Subaru Factory Team Racers Maintain Grip on

Grand-Am KONI Series Points Lead

-Season’s Only Street Race is Next Challenge-

 

Newton, Iowa – Aug. 10, 2008

 

Subaru Road Racing Team drivers Chuck Hemmingson and Kris Skavnes held their lead on the Drivers’ Championship points of the Grand-Am KONI Challenge road racing series after a manic weekend racing at Iowa Speedway’s 1.3-mile combination oval track and infield road course.

 

Hemmingson, of nearby West Des Moines, Ia., and teammate Skavnes, Sparta, N.J., finished 10^th in their ICY / Phoenix-prepared Subaru Legacy 2.5GT spec.B race car, contending with a track that challenged them at every turn.

 

“We performed a ‘timed’ pit stop for both cars a few laps from the finish during a safety car session,” said team co-owner Joe Aquilante. “That allowed Kris and Andrew to run the cars hard to the checkered flag. Under no conditions were we just ‘hiding’ and not taking any risks since we have another race this coming Sunday in Quebec, but we also knew there was no time to do any major repairs.”

 

Finishing 10^th in the 45-car race combined with Grand Sport and Street Tuner classes were their teammates, David Rosenblum, Langhorne, Pa., and co-driver Andrew Aquilante, Chester Springs, Pa.

 

Hemmingson started his #111 Subaru from the 12^th spot in the Street Tuner class field, and Rosenblum, Joe Aquilante’s partner in the ownership and management of ICY / Phoenix, started from the 18^th spot.

 

“Chuck and David did terrific jobs during their stint,” Aquilante said, “and although we didn’t have the benefit of having competed at this track last year unlike many of our competitors, our final results earned us crucial series points.”

 

Said James Han, motorsports marketing manager for Subaru of America, Inc., “The drivers focused on solid finishes with both cars intact circulating around a busy race course. Knowing that there is little down time prior to the next round in Canada, the entire team excelled in prioritizing tasks and leaving Iowa with the Drivers’ points lead.”

 

The KONI Challenge series next races Aug. 15-17 at Le Grand Prix de Trois-Rivieres, an hour east of Montreal. Qualifying will be Saturday morning with the Subaru team racing Saturday afternoon for one hour, 45 minutes.

 

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.icyphoenixracing.com or call Dave Rosenblum at (215) 801-7827; or Joe Aquilante at (610) 482-0141.