Ken
Gone but not forgotten
From Auto Racing Daily:
Hayner Upbeat About Return To Cleveland Grand Prix
2005-06-22
Detroit - When Stu Hayner takes to the track for this week’s SPEED World Challenge GT Race at the Cleveland Grand Prix, he’ll only need to recall his last drive at this track to visualize the #5 GMAC Commercial Finance / Trenton Forging GTO going to the front. Hayner and his Autosport Development team are in Cleveland for round 5 of the SPEED World Challenge GT Series. The race will be held on the temporary circuit at Burke Lakefront Airport on Sunday, June 26 at 4pm. The race will air with a one-hour tape delay on SPEED at 5pm.
“This is a great weekend,” remarked Hayner. “I’ve had some excellent races here. It’s also nice that we’re just a few hours away from the team’s home base and close to sponsors. This event has always been a great place to entertain and this year will be no different.”
“The racing here is terrific,” Hayner continued. “It’s wide open and fast. And, the fans can see all the action all the time. Believe it or not, you’re aware of the fans when your on that track… and let me tell you, when they’re excited, we’re excited. It’s a lot of fun.”
Hayner’s last appearance at the Cleveland Grand Prix was driving the #2 GMAC Commercial Finance Corvette with Don Sak’s Revolution Motorsports. After pitting for lose bodywork caused by contact in turn one on the first lap, Hayner went a full lap down. By the end of the race, Hayner had come from last place to pass the entire field, including race leader, Scott Pruett, to finish the day in 5th. It was a remarkable drive that had the Cleveland fans on their feet.
“The last time we were here was a wild ride,” Hayner acknowledged. “That Corvette was fast… and we had plenty left, too. Another 5 laps and I think we’d have been battling for the lead.”
“I really like our chances here,” Hayner went on. “The GTO is definitely going in the right direction. We finally cracked the top-10 at Mid-Ohio last month and we’ve been given a few small competition adjustments from the Series. I also think it’s going to be a big benefit having two of us out there gathering information and giving the crew feedback.”
The ‘two of us’ Hayner mentioned was in reference to the debut of Autosport Development’s #7 GTO that will be driven by Jim Osborn and fielded by Chili Pepper Racing. Starting with this Sunday’s race in Cleveland, Osborn is slated to run six GT events this year.
The Cleveland Grand Prix schedule calls for the SPEED Touring Car race to run on Saturday at 5:45pm and the GT race to run Sunday at 4pm. The Touring Car race will air Sunday at 4pm and the GT race will run one-hour tape delayed at 5pm, on SPEED.
Autosport Development competes as part of the SPEED World Challenge GT Series. All events are nationally televised on SPEED channel (formerly Speedvision). In 2005 the SPEED World Challenge Series schedule will include street races and temporary circuits in Cleveland, Denver and St. Petersburg, and make the traditional stops around the country at great tracks like Sebring, Road Atlanta, Lime Rock Park, Infineon, Mosport, Portland, Mid-Ohio and Laguna Seca.
For more information about GMAC Commercial Finance, visit www.gmaccf.com
For more information about Trenton Forging, visit www.trentonforging.com
For more information about Autosport Development visit www.GoAutosport.com
For more information about Chili Pepper Racing, visit www.chilipepperracing.org
For more information about SCCA SPEED World Challenge, visit www.world-challenge.com.
Hayner Upbeat About Return To Cleveland Grand Prix
2005-06-22
Detroit - When Stu Hayner takes to the track for this week’s SPEED World Challenge GT Race at the Cleveland Grand Prix, he’ll only need to recall his last drive at this track to visualize the #5 GMAC Commercial Finance / Trenton Forging GTO going to the front. Hayner and his Autosport Development team are in Cleveland for round 5 of the SPEED World Challenge GT Series. The race will be held on the temporary circuit at Burke Lakefront Airport on Sunday, June 26 at 4pm. The race will air with a one-hour tape delay on SPEED at 5pm.
“This is a great weekend,” remarked Hayner. “I’ve had some excellent races here. It’s also nice that we’re just a few hours away from the team’s home base and close to sponsors. This event has always been a great place to entertain and this year will be no different.”
“The racing here is terrific,” Hayner continued. “It’s wide open and fast. And, the fans can see all the action all the time. Believe it or not, you’re aware of the fans when your on that track… and let me tell you, when they’re excited, we’re excited. It’s a lot of fun.”
Hayner’s last appearance at the Cleveland Grand Prix was driving the #2 GMAC Commercial Finance Corvette with Don Sak’s Revolution Motorsports. After pitting for lose bodywork caused by contact in turn one on the first lap, Hayner went a full lap down. By the end of the race, Hayner had come from last place to pass the entire field, including race leader, Scott Pruett, to finish the day in 5th. It was a remarkable drive that had the Cleveland fans on their feet.
“The last time we were here was a wild ride,” Hayner acknowledged. “That Corvette was fast… and we had plenty left, too. Another 5 laps and I think we’d have been battling for the lead.”
“I really like our chances here,” Hayner went on. “The GTO is definitely going in the right direction. We finally cracked the top-10 at Mid-Ohio last month and we’ve been given a few small competition adjustments from the Series. I also think it’s going to be a big benefit having two of us out there gathering information and giving the crew feedback.”
The ‘two of us’ Hayner mentioned was in reference to the debut of Autosport Development’s #7 GTO that will be driven by Jim Osborn and fielded by Chili Pepper Racing. Starting with this Sunday’s race in Cleveland, Osborn is slated to run six GT events this year.
The Cleveland Grand Prix schedule calls for the SPEED Touring Car race to run on Saturday at 5:45pm and the GT race to run Sunday at 4pm. The Touring Car race will air Sunday at 4pm and the GT race will run one-hour tape delayed at 5pm, on SPEED.
Autosport Development competes as part of the SPEED World Challenge GT Series. All events are nationally televised on SPEED channel (formerly Speedvision). In 2005 the SPEED World Challenge Series schedule will include street races and temporary circuits in Cleveland, Denver and St. Petersburg, and make the traditional stops around the country at great tracks like Sebring, Road Atlanta, Lime Rock Park, Infineon, Mosport, Portland, Mid-Ohio and Laguna Seca.
For more information about GMAC Commercial Finance, visit www.gmaccf.com
For more information about Trenton Forging, visit www.trentonforging.com
For more information about Autosport Development visit www.GoAutosport.com
For more information about Chili Pepper Racing, visit www.chilipepperracing.org
For more information about SCCA SPEED World Challenge, visit www.world-challenge.com.
