Grand-AM:
Daytona II - AIM Autosport race preview
Turning it around race by race.
(2009.07.02)
AIM Autosport is heading into the race at Daytona this weekend with a sense of
confidence. They left Mid Ohio having recorded their best start of the year qualifying
third and had a strong race leading twenty-four laps in the early going. In 2008,
Mid Ohio also featured AIM's best start and at that point, best finish of the
season and they came away sitting seventh in the championship. This year while
running in second, track position came into play during a late caution and the
No. 61 Ford Riley would come to the line in seventh place. The team also came
away sitting eighth in the championship but in what is a much tighter points
battle that last year.
So why the confidence? In 2008, the July race at Daytona was a turning point
for AIM Autosport. Mark Wilkins would earn his and AIM's first pole in the Grand
Am Rolex Sports Car Series and the No. 61 Ford Riley proved to be very quick
taking the lead early in the race. The team was destined for a podium when late
in the race they suffered a half-shaft failure as a result of an earlier tire
blowout. Even though they ended up eighteenth, the die was cast for even more
improvement and a serious run to victory.
"The July race at Daytona last year was just awesome from the start" commented
Mark Wilkins. "We were carrying in some momentum from the last race and everything
just seemed to click. Everyone on the AIM Autosport crew did a fantastic job
from the minute we rolled off the truck and we were rewarded with the pole. The
end result was disappointing but we proved to ourselves, as much as to everyone
else in the paddock, that we had what it takes to compete for the win." Wilkins
continued, "Now we are happy to be back at Daytona and again we are coming off
a very strong performance that has everyone pumped. The car is great, the guys
at Roush-Yates have given us a fantastic Ford engine and we are ready to attack
and go for it once again and keep the momentum going."
Burt Frisselle had this to say about preparing for the Daytona race. "Following
Mid Ohio I am convinced that yes, we are in this thing and that just like last
year, the No. 61 Ford Riley is in the hunt for a win. It was fun to watch Mark
get the pole last year and right now I am very happy to be in a position to help
AIM repeat that performance but with the focus on a better final result."
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