Mid-Ohio: Jeff Courtney race report

COURTNEY CONTINUES TO CLIMB

#99 Finishes 6th at Mid-Ohio

Lexington, Ohio (August 9, 2009) - Jeff Courtney, driver of the No. 99 KENDA Tires/Woodhouse Performance/Dodge Viper Competition Coupe locks in his season's best finish this weekend in round seven of the SCCA Pro Racing SPEED World Challenge GT Championship. With three races left to go, the heat is on to build on success and make the climb to a podium finish.

"It was a great weekend, I'm really thankful for the additions to the team that came on board for Mid-Ohio," said Courtney. The Woodhouse Performance Team now includes team engineer Matt Bejnarowicz along with Charlie Putman, driver of the No. 13 Woodhouse Performance Dodge Viper Competition Coupe. "Charlie was impressive, at his first time out on the GT circuit he had a top ten finish." Putman finished just behind Courtney in seventh place.

Courtney qualified for the tenth position, "I was off a bit in qualifying from last year, in my opinion, Series adjustments to the Vipers are not allowing us to compete with the front running cars at this point. But I was happy with how the car handled."

After a strong start, Courtney felt the heat from behind as defending champion Randy Pobst moved through the field from his last place start position. "I had a good multi-lap battle with Pobst, in the tight part of the track he just wore me and the rear tires of my Dodge Viper out as that all-wheel drive Volvo can come off those corners so strong. I could stretch out on him on the straight-aways, but in those tight areas he had the advantage," said Courtney. "I felt good about our finish as the team received the top two finishing positions of the six Vipers entered at Mid-Ohio."

The August heat and humidity didn't dampen the record crowd that turned out in support of their favorite teams. "It was great to see so many people out there, it was especially important for me to see so many of the KENDA faces again. I would just like to thank KENDA again for all their support on and off the track," said Courtney.

There is very little turn-around time for the Woodhouse Team, who are making their way to Elkhart Lake for round eight. "Road America is my home track and I'm really looking forward to a good race there. Some of the high-speed turns at Road America should suit the Viper well," said Courtney. "I feel like our team is really coming together, now we need to make things happen."

"I'd also like to thank Woody Alverson of Accurate Metal Products for coming on board as a race sponsor for the Road America Grand Prix," said Courtney. Courtney and the Woodhouse Performance team will be entertaining friends, family, and local sponsors for this next race.

The Toyo Tires World Challenge GT Mid-Ohio Grand Prix will be broadcast on the SPEED channel on September 1, at 2:00 p.m. (EDT).

Catch the local action at Road America in Elkhart Lake this weekend, August 14-16. Courtney gets the green light at 9:35 a.m. on Sunday.

-credit: jcr