Backstretch Motorsports

Vickers’ No. 83 team wins Sprint Pit Crew Challenge

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Brian Vickers’ team kicked off NASCAR’s All-Star week activities by winning the Sprint Pit Crew Challenge on Thursday night, beating Denny Hamlin’s team in a battle of Toyotas in the final round.

Vickers’ crew, which includes a former college football player and two former college hockey players, changed four tires, filled the car with fuel and pushed it 40 yards in 22.902 seconds to collect the $70,000 first prize.

Vickers’ team just edged Hamlin’s team, which crossed the line in 23.011 seconds, giving Vickers’ team its choice of pit boxes for Saturday’s NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.

In keeping with the trend to recruit athletes for its pit teams, Vickers’ crew includes Mike Metcalf, a former fullback at Appalachian State. Front-tire changer Brian Haaland and jackman Shaun Peet played college hockey. The rest of the team includes gas man Doug Newell, front-tire carrier Aaron Schields, rear-tire changer Danny Kincaid and rear-tire carrier Jake Brzozowski.

The event also included individual prizes of $10,000 each to crew members for completing their tasks the fastest in the early rounds.

Andretti Green Completes Purchase of Grand Prix of Toronto Assets

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (May 15, 2008)

Andretti Green Promotions, LLC announced today it has formed a wholly-owned Canadian company, Andretti Green Toronto, ULC (AGT), and has completed the purchase of the assets of the Grand Prix Association of Toronto Corp.

The terms of the purchase agreements will not be disclosed.

Andretti Green Toronto is operating out of a Toronto-based office and will run its first IndyCar Series event in 2009.

Michael Andretti, chairman, Andretti Green Racing:

“We are very excited to be coming to Toronto. It is a terrific city and a great venue for Andretti Green to host another event. As a driver, Toronto was always my favorite race of the year and it will be no different as a promoter. The fans are some of the most enthusiastic you’ll ever be around and we’re looking forward to building on the great history of this event.”

Kevin Savoree, president and chief operating officer, Andretti Green Racing; managing director, Andretti Green Promotions; president of Andretti Green Toronto:

“Andretti Green is thrilled to bring Indy car racing back to Toronto. It’s an event with so much heritage and we look forward to continuing that. As a market, Toronto is among the elite in North America with a huge fan base and a great business climate. So many people invested a lot of effort to make this a reality and we are very appreciative of that. This begins a new chapter for IndyCar racing in Toronto and the future is very bright.”

Charlie Johnstone, vice president and general manager, Andretti Green Toronto:

“To have Indy car racing return to the streets of Toronto is very exciting for the city, the community and our partners. Michael, Kim, Kevin and everyone at Andretti Green share great passion for this event, which will certainly ensure the continuation of an outstanding racing tradition for years to come. We look forward to once again putting Toronto on the world stage and delivering an epic event.”

Defending SPEED TC Champ Altenburg, TriPoint Split After Six Years

TOOELE, Utah (May 15, 2008) — Defending SCCA Pro Racing SPEED World Challenge Touring Car Champion Jeff Altenburg has vacated the No. 1 Mazdaspeed/Stoptech/Racinghart MAZDA6 for the remainder of the season. Beginning with Round Three at Miller Motorsports Park this weekend, the car will be re-badged as No. 75 and will be driven by Jim Daniels.

Altenburg, who won the 2007 race at Miller Motorsports Park en route to his SCCA SPEED Touring Car Drivers’ Championship, currently sits seventh in points after two races.

“I’m going to miss those guys,” Altenburg said. “They are my family and after six years and many great adventures, it’s time to move on. I wish them all the best.”

Altenburg will shift his focus to the DRC Motorsports SCCA SPEED GT effort, which currently has him 10th in points after driving two different Dodge Vipers in the first two races. The team plans to debut its new Lexus IS-F soon.

Daniels, of Germantown, Tenn., takes over the car at Miller Motorsports Park. The 2006 SCCA Pro Racing Mazda MX-5 Cup Champion has just two previous starts in SPEED World Challenge, but a wealth of Mazda experience.

This weekend’s SCCA Pro Racing SPEED World Challenge Touring Car Round Three race begins official practice Friday at 10:20 a.m. (MDT). To follow each session via live timing and scoring and session notes, visit www.world-challenge.com and select the SCCA Pit Board link for the event.