SCC: Utah: Bill Auberlen preview

Bill Auberlen will start his 350th auto race this weekend, competing in the Grand-Am KONI Challenge Series race at Miller Motorsports Park in Tooele, Utah, on Friday. The Redondo Beach, Calif., driver will set another mark during the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series race at the same track on Saturday -- his 210th start in a BMW-powered car.

His perspective is that of a consummate racer: "It's good to finally come to the halfway point of the amount of races I'm going to do. I can't wait for the second 350! I'm just as excited now as I was for the first race I did. I love to win more now than I ever did."

After racing in more than 200 motocross events, Auberlen switched to cars at age 18. He has since won six professional auto-racing championships and earned 74 victories, 138 podium finishes, 53 pole positions (41 record) and 64 fastest race laps (48 record). He has set 102 series and track records since 1990, with record-setting performances every year from 1993 through 2007.

Auberlen has driven with many manufacturers in a career that has spanned the globe, but most of his success has come as a factory driver for BMW.

"Driving with BMW has been great for my career. They brought me a lot of wins and a lot of championships," he noted. "Any time you're aligned with a great manufacturer, it makes your job a lot easier."

-credit: sylvia proudfoot