SCC: Daytona: Andy Brumbaugh race notes

ANDY BRUMBAUGH/ROAR RACING SHOWS ITS POTENTIAL

COLUMBIA, SC (January 31, 2007) --Andy Brumbaugh and the Roar Racing Mazda charged to the front in their season opening Grand-Am event at the Fresh From Florida 200 at Daytona International Speedway January 26. Brumbaugh and Joe Scarbrough co-drove the team's #63 Mazda RX-8, sponsored by Winterhaven Farms/ The Toliver House Restaurant/Discovery Parts, in the ST class of the new KONI Challenge. With slower traffic balking the hot lap in qualifying the #63 started 27th in the 45 car ST field.

Scarbrough drove a very solid stint the first half of the race, his first in Grand-Am, moving up several spots. Brumbaugh commenced an immediate charge toward the front, getting as high as 6th at one point before a splash of fuel was needed. He then quickly got back to 11th before being hit hard from behind by two different cars in two successive turns under full-course yellow. The impact damaged the Mazda's suspension to the point the car would not go straight. Brumbaugh was able to still bring the car home 20th.

"The whole ROAR Racing team has been working non-stop getting ready for the 2007 season," said Brumbaugh. "The cars were really good. We were on pace for a certain top 10, not bad for what we consider our worst track of the year. I'm excited about the possibilities for the season. I believe we will make a strong impression on the ST class this season. I can't wait to get to Homestead!"

Brumbaugh is a multi-time champion in karting and open wheel racing and was one of the top two young American drivers selected to test for the Porsche junior team in Germany. This is his fourth season of Grand-Am competition having raced Porsche's, Mazda's and Lexus' in both the Rolex and Grand-Am Cup/KONI Challenge divisions.

-credit: www.andybrumbaugh.com