South Buxton Raceway... rules and dates for 2009

South Buxton Raceway owner Scott Mihalco and tech inspector J.P. Marchand announced there will be no changes to track rules in any of the four classes for the 2009 season.

Tech rules can be found on the track's web site (www.southbuxtonraceway.com) under the DRIVERS icon on the home page, click on RULES and scroll to each class.

Late Model and Modified drivers are advised to check the UMP web site for any late-breaking rule changes.

For drivers in the Sport Stock class, the proposed implement of mandatory Crate Motors by the 2010 season has been rescinded. Crate Motors remain an option for drivers in the class.

However, changes will be made to the points format for the 2009 season, which will be disclosed at a general drivers meeting (the date and location to be announced).

Regular racing action takes place every Saturday night from the Victoria Day weekend to Labour Day weekend, capped off by the fifth annual Castrol UMP Late Model/Modified Shootout on Saturday, Sept. 26.

Following are confirmed special event  dates for the 2009 season.

*May 16 – Opening Night

May 23 – Southern Ontario Sprints

June 13 – Sprints On Dirt

June 19-20 – Ohsweken/South Buxton Modified Special

July 4 – Modified Special Night

*July 31-August 1 – Ohsweken/South Buxton Late Model Special

August 22 – Southern Ontario Sprints

*September 5 – Championship Night

September 26 – Castrol Late Model/Modified Shootout

(* ­ indicates holiday weekend)
 
From Mike Bennett // South Buxton Raceway // www.southbuxtonraceway.com

 

Tim Russell Wins the Red Eye 125 at New Smyrna Speedway

Tim Russell Wins the Red Eye 125 at New Smyrna Speedway
2009 Season Perfect So Far With a Pole and a Feature Victory

CONCORD, NC (January 6, 2009) – Some people might ask what does Tim Russell have left to prove to people that he’s a legit racecar driver?  He’s won countless races and just wrapped up his second-consecutive Sunbelt Super Late Model Series Championship.  Even champions can find something to race for, as Russell knew that Wayne Anderson had his number at New Smyrna Speedway (FL) in 2008; but this was a new year.  Throw in the mix Mike Skinner, a former Camping World Truck Series Champion, and Russell had all the reason he needed to step up his game.  When the dust settled, Anderson and Skinner could only watch as the checkered flag went to Russell.  

“It was an awesome win for us,” said Russell.  “We knew we had to beat Wayne (Anderson).  He’s won a lot of races here in the last few months.  Beating a NASCAR driver like Mike Skinner for the win just makes it all the more special.  It feels really good to come out on top.”

Russell started outside the top 10 and picked his way to the front.  When he got to third, he took advantage of race leader Skinner’s bobble that stacked up Anderson in the second spot.  Russell dove to the bottom and grabbed the runner-up spot.  Only a few laps later, Russell made the pass for the lead and held on over the final 45 laps.   

“We had a really good car right from the get-go.  We were fast in practice, and we won the pole in qualifying,” said Russell.  “They put 15 numbers in the pill draw and we drew 11th and started working our way to the front from there.  We got around Wayne Anderson and then by leader Mike Skinner.  I knew after that all I had to do was hit my marks.”

As most of the country is covered with snow or foul weather, Florida seems to have the shortest off-season of any of the states that run Super Late Models.  It was in the final weeks of November that the last race was run on the east cost of Florida, and only five weeks later cars were back at the track ready to go in 2009.  Russell said it was like it had only been a few days.

“It was like I never got out of the seat,” added Russell.  “The track was a little slower with the lack of rubber on it.  We changed a few things before the race and made it a lot more drivable.  I’m happy to get the win, but now we are right back in the shop getting things ready for Speedweeks.” 

Tim Russell is already gearing for Speedweeks at New Smyrna Speedway.  The nine nights of racing has the Super Late Model teams racing eight times including the Annual Pete Orr Memorial 100.  Russell will be looking to win his first-ever Speedweeks title.

For more information on Tim Russell, please contact Matt Dillner at (704) 788-2134 x 9, and be sure to check out his website at www.timrussellonline.com.

From Matt Dillner, 51 Sports

INDYCAR SERIES NEWS AND NOTES - Jan. 6, 2009

INDYCAR SERIES NEWS AND NOTES – Jan. 6, 2009

Today's IndyCar Series and Firestone Indy Lights headlines

1.      Can Dixon repeat?
2.      IndyCar Series drivers geared up for Rolex 24 at Daytona
3.      Fisher signs endorsement contract
4.      Duno featured in parade

1. Can Dixon repeat?: Three months from the start of the IndyCar Series season and reigning champion Scott Dixon is being pressed for a prediction. Can he make it two in a row against another formidable field on the most diverse set of racetracks in motorsports?

Dixon takes the middle of the road - attempting not to appear arrogant while not devaluing confidence in his abilities or those of the No. 9 Target Chip Ganassi Racing crew.

"Winning is tough, but to defend is harder," said Dixon, who though he won a series record-tying six races in 2008 claimed his second IndyCar Series championship by a scant 17 points over Team Penske's Helio Castroneves. "Last time we tried it, it didn't work out too well. But next year I think the team looks very strong, the development has been good in the off-season, already the car is super fast and I have a new teammate (Dario Franchitti) joining me."

Dixon led a series record-high 899 laps and started from the pole six times over the 17-race 2008 season. He remained the points leader after winning the 92nd Indianapolis 500 from the pole, and finished out of the top 10 only three times all season in race fields that averaged 26 cars.

"I think there's definitely momentum one season over another, though '03 to '04 is probably a bad choice," said Dixon, who followed the championship in his rookie season with a 10th-place points ranking. "There wasn't much carryover. Actually, for the first three or four races there was. I led at Homestead in '04 and finished second at Phoenix. Then we went into the Month of May (started fourth and finished 17th at Indianapolis)."

The 28-year-old New Zealander sees the 2007 season, in which he finished runner-up to Franchitti by 13 points in another title battle that wasn't decided until the final race, as setting up his '08 success. In the five-race closing stretch, Dixon won at Infineon and finished second at Kentucky and the Chicagoland finale.

"2007 to '08 was a scenario where momentum definitely carries on," he said. "We were very strong in the latter part and carried that right through winning the first race (from the pole at Homestead) in '08."

Dixon again closed strong last season, finishing first or second in three of the final five events (three street/road circuits, two 1.5-mile ovals).

"I hope we can definitely carry that on," he said.

***

2. IndyCar Series drivers geared up for Rolex 24 at Daytona: The past two IndyCar Series champions and the 2007 Firestone Indy Lights champion will co-drive one of the two Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates cars in the 47th Rolex 24 At Daytona later this month.

Scott Dixon and Dario Franchitti will join Alex Lloyd in the No. 02 Target/TELMEX Daytona Prototype. The drivers participated in testing at Daytona International Speedway Jan. 2-4.

Chip Ganassi and co-owner Felix Sabates are the first team owners to win three consecutive Rolex 24 At Daytona overall titles. Last year, Franchitti, Juan Pablo Montoya, Scott Pruett and Memo Rojas teamed up to win the race on the 3.56-mile circuit.

Other IndyCar Series drivers entered in the twice-around-the-clock race in the Daytona Prototype class include:

● Danica Patrick with Childress-Howard Motorsports (Casey Mears, Andy Wallace and Rob Finlay teammates).
● Ryan Briscoe with Penske Racing (Timo Bernhard and Romain Dumas teammates).
● Buddy Rice with Brumos Racing (Darren Law, David Donohue and Antonio Garcia teammates).
● Ryan Hunter-Reay with Michael Shank Racing (Colin Braun, Oswaldo Negri and Mark Patterson teammates).
● Darren Manning with Orbit Racing (Kyle Petty, Marc Goossens and Leo Hindery Jr. teammates).

Also competing in Daytona Prototypes are: KV Racing Technology co-owner Jimmy Vasser, who will co-drive the No. 99 GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Daytona Prototype with Jimmie Johnson, Alex Gurney and Jon Fogarty, Tomas Enge, who will compete with Alegra Motorsports, and former Firestone Indy Lights competitor Brad Jaeger, who will compete with Doran Racing.

Vision Racing co-owner Patrick Dempsey heads the Dempsey Racing lineup in the GT class with Joe Foster, Tim Lewis Jr. and Charles Espenlaub. IndyCar Series competitors Max Papis (Mastercar-Coast 2 Costa Racing) and Jeff Bucknum (Stevenson Motorsports) also will compete in the GT class.

Also competing in the GT class will be Jim Michaelian, race director of the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. The IndyCar Series and Firestone Indy Lights will headline the annual street race for the first time April 19.

***    

3. Fisher signs endorsement contract: IndyCar Series team owner and driver Sarah Fisher signed an endorsement deal with SimCraft Racing Simulators. Fisher will appear at the company's booth Jan. 8-11 at the 2009 International CES when it launches its series of racing simulators.

SimCraft's car racing simulators include the APEX SC830 and the APEX SC320, patent-pending military-grade simulators that bring the sense of touch to the home market. The APEX SC830 was developed for the training of professional racers (and fanatics of SimRacing) and offers three degrees of freedom (roll 40º / pitch 25º / yaw 40º). The APEX SC320 was designed for the hardcore gamer and offers two degrees of freedom (roll 20º / pitch 20º). Two models of the APEX SC830 will be displayed at the 2009 CES.

"The APEX SC830 is possibly the best real-life simulator I've ever experienced," Fisher said. "As far as the feedback the driver receives from the device, it's very similar to being in an actual race car. To be honest, the first time I used it, I was speechless. I'm very impressed with the capabilities and I will definitely be spending more time on the APEX as I prepare to run the 2009 IndyCar Series circuit."

***

4. Duno featured in parade: IndyCar Series driver Milka Duno will be among the guests of honor in the Three Kings Day Parade on Jan. 11 in Miami.

Duno will be featured during the 39th annual event with actor Fernando Allende and Florida Marlins shortstop Hanley Ramirez. The parade begins at noon (local time) along 8th Street between 4th Avenue and 22nd Avenue.

***

The 2009 IndyCar Series season opens April 5 with the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on the streets of St. Petersburg, Fla. The race will be telecast live at 2 p.m. (EDT) by VERSUS. The 2009 Firestone Indy Lights season begins with a doubleheader race weekend April 4-5 at St. Petersburg.

From John Griffin, Indy Racing League

NHRA - Kalitta Motorsports restructures for the 2009 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series

Kalitta Motorsports restructures for the 2009 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series

YPSILANTI, Mich., (Jan. 6, 2009) –Kalitta Motorsports, a legendary professional drag racing team founded and owned by drag racing icon Connie “the Bounty Hunter” Kalitta and based in Ypsilanti, Mich., just minutes from the Detroit city limits, will compete in the 2009 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series with one full-time entry, the DHL Toyota Solara Funny Car driven by Jeff Arend. Also in 2009, Kalitta Motorsports will celebrate 50 years of drag racing by Connie as he commemorates the golden landmark as a driver, tuner, and owner.

Jon Oberhofer and Nick Boninfante will serve as co-crew chiefs on the nitro-fueled DHL Funny Car in 2009, replacing Glenn Mikres who was relieved of his duties as crew chief of the DHL car after the conclusion of last season. Arend joined Kalitta Motorsports last season to assume the driving duties of the DHL entry after the tragic death of Scott Kalitta as the result of injuries he suffered in a high-speed racing accident in June in New Jersey.

Top Fuel veteran Doug Kalitta, Connie’s nephew, will compete in the 2009 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series in the Top Fuel class on a part-time, race-by-race basis as the team searches for full-time primary sponsor. Doug’s Top Fuel entry will be helmed by crew chief Jim Oberhofer and assistant crew chief Troy Fasching. Doug, a two-time Top Fuel championship runner-up and 30-time NHRA national event winner, and Kalitta Motorsports were notified last December that longtime backer Mac Tools would not return as the dragster’s primary sponsor in 2009, but will remain with Kalitta Motorsports as an associate sponsor.

The Top Fuel dragster driven by Hillary Will last season, owned by Ken Black and managed by Kalitta Motorsports, will not compete until primary sponsorship funding is acquired. Also sidelined until a primary sponsor can be found will be the Top Fuel machine piloted by Dave Grubnic at Kalitta Motorsports since 2004.

“We run our race team just like a business, and in these economically difficult times, our business has to make some tough decisions,” Jim Oberhofer, Kalitta Motorsports general manager, said. “Connie’s business, Kalitta Air, has been no exception to fiscal challenges either, so we have made the changes to our race team that we feel will give us the best financial stability possible as well as the best opportunity to compete at the highest level. We certainly hope that opportunities will arise for us to bring our other dragsters back into competition, but until those happen, we will carry on the best we can.

“Despite the challenges, we are very excited about the 2009 season. Connie has done so much for our sport, and we want to celebrate that at every event. Over the past 50 years, Connie has dedicated so much of his time and resources to building one of the most successful teams in the history of auto racing. We want to make sure everyone knows how important he is to us and to drag racing throughout 2009 and beyond.

“We’re also very thankful to DHL for their commitment to our team and to NHRA drag racing. They have been wonderful partners since joining our organization in 2007. We’re looking forward to continuing to build upon our great partnership and great friendship with them in 2009.”

Kalitta Motorsports has won five world championships and over 50 national event titles in five different drag racing sanctioning bodies since it was established by Connie in 1959.

Associate sponsors on Kalitta Motorsports’ race cars include Red Line Oil, Summit Racing Equipment, Technicoat Companies, K2M, Toyota, and Mac Tools.

###

From Todd Myers / Kalitta Motorsports <<50Gold.jpg>>

SOS New Year update from Peter Turford

We do hope that everybody enjoyed the holidays and that all of you had a safe, happy and healthy Christmas and a Happy New Year. We all recognize this as a time of renewal and hope. So in my mind that means that everybody has purchased a bunch of new racecar stuff!

I did want to pass along word that we are still in the midst of putting the 2009 schedule together and as always, it is a bit of a challenge to get everything to "work". We can pass along word that it looks like we will not be returning to Humberstone in '09 as it looks like we will be alternating that event on an annual basis with the Patriots. So look for us to return there in 2010.

For 2009 it looks like 6 events at Brighton, 2 at South Buxton and 1 each at Brockville and Ohsweken. We are trying to make the Brockville event a part of a 2 race weekend to make the travel more "worthwhile" for the teams. We are continuing to work with other tracks and 1 or 2 more events may be in the offing. Early word has the Oct event at Brockville as a non sanctioned "open" - that is entirely unofficial.

Other than that, there is not much to report and I cannot give a date when the final schedule will be released but we generally try to have things sewn up in time to have schedules printed for the Performance World Car Show in March. Speaking of car shows, again a reminder of the Inside Track News Canadian Motorsports Expo Jan 16, 17 & 18 at Toronto's International Center.

Also the CPT Racing Experience presented by CASE ‘N DRUM OIL LP and Kendall Motor Oil will be January 24 & 25, 2009 at the Western Fair Agriplex in London. FYI Adam West will at the London show representing the SOS (and ODLM) in a celebrity Go-kart race (read that kicking butt and taking names). Finally there is the Performance World Show in Mississauga March 13, 14 & 15- and we will probably be looking for a car or 2 for that one - let me know if you are interested in "representing."

So for now have a safe and prosperous New Year and pray that fuel costs keep dropping!!!!

Yours in Racing

Pete Turford

Rehagen Racing Stays Atop Leader Charts in Sunday's KONI Sports Car Challenge Testing at Daytona

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Jan. 4, 2009) - Rehagen Racing stayed at the top of the charts for the second straight day of testing Sunday during the "Roar Before the Rolex 24" Grand-Am KONI Sports Car Challenge Grand Sport (GS) practice session at Daytona International Speedway, leading a fleet of Mustangs preparing for the Fresh From Florida 200 later this month at the 3.56-mile track.

Bryan Ortiz led the day in the No. 57 Rehagen Racing Ford Mustang GT with a time of 2:01.051 (105.873 mph), good enough for second quick during the first two days. Saturday, Ken Wilden drove the No. 59 Rehagen Racing RehagenRacingProducts.com Ford Mustang GT to a lap of 2:00.918 (105.989 mph) during the afternoon session, and that continues to lead overall.

Tom Long of Freedom Autosport put the No. 146 Mazda MX-5 atop the Street Tuner (ST) charts with a lap of 2:10.131 (98.485 mph), also during the morning session Sunday, and that time also leads overall during two days. Kristian Skavnes, whose No. 111 Subaru Road Racing Team Subaru Legacy led Saturday's practices, laid down a lap of 2:10.223 (98.315 mph) during Sunday afternoon's session.

Thirty-three cars have tested over the two days. Monday's practice session, which includes the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16, is scheduled from 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

JBS Motorsports Where Team Wants to Be

Defending KONI Sports Car Challenge GS runner-up Bret Seafuse said he believes his JBS Motorsports team is where it needs to be after two days of testing at Daytona.

Seafuse and co-driver James Gue were 11th at Daytona last year and finished second in the point standings in 2008, driving the No. 37 JBS Motorsports Ford Mustang GT.

"Daytona is going well so far," said Seafuse, whose car was fifth after two days of action. "The cars are running well. We're pretty happy with where we're at. We have a good race car. We're not at the top of the leader board, but we're close."

Also happy was Nick Igdalsky, who is teaming with cousin Chase Mattioli in the team's No. 47 JBS Motorsports Ford Mustang GT. Igdalsky, who has spent most of his career in open-wheel racing, has never competing in a car as heavy as the Mustang. Still, Mattioli has tested at Daytona before in a stock car, and Igdalsky said he believes the two are ahead of where they need to be right now.

"Everything is positive so far," Igdalsky said. "The car really seems to be hooked up. Right now, we're just trying to get acclimated to it. These cars are a lot heavier than what we're used to running. So we're getting used to the braking. We're a lot better off than we thought we'd be. We're only a couple seconds off the lead, which for the first time in the car, is not too bad."

Defending Daytona Winner BGB Motorsports Struggles Early; Finds Speed Late

One of the last teams to switch to the mandatory KONI shocks for 2009, BGB Motorsports struggled during the first day of action Saturday with the No. 83 BGB Motorsports Porsche 997, but finished in the top 10 in Sunday's affair with drivers Craig Stanton and Josh Hurley.

"We're off to a bumpy start," team manager John Tecce said, but added the team had a strong test session last month.

"I'm confident we'll be able to prepare two good cars for the race," Teece said. "Sometimes too much testing can be a detriment to progressing. But we're going to continue to work on the chassis and other things leading up to the race. I'm not concerned yet."

Stanton won the 2008 Fresh From Florida 200 after moving from fourth to first in the final laps. His co-winner last season was Tim Traver. Nick Longhi and Joe Masessa are expected to drive the team's No. 38 Porsche 997.

Hurley has not yet been signed to drive fulltime for BGB Motorsports, but the 23-year-old has gelled well with the team and is close to going full speed. Hurley is the defending Jetta TDI Cup champion. The team is ninth overall in two days.

Kinetic Motorsports Brings Four Cars to Test

Kinetic Motorsports remained one of the strongest teams not fielding Ford Mustangs. The team's No. 80 BMW M3 is 10th overall with team principals Nic Jnsson and Russell Smith, who is running in GS for his first full season.

The team also brought the No. 78 BMW M3 - with Jnsson, Smith and Lee Davis entered - and No. 32 BMW M3, which will be piloted this season by defending ST race winner Glenn Bocchinio and Todd Lamb.

Lamb ran multiple races for Kinetic in 2008 and looks for a strong season with Kinetic in 2009.

"The car is running very well," Lamb said. "It's pretty much the same setup as we had last season. It feels really good. We're doing little things here and there to make the car better. We'll change some things up for tomorrow, and see if we can put together a good time."

The Buford, Ga.-based team also brought its No. 79 BMW M3, which is the newest version of the car. It did not contest the first two days of testing and is not expected to run Monday, but Lamb said may contest the Fresh From Florida 200, which is scheduled for Jan. 23.

Cardiosport Happy So Far with Porsche 997

Terry Heath said his No. 07 Cardiosport Racing Euromotorworks Porsche 997 felt "the best it's ever been, right out of the box," when the team took the car out one on the track for practice Saturday.

Heath and co-driver Dr. Gary Grigsby, who met while competing against each other in club racing, are preparing for their fourth season on the KONI Sports Car Challenge circuit together in 2009. The team's crew consists of family members and friends.

"We've been here a few times, so we knew where we needed to be," Heath said. "It feels awesome. There are other teams out there going faster than us, but things are okay. The Mustangs are fast and have great brakes; we have the handling."

Heath's Euromotorworks business specializes in fixing Porsches and other German cars. Grigsby is a cardiologist in Lexington, Ky.

Long Puts Freedom Autosport Up Front

After setting the second and third fastest times of Saturday's testing, Tom Long took Freedom Autosport to the top of the charts Sunday. Long earned a time of 2:10.131 during the morning session.

Despite the fast times, Long contests the track isn't the best platform for the Mazda MX-5. He said the team would be happy with a top-10 performance, but also doesn't want to mistake that for a podium finish.

"This, so far, really compliments the team and all of its hard work this winter," Long said. "We're working on developing the car and making sure the package is as good as possible. When we come back at the end of the month, we can pat ourselves on the back hopefully and say we did the best we could. It's an odd-ball track for us and not our strong suit, but we'll take what we learn and apply it where we can."

Freedom Autosport calls Daytona International Speedway its home track, as the team is based out of Tallahassee, Fla., about a six-hour drive away. The team recorded a pair of second-place finishes in 2008, with Long a runner-up at Lime Rock Park. The team ran three cars in 2008 and plans to again in 2009. Drivers listed so far include Long and team owners Derek Whitis and Rhett O'Doski.

Meyer Motorsports Finding Speed Near End of Second Day

Meyer Motorsports team owner Eric Meyer was hoping his hard work would pay off after the team made a number of changes following Saturday's first day of testing. It did, with the No. 30 Mazda RX-8 taking the third fastest ST time in the afternoon session.

Payton Wilson was behind the wheel when the car turned its fastest lap of the weekend, which came in at 2:11.939.

"We're doing things out there just to pick up some speed," Wilson said. "We're not quite where we want to be, but the car is doing well this weekend. I think we're heading into the right direction, but we still have a ways to go."

-30-

From Grand-Am / Michael Harker

Bouchut, Farnbacher Pace Second Day of 'Roar Before the Rolex 24' Testing

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Jan. 4, 2009) - Christophe Bouchut and Dominik Farnbacher recorded the fastest laps in their respective classes during Sunday's second day of activities of the "Roar Before the Rolex 24" at Daytona International Speedway.

The three-day session has 52 cars entered in preparation for the 47th running of the Rolex 24 At Daytona Jan. 24-25, the opening race in the 2009 Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16 season.

Bouchut led the Daytona Prototypes with a lap of 1:41.884 (125.790 mph) in the No. 55 Edata Solutions/Supercar Life Racing LevelFive Motorsports BMW Riley co-driven by Scott Tucker and Ed Zabinski, while Farnbacher ran a lap of 1:51.424 (115.020 mph) in the No. 86 Farnbacher Loles Racing Porsche GT3. Both speeds were unofficially better than the existing track records for their classes.

"Having a fast car actually has no affect on how you will do in the race," said Bouchut, the 1995 overall winner of the Rolex 24. "When I won this race, I was 16th on the grid. But, especially for a new time coming to Daytona with a Daytona Prototype, it's a nice feeling. We are not quite happy with our setup right now, and we are working to be closer to our setup. For sure, our time will be faster, and it would be nice to win the pole position."

Scott Dixon led the second session with a lap of 1:42.298 (125.281 mph) in the No. 02 Target/TELMEX Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Lexus Riley, while Romain Dumas led the third and final session with a lap of 1:42.154 (125.458 mph) in the No. 7 Penske Racing Porsche Riley.

In GT, David Haskell led the second session with a time of 1:52.039 (114.389 mph) in the No. 70 Castrol Syntec Mazda RX-8, while Andy Lally was fastest in the final hour with a lap of 1:51.739 (114.696 mph) in the No. 67 TRG Porsche GT3.

Michael Valiante's lap of 1:41.760 (125.943 mph) set on Saturday in the No. 6 Michael Shank Racing Ford Riley remains the fastest lap during the opening two days. Sylvain Tremblay leads the GT class with a lap of 1:51.205 (115.247), recorded during Saturday's opening session in the No. 70 SpeedSource Mazda RX-8.

Three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson was a late arrival at Daytona International Speedway, but managed to run a handful of laps in the No. 99 GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing Pontiac Riley he will share with Alex Gurney, Jon Fogarty and Jimmy Vasser.

"I had a few laps today, and I will be back in the car again tomorrow," Johnson said. "The guys were nice enough to get me a few laps this afternoon to give me something to sleep on tonight. I'm not in these cars too often, so it's nice to do a few laps, look at some data and come back tomorrow and be ready."

While Johnson is looking for an unprecedented fourth consecutive NASCAR crown in 2009, he also wants to win the Rolex 24 for the first time.

"I'm here to win, that's what we're all here for," said Johnson, who finished second in both 2004 and 2008. "I've been on the second step twice now. It's such an accomplishment just to finish this race, so to be there in Gatorade Victory Lane and be part of the ceremonies is great. But second in anything is first loser. It's fun, but it's not the most fun."

Rob Finlay had a scare late in the afternoon when he cut a tire and spun in the No. 2 Childress-Howard Motorsports Pontiac Riley, but he missed hitting anything and escaped with only bodywork damage. He will co-drive in the Rolex 24 with three-time winner Andy Wallace, IndyCar Series regular Danica Patrick and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Casey Mears.

The "Roar Before the Rolex 24" concludes Monday with a pair of sessions for both the Rolex Series and KONI Sports Car Challenge, beginning at 9 a.m. Official practice and qualifying for the 47th Rolex 24 At Daytona begins on Thursday, Jan. 22. The race takes the green flag at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday.

From Grand-Am / J.J. O'Malley