ASC Motorsports Porsche Team Meets Goals In Koni Challenge At Daytona
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Tiffin, Ohio
Feb 06, 2007
Koni Daytona team
In its first outing in the Grand-Am Koni Challenge Series with the Porsche 996, ASC Motorsports came away with good results in the Fresh from Florida 200 at Daytona International Speedway.In fact, not only did the team meet its goal of both cars finishing in their first race, but team owner Zach Arnold led the race in the #43 ASCMotorsports.com Porsche, and Tanner Baker had the #44 Rubbn’Repair Porsche in the top 10 for an extended period. Only the unfortunate timing of a 30 minute long caution period late in the race prevented a better finish for both cars.
Arnold and co-driver Rene Robichaud of Cincinnati, Ohio finished 24th in GS after being at the front of the field when the extended caution period affected pit stop timing. Tanner Baker of Sebring, Florida and co-driver Mitch Cobb from Edwards, Colorado fell from the top 10 to finish 44th in GS after a mechanical failure caused Cobb to spin off track. It took nearly 15 minutes for the tow back to the garage and only a few minutes to make repairs, but the lengthy caution prevented a higher finish.
In a post-race analysis, Arnold explained that the team had met its primary goal of both cars finishing their first race and added, “But, as well as we were running, we were a little disappointed in the finishing order. When the long caution came out, our pit strategy no longer worked. But, the crew did a fantastic job with both cars, and we’re pleased with how well we ran.†With Arnold’s exciting battle for the lead mid-way through the race and a consistent top-10 run for Baker prior to the mechanical problem, ASC Motorsports is anxiously looking forward to the next race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Arnold and Baker will co-drive in the April 13-15 event, which will feature split races for the GS and ST classes on the 2.3 mile road course.
The Grand-Am KONI Challenge Series is Grand American’s showcase for the latest in international and American-made high-performance sports cars straight from the dealer showroom floor. With major modifications permitted only in the area of safety, the KONI Challenge is home to the same cars seen every day on streets and highways around the world. The KONI Challenge is made up of two classes of race cars. The big-bore GS (Grand Sport) class features exotic machines like the ASC Motorsports Porsche 996, while the ST (Street Tuner) class includes smaller cars such as the Mazda RX-8. Both classes run together in most races with teams competing for class honors as well as the overall victory.
Rubbn’Repair, sponsor of the #44 Porsche 996, is a high-technology race car body repair system that uses molecular technology to produce an easy-to-use composite repair process. Rubbn’Repair is a quick and effective pit repair system for automotive components such as hoods, fenders and body panels. It has the flexibility of duct tape with the strength of a rigid, high-performance composite.
The Rubbn’Repair system is easy to use and can be done quickly on pit road. The patch material is heated until it is pliable, the warmed patch is molded and shaped over the repair area, and the patch is allowed to cool in its new form. The uniform adhesion and stiffness of the patch create a strong, structural repair that holds up under racing conditions. The unique qualities of Rubbn’Repair include: It repairs and seals in 15 seconds or less It molds rapidly to a variety of shapes It is self-adhering and lightweight It needs no surface preparation It creates a strong bond It does not delaminate
