Posted (05/26/2014) -
Team Sahlen entered the Lime Rock Park event knowing that Lime Rock Park was going to be a tough event. The team had never been on the track before with the Porsche Caymans. Additionally, there was no test day, so time was a premium. Practice Sessions 1 and 2 went by in a hurry, and the team was still trying set up changes when Qualifying was cancelled due to rain. The grid was then set according to points, placing the #42 & #43 in 6th and 26th place respectively. Due to the lack of track time, the team was still making set up changes leading into the race.
“Catherine Crawford and the Engineering team did a fantastic job working on set up all weekend long. The changes they made leading into the race made our Cayman a fantastic car to drive. We are starting to come to grips with what set ups work and how to make changes to effect certain nuances from track to track. This is a good sign as we head into summer stretch of races.” – shared team driver Joe Nonnamaker
At the start of the race, Will Nonnamaker in the #42 narrowly avoided being hit from behind in turn one of the 1st lap. Will held his own in the Top 10, until the restart of the 2nd restart, when he selected the wrong gear, and went for a spin. Will quickly recovered out of the wet grass, and ran back from 33rd to 20th fairly soon. The 3rd yellow of the day saw the #42 pit and place finisher Wayne Nonnamaker in the car. The pit crew did a fantastic job on the pit stop, and Wayne quickly made headway on the restart, rising up to 16th spot. Then unfortunately, the team’s good fortune of missing the early race near miss ran out. This time, another competitor rammed Wayne so hard in the rear, that it drove him into the back of the car in front, breaking the right front radiator. Wayne quickly pitted and replaced the radiator in 20 minutes flat. This allowed Wayne to get back out on track and drive long enough to get points for the 26th place finish.
Wayne added his thoughts - “What an unfortunate event of circumstances. Just when we were getting back in the hunt, and then we were so unceremoniously slammed from behind. The saddest part is that it was so unnecessary, being only an hour into the race. All we can do now is get back at it and be ready to take on the competition again at Kansas Speedway in 2 weeks.”
Joe Sahlen & Joe Nonnamaker had a very uneventful race, staying on the lead lap for the 1st 1/3rd of the race. Their consistency led to a 21st place finish, in a race that saw the last 1 ½ hours go full green.
The next event for Team Sahlen will be at 7:15 pm, under the lights at Kansas Speedway.
2014 Team Sahlen Campaign Partners:
Turbo Performance Center, Tarett Engineering, MOMO, Guard Transmission, Forgeline, Porsche of Beachwood, Pittsburgh International Race Complex, HubstandsPRO, MSI Racing Products, NGK Spark Plugs, TheRacingInsiders, CM Racing Products, Mothers Polishes, Winding Road Racing, Grassroots Motorsports Magazine, Maxima Oil, CV Products, Design Engineering Inc., Hella, Racing Print Media, Hard Brakes, CRC Chemicals, Penske Shocks, PFC, Lamin-X, Optima Batteries and TheRaceSite.com.
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