Series Mid-Ohio round eight race notes

Caddell Cruises to Ford Racing Mustang Challenge Win at Mid-Ohio

Mansfield, OH (20 June 2009) --Andrew Caddell showed his championship stripes once again on Saturday as he led from flag to flag to score a convincing Ford Racing Mustang Challenge victory at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on Saturday ahead of Ted Anthony, Jr.

After taking his debut Mustang Challenge win last weekend at Mosport in the Southeast Fleet Services/MXK.com Mustang, Tony Buffomonte made an encore podium appearance by scoring third on Saturday. Pratt Cole emerged from a thrilling race-long, multi-car battle for fourth to take the position, as Andrew Hendricks built on his BFGoodrich "Take Control" Award-winning outing at Mosport to score his career-best Mustang Challenge result with fifth at the finish.

Jason von Kluge had another strong weekend with his run to sixth ahead of Ben Crosland, who made a tremendous three-wide pass for position midway through the race after starting from ninth. Dan Aweida and Mike McGovern closed out a busy race to finish in eighth and ninth, with the SPX/St. Jude's car of Karl Thomson rounding out the top ten.

The podium finishers were happy to spray the champagne as always, but even more so this weekend as all three drivers were able to share the moment with their fathers on Fathers Day weekend.

"Kaufman Racing gave me a great car and I just tried to set a pace and then stick to it," said Caddell. "The track conditions changed a little bit during the race and my BFGoodrich Tires were loving it, so my car just kept getting faster as the race went on. These Ford Mustangs are so much fun to drive and I was having a blast out there. It's fantastic to come out on top once again!"

Anthony had a run at Caddell to start the race and worked to keep him honest all race long in the first race of a busy weekend for the TC Motorpsorts pilot.

"I'm pretty happy with this result-this is a big weekend for me, so to keep Andrew in my sights the entire race the first time I've ever run here, I'm pretty happy with that," said Anthony Jr. "TC Motorsports did a great job once again, and I couldn't believe how strong the BFGoodrich Tires were late in the race--I set my fastest lap of the race on the very last lap! It's great to get this result here with my dad being here on Fathers Day weekend, and hopefully we can have another good finish in the KONI Challenge race tomorrow.

Buffomante was hoping to follow up his big win last weekend with another on Saturday, but was still happy to once again be part of the post-race podium ceremonies.

"I wasn't feeling 100% in the car, a little bit under the weather today but no excuses, those guys (Caddell and Anthony) absolutely had the pace today," said Buffomante. "I really want to thank my Dad and Mike and Pete, and my sponsors. I'm really excited to have my family here with me to celebrate today."

While the lead threesome established their positions early in the race, there was nothing settled from fourth place back, which was the best fight of the race as several battles waged through the field as the Mustang Challenge racers once again went the full 40 minute distance without a yellow flag period.

Dan Aweida held the position early in the race, with McGovern looking to take it. The battle soon saw Andrew Hendricks enter the fray, with Pratt Cole lurking in the background. Close action between McGovern and Aweida saw the duo off track for a moment, ceding the spots. Hendricks was happy to take the position as he pursued a debut Mustang Challenge podium. But at the checkered flag, it was Cole who had muscled his way by as part of his strong second half of the 2009 season. Hendricks kept his head to score fifth ahead of von Kluge, who took the BFGoodrich Tires "Take Control" Award for his run from 14th on the grid.

"The Green Air Filters Mustang was hooked up today, and the race really came to me," said von Kluge. "Thanks to BFGoodrich for this--especially after a race like this today where the BFG's just hung in there all race long."

Special Awards:

GoPro "Be A Hero"

Even though his race didn't go as he had been hoping it would at the outset, Dan Aweida will at least have another keepsake from the Mid-Ohio weekend as he scored some GoPro gear after winning the GoPro "Be A Hero" award for his sportsmanship and dedication to the Mustang Challenge Series.

Thank you from the Mustang Challenge drivers and staff to the corner workers and staff at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, and Happy Fathers Day to all the fathers out there!

-credit: www.mustangchallenge.com