The Krohn Racing team is the defending six-hour winners from last year. Colin Braun could not participate in the win last year as cigarette marketing contracts with the track precluded the 17-year old from driving. Now 18, and with Pontiac power and teammate Max Papis, the youngster believes they have a great chance to defend.
“Last year, we won the six-hour, but I couldn’t drive. ” Braun said. “We have been strong all season. The team was tough there last year and took the win with me on the pit box instead of in the car. Everyone is working hard, we tested last week at Mid-Ohio, so we have kept the development curve strong. Our car does really well on used tires, so we will be ready for the long green runs at the Glen. Having the GT cars back will be good for us, we are strong in traffic. In qualifying we will want to start up front so we can get a rhythm going before catching GT traffic. ”
The No. 91 Riley-Mathews Motorsports Pontiac Riley driven by Jim Mathews and Marc Goosens is looking to be a factor in the race this weekend. The duo have improved with every race outing are gunning for a top finish.
“My first race at The Glen was the six-hour last year, ” Goosens said. “Then I raced in the Nextel Cup event on the short track. Like any other track you need to find the compromise between a good car under braking, low and high speed corners and the right straight line speed. But, going through the turns up the hill is important for the straight line speed up to the chicane. It is quite a challenge going flat uphill through the esses, but also the downhill is rather technical from a driver’s standpoint and that’s what I like. ”
Andy Pilgrim will join Tim Lewis Jr. and Leighton Reese in the No. 06 Pontiac GXP. R. at The Glen. All three drivers are coming off of a win last week with Reese and Lewis Jr. victorious at Lime Rock and Pilgrim a winner at Charlotte in the Cadillac CTSV World Challenge car.
“We are going into the Glen on a high note winning the last race, ” Reese said. “The team is building momentum and is really coming together. It took a few races for the guys to click, but I think we have it going in the right direction. Watkins Glen is a longer track, longer race and I am optimistic about our chances. Andy Pilgrim will be there to help out, so we will have three guys in action in the 06. We haven’t raced with the DPs in a couple of races and the weather may be an issue as well. We will be loaded for bear and looking for win number two. ”
Paul Edwards and Kelly Collins currently sit third in the GT driver point standings. The pair has been fast all year and have led significant laps in the last two events at Lime Rock and Laguna Seca. They will bring their poise and No. 07 Banner Pontiac GXP. R to The Glen looking for their first win on the season.
“We led a lot of laps at Lime Rock, ” Collins said. “I am looking forward to The Glen. The DP cars will be a factor in our race. It will be survival of the fittest. A lot of the outcome can be determined by the DPs with traffic and strategy. I think the car will be great, we may lose a little up the back straight to the Bus Stop turn, but the rest of the track will be really good for the GXP. R. I hope we can finish what we had started at Lime Rock. ”
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