Grand-Am

SCC: Watkins Glen: Team Sahlen race notes

Team Sahlen Ends Chemung Canal Trust Watkins Glen, NY - Team Sahlen entered three cars in the Grand Sport (GS) class this weekend at the Chemung Canal Trust 200 on Saturday afternoon at Watkins Glen International. The team had high expectations ...

Edited: Dec 21, 2009, 5:26 AM

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Team Sahlen Ends Chemung Canal Trust

Watkins Glen, NY - Team Sahlen entered three cars in the Grand Sport (GS) class this weekend at the Chemung Canal Trust 200 on Saturday afternoon at Watkins Glen International. The team had high expectations for the event but due to an on track incident, fell short of a top ten spot.

Joe and Wayne Nonnamaker worked hard through the field to bring their car up to a top ten position. However, while running in seventh place driver Wayne Nonnamaker was struck by two different cars in the span of three corners before being taken out of the race. This left Nonnamaker, who was driving the Team Sahlen No. 40 car, irritated but physically unharmed.

"It was very unfortunate that the race had to play out this way. We had done very well for the entirety of the race. We had the perfect pit strategy and I was really excited to have gained the position that dad and I worked hard for. There were very few green flag laps in the last hour of the race so moving up in the field wasn't easy. I think that got to some of the drivers out there and they were very impatient. It left me very disappointed. We had planned to take it this car with us to Mosport but due to the extent of the damage, it may be near impossible," stated driver Wayne Nonnamaker.

The two other Team Sahlen cars entered in the Chemung Canal Trust 200 were relatively unharmed through the course of the event. Driver Joe Sahlen qualified the No. 42 car and shared the driver's seat with teammate Will Nonnamaker.

"I like the car," said Sahlen. "It has good brakes, handles well, and I really enjoy the track." Watkins Glen International is Sahlen's home track. The No. 42 driver has been coming to the track for years and enjoyed the weekend in his first Watkins Glen race as a Grand Am Cup driver. Sahlen and Nonnamaker finished first for Team Sahlen and took 15th in the GS class. In addition to the Grand Am Cup race, Sahlen partook in pre-race festivities such as the Go-Kart race and autograph session held in Canandaigua, New York.

Also rejoining Team Sahlen for the first time since ending his 2004 championship season was driver Craig Stanton. He and co-driver Pat Flanagan, a first time Team Sahlen driver, took their seats in the No. 43 car. Flanagan started behind the wheel of the Team Sahlen Porsche while Stanton finished the race. The two took 17th in the GS class.

"Craig had a really great run with us again and we were happy to have him back," commented Will Nonnamaker. "Unfortunately we had a throttle cable snap off mid race costing Craig and Pat a lap in the pits. Craig was able to run with the leaders at the end of the race but didn't get the opportunity to unlap himself as there were so very few green flag laps at the end of the race."

Team Sahlen will head to Mosport this weekend for the Grand Am Cup race. Driving for Team Sahlen will be Joe Nonnamaker, Wayne Nonnamaker, Will Nonnamaker and Joe Sahlen.

-ts-

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