SCC: Watkins Glen: TRG race report

TRG POSTS TOP-10 FINISH AT WATKINS GLEN

WATKINS GLEN, New York (July 7, 2007) -- TRG had to take the bad with the good during the Supercuts 200 at The Glen and Round Eight of the 2007 Grand-Am Koni Challenge Series at Watkins Glen International Raceway.

It was a day of mixed results for Petaluma, California-based TRG as the team's four car lineup claimed fifth and 11th-place finishes, but also suffered two heartbreaking DNFs while competing on the scenic 3.4-mile road course in update New York.

Leading the charge for TRG was the No. 39 Carlsen Porsche/Adam's Polishes/DigiTrust entry of Duncan Ende and Grant Maiman. Ende qualified 5th and ran a strong first half of the three hour race, staying in the lead pack and always within striking distance. With a driver change during a lap 37 full course caution, Maiman took over and would mix it up with the leaders all the way to the checkered flag to post the solid fifth-place finish.

Also holding the TRG flag high was the duo of John Bibbo and Scott Schroeder, driving the No. 40 Carlsen Porsche/CDI/Carrera Design entry.JBibbo took the green flag from 22nd spot on the starting grid and battled hard to keep the car on the lead lap and drove a terrific stint.JSchroeder kept the car out of trouble while running quick, steady and smart laps to steadily gain positions and ultimately earn the hard-fought 11th-place finish.

It was reversal of fortunes for the No. 41 and 42 TRG entries however, each suffering rare mechanical issues that would sideline both cars.

Piloting the TRG No. 41 Mitchell Global/Carlsen Porsche 997 were veterans Ted Ballou and Andy Lally. Ballou ran a typical strong first stint, staying on the lead lap and in position to make a charge to the front.JFollowing the driver change, Lally had been out for only 10 laps and was making his way toward a certain podium finish when an engine problem forced the No. 41 to retire from the race.

The final pairing for TRG was the No. 42 Carlsen/Canada.com/Maxwell Paper of Daniel DiLeo and Pierre Bourque. The driver tandem had been turning incredibly fast laps all weekend and was charging on the lead lap when a transmission problem about two-thirds into the race also forced the No. 42 out of competition.

"I couldn't be more pleased with the total effort that all of our drivers and crew gave this weekend," said TRG team owner Kevin Buckler. "I'm proud of the strong finishes by the No. 39 and No. 40 cars, but also heartbroken for the guys from the cars that didn't get a full chance to show their stuff. We'll definitely figure out what happened and have all four cars ready for a strong showing at the next race in two weeks."

TRG competes next in Round Nine of the Grand-Am Koni Challenge Series, set for July 22nd at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama.

-credit: trg