Backstretch Motorsports

BOWMANVILLE, Ontario, Canada (June 13, 2008) - There was nothing unlucky about Joe Foster’s qualifying attempt on Friday the 13th in Grand-Am KONI Challenge Series Grand Sport competition at Mosport International Raceway, as the defending race co-winner took the top starting spot for Saturday’s third round.

Foster set a time of 1:30.853 (97.437 mph) on the fourth of his eight laps in the No. 55 Hyper Sport Ford Mustang GT, besting fellow Mustang driver Jack Roush Jr. in the No. 59 Rehagen Racing Ford Mustang GT. Foster will start the No. 55 on Saturday, while fan favorite and fellow race co-winner Scott Maxwell will finish.

The two-and-a-half hour or 200-mile race, which will also feature the KONI Challenge Series Street Tuner class, is scheduled to start at 1 p.m. Saturday.

Roush, in his second full season on the KONI Challenge Series circuit, ripped off a lap at 1:30.936 (97.438 mph) in the No. 59 Rehagen Racing Roush Performance Ford Mustang GT. Roush will share the No. 59 with Dean Martin, who started from the back of last year’s race before storming to the front and finishing second.

Steve Cameron will start third after turning a time of 1:30.960 in the No. 99 Automatic Racing BMW M3, with Tom Milner fourth at 1:31.234 in the No. 18 Motorsport Technology Group BMW Z4 and Charles Putman in the No. 91 Automatic Racing BMW M3 at 1:31.350. Cameron’s co-driver is Rob Finlay, Milner’s co-driver is Billy Johnson - who co-won the KONI ST race last year at Mosport - and Putman’s co-driver is Charles Espenlaub.

Series point co-leader Jep Thornton - who earned his first career KONI Challenge Series victory in the second round of the season at Lime Rock Park last month with co-driver Jeff Segal - qualified 12th. Right beside him is Jon Miller, who shares the No. 83 BGB Motorsports Porsche 997 with another series leader, Craig Stanton, also a race winner in 2008. Stanton and Segal, who finished fourth last year at Mosport, will fight to the checkered flag in Saturday’s race. Twenty-seven GS cars took qualifying times.

Point Leader Holtom Claims Street Tuner Pole in Record Time

Jamie Holtom didn’t hold anything back in his qualifying session Friday afternoon in the ST class. The Ottawa native bested a 3-year-old record set by his father Jim in June 2005, after posting a time of 1:34.310 (93.865 mph) on the fifth of his seven laps in the No. 01 Georgian Bay Motorsports Chevrolet Cobalt.

KONI Challenge Series Race Lineup
Mosport International Raceway
Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada

POS NO. CLASS CLASS POS. DRIVER TEAM/CAR TIME SPEED SPONSORS
1 55 GS 1 Foster / Maxwell Hyper Sport / Ford Mustang GT 1:30.853 97.436
2 59 GS 2 Martin / Roush Rehagen Racing / Ford Mustang GT 1:30.936 97.347 Roush Performance Products, Valvoline
3 99 GS 3 Cameron / Finlay Automatic Racing / BMW M3 Coupe 1:30.960 97.321 Mobile Shop, Imported Car Store, Land Air, Engine Studios, Rogue Engineering
4 18 GS 4 Johnson / Milner Motorsport Technology Group / BMW Z4 M 1:31.234 97.029 Morris Animal Foundation, Meisha’s Hope
5 91 GS 5 Espenlaub / Putman Automatic Racing / BMW M3 Coupe 1:31.350 96.906 Imported Car Store, Land Air, Engine Studios, Rogue Engineering
6 19 GS 6 Aschenbach / Davis Motorsport Technology Group / Porsche 997 1:31.507 96.740 MAH 720 Property Management
7 5 GS 7 Dumoulin / Nastasi Blackforest Motorsports / BMW M3 Coupe 1:31.623 96.617 USG Sheetrock, DeWalt
8 97 GS 9 Ortiz / Salama Turner Motorsport / BMW M3 Coupe 1:31.648 96.591 Turner Motorsports
9 37 GS 8 Gue / Seafuse JBS Motorsports / Ford Mustang GT 1:31.648 96.591 Trumansburg Shursave
10 39 GS 10 Ende / Pumpelly TRG / Porsche 997 1:31.658 96.580 The DigiTrust Group, Adam’s Polishes, Fox River Coffee, Sherab-Khandro.com
11 83 GS 11 Miller / Stanton BGB Motorsports / Porsche 997 1:31.784 96.448 Performance Drink
12 09 GS 12 Segal / Thornton Automatic Racing / BMW M3 Coupe 1:31.914 96.311 Imported Car Store, Land Air, Engine Studios, Rogue Engineering
13 46 GS 13 Borkowski / Constantine Playboy Racing/ Fall-Line / BMW M3 Coupe 1:31.959 96.264 Playboy, Verve, Taser, Palms, Aprilia, Original BMW Parts, Fall-Line
14 52 GS 14 Grandon / Mason Rehagen Racing / Ford Mustang GT 1:32.042 96.177 Columbus Truck & Equipement
15 96 GS 15 Alhadeff / Auberlen Turner Motorsport / BMW M3 Coupe 1:32.354 95.852 Turner Motorsports
16 17 GS 16 Ackley / Snyder CMA Motorsports / Ford Mustang GT 1:32.469 95.733 ACKCO, INC. CONSULTING GROUP
17 60 GS 17 Canney / Plumb Rehagen Racing / Ford Mustang GT 1:32.630 95.567 Sunset Hills Vineyard
18 25 GS 18 Riddle / Wilson CMAX/ Unitech Racing / Porsche 997 1:32.861 95.329 C-MAX/UNITECH RACING
19 41 GS 19 Ludwig / Schroeder TRG / Porsche 997 1:32.973 95.214 Cohen Financial, Wolf-tec Inc., www.WTInc.com, Ludwig-Motorsports, Pillers
20 11 GS 20 Kossmann / Shep Emerald Hill Motorsports / Ford Mustang GT 1:33.461 94.717 Stateyouridentity.com, Gold Coast Parasail
21 28 GS 21 Boden / Jenkins Playboy Racing/ Fall-Line / BMW M3 Coupe 1:33.661 94.515 Playboy, Verve, Taser, Palms, Aprilia, Original BMW Parts, Fall-Line
22 140 GS 22 Anis / Wojteczko SG-Motorsport / Nissan 350Z 1:33.679 94.497 SG-Motorsports.com
23 21 GS 23 Eversley / Levitas Motorsport Technology Group / Porsche 997 1:33.782 94.393 MAH 720 Property Mgmt, TPC Racing
24 89 GS 24 Kofskey / Rossi Ranger Sports Racing / Porsche 997 1:34.233 93.941 Hop A Jet Worldwide Jet Charter
25 01 ST 1 Curran / Holtom Georgian Bay Motorsports / Chevrolet Cobalt SS 1:34.310 93.864 Chev Cobalt SS, TTL
26 51 ST 2 Ott / Rivera Brass Mitchell Racing / Mazda RX-8 1:34.505 93.671 Haljoy Renewable Fuels
27 150 GS 25 Click / McGovern Rehagen Racing / Ford Mustang GT 1:34.527 93.649 Jim Click Racing, Valvoline
28 14 GS 26 Pacione / Shep Emerald Hill Motorsports / Ford Mustang GT 1:34.623 93.554 Emerald Hill Motorsports
29 00 ST 3 McCalmont / Spencer Georgian Bay Motorsports / Chevrolet Cobalt SS 1:34.991 93.191 TTL
30 141 ST 4 Aquilante / Knowles ICY/ Phoenix Racing / Subaru Legacy 1:35.048 93.136 Subaru of America
31 138 ST 5 Danyliw / Schmidt GS Motorsports / Chevrolet Cobalt SS 1:35.117 93.068 C&P Cross Border Law, Sun Sport
32 196 ST 6 Smalley / Trinkler RSR Motorsports / Mini Cooper S 1:35.153 93.033 Cruise America, 4 Winds RV, Casetech
33 181 ST 7 Pobst / White APR Motorsport / Volkswagen GTI 1:35.264 92.924 APR, BBS, Motul, Status, IAV, Team Janica
34 74 ST 8 Burrows / Hopwood Compass360 Racing / Acura TSX 1:35.352 92.839 Skunk2, Sunday Group Mgmt, Fischer Skis, C360R.com
35 32 ST 9 Wittmer / Wittmer i-MOTO Racing / Acura TSX 1:35.367 92.824 Cybernation Solutions, Alpinestar, Acura
36 171 ST 10 Baas / von Moltke APR Motorsport / Volkswagen GTI 1:35.385 92.807 APR, BBS, Motul, Status, IAV, Team Vomo USA
37 31 ST 11 Bocchino / Cunningham i-MOTO Racing / Acura TSX 1:35.463 92.731 Cybernation Solutions, Alpinestar, Acura
38 53 ST 12 Boyer / Pritiko Predator Auto Sport / Chevrolet Cobalt SS 1:35.510 92.685 Auto Tech
39 63 ST 13 Carbonell / Herr Roar Racing / Mazda RX-8 1:35.581 92.616 Mazda Speed, Red Line Oil, Go Pro Camera, Discovery Parts
40 86 ST 14 Grahovec / Kleinubing Classic BMW - Plano / BMW Z4 1:35.703 92.498 Classic BMW
41 111 ST 15 Hemmingson / Skavnes ICY/ Phoenix Racing / Subaru Legacy 1:35.758 92.445 Subaru of America
42 145 ST 16 Daniels / Whitis Freedom Autosport / Mazda MX-5 1:35.981 92.230 Freedom Autosport, Mazda
43 29 ST 17 Beede / Fenton Bill Fenton Motorsports / Honda Civic SI 1:36.008 92.204 Honda Cirtified Used Cars
44 189 ST 18 Blanchette / Hebert 89 Racing Team / Honda Civic SI 1:36.031 92.182 Trois-Rivieres Honda, TVA-CHEM, Auberge Godefroy
45 22 ST 19 Lewis / Schmitt HART / Honda Accord 1:36.655 91.587 Red Line Oil, Honda of America
46 24 ST 20 Arnold / Schultz V-Pack Motorsport / BMW 330 1:36.660 91.582 Trackmasters, AMI, Arai, Automobilsport, www.garra-fans.com
47 16 ST 21 Brumbaugh / Stuard Meyer Motorsports / Mazda RX-8 1:36.668 91.575 RAM TECH, Stewart Engines
48 49 ST 22 Mitchell / Robinson Brass Mitchell Racing / Mazda RX-8 1:36.706 91.539 Haljoy Renewable Fuels
49 76 ST 23 Thomson / Walker Compass360 Racing / Acura RSX Type S 1:36.707 91.538 Skunk2, K&N, Compass 360 Marketing
50 27 ST 24 Lamb / Thilenius Bill Fenton Motorsports / Honda Civic SI 1:36.789 91.460 Southern Auto Auction
51 197 ST 25 London / Smalley RSR Motorsports / Mini Cooper S 1:36.866 91.388 Cruise America, 4 Winds RV, Del Frisco’s Steakhouse
52 73 ST 26 Wilden / Willard Compass360 Racing / Acura TSX 1:36.894 91.361 Pure Hair and Body Care, C360R.com
53 127 ST 27 Buisson / Gramisci Fountain Motorsports / BMW 330 1:37.432 90.857 Hawk Brakes, Rogue Engineering, Marren Fuel
54 146 ST 28 Long / O’Doski Freedom Autosport / Mazda MX-5 1:38.007 90.324 Freedom Autosport, Mazda
55 33 ST 29 Davis / Smith Kinetic Motorsports / BMW 330 1:38.454 89.914
56 198 ST 30 Congleton / Zacharias RSR Motorsports / Mini Cooper S 1:40.540 88.048 Cruise America, CaseTech
57 08 ST 31 Leverone / McHaffie Flatout Motorsports / Mazda MX-5 1:40.647 87.954 Flatout Motorsports
58 88 GS 27 Ellis / Wellon Ranger Sports Racing / Porsche 996 1:40.671 87.933 Hop A Jet Worldwide Jet Charter
59 30 ST 0 Meyer / Wilson Meyer Motorsports / Mazda RX-8 - - Meyermotorsports.com, Stewart Engines
60 26 GS 0 Riddle / Wilson CMAX/ Unitech Racing / Porsche 997 - - C-MAX/UNITECH RACING
61 38 GS 0 Murry / Selznick BGB Motorsports / Porsche 997 - -
62 58 GS 0 Martin / Rehagen Rehagen Racing / Ford Mustang GT - -
63 154 GS 0 Click / McGovern Rehagen Racing / Ford Mustang GT - - Jim Click Racing, Valvoline
64 183 ST 0 Bovenberg / Rashleigh GS Motorsports / Chevrolet Cobalt SS - - C&P Cross Border Law, Sun Sport
65 128 ST 0 Gramisci / Rowen Fountain Motorsports / BMW 330 - - Hawk Brakes, Rogue Engineering, Marren Injection
66 95 ST 0 Bell / Mirzayan Turner Motorsport / BMW 330 - - Turner Motorsports
67 85 ST 0 Lamb / Maia Classic BMW - Plano / BMW Z4 - - Classic BMW
68 75 ST 0 Miller / York Compass360 Racing / Acura TSX - - Goenzo.com, 034 Motorsport, C360R.com

* - Withdrew
Holtom - who co-drives the No. 01 with point co-leader Eric Curran - will share the front row with Steven Ott, who was also fast in Friday’s previously-held practice sessions. Ott drove the No. 51 Brass Mitchell Racing Mazda RX-8 to a time of 1:34.505 (93.671 mph), just six thousandths of a second off of Jim Holtom’s previous record of 1:34.499. Holtom became the series’ youngest ever class winner at 17 years, eight months and 18 days. He won the 2005 edition of the race at Mosport with his father Jim.

Ashley McCalmont, Holtom’s 21-year-old teammate from Ancaster, Ontario, also turned in a strong performance after a lap of 1:34.991 (93.192 mph) in the No. 00 Georgian Bay Motorsports Chevrolet Cobalt. McCalmont is in her rookie season in the KONI Challenge Series and co-drives the Cobalt with Kirk Spencer.

Don Knowles in the No. 141 ICY/Phoenix Racing Subaru Legacy was fourth, while No. 138 GS Motorsports Chevrolet Cobalt driver Andrew Danyliw was fifth. Knowles co-drives with Andrew Aquilante, while Danyliw co-drives with Gunter Schmidt.

Thirty-one ST cars took times during the session. Holtom and Curran currently sit in the series point lead with 61 points. Kuno Wittmer, who sits tied for third in the driver standings with three other drivers at 50 points, and his brother Nick Wittmer qualified ninth. Peter Cunningham, also with 50 points, and co-driver Glenn Bocchino will start 11th. Both drivers compete for i-MOTO Racing. Kevin York and Christian Miller, driving the No. 75 Compass360 Racing Acura TSX, also entered the weekend third in points but crashed in practice and did not participate in qualifying.

NOTEBOOK

How The Canadian Drivers Fared: Several Canadian drivers made qualifying attempts on Friday. Three drivers - Jamie Holtom of Ottawa, Ashley McCalmont of Ancaster, Ontario, and Andrew Danyliw of Toronto - qualified in the ST top five, and the Hudson, Quebec duo of Nick and Kuno Wittmer will start ninth. Toronto’s Matt Pritiko will start 12th in ST, and Jocelyn Hebert of Quebec was 18th. Jeremy Willard was 26th. In GS, David Riddle of Vancouver was 18th, Sasha Anis was 22nd, Frank Rossi of Kleinburg, Ontario, was 24th and Fraser Wellon of Mississauga, Ontario, was 27th.

Mini Coopers Run Fast: Randy Smalley Racing’s three-car Mini Cooper entry saw the top of the charts several times on Friday with the team’s newest car, the No. 196. Drivers Owen Trinkler and BJ Zacharias were both quick in the practice sessions, and Trinkler was sixth in qualifying. Team owner Randy Smalley said a variety of updates and setups, as well as a strong driver combination, have helped the team improve.

Nastasi Believes BMW Will Be Strong: Tom Nastasi believes the BMW M3 will be strong throughout this weekend at Mosport. Nastasi drove the Ford Mustang last year and in the Fresh From Florida 200 at Daytona before switching to the BMW M3 at Lime Rock Park. Knowing the strengths and weaknesses of the Mustang can help Nastasi when it comes to certain parts of the track, especially when he expects to hold them off. “The M3 is getting better,” Nastasi said. “Everything is good. I know how strong the Mustangs are on the straightaway here, and we have to keep them behind us on the straightaways.” Nastasi qualified the No. 5 Blackforest Motorsports BMW M3 seventh.

BGB Motorsports Taking “No Risks”: BGB Motorsports team principal John Tecce said Mosport has been known to “eat cars alive.” That’s why the car sat out the first practice session of the day. “The guys say they have a good car,” Tecce said. “We don’t want to take any risks.” Jon Miller qualified the car 12th, while Craig Stanton - tied as the point leader with Automatic Racing co-drivers and defending champions Jep Thornton and Jeff Segal - will finish the race.

Incidents Sideline Two Cars During Practice: The No. 75 Compass360 Racing Acura TSX of Kevin York and the No. 30 Meyer Motorsports Mazda RX-8 of Peyton Wilson were both involved in practice accidents and neither car participated in qualifying. York crashed in Turn 1 and got out under his own power, while Wilson hit the concrete in Turn 2, severely damaging the car’s front end. Wilson was evaluated on the infield medical center and released.

DRIVER QUOTES

Joe Foster (No. 55 Hyper Sport Ford Mustang GT) - “Obviously qualifying went well for us. It’s a hot afternoon, which is unseasonably hot here. This track is very greasy, and we took a stab setup-wise that worked. Some of the tracks in this series don’t suit the Mustangs, but this track definitely does, so we are grateful to put the Mustang up front.”

Jack Roush Jr. (No. 59 Rehagen Racing Roush Performance Ford Mustang GT) - “It’s pretty interesting being back here. Last year I left this track feeling like I hadn’t really figured out some of the areas, more so than any other track, and it’s interesting coming back this year feeling like I did have more of a handle on it with the power steering. The qualifying run went well; I didn’t get caught up in any traffic. I was lucky in that I didn’t get the tires overheated, although they were getting warmer. In general I find qualifying kind of challenging because I am more of a rhythm driver; usually the longer I drive in a session, the faster I get. With how short qualifying is, you don’t have time to do that, but luckily I was able to do that in this session and get my fastest lap at the end.”

Jamie Holtom (No. 01 Georgian Bay Motorsports Chevrolet Cobalt) - “I’m not too happy to break that record with my dad previously holding the track mark, but it’s great to start up front, so it’s bittersweet. The Georgian Bay guys turned out amazing cars. I also want to congratulate Ashley McCalmont on her breakthrough, third-place starting spot. She’s doing a great job. I’m super-excited to be starting this car on the pole. This is the second straight for us this season. We’re looking to bring the Chevy Cobalt to first again.”

Ashley McCalmont (No. 00 Georgian Bay Motorsports Chevrolet Cobalt) - “It was the last lap. My crew chief came on and said that if I could turn a lap just one-tenth of a second faster, I’d make up five positions. I decided that I could do that, tried a little harder and made it up to third. It feels great. My main job tomorrow is to keep it clean, keep it up there for Kurt (Spencer) and hopefully he can bring home a good finish.”