Series Watkins Glen Qualifying Report

Taylor Brothers Sweep Qualifying At Watkins Glen International, Earn Poles For Sahlen’s Six Hours Of The Glen

Ricky Taylor Earns DP Honors While Jordan Taylor Quickest In GT Session

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. – Ricky and Jordan Taylor led their respective classes Friday in qualifying for the 30th running of the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen, becoming the first brothers to win pole positions for both Daytona Prototype and GT classes at the same GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16 event.

Ricky Taylor won his second consecutive Daytona Prototype pole, running a lap of 1:40.691 (121.560 mph) in the No. 10 SunTrust Chevrolet/Dallara, while younger brother Jordan took his third career pole and first of the season with a lap of 1:51.939 (109.345 mph) in the No. 88 Autohaus Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro.

#10 SunTrust Racing Chevrolet Dallara: Max Angelelli, Ricky Taylor

Photo by: Eric Gilbert

“It’s tremendous, and I can’t get my arms around it yet,” said their father, racing veteran and two-time Rolex 24 At Daytona winner Wayne Taylor. “They’ve both won poles in the past, but to get them at the same time – and especially at Watkins Glen. This is such a big event, because they qualified here against the fast guys. This was the first time Ricky’s qualified against Scott Pruett – and it’s a big thing for him – and it was fantastic for Jordan against the top GT guys.”

The SunTrust team is seeking its second-consecutive victory, after winning Monday’s Memorial Day Classic at Lime Rock Park in dominating fashion.

Antonio Garcia was second in DP qualifying with a lap of 1:40.909 (121.297 mph), giving the No. 90 Spirit of Daytona Chevrolet/Coyote its fourth straight front row start.

Scott Pruett qualified third in the No. 01 TELMEX BMW/Riley with a lap of 1:41.011 (121.175 mph). He and Memo Rojas are seeking their fourth consecutive victory in the event. Alex Gurney – who joined co-driver Jon Fogarty in winning the 2007 Sahlen’s Six Hours – qualified fourth with a lap of 1:41.787 (120.251 mph) in the No. 99 GAINSCO Auto Insurance Chevrolet/Riley.

Jordan Taylor’s pole – the first for Autohaus Motorsports – continues a torrid streak for the team which has moved he and co-driver Bill Lester to second in the production-based GT championship. Lester became the first African-American to win in the Rolex Series when the team scored its first victory at Virginia International Raceway last month, followed by a second-place finish Monday at Lime Rock Park. Tom Milner Jr. will join the team for Saturday’s Sahlen Six Hours.

General Motors products swept the top four positions in GT qualifying. Robin Liddell will join Jordan Taylor on the front row after running a lap of 1:52.189 (109.102 mph) in the No. 57 Stevenson Auto Group Chevrolet Camaro co-driven by Ronnie Bremer. Oliver Gavin timed in third fastest with a lap of 1:52.304 (108.990 mph) in the No. 07 The Cool TV/Mobil 1 Chevrolet Camaro co-driven by Gunter Schaldach and Mike Skeen. He will be joined on the second row by Eric Curran, who ran 1:53.016 (108.303 mph) in the No. 31 Whelen Engineering Corvette co-driven by Boris Said.

Saturday’s schedule opens with final practice session at 9:30 a.m. The Sahlen’s Six Hours takes the green flag at 1 p.m. ET.

-source: grand-am