Posted (08/15/2011) -
When the 2011 Grand American ROLEX schedule came out in the fall of 2010, all teams, including Team Sahlen circled the Montreal event as one to be prepared for. This was due to the fact that the Watkins Glen 200 event would be occurring just 7 days before. Thus with rig parking on Wednesday, Rigs would have to be on the road by Tuesday to arrive in time for the unloading, which only provided 2 full days to reprep the Mazda RX-8s.
To compound the situation for Team Sahlen, major construction on the highway, saw a huge road bump break the hitch on the stacker trailer that goes along behind the team Toterhome. Fortunately, no one was hurt, and the Stacker Trailer trailed off the road, went down an embankment, and came to an eventual stop in a patch of trees. The trailer was eventually pulled out and taken to a Truck Stop, where a new hitch was welded on. Thus allowing the Stacker and all contents inside to be able to make the trek across the Canadian border.
“Murphy’s Law says that something crazy is always going to happen when you least desire it. But the good news is that no one got hurt. Then secondly, nothing in the trailer got hurt, including #49, and as well the trailer stayed on its wheels. This is all very fortunate, and we can be happy that this all that occurred” – shared Jay Chapman, Team Manager
For the Montreal 200, Team Sahlen will be entering 2 Mazda RX-8s. John Edwards and Wayne Nonnamaker will be entered in the #42, with Joe and Will Nonnamaker paired in the #43 racer.
Currently Mazda is tied with Porsche for the lead in the Grand American GT Manufacturers battle. And additionally, Wayne Nonnamaker continues to move forward with his quest to match his brother Will’s accomplishment of securing the Bob Akin Sportsman award in the GT Class.
The Montreal event will be aired tape delayed on August 20th at 8 pm est on SPEED TV
The 2011 Team Sahlen GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16 is supported by Mazda, Mazdaspeed, HRPWorld.com, Cool Shirt, Racetech Seats, BBS, Racing Print Media, Alcon, Mothers Polish, EMCO, NGK Spark Plugs, TheRaceSite.com, Western New York Flash, Grassroots Motorsports, Castrol Oil, Holliday Canopies, ASC Industries, Iannetti Design Ideas, CM Racing