Rum Bum Racing announces 2011 plans

Rum Bum Racing Announces 2011 GRAND-AM Campaign With Sights Set on Championship

CHARLOTTE, NC 8 October 2010 - As the GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge drivers and teams assemble at the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte to celebrate the 2010 season this weekend, the collective look a back at 2010 will quickly turn into a focus forward as the 2011 racing season rapidly approaches.

One team not taking any time to look back is Rum Bum Racing, which had an outstanding rookie year of competition in GRAND-AM in 2010 and is pleased to announce a return to the category in 2011 with a full-season campaign aimed at taking the championship crown.

The Florida-based team, which is managed by Matt Plumb with championship veteran Joe Varde calling the shots from the pit box, stole the scene from the established teams with a breakthrough win at Daytona International Speedway to open the year with a victorious first-time outing as Plumb co-drove the No 13 Rum Bum Racing BMW M3 with young Gian Bacardi for the victory.

Despite the team having rookie stripes, the experienced group assembled by Plumb showed their true colors as the one-car organization proved to be a threat every weekend. Competing in one of the sports most competitive classes with entry lists boasting over 70 cars in one race, Rum Bum Racing scored a podium (top-three) finish in half of the races run including taking a runner-up finish and then two wins to close out the year as the driving duties were assumed by renowned test driver, engineer, and spotter Nick Longhi.

The team's efforts were crucial to the points total earned through the year for BMW, which won the Manufacturer Championship for the Roundel once again. The team is looking to help with that effort once again in 2011, and will also look to emerge with Team and Driver Championships to boot.

"This has been an incredible first season for Rum Bum Racing and we're very excited to have our program finalized for 2011," said Plumb. "Special thanks to Luis Bacardi for his vision and commitment to Rum Bum Racing. The talent on our crew this year has been key to our success, so I am grateful that we have put our plans together early to secure the group we are lucky to have. Considering that we were just starting this process last year at this time, we are further ahead than we had expected but that doesn't keep us from pushing.

"The fact is you need something special to be competitive in Grand Am, all of the teams and drivers are incredibly capable. I knew that this would be a special deal starting off but really am so please that it came together the way it did. We have some high expectations for next year and we know we are going to have to fight to live up to them. Can't wait to get back to Daytona in January!"

-source: rum bum racing