Multimatic/Miller Continental Tire Challenge team happy to be home this weekend

The Multimatic Motorsports / Miller Racing team, based in Markham, Ontario, Canada, has high hopes heading into its home race at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (formerly known as Mosport International Raceway) for Round 6 of the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge (CTSCC) this weekend.

Opened in 1961, the fast and challenging, 10-turn, 2.459-mile circuit has hosted most of the world’s best-known racing series, including Formula 1, Indy Cars, Can-Am, Trans-Am, IMSA and NASCAR. It has a reputation as a track not be taken lightly; a mistake there can be very costly.

Canadian Tire Motorsport Park is the home track for Multimatic Motorsports, and the team hopes that will be an advantage for them in Saturday’s 2.5-hour race. The team held a one-day pre-event test there and were encouraged with the results. For Scott Maxwell, who co-drives the team’s No. 15 Ford Mustang Boss 302R with Jade Buford, it will be particularly meaningful since he was recently inducted into the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame. On the heels of a sixth-place finish at Watkins Glen on June 28, the two-time series champ is hoping to be a little further up the standings this Saturday.

“Mosport is my home track,” said Maxwell, who won the last time the CTSCC raced at Mosport in 2008, “and the team, as always, has given us the best Mustang out there. Rain could spring a few surprises on Saturday, so let's see what happens.”

“I have been embracing Canadian culture this week!” said Buford. “I played ice hockey last night, and I’m ready for Mosport. It’s a very important race, with all the Multimatic employees here, and Scott and I will give it 110 percent.”

For Ian James and Billy Johnson, who co-drive the team’s No. 158 Ford Mustang Boss 302R, it’s time for some better luck. After being eliminated at both Lime Rock and Watkins Glen due to crashes, this weekend is the perfect opportunity for a bounce-back.

“This series hasn't been to Mosport in a few years,” said James, “but it is a great track and super-fast. Testing has gone well and we are determined to put on a good show in Multimatic’s back yard."

“I'm really glad the series has come back to Mosport,” said Johnson, who was third here in 2008. “It’s one of the classic tracks in North America and one of my favorites. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that we finally get the monkey off our backs that we’ve seemed to have at every race this season in time for a good finish at Multimatic’s home track.”

The current championship standings show Buford and Maxwell tied for eighth in the driver standings, with James in 19^th and Johnson in 21^st. In the team standings, the No. 15 is currently in seventh and the No. 158 in 17^th.

The weekend gets underway with a 45-minute practice session on Thursday, with another 45-minute practice and a 15-minute qualifying session on Friday. Saturday’s race will take the green flag at 1:15 p.m. EDT.

The race from Canadian Tire Motorsport Park will be televised on a tape-delayed basis at 10:00 a.m. EDT on Sunday, July 20. Live streaming and live timing and scoring will be available at www.IMSA.com.

Multimatic/Miller Racing