Utah: Woodhouse Performance race report

WOODHOUSE PERFORMANCE TEAM TURNS IN TOP PERFORMANCES
Wittmer Takes the Checkered Flag and Courtney Finishes 4th at Season Finale

Tooele, Utah (October 4, 2010) - Jeff Courtney, driver of the No. 99 KENDA Tires/Woodhouse Performance/Dodge Viper Competition Coupeheld his own in a hungry field to finish 4th at the final race of the 2010 season of the World Challenge GT Championships. Teammate Kuno Wittmer, driver of the No. 13 Woodhouse Performance/Dodge Viper Competition Coupe turned in fantastic times and captured the checkered flag, the first win for the team since Long Beach in April.

"What a fantastic result to the year end," said Wittmer. "My Dodge Viper was simply outstanding."

"Right out of the box, the cars were set-up great," said Courtney. "The team did an excellent job, again, of preparing the cars for Utah. All weekend, I was really happy with my car and the set-up."

After a couple of media rides in both the No. 99 and No. 13 cars, trouble reared its ugly head. Courtney's No. 99 car dropped a cylinder and Wittmer's No. 13 car needed a rear differential replacement. It would be another all-nighter for the Woodhouse Performance Team of Rick Maxwell, Matt Bejnarowicz, Todd Albrecht, Jack Kulick and Mark Barton.

"We could not have been successful without the hard work of this team" said Courtney. "The team worked throughout the night to change the rear differential in the No. 13 car and put a backup motor in my No. 99 car."

Expectations were high after Courtney qualified for a 4th place start and Wittmer qualified for 2nd. "I got a fantastic start and a great run down the inside, but a good blocking move on the inside by one of the K-Pax Volvos killed my momentum, forcing me to drop back, creating a gap I could never close." After an intense race, Wittmer pulled off the win and Courtney finished in a season-best 4th.

"The race was a nail-biter for these 1000 plus Viper fans," said Wittmer, "but for me it was a lot of fun. I live for racing hard!" With this win, Wittmer sealed his 2nd place position in the Drivers' Championship as well. "Finishing 2nd in points was a great ending to our year. It really proved that our team is capable of winning a championship. We got close, next time it's ours!"

The Woodhouse Performance Team really came together over the weekend, dealing with mechanical issues and coming out ahead. It was a Viper weekend to remember, with huge Viper fan attendance, a win for the Woodhouse team in a go-karting event, and Crew Chief Rick Maxwell walked away with the prestigious Zimmerman Cup for outstanding performance as crew chief. The Zimmerman Cup is an annual award presented in the memory of multi-time Championship winning crew chief Jerome Zimmermann (1967-2003) at season's end to the crew chief that best exemplifies the similar passion, dedication and success Zimmermann had in the SCCA Pro Racing World Challenge.

"Rick certainly deserved this award, which basically amounts to a Crew Chief of the Year award," said Team Owner Bob Woodhouse. "I am incredibly proud of Rick, and the entire team, for this year's accomplishments."

"Congratulations to Rick," said Courtney. "After all we've been through this season, no one deserves the award more than him. All-in-all, this weekend was a lot of fun," said Courtney. "It was a great way to end the season. Thanks to the team, and to all our sponsors, KENDA, RecStuff, Dodge, Coins of America, JG Wheels, Oakley Performance, G-Speed, Bell Helmets, and Foerster Signs."

-source: jeff courtney/woodhouse