Mid-Ohio: Autosports Development race report

Autosport Development GTO Back on Track at Mid-Ohio with Stu Hayner's Top Ten Finish

Trenton, MI -- May 22, 2006 -- Yorba Linda's Stu Hayner secured another solid top 10 victory Saturday at Mid-Ohio Sports Course in Lexington, Ohio. Piloting the Autosport Development No. 20 Trenton Forging/PR Machine Works Pontiac GTO, Hayner finished ninth in round four of the SPEED World Challenge GT Series. Michigan-based Trenton Forging Quality Formed Solutions presented the race.

Hayner qualified to start 20th on the grid. He attributes his ability to drive harder than some of the other drivers in the beginning as the reason he was able to move forward.

"I got by a few people in the beginning and got lucky when a few people crashed," said Hayner. "That's the way racing is."

"He can drive the wheels off of anything," said David Moxlow, Autosport Development team owner. "This is a prime example. We took the car out of the box and put it together last night. We didn't even have all the parts," said Moxlow, laughing. "We finished it this morning, and Stu goes out there and runs it from 20th to ninth place."

Autosport Development, an independent or privateer team, is the first team ever to develop the Pontiac GTOs for road racing. Unlike the competition which has been developed and prepared over years and at great expense, this Trenton, Michigan based team has turned out an extremely competitive GTO in just under three years without any funding or technical assistance from General Motors or Pontiac. The ninth place finish at Mid-Ohio is the team's eighth, top ten finish.

"I think with a couple more sessions out, we'll be a top podium car," said Hayner. "But it's going to take a few days work to get there."

Mid-Ohio was the team's first race of the 2006 season. Now, the big race is on to secure sponsors so the team can compete this June in round five's NASCAR Nextel Cup to be held at Infineon Raceway as well as the five remaining series races. In exchange for financial assistance, Autosport Development can provide sponsors with a comprehensive marketing package that includes maximum visibility, public relations support and premier client hospitality coordination. For more information on sponsorship opportunities, please call 734 642-5712.

The SPEED channel will broadcast this race Saturday, May 27, at 9 p.m. (EDT).

Autosport Development competes in the SPEED World Challenge GT Series recently named "the most competitive road racing series in the world" by Racer magazine. In 2005, driver Stu Hayner, finished the season seventh in points, a huge feat considering the team had no factory support from any major automotive manufacturers. As the first team to develop GTOs road racers, Autosport Development's expertise is in demand by other teams now fielding these cars. For more information, visit www.autosportdevelopment.com.

The SPEED World Challenge GT Series races in conjunction with the popular American LeMans Series, Indy Racing League, CHAMP and NASCAR Nextel Cup. Races are televised on the SPEED channel.

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