SCC: Daytona: Synergy Racing race notes

Hole in the Wall Camps Porsche has clean race in KONI Challenge field of 103

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (January 26, 2007) -- Michael Avenatti (Los Angeles, Calif.) and Ben McCrackin (Corpus Christi, Texas) piloted the No. 71 Hole in the Wall Camps Porsche 997 of Synergy Racing to a 25th-place finish in a field of 103 during the KONI Challenge Series race at Daytona International Speedway on Friday.

"Anytime you have over 100 cars in any race, whether it be go-karts or cars in Grand-Am, you have to be happy when your car comes back clean," Avenatti said. "We ran a very clean race through a lot of traffic, and while we hoped we'd have a better result, we're not entirely disappointed."

Avenatti started the No. 71 Porsche in the 49th position and worked his way up through the dense field before handing control over to McCrackin during a full-course caution--one of five for a total of 30 laps. McCrackin brought it home to the checkered flag on the lead lap.

Friday was the racing debut for the No. 71 Porsche's Hole in the Wall Camps livery, which was unveiled at Daytona earlier this week. During the 2007 KONI Challenge season, the Porsche will carry a paint scheme featuring all five of the U.S.-based Hole in the Wall Camps founded by Academy Award winner Paul Newman, who celebrated his 82nd birthday on Friday. Each race will highlight a different Hole in the Wall Camp on the hood of the No. 71, with the Daytona outing featuring Camp Boggy Creek located only 45 minutes from the Speedway.

"We decided to put Camp Boggy Creek and the Hole in the Wall Camps on the car to raise awareness of the existence of the camps and the incredible job they do in providing a place for kids with serious illnesses to go and just be kids for a week every summer. And where the parents can also come to know other parents that are faced with similar challenges with their children. The job that people like Sarah Gurtis and others do at Camp Boggy Creek cannot be overstated," Avenatti said.

-credit: synergy racing