Skavnes, Hemmingson
Take Grand-Am KONI Series Points Lead at Watkins
Glen
-Subaru moves up to second in chase for
manufacturers’ title-
The Subaru Road Racing Team cars lead a pack of
competitors during Saturday’s Grand-Am KONI
Challenge series race at Watkins Glen, N.Y.
Co-drivers Kris Skavnes, Sparta, N.J., and Chuck
Hemmingson, Des Moines, Ia., now lead the series
Drivers’ Championship points.
Watkins Glen, NY –
July 5, 2008
Chuck Hemmingson,
of Des Moines, Ia., and co-driver Kristian Skavnes,
Sparta, N.J., used a strong fifth place finish in
the Grand-Am KONI Challenge series road race at
Watkins Glen International to vault themselves into
the lead for the series Drivers’ Championship
points.
Their “ride” that
got them there, the ICY / Phoenix-prepared #143
Subaru Legacy 2.5GT spec.B race car, moved Subaru
into a tie for third place in the valuable
Manufacturer’s Championship points chase.
Finishing 10th
in the 45-car Street Tuner class were their
teammates, David Rosenblum, Langhorne, Pa., and
co-driver Andrew Aquilante, Chester Springs, Pa.
“What the Subaru
Road Racing Team performed Friday night and today is
nothing short of a miracle,” said Joe Aquilante,
Rosenblum’s partner in the ownership and management
of ICY / Phoenix, which prepares the cars.
“We changed the
engines from both cars late last night as a
preventive measure, which would normally be more
than enough work,” added Aquilante. “But our #111
car, in a senseless warm-up incident this morning,
was caught up in another driver’s crash. The damage
was repairable, but we decided to enter our spare
race car instead. The job the crew did in the
paddock getting these cars ready, and the job they
did in the pits with our well-timed pit stops, made
all the difference.”
Motorsports
marketing manager for Subaru of America, Inc., James
Han, expressed his agreement with Aquilante. “I’ve
always been confident in the abilities of our
drivers and crew, but the perseverance and
commitment in getting our race cars fully prepped in
such short turn-around and bringing home both Subaru
Legacy cars in the top 10 was really something
special to witness. After experiencing their ‘never
give up’ attitude, our race finish feels more like a
win. Leading the drivers’ points is a great bonus.”
The Subaru Road Racing
Team
is
sponsored by Subaru of America, Inc., Subaru Tecnica
International (STI), Subaru Performance Tuning (SPT),
Subaru Indiana Automotive, Inc. (SIA), Automotive
Racing Products, Lista, Rotary Lifts, JRZ, EcuTek,
Perrin, Cusco, Carbonetic, Hawk Brakes, Quarter
Master Industries, Disc Brakes Australia, Freem, and
Racing Radios.
The cars are prepared by ICY/Phoenix Racing.
About ICY/Phoenix
Based in
Phoenixville, Pa., ICY/Phoenix is a collaborative
partnership between Dave Rosenblum (ICY Racing) and
Joe Aquilante (Phoenix Performance) which has over
70 years of cumulative racing experience. This
organization represents the factory Subaru effort as
the Subaru Road Racing Team (SRRT) in the 2008
Grand-Am KONI Challenge Series. The team's 4000 sq.
ft. race shop is located approximately 35 miles
northwest of downtown Philadelphia. Drivers Chuck
Hemmingson, Dave Rosenblum, Kristian Skavnes, Andrew
Aquilante and Don Knowles race two Legacy 2.5GT
spec.B cars. Last season, ICY/Phoenix celebrated a
winning year, finishing the season with one pole
position and two ST Class wins in six races. For
more information about the team and the cars, go to
www.ICYRacing.com or call Dave Rosenblum at (215)
801-7827; or Joe Aquilante at (610) 482-0141.