< Back to News Home Nonnamaker Brothers Eye Home Town Victory at Mid Ohio

Posted (07/30/2002) -

By Christie Hyde -- Grand Am

HRPworld.com drivers Will and Wayne Nonnamaker are not your typical brothers. While most brothers usually try to one-up each other in competitions, the pair of Grand-Am Cup Sport Touring II drivers prefers to work as a team.

"For Will and I, there's not much brotherly competition. We enjoy that we are a team," remarked younger brother Wayne. "Both of us have a very good team concept. That's what we enjoy about Grand-Am Cup - that we can both co-drive and work together and not be competitive against each other. It's not your typical brother rivalry. Both of us would rather work together as a team than race against each other."

And after their class victory at Virginia International Raceway last month in the #41 Acura Integra LS, the team of brothers is sitting on top of the ST II driver point standings together for the first time. "Winning the championship together is always our goal," commented the elder Will who won the ST II crown solo last season.

Although they hold a three-point lead at the season's midway point, Will and Wayne both admit they will face a fierce battle to stay on top. Both brothers agree their biggest challenge for the championship is expected from Bill Fenton and Bob Beede in the Bill Fenton Motorsports Acura Integra LS. Fenton and Beede dominated the ST II class at the start of the season before the Nonnamakers began to rally and finally dethroned the Fenton team from the points lead at VIR.

But defending their team and driver championships must be pushed aside as the brothers prepare to first defend their ST II victory captured last year on their home track of Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. The duo anticipates fierce competition in the ST II class at the 2.5-hour Grand-Am Cup race during the Mid-Ohio CART Grand Prix.

"I expect the Miata teams will continue to be there (in front). They won the race at Phoenix and definitely have it in them to win some more," said Will. "The Ford Focus team is coming up fast too. They were only a half a second off of us at the last race, which is quite an improvement for them in only five races. They are going to be one to watch. And of course Bill Fenton and Bob Beede will be in the hunt. You can't count them out."

"The Cavalier will be strong. And we have to watch out for our own teammates," added Wayne. "Tony Nuzzo is sitting fifth in points and will pair with John Wymore once again, which produced a second place finish at VIRginia. This is Don [Velcio's] home track as well, and he will be tough with Bill [Pate] as his co-driver."

Tickets for the CART Grand Prix weekend at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course are currently on sale and may be purchased by calling 800-MID-OHIO or visiting www.midohio.com.

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