Childress-Howard Motorsports: Verizon Wireless 250 Pre-Race Preview

A new race track provides provides the opportunity and the motivation for the No. 2 Gentleman Jack Pontiac Crawford DP08 team to continue its progress in the 2009 Grand-Am Rolex Series season.

The Verizon Wireless 250 250 at New Jersey Motorsports Park comes one week after a spirited run for the Childress-Howard Motorsports team at Virginia International Raceway. The third race on the 2009 Rolex Series schedule will take place May 3 on NJMP’s Thunderbolt Raceway. NJMP’s northern circuit, less than an hour south of Philadelphia, is a challenging 2.25-mile, 14-turn road course whose dramatic corners and elevation changes will make for a very challenging race.

" We didn't have the opportunity to compete in the inaugural Grand-Am race here last year,” said Trudie Capece, General Manager of Childress-Howard Motorsports. “Rob (Finlay, co-driver) competed in last year’s Koni Series race so he’ll share what he knows about the circuit with Andy (Wallace, co-driver). We’re quick learners so I’m sure we will adapt very quickly. New Jersey has not had a road racing history so it is really exciting to be here with a new audience for our type of racing."

The season is still very young, but the importance of a strong finish does not escape the minds of the No. 2 Gentleman Jack racing team. With so many teams running well this year, Finlay and Wallace are ready to race against the intense competition.

"Braking was an issue for us at Daytona and the Gentleman Jack team made a lot of gains in that department last week at VIR,” said Wallace. “That will be a benefit for us this weekend at New Jersey Motorsports Park and throughout the rest of the season. This series is very competitive. You have to work hard to go fast and that’s what we’re going to do."

"In last years Koni race, we were looking at a good result when I was taken out in a multi-car crash,” Finlay said. “I really like the track, it’s very technical, I feel confident the Gentleman Jack team has put together a good package to be competitive in the race."