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Kraut eager to showcase driving maturity at Road Atlanta

Gerry Kraut heads to Road Atlanta for Rounds 13 and 14 of the 2013 season Oct. 16-19.

Gerry Kraut

Gerry Kraut

Eric Gilbert

BRASELTON, Ga., - Cooper Tires Prototype Lites Powered by Mazda driver Gerry Kraut does not consider a day at the beach or round on the golf course relaxing. Reaching speeds of up to 150 mph in his Lites (L1) Élan DP02 2.0L Mazda machine is his definition of paradise. Kraut heads to Road Atlanta for Rounds 13 and 14 of the 2013 season Oct. 16-19.

Gerry Kraut
Gerry Kraut

Photo by: Eric Gilbert

"In order for me to relax I have to have an intense activity which requires concentration," Kraut said. "When I'm at the track I don't think about work. That, to me, is relaxing."

His involvement with IMSA began in 2006 with JDC Motorsports and the Star Mazda series. The St. Paul, Minn.-native first met JDC Motorsports President and CEO, John Church, 20 years ago and the two have been racing in one form or another ever since. For Kraut, the IMSA Development Series combined with the sophisticated L1 Élan DP02 2.0L Mazda is the perfect mix.

"I think [IMSA] is one of the finest racing organizations there is," Kraut explained. "I've been with a lot of different sanctioning bodies. IMSA is by far the best run sanctioning body that I've ever had the pleasure to race under. They're just a first class organization."

Built on the Élan DP02 chassis, the high-tech purpose-built race car presents a needed-challenge for Kraut, whose mind wanders back to work if he's not behind the wheel. The JDC Motorsports driver speaks highly of the six-speed sequential gearbox and high downforce machine.

"The IMSA Lites car is a very sophisticated piece of racing equipment," Kraut said. "It's fast, it responds to setup changes well and is fun and easy to drive.

Kraut is running a limited schedule for the 2013 season and is not competing for points. Nevertheless, he has landed on the Masters podium in every race he has participated in, and notched a win at Sebring International Raceway in Round 2 of the season.

Kraut and the Cooper Tires Prototype Lites Powered by Mazda Series are on track for qualifications Wednesday, Oct. 16 at 4 p.m. ET. The green flag waves for Race One on Thursday, Oct. 17 at 12:50 p.m. ET for a 30-minute sprint. The second challenge of the weekend starts with Race Two on Friday, Oct. 18 9:20 a.m. ET for a 45-minute contest.

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