Millville: TRG preview

TRG Heads to Rolex Race at New Jersey on a Win Streak

Petaluma, CA, (July 13, 2010) - TRG is heading to New Jersey Motorsports Park on the wave of a three race win streak. The team will run two Porsche GT3 Cup cars at this weekend's Grand-Am Rolex Series presented by Crown Royal Reserve Cask No.16 race at the Jersey track.

With the recent installment of TRG East, a New Jersey Motrosports Park based team affiliate, this is very much a home event. The team is hoping to take the momentum from wins at Virginia International Raceway, Watkins Glen International Raceway, Daytona International Speedway and make it four on Sunday. RJ Valentine is teamed with Andy Lally in the No. 66 Advanced Aerosol Acquisitions/CRG/TRG/Porsche. Lally is currently second in driver's points, just nine out of the lead in GT. In the No. 67 Sargent & Lundy/TRG/Porsche Steve Bertheau will run with Spencer Pumpelly.

Valentine, an ownership partner in the New Jersey Motorsports Park facility, will be looking for his second win in as many races with Lally. The duo had a convincing victory at Daytona just two weeks ago. Lally has bigger goals - the GT championship.

"I have become an owner at New Jersey Motorsports Park," Valentine said. "I like the track, although I love Watkins Glen, and of course Daytona. I love the ambience of the New Jersey track and the surrounding country side. I am a huge bike rider and I enjoy riding for up to 50 miles around the great roads in and around the track. I am also a fan of the best tomatoes in the world, Jim Dooleys and the fabulous NJ Corn. I have a few track secrets, but I don't share them. To win this weekend it will take staying on key and keeping fast consistent laps, then delivering the car in one piece to Andy who I consider the best road racer in the world - smart, calculating, and, precise."

"The competition is really stiff in the Rolex Series and we will have to be on our game," Lally said. "The drivers, pit stops and strategy have to be right on. The teams we are going up against are tough and we are getting to the end of the season and everyone is pulling out their best stuff for the run to the championship. We need to do the same and see if we can take the points lead. New Jersey is RJ's home track and he has done well there in the past. This will be the first time that we will race together at his track. I am looking forward to it this weekend."

Bertheau and Pumpelly are looking to carry the momentum from their Grand-Am Continental Tire Series win from Mid-Ohio over to New Jersey this weekend.

"Our win at Mid-Ohio will really give our team a boost moving into New Jersey," Bertheau said. "It'll be my first time on that track, but the fact that Spencer and I are running in both GT and GS classes should get us enough seat time to put on a show. It is always tough to predict outcomes, but the hard work and long hours of preparation by the TRG crews should put us in a sound position."

"The last time I raced at New Jersey was last year in a TRG Motorsports ARCA car," Pumpelly said. The key to being successful in New Jersey is a good handling car, it's more of a grip track than HP track. There are fast corners that make-up most of a lap. I have a lot of good memories of New Jersey in the short time that the track has been around - like winning the GS race last year and being on the podium in ARCA and GT."

Kevin Buckler, team owner, is revving up TRG East and wants to do it with a win.

"We have become very active with our programs at New Jersey Motorsports Park," Buckler said. "Operating out of our new temporary facility, we had a great driver development day last month. We also have a strong history of performance at New Jersey. We won there in GS last year and were on the podium in GT. We also had Spencer on the podium in ARCA. We have a lot of forward motion to our season right now, winning the last three races we have entered along with the Continental win at Mid-Ohio. Andy is in the hunt for the championship and Spencer and Steve have wins this season as well with Steve really starting to shine. RJ has a new spring in his step coming off of the win at Daytona, so nothing but positive vibes heading to Jersey this weekend."

-source: trg