Cosmo, Three Motorcycle Stars Test for Spirit of Daytona

Three motorcycle legends tested together for the first time Monday at Daytona International Speedway, preparing for a probable run in the 2009 Rolex 24 At Daytona. Ricky Carmichael, Scott Russell and Jason Pridmore are spending three days taking turns behind the wheel of the No. 09 Spirit of Daytona Porsche Coyote - and are enjoying every minute of the process.

"I'm pretty excited to come back," said Carmichael, a five-time winner of the Daytona Supercross By Honda. "Obviously, I'm not as nervous. There were some things I needed to improve on from the minimal laps I had last time (during Open House in September). I did a little bit better from last time, and I'm still trying to learn and get a good evaluation. It was much smoother today. When we apply a little more speed to it, we'll be ready to go."

Carmichael spent the season racing in the NASCAR Camping World East Series, and is preparing to run the next two years with Kevin Harvick Inc. in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.

While Carmichael's only prior outing in Grand-Am was at Open House, Scott Russell has been a regular in the paddock throughout the season - helping with spotting while learning about four-wheel racing.

"I feel a lot more comfortable every time I come here and get in the car," said Russell, the first five-time winner of the Daytona 200 By Honda. "I've still got a lot to work on as far as lap times go, and getting smooth in the car. But it's coming around, and I'm enjoying it. I've improved a second and a half this time from the last test. I'm still quite a ways off, but that's a good sign if I can knock off a little more every time I get in."

Pridmore's lone test in a car was with Spirit of Daytona recently in Savannah, Ga. Monday's session was his first here in Nomex instead of leathers.

"This is so much different being on a bike around this place, and it's going to take a lot getting used to," said Pridmore, a two-time supersport 750 winner here. "The hardest thing for me is the idea of being strapped in and not being able to move around a lot. We've got a lot more freedom on the bike. Still, the lines and stuff aren't really that drastic. We're running the old Daytona course that we raced back in the day, and it felt like home again."

Joining the two-wheel legends at the test was Guy Cosmo, who was the Spirit of Daytona's regular driver in 2008.

"This is a real fun process," Cosmo said. "These guys are new to this kind of road racing, and they're new to racing on four wheels, but the interesting part to me is that they're champions, absolutely masters at their craft and what they do. So, their process of adapting to four wheels and this car and these tires is really impressive, because they're not rookies."

Carmichael, Pridmore, and Russell Test With Spirit of Daytona Racing

Porsche V8-Coyote put through paces with two-wheel aces this week at DIS

DAYTONA, FL, 27 October- Spirit of Daytona Racing is looking to get a fast start to the 2009 Rolex Sports Car Series season with three days of testing this week at Daytona International Speedway.

The familiar Spirit of Daytona Racing No. 09 Porsche-V8 powered Coyote will be put through its paces by regular team pilot Guy Cosmo as well as three superstars from the world of motorcycle racing as Ricky Carmichael, of Clearwater, FL, Jason Pridmore, of Ventura, CA, and Scott Russell, of Atlanta, GA will all be behind the wheel during the test days on the 3.56-mile road course at DIS to continue preparations for the 2009 Rolex 24 At Daytona to kick off the Rolex Sports Car Series season.

This weeks test marks the second time this month that Spirit of Daytona Racing has hit the track, as Pridmore and Russell joined Guy Cosmo in testing in Savannah two weeks ago.

“The guys ask a lot of questions and are very methodical in their approach,” said Cosmo. “They progress exactly how you would expect professionals would. They have no ego whatsoever in terms of what they are doing in the car, even though they’ve all had the careers that they’ve had on bikes. There is no reason not to expect them to be good at this as well. The other important thing is that they are having a lot of fun, and I think that’s helping to feed their progression. Hopefully we’ll be able to get a good baseline set up and that the guys get a lot of good track time this week.”

Utilizing a motor-chassis combination that showed both remarkable reliability as well as flashes of speed in a partial 2008 Rolex Series campaign, Spirit of Daytona Racing will focus on another strong result in this years Rolex 24 At Daytona after bringing home a top-ten finish in the 2008 event. The team is still working to finalize plans for the 2009 Rolex season, but is excited about the opportunity to be involved as two-wheel stars become four-wheel Rolex Sports Car Series racers.

“From what we saw at Savannah, they definitely have the talent to be doing this,” said Flis. “We are looking forward to the test this week to just keep moving their curve along and getting as much seat time as possible for these guys. We’re not really focused on these guys getting in a super lap time nearly as much as we are concentrating on just getting them comfortable with the car, and being able to find the limits of what they can do, and what the car can do.”

The test will not only be a good exercise for the guys getting time in behind the wheel, but the team is also looking forward to the chance to gel in preparation for one of the sport’s greatest challenges.

“We’re building our team up and this test isn’t just about getting the guys more experience on this track, because it’s also a good opportunity for them to get to know the guys working on the crew as well and get everyone working well together as a team,” said Flis. “That’s a small thing, really, but you never know what the 24 might throw at you, and the team has to be ready for anything so that chemistry and teamwork can turn out to be really important, so we’re happy to get this chance to test here on the home track.”

The testing runs from 9 a.m. - 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, and 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Wednesday.

Event information: http://grand-am.com/rolex/schedule/event.cfm?eid=855

This is the first of three off-season tests for the Rolex Series at Daytona. Teams will test with 2009 specification Pirelli tires Nov. 11-12 and then again for the Jan. 2-4 session, the last major session prior to the 2009 season-opening Rolex 24 At Daytona, set for Jan. 24-25.

For additional information:
www.spritofdaytona.com
www.sundaymanagement.com

Contact:
Matt Cleary, Sunday Group Management
media@sundaymanagement.com
317.908.2975 (mobile)

Cosmo Takes Two Top Tens to Close Out KONI 2008

(Alton, VA) 8 October 08—Guy Cosmo was in high demand this weekend as he was called to duty to race in both segments of the Bosch Engineering Twin Six-Hours at Virginia International Raceway to close out the 2008 Grand-Am KONI Challenge season.

Teaming with Andrew Carbonell in the Next-Generation Motorsports BMW 330i, Cosmo brought home a tenth place finish in the ST class race on Saturday after 146 tours of the 3.27-mile natural terrain road circuit. The result was compromised, particularly on the tracks two long straights, as the race wore on and revealed that the motor was well on its way to the powerplants own final laps and wasn’t delivering full power. But the BMW still made it to the checkered flag after Cosmo and Carbonell hustled the car through the corners to make up as much as possible for the lack of straight line speed.

Sunday’s final GS race of the year witnessed Cosmo rejoin Daytona Beach-based BGB Motorsports to share a Porsche 911 with Mike Piera as the team posted a two-car entry. The race sported championship implications, as the sister No. 83 of Jon Miller, Craig Stanton, and John Tecce was looking to deliver a KONI driver championship for Stanton.

At the start of the six-hour enduro, Cosmo and Stanton ran in lock step, setting a fast pace and working to create a gap to the championship contenders.

“That was some of the most intense running I’ve done in a long time, with Craig and I chasing the leaders for nearly that entire stint,” said Cosmo. “Craig had a chance to take the championship right until the final laps and the team was obviously doing everything possible to put him in position to do that. Unfortunately that meant that our final pit stop was delayed a bit and I got back out on track pretty deep in the pack, but I was able to make up a few spots and finish in seventh.”

After a 2008 season that saw Cosmo busy with coaching, Daytona Prototype competition, and KONI Challenge events, he was happy to close out the year with a solid weekend of racing.

“It was great to be back with the BGB guys again this weekend,” said Cosmo. “It’s been a few years, and I was really impressed with how the team has raised their game since the last time I raced with them. The organization that the team showed, and the preparation of the equipment was all top-notch. It was a really great car. It was too bad the championship didn’t go Craig’s way, but it was still a good way to end off the year, running a strong car to the finish at VIR.”


For additional information, please visit: www.guycosmo.com
-ends

Contact: Matt Cleary
Sunday Group Management
media@sundaymanagement.com
317.908.2975 (m)

Cosmo Pumped up About Double-Duty Close Out to 2008

Next-Gen Racing on Saturday, With BGB Calling Cosmo to duty on Sunday
 
(Alton, VA) 2 October 08—Racers love nothing more than seat time, the chance to brag, and then more seat time. And this weekend, Guy Cosmo will barely have time enough to brag as he has been called into action for both feature races in this weekend’s Grand-Am KONI Challenge season-ending Bosch Engineering Twin 6 Hours at Virginia International Raceway.
 
After racing in both team entries during the Grand Prix de Trois Rivieres, Guy Cosmo has been tapped once again by Next Generation Motorsports to share the controls of the BMW 330i with young up and coming racer Andrew Carbonell, who scored his maiden KONI Challenge pole two rounds ago at New Jersey Motorsports Park. The ST–class entry is one of 45 cars slated to race on Saturday, with a green flag set for 2:00 PM.
 
Next Generation Motorsports, previously Fountain Motorsports, will once again be sporting two entries for the six-hour enduro with Hawk Brakes, Rogue Engineering, and Marren Fuel Induction supporting the effort.
 
“This weekend is going to be a blast,” said Cosmo. “Two six-hour races-who could ask for more? I’m excited to be in the Next Gen car with Andrew, I think he’s going to be a really strong teammate and I know he’s raced well at VIR before. Hopefully we can just get into a good race pace and be there at the end for a strong finish. I really want to help Jeffery Bock (team owner) show what this team is capable of, and I’m glad he’s giving me the chance to do that on a track that’s just so much fun to race on.”
 
But even after 6 hours of ST-class racing on Saturday, the weekend will be far from over for Cosmo, as he is also slated to compete in Sunday’s GS-class edition of the Bosch Engineering weekend with BGB Motorsports in a Porsche 911.
 
Cosmo has long-standing ties to the team, having brought them their first-ever KONI Challenge race win in 2003 at Mt. Tremblant before going on to back that up with another KONI race victory the very next round at VIR.
 
“It’s like a reunion that’s five years in the making!” joked Cosmo. “I’ll be in the orange 911, so everyone will be able to see us coming. I haven’t raced with BGB for a couple of years, so it’s going to be fun to be back with those guys. I think that car will be good on the long runs here for the six hour, and hopefully I’ll be going for my second podium of the weekend!”
 
A promoter test day will open the weekend on Thursday, with Friday hosting a full day of practice. Saturday’s race will go green at 2:00 PM, with Sunday’s race starting with an 11:00 AM green flag. 

 
Contact: Matt Cleary
Sunday Group Management
media@sundaymanagement.com   
317.908.2975 (m)