Series VIR round three preview

Ford Racing Mustang Challenge Making Debut at Virginia International Raceway Tooele, UT-- (19 April 2010) - An iconic racing name will hit an iconic race track this weekend as the Ford Racing Mustang Challenge makes a debut race appearance at ...

Ford Racing Mustang Challenge Making Debut at Virginia International Raceway

Tooele, UT-- (19 April 2010) - An iconic racing name will hit an iconic race track this weekend as the Ford Racing Mustang Challenge makes a debut race appearance at Virginia International Raceway for round three of the 2010 championship. A road racing fan favorite, the Bosh Engineering 250 event will also feature the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series and a host of support events all weekend long as the Mustang race steps into the limelight on Sunday afternoon.

The 2010 Mustang Challenge season kicked off in March at Homestead Miami Speedway with a double-header race weekend that saw Jason von Kluge go two for two as he gained an early edge in the championship standings with his double-race win outing to start off the season.

But don't go calling the engraver just yet, as the battle for the distinctive Miller Cup trophy is far from over with a full eight rounds of competition remaining.

Colorado's Dan Aweida, who had an outstanding race-long battle with George Winkler at Homestead, scored 3rd and 4th in the opening two rounds to secure second in the points battle entering the VIR weekend. And just four markers back from Aweida is Tony Buffomante, with Pratt Cole and George Winkler tied for points behind him.

The 3.27-mile natural terrain circuit outside of Danville, Virginia, which was resurrected from the classic track that hosted big battles in the halcyon days of Trans-Am racing in decades past, is one that features a little bit of everything for the Mustang Challenge racers. The circuit features a country-club like setting deep in rural Virginia, and is a challenge that the drivers relish with corners that reward patience (Oak Tree) and bravery ("Climbing Esses" and "Roller Coaster") in equal measure.

"I've run at VIR before and I think it's a really fun track," said von Kluge ahead of the weekend. "Homestead was a perfect weekend for me, and hopefully I can do the same thing again at VIR. I just can't wait to get back there and see how it goes."

With so much new territory to learn, the field will look to make the most of the opening sessions on Thursday's promoter test day, with additional practice sessions following on Friday ahead of the Saturday morning qualifying session. A race day morning practice will give everyone a shot at final set-up changes, with the 45-minute race set to go green at 12:45 PM ET on Sunday.