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Series Autobahn round nine preview

Ford Racing Mustang Challenge Set for Inaugural HARRAH's Autobahn Grand Prix presented by Mazda TOOELE, UT--22 July 09--The Ford Racing Mustang Challenge is set to stage the penultimate round of the 2009 championship this weekend as the series ...

Ford Racing Mustang Challenge Set for Inaugural HARRAH's Autobahn Grand Prix presented by Mazda

TOOELE, UT--22 July 09--The Ford Racing Mustang Challenge is set to stage the penultimate round of the 2009 championship this weekend as the series makes a debut race outing at the new Chicago-area Autobahn facility as part of the HARRAH's Autobahn Grand Prix presented by Mazda. Sunday's 40-minute race could have decisive championship implications all throughout the order.

With a maximum 57 points available (50 for first place, 1 for fastest lap, 1 for leading a lap, and 5 points for pole position) from the race weekend, Championship leader Caddell isn't unsure about his target this weekend as he is locked in a two-way battle with Ted Anthony Jr. as he looks to defend his 2008 crown.

"Pole, lead, fastest lap, and then hopefully a win!" said Caddell, who has focused on studying what he can about this new track, and let his father Roger focus on the championship math. "That's what I'd like to do, but I know I have enough of a margin that I can also be smart about the weekend. But I'd really like to come out of here with the championship," said Caddell, who was able to clinch his 2008 crown with one race remaining.

In yet another example of the competitive camaraderie of the Mustang Challenge, Caddell will be putting to use some in-car video of the new track that one of his fellow racers, Andrew Hendricks, provided him to study before the race weekend.

For Anthony Jr., who rode a streak of wins and podiums going back to last year's finale at Miller Motorsports Park to move to second in the championship, the Autobahn weekend is all about generating maximum points.

"I know it'd take a lot of things to happen for me to come from this far behind, but the fact is that I'm a racer and I can only go out there and do the best job that I can," said Anthony Jr. "Racing against Andrew has pushed me all season, and I'm a better driver for it. Hopefully I can keep it close enough to at least have a shot at it at Miller. I know it's a big deficit to make up, but all I can do is get the most out of the TC Motorsports Mustang. And if I can't hold him off for the championship, hopefully at least I can hold him off for a win on Sunday!"

And the points battle isn't just up front, as there is also a heated battle for third in the standings. Dan Aweida has made a surge of the 2009 season to enter the weekend third in the order, but he's going to have to keep tabs on Mid-Ohio's BFGoodrich Tires Take Control winner Jason von Kluge, wily Pratt Cole, quick and continually improving Steve Phillips, Mosport winner Tony Buffomante, Homestead pole sitter Joe Lee Middlebrooks, and last year's third-place championship runner Mike McGovern with Jim Click Racing. Any of those eight racers could emerge with third after the race weekend as the battle tightens up with just over 80 minutes of racing remaining in the 2009 season.

The race weekend will kick off with a promoter test day on Thursday, with practice and qualifying ahead of Sunday's scheduled 9:25 AM race start.

Notes:

--SpeedWorks R&D will post a two-car entry once again, as Ben Crosland and George Biskup will be in the distinctive yellow and black-liveried machines.

-- Gunter Schaldach will have a busy weekend as he rejoins the series, having raced at New Jersey Motorsports Park in 2008. Schaldach will race for TC Motorsports in Mustang Challenge and will also be racing in World Challenge action for Lala Motorsports.

--Brandon Davis is making a series debut in the ACS Express/Telstar Group No. 42, which was procured last year at the inaugural Las Vegas Barrett-Jackson Auction. The No. 00 Media Car will be auctioned at the Scottsdale Barrett-Jackson event to benefit St. Jude's following the 2009 season, thanks to SPX.

--This is just the second season of competition for Mustang Challenge, which is the only national race series operated by a track, as the series was formed in collaboration between Miller Motorsports Park and Ford Racing.

--Mustang Challenge is happy to welcome back George Winkler this weekend. Winkler was the New Jersey Motorsports Park GoPro "Be A Hero."

-credit: www.MustangChallenge.com

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