Virginia (VIR): Morgan-Dollar preview

Morgan-Dollar Motorsports heads to Virginia leading the Rolex Series AGT points race.

[HENNESSEY, OK - August 27, 2002] Morgan-Dollar Motorsports [MDM] has seen its share of success in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Their #46 Silverado team, driven by Dennis Setzer, won at Martinsville, VA earlier this year and in the past five races, has enjoyed three top-five finishes. Now, in just its first season of competition in the Rolex Sports Car Series, Morgan-Dollar's #46 Chevrolet Corvette team, sponsored by Computer Associates, is currently leading the AGT [American Grand Touring] Class. And, with just three races to go, this Oklahoma-based team isn't losing any momentum. From improvements in driver-crew communications to streamlining the pit crew's responsibilities, MDM is not sitting idly by, hoping to remain on top. They are making changes daily in hopes of parlaying these improvements into a rookie-year championship.

Owner Rob Morgan said "I'm looking forward to Virginia because we did some re-organization within the team that should increase our performance on and off the racetrack." He also went on to say "Not to mention the fact that we have a new driver that signed on for this race." Referring to Ferrari Challenge points leader Darius Grala who will be accompanying his former competitors, Stephen and Andy Richards, at VIR this weekend.

Grala, who will climb behind the wheel of the 46 for his first time at the scheduled pre-race test day, says "We [Steve and Andy Richards] raced against each other in the Ferrari Challenge last year and Stephen and I were always finishing right there together." Although they were on different teams last year, Grala has driven with the Richards once before. "At a race last year, I had some trouble with my car and it happened to be the same weekend that Stephen couldn't make it to the race due to business obligations. So, I jumped in his car and actually had my best career finish! I am hoping this is a new tradition-that every time I am in Stephen's ride, I finish well!"

The team heads to VIR this week to prepare for Sunday's six-hour event. So far this year, Morgan-Dollar has seen five podium finishes-third place at Watkins Glen last month, preceded by a second-place AGT finish at the Rolex 24, a third-place finish at California Speedway's inaugural road course event, an AGT class win at Watkins Glen in June and second place at Daytona in July.

-mdm-