Team Cobalt California Revs up for Miami's Koni Challenge Race

[Ming]

Homestead-Miami Speedway
Thursday, April 5, 2007
New Drivers Aim at Strong Finish for Team Cobalt California
by Robyn Lepper, Team Cobalt Racing



BENECIA, Calif. -- Team Cobalt California will arrive at Homestead-Miami Speedway April 13-15 with a strong driver line-up that anticipates top finishes on the combination NASCAR oval track and infield road course south of Miami, Fla.

Two new drivers will share the team’s #48 Chevrolet Cobalt SS Supercharged in the 2.5-race, the second round of the Grand American Racing Koni Challenge series.

Sean Israel, age 21, of Suwanee, Ga., is one of the leading young drivers in North America. Starting his racing career at age 12 years, Sean has since recorded top-three finishes in IMSA Lites, Formula Ford Formula Continental racing.

Sean has been a test driver and driving instructor for the Panoz High Performance Racing School, Audi Racing Experience, and Saab Aero Academy. Additional race car mechanical experience has sharpened his awareness of car set-up.

Sean’s co-driver will be Kevin Molloy, age 36, of West Palm Beach, Fla. Molloy’s strong driving during the 2005 and 2006 seasons resulted in several championship titles which included the 2005 PBOC R-8 Championship, the 2005-06 SCCA T-2 Florida Region Championships, and the 2006 SEDIV SARRC Invitational Winner.

“I am very excited to have these two talented drivers join our team,” said Tom Lepper, driver and co-owner of Team Cobalt California. “They should make Homestead a thrilling race that will hopefully end with our cars in the top three.”

Aided by Georgian Bay Motorsports and GM Racing, the Chevrolet Cobalt is expecting solid finishes for the remainder of the season.

Practice on the 2.3-mile circuit will be Friday at 11:15 a.m. and 1 p.m. ET, and Saturday at 11a.m. ET. Qualifying will follow at 2:45 with the race taking the green flag Sunday at 10:15 a.m. ET

Source: http://www.whowon.com/Results.asp?Tr...StoryID=216097

[vsd]

Kill it it's from Kalifornia!

This is the kind of racing thats interesting to watch, I love right turns and headlights.

[nascarnate326]

Originally Posted by vsd

Kill it it's from Kalifornia!

This is the kind of racing thats interesting to watch, I love right turns and headlights.

I love the fact that in this kind of racing, win on sunday sell on monday has meaning. I can actually buy, and drive on public roads these kind of cars.

[AndrewGS]

It sucks Koni Challenge gets so little TV coverage, it's some of the best racing out there.

Go Team Cobalt!

[bone]

Good racing,however,if you win a race then you are penalized with added weight. I know the Cobalts were winning last year up to the 3/4 mark and then were given competition adjustments that made them uncompetitive for the rest of the year. Tough to support a race series that does that.

[gopedxr7]

thats real racing. not this nascar bull****.

Alan

[AndrewGS]

Originally Posted by bone

Good racing,however,if you win a race then you are penalized with added weight. I know the Cobalts were winning last year up to the 3/4 mark and then were given competition adjustments that made them uncompetitive for the rest of the year. Tough to support a race series that does that.

That's the way it is with every race series in America these days. You don't want to make the losers feel bad do you?

[vsd]

Originally Posted by nascarnate326

I love the fact that in this kind of racing, win on sunday sell on monday has meaning. I can actually buy, and drive on public roads these kind of cars.

Amen, do these cars have any modifications besides slicks, and safety equipent?

[327]

you people say its interesting, Do you actually watch? Seeing the car you like once every 5 minutes, and they dont even have enough HP or sound to be exciting!

[genjy]

Originally Posted by gopedxr7

thats real racing. not this nascar bull****.

Alan

Oh noez you said the N-word!!

[GMusa]

I would LOVE to drive one of these for Team Cobalt!!!!

[Ming]

Originally Posted by vsd

Amen, do these cars have any modifications besides slicks, and safety equipent?

Basically safety requirements like a roll cage. Maybe weight added or things evened out a bit between competitors. Shocks & springs, some other minor modifications allowed, but nothing like the heavily modified Grand American Rolex cars like the CTS-V.R and GTO.R. There's a wide variety of cars racing in the ST class like the Mazda RX-8, Acuras and some Bimmers. You can see a Sentra in one of the photos above. Also there's a Porsche but that's likely in the GS class which often races on the same track at the same time (Mustangs, etc. too). There are a couple threads round here in the Motorsports news and discussion forums if you search for rules and grand am cup ST class.

[gopedxr7]

Originally Posted by genjy

Oh noez you said the N-word!!

oh no! i said "$hit"

Alan

[nascarnate326]

Originally Posted by 327

you people say its interesting, Do you actually watch? Seeing the car you like once every 5 minutes, and they dont even have enough HP or sound to be exciting!

Ya, I do. They dont get near the media coverage Nascar does though, so its harder to watch.

[slowRSX]

To bad I don't have Speed Channel. I so want to watch this. I hear the TSX's are kicking butt.