wrong quickly. We were getting ready to make a move for P1 and then, in three corners, we were P3, but Leh was able to save the podium for us, so I thank him for his strong drive. We are excited for the rest of the season – this is the kick-start we needed and now Brumos is on a roll.”

Leh Keen, who was running in P2 with five minutes left in the race, was happy to be on his first Indy podium. “It was great day and a hectic day,” he said. “I want to thank Andrew for being here for the test earlier this month and putting in all the work when I wasn’t able to attend. The car came off the truck in good shape as a result of everyone’s hard work and I knew we were going to run strong. This was really a wild race – as soon as the track would begin to dry, it would start raining again, and it was chaos out there. It was a challenge to just keep the car on the track at times. It feels great to end the day on the podium here at Indy and the podium is what our guys deserve. I felt that I had something in the end for the lead car, but the racing that this track created at the end was just unbelievable, so I am definitely happy with our 3rd place finish. I am thrilled to make history here at Indy as part of a historic team like Brumos Racing.”

The Brickyard Grand Prix was the final round of the North American Endurance Championship. Brumos Racing finished 4th place in the Team Championship, while Davis and Keen earned 3rd place in the Driver Championship. In overall standings, Brumos gained a position and moved up to 4th place as they prepare to return to Watkins Glen for a 2.0 hour race, which will be held on Saturday, August 11, 2012.