Grand-Am

SCC: Mid-Ohio: Burrows, Hopwood race notes

Mechanical failure derails strong race weekend Mansfield, OH (21 June, 2008)--An ideal race outing for Adam Burrows and Trevor Hopwood turned sour after a mechanical failure on the No. 74 Fischer Skis/Skunk2 Acura TSX Sunday in the Grand-Am KONI ...

Edited: Dec 21, 2009, 5:26 AM

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Mechanical failure derails strong race weekend

Mansfield, OH (21 June, 2008)--An ideal race outing for Adam Burrows and Trevor Hopwood turned sour after a mechanical failure on the No. 74 Fischer Skis/Skunk2 Acura TSX Sunday in the Grand-Am KONI Challenge ST race at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course as part of the EMCO Gears Classic.

After qualifying on the front row for the two hour and thirty minute race, Burrows slotted into second at the start, and held station as the field settled into a clean run to start the race. Hopes were high for a breakthrough race podium or even better for the defending champs, but those were put to rest when Burrows pulled in for an unexpected early pit stop before an hour had elapsed.

"It is a shame because the car was really fast and I had just settled into a good pace and was saving the tires and the brakes for Trevor (Hopwood)," said Burrows. "But I felt a vibration and so I had to bring it in early. The team thought that the problem was with the wheel studs, but it turns out to have been a bigger problem with the wheel hub, so when Trevor went out, the entire hub assembly came apart. It's a good thing Trevor is God's gift to car control because he did an excellent job to keep it on the track and and get the car back in to the pits for repairs. I have to thank Ivan for the job he did getting the entire left rear fixed and getting us out in time to get some points. Disappointing day today, but we'll look forward to the Glen."

Hopwood took over from Burrows and went out on track only to generate significant television attention as the left rear wheel dislodged from the Acura at speed. Most drivers would have had a hard time keeping the car from crashing, but the defending champ was able to not only keep the car under control, but he also brought the car safely back to the garage for repairs.

After the Compass360Racing crew got the Acura back on track with Hopwood at the controls, the No. 74 moved up from last in the running to take 29th at the checkered flag as Hopwood made the most of challenging conditions to make a dramatic move forward. Unfortunately, the strong pace was not enough to overcome the mechanical set back before the race ran its course.

"I felt like a hero out there," joked Hopwood about the passing clinic he put on in the rain and variable conditions. "But this result really is a big blow for us in the championship. Mid-Ohio has just not been good to us the last two years. But we know we are fast at the Glen so we'll just be focused on getting back on the podium again there in July."

-credit: burrows/hopwood

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