Daytona II: SpeedSource race report

SpeedSource Race Engineering Steps Up Their Game at the Paul Revere 250

Daytona Beach, FL -- This past weekend the SpeedSource Race Engineering effort qualified fourth and led for ten laps early in the race before coming home to an eventual ninth place finish in the Grand American Rolex Series. The Paul Revere 250 took place on Thursday night as the race started right after the Nextel Qualifying session at Daytona International Speedway

Sylvain Tremblay was the driver who qualified the #9 Mears Motor Coach Riley Pontiac fourth. Tremblay led early in the race before handing the car over to Paul Mears, Jr. and Mike Borkowski.

Less than two weeks before the Paul Revere 250 the team placed thirteenth at the Six Hours of the Glen in Watkins Glen, New York, their first race with the Riley chassis. Leading the class early in the race proved that the team had certainly been able to develop the chassis in a short period of time. In their home state of Florida, the team certainly gave their fans something to cheer about.

"Competition in the Prototype class is intense especially at Daytona. We are making improvements and placing closer to the leaders every race. The adjustments we are making are paying off. We are doing almost everything on this car in house from our motor development to our chassis development. The set up that our engineer, David Haskell and the work put in by crew chief John Beitz had a huge impact on the speed of the car last week. Riley helps us with base line info, however we went in a different direction and it paid off huge for us. The car was a joy to drive and one of the best in the infield and at or near the fastest top speed. It was an outstanding job by the entire team," asserted Tremblay.

The Paul Revere 250 presented by Brumos Porsche, attracted fierce and experienced competitors including NASCAR driver Tony Stewart. Stewart and partner Andy Wallace took third in the race. In second place were Max Papis and Scott Pruett, who held on to their driver points leader status in their No. 01 CompUSA Lexus Riley effort. Sun Trust drivers Max Angelelli and Wayne Taylor took first in their No. 20 Riley powered Pontiac.

"Racing against these guys always makes you step up your game. They are such great drivers and we are honored to have placed so well against them," added Tremblay who led Scott Pruett early in the race. Tremblay took the lead on lap 11 and held on to it until lap 21. Last weekend Pruett placed third in the NASCAR Nextel Cup at Infineon Raceway. The SpeedSource Race Engineering effort will feature the No. 9 Mears Motor Coach Daytona Prototype once again at the Mid Ohio Classic August 6th through the 8th.

To watch the SpeedSource Mears Motor Coach No.9 team continue their achievements log onto www.SpeedSourceInc.com.