< Back to News Home 2002 Daytona I Review: Joe Nonnamaker Returns To Corvette With an Eighth Place

Posted (02/02/2002) -

After taking a year off from the high horsepower Corvette, Joe Nonnamaker made his return to driving the Corvette with an eighth place finish at Daytona.

One year ago Joe Nonnamaker and Bill Pate co-drove the #43 Corvette to a second place finish in the season opener at Daytona International Speedway. At the second race of the year at Homestead, Nonnamaker broke his neck in an accident in NASCAR turns three and four. After six months of recovery, Nonnamaker made his return to driving in the four hour season finale in one of the Planet Earth Motorsports Acura Integra GS-Rs scoring a second place finish co-driving with Gator Mitchell.

In the offseason, Nonnamaker readied his #43 Orison Marketing Corvette Z06 for a full season campaign in the Grand Am Cup Grand Sports I class. For 2002, Shane Lewis would be co-driving with Nonnamaker. Bill Pate, who was an instrumental part of developing the #43 Corvette in the 2000 and 2001 season, would fulfill the role of team manager at the track, both for the Corvette and the team's Acura Integras.

With the first race back in the Corvette, Nonnamaker and Lewis drove to an eighth place finish.

"This was a good start to the season," said Crew Chief Mike Thomas. "We did two days of testing in Georgia, and with Shane's help we have been able to build upon the package that Bill and the team had developed in the 2000 and 2001 season. We are optimistic about the rest of the season."

The next race for Joe will be March 22nd at California Speedway. The Grand Am Cup will join both the Grand Am Rolex Series and the Indy Racing League on the race schedule for the weekend.

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