Will Nonnamaker won the 2001 Grand Am Cup Compact Driver Championship in the ORISON Marketing Acura Integra GSR. Will had an amazing streak of finishing on the podium at all 10 of the events, with an average finish of 1.6! His 6 victories came at Phoenix, Mid-Ohio, Mosport, Virginia, Trios Rivieres, and Daytona.

Along with the driver's title, Will also helped his team, USFilter - Planet Earth Motorsports, win the Team Championship and Acura win the Compact Manufacturer's Championship. For Will, it marked his second Driver's Championship in the last three years. The last time Will won the Championship was in 1999.

"Unlike short sprint races, Endurance races depend as much or more on the skill and dedication of the crew than the driver," said Will. "Making cars last for 3+ hours and quick pit stops are the secret to success. This crew are one of the best in the Grand Am Cup series. I am so proud that Mike Thomas won the Compact Crew Chief of the Year award. He has been with us for 9 seasons now. Mike has a great crew that makes my job really easy. There is Trevor Whipple, Troy Miller, Vince Harrington, Butch Monette, Bill Pate, Matt Brogan, Michael Guel, my Mom Kris all making sure we get to the finish."

Will's main competition for the title was Pete Halsmer - 2 time IMSA GTO champion. Pete drove for the Factory HART (Honda of America Racing Team) Honda racers who won the Compact Triple Crown in 2000. Third in the Championship was 2000 Driver Champion Bryan Johnson. 4th was Will's brother Wayne Nonnamaker, who shared Will's 1999 Championship with him.

"Probably the lowest point in the year came at Watkins Glen," said Will. "We were leading the race under yellow with one lap to go when the green flag was thrown. I made it all the way to the esses before an out of control Sports/Touring car swiped me into the barriers at 120mph. I hit so hard that the Acura did a complete 360 in the air and landed with 40+ cars racing by me."

I think the highlight to our season had to be the ninth race at Trios Rivieres," continued Will. "We had faced stiff competition from the HART team all year in their Honda Civic Si race cars. But at Trios Rivieres, HART brought out an Acura Integra GSR just like our car. These guys are factory Honda engineers, and if there is anybody who knows Honda/Acuras, its them. The whole crew though pulled together, and we went out and captured the top two spots on the podium. Then we went to the final race at Daytona and finished 1-2 again. The Daytona race was really great, because it was my Dad's first race back since he had broke his neck at Homestead. He finished 2nd, so my Dad, Brother and I were able to all go up on the podium in Daytona Victory Lane."

Will began racing in a VW Golf in the SCCA ITA ranks. Wills driving did not go unnoticed as he was named the WOR Rookie of the Year in 1992. In 1995 Will won the SCCA NEOHIO ITE. In 1996 Will ran the entire Professional Sports Car Speedvision Cup Endurance season and earned himself honors as the 1996 Touring Class Rising Star.

Will has already made plans to return to defend his crown in 2002 in a King Motorsports Acura Integra LS. His co-driver will be his brother Wayne. "I wish that Wayne and I could have won the Championship together like we did in 1999," said Will. "Unfortunately, it did not work out that way, but that is definitely our goal in 2002."