Butch Leitzinger in Lola at Daytona

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (June 22, 2000) -- Butch Leitzinger definitely knows the fast way around the 3.56-mile road course at Daytona International Speedway. The three-time winner of the Rolex 24 At Daytona will be at the wheel of a Lola B2K10 for the first time when he competes "under the lights" in the Paul Revere 250, on Thursday, June 29.

"This is an excellent opportunity," said Leitzinger. "As a kid, I remember reading about the Paul Revere 250 every year, and I always wanted to go to it. I'm glad the Grand American Road Racing Association has resurrected that historic race, and that I'm going to be part of it.

"I didn't have a ride, so I called Scott (Schubot)," continued the 31-year-old Pennsylvanian. "I've raced with him the past two years, and I asked if he needed anyone. Luckily, there was a seat available." Schubot is the lead driver for the Philip Creighton Motorsports team, and is coming off a third place finish at Mid-Ohio. His co-driver for that race was Andy Wallace, who will be co-driving with James Weaver in the Rob Dyson Racing Riley & Scott Ford in the Paul Revere 250.

"Andy and I switch off with the Dyson team," said Leitzinger, who joined Weaver in winning the recent Grand-Am race for Dyson at Lime Rock, Conn. "I talked to Andy about the Lola, and he was very impressed with it. He had nothing but good things to say about it."

Leitzinger is set to drive in two races with the team, joining Schubot July 9 in the Road America 500 in Elkhart Lake, Wis.

"The Lola has looked very good on the tight courses, and I'm very anxious to see how it will do on the high-speed circuits like Daytona and Road America," Leitzinger explained. "Andy and Scott had a very good run at Mid-Ohio, and the team has done more development on the engine and air box since then, so I think we should be in great shape. Scott and I should be out there fighting for the lead." After finishing 20th in the SportsRacer Class in the Rolex 24, Schubot recorded a fourth at Homestead-Miami Speedway in the Nextel 250, and a fifth at Lime Rock.

Leitzinger opened the season with a second in the SportsRacer class in the Rolex 24, driving the new Cadillac LMP. He won the Rolex 24 in 1997 and 1999 driving for Dyson, and joined Paul Gentilozzi, Scott Pruett and Steve Millen in winning overall honors in the 1994 race, driving a GT class Nissan 300 ZX. Leitzinger is a four-time sports car champion, and four-time winner in the NASCAR Busch North Series.

Practice for the Paul Revere 250 begins at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, June 28, with qualifying beginning at 9:15 p.m. The 70 lap, 250-mile race will be held under the lights on Thursday, June 29, immediately following the 8 p.m. Bud Pole Qualifying session for the Pepsi 400. Tickets are still available for the Paul Revere 250/Pepsi 400 weekend at Daytona International Speedway. For information, call the Speedway Ticket Office at (904) 253-7223, or visit the web site, www.daytonaintlspeedway.com. For additional Grand-Am information, visit www.grand-am.com.