Grand-Am

Second trip to The Glen vastly different than first

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (July 28, 2003) -- Although the Bully Hill Vineyards 250 will be the Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series' second trip to Watkins Glen International this season, the August 8th race holds few similarities to the event held at ...

Published: Jul 30, 2003, 1:00 PM

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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (July 28, 2003) -- Although the Bully Hill Vineyards 250 will be the Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series' second trip to Watkins Glen International this season, the August 8th race holds few similarities to the event held at The Glen in June.

One of the major differences between next week's Bully Hill Vineyards 250 and the Sahlen's Six Hours of The Glen is the distance. While endurance and perseverance were the keys to victory during the six-hour race, the Bully Hill Vineyards 250 will be a non-stop sprint race to the checkered flag.

"We'll both be flat out from the drop of the green flag for sure," remarked Terry Borcheller, who will partner with Forest Barber in the Bell Motorsports #54 Chevy-powered Doran JE4 Daytona Prototype.

"The short race is definitely a sprint race. Even though its 250 miles, you have to raise the bar and race hard the entire time," added GTS points leader Tommy Riggins, who won the class at the Sahlen's Six Hours of The Glen.

Riggins and co-drivers Dave Machavern and Scott Lagasse thought they had been taken out of the running when transmission trouble sent the Heritage Motorsports #48 Mustang behind the wall early in the race for repairs. Although the Mustang was several laps down to the class leaders when it returned to the track, the grueling six hours of racing took its toll on the other GTS competitors, and the Heritage team was able to work its way back to the front of the class to take the win.

"That was a one-time deal. We used our luck up on that one. You can't do that in a sprint race," remarked Riggins of the team's come-from-behind GTS victory.

Another major difference between the two Rolex Series events at The Glen is the track length. While the Sahlen's Six Hours of The Glen was contested on the 3.4-mile course, which includes the infamous 'boot' section, the Bully Hill Vineyards 250 will be run on the shorter 2.45-mile course.

"The short course will be tougher on us than long course, because you have two straights. That's going to play into the hands of the Doran and Picchio," said Daytona Prototypes points leader Mike Borkowski, whose #58 Red Bull Porsche was victorious at The Glen in June. "I think we've been beating people in the tight, twisty corners, so we are going to have to go hard the whole time to make up for not having the boot at this race."

"The short course is a lot faster," added Riggins. "The average speed is a lot faster than the long course. It's more demanding on the driver. You don't have some of the braking time that you have on the long course."

Practice and qualifying for the Bully Hill Vineyards 250 at The Glen will be held on Thursday, August 7. The race will get underway following NASCAR Winston Cup qualifying on Friday, August 8. Tickets to the Bully Hill Vineyards 250, as well as the entire NASCAR Winston Cup SIRIUS at The Glen event weekend, are available online at www.theglen.com.

Additional information on the Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series and upcoming Bully Hill Vineyards 250 is available at www.grandamerican.com.

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