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Bob Stallings Racing set for season-opening Daytona 24H

Alex Gurney, Jon Fogarty, Memo Gidley and Darren Law seek to deliver first Rolex 24 win in No. 99 GAINSCO Auto Insurance Corvette Daytona Prototype

#99 GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing Corvette DP: Jon Fogarty, Alex Gurney, Memo Gidley, Darren Law

#99 GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing Corvette DP: Jon Fogarty, Alex Gurney, Memo Gidley, Darren Law

Eric Gilbert

DAYTONA BEACH – GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing, and drivers Alex Gurney, Jon Fogarty, Memo Gidley and Darren Law, are set to tackle the opening round of the 2013 GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series season in the No. 99 GAINSCO Auto Insurance Corvette Daytona Prototype at this weekend’s Rolex 24 At Daytona, January 26 – 27.

#99 GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing Corvette DP: Jon Fogarty, Alex Gurney, Memo Gidley, Darren Law
#99 GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing Corvette DP: Jon Fogarty, Alex Gurney, Memo Gidley, Darren Law

Photo by: Eric Gilbert

The 2013 Rolex 24 starts the eighth straight season Gurney and Fogarty will co-drive together in the No. 99 GAINSCO “Red Dragon.” They are now the longest-running pair on the grid in terms of consecutive active starts, with 87, after racing together for the first time five races into the 2006 season. They have been teammates ever since.

“Jon and I have built up a lot of mutual trust and respect over the years and the fact that we are still together is evidence that this combination works very well,” Gurney said. “We have similar driving styles and we have definitely honed our craft together and made each other stronger in every way. We are both very hungry to have many more wins and championships!”

Beyond driving together, the two have established a friendship and relationship that spurs them to keep improving, and in turn, has pushed the GAINSCO team forward for the entirety of their time as co-drivers.

“Running 87 races together sounds like a lot, but it does not feel that way,” Fogarty said. “Alex and I have been doing this quite a while, but racing is such a challenge it always feels exciting, and there is always something to learn. Racing never gets old. Alex and I have always had a healthy level of competition with one another, but also a ton of respect and a great friendship. This dynamic works great in sports car racing and I think our results are indicative of this relationship. Another thing we agree on is we need more wins and championships – shared goals!”

The longest streak of consecutive starts for Daytona Prototype drivers is held by Darren Law and David Donohue at 110. In an ironic twist, Law extends his own series-leading start streak by joining the team now closing on that number for this year’s Rolex 24. Daytona marks Law’s first start in the No. 99 GAINSCO/BobStallingsCars.com Corvette.

“It's a nice stat, but the thing that's most important to me is to win this race,” Law said. “I’m very grateful and happy to have the opportunity. This is an important race and it's good to have the extra support. Not only does GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing have a great team and great drivers and a great car, they've got great support behind them. It makes us want to work that much harder to win it for them.”

The fourth driver working to deliver GAINSCO’s first Rolex 24 victory is Memo Gidley, back after making his debut with the team in last year’s race.

“I am super pumped for the Rolex 24 at Daytona,” Gidley said. “For a race as important and grueling as Daytona is, the effort, work, and money that everybody puts in makes the reward of a win that much more sweet. I have not won at Daytona before, but I am in the mindset of ‘Why not me?’ this year...or ‘Why not us GAINSCO?’ as a team to win? It would be an unbelievably satisfying experience if I was part of a great winning team like GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing at the Rolex 24. We have a great shot to make this happen.”

The No. 99 GAINSCO/BobStallingsCars.com Corvette is entered in a competitive Daytona Prototype class entry of 17 cars. The team is under no illusions about the magnitude of the task, and is more than up to the challenge.

“The level of each car is over the top this year,” Fogarty said. “The teams have been pushing each other every year and the Daytona Prototype breed has never been stronger. This combined with great drivers stacked in every car will make for a great race.”

GAINSCO’s best Rolex 24 finish was a runner-up placing in 2008 with Jimmie Johnson and Jimmy Vasser joining Gurney and Fogarty in the No. 99. The team returns to a four- driver rotation for the 2013 race for the first time since 2009.

Bob Stallings Racing

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