Team Sahlen, powered by honeybeeBase.com, will kick off their 2019 race season at Watkins Glen International.  The event will be the “Sahlen’s Sports Car Springfest at the Glen” with the Summit Racing - American Endurance Racing series.   This will be the 4^th year in a row that Team Sahlen has entered this event.  In 2016, Team Sahlen secured a 1^st place finish overall in Saturday’s 9 hour race, then a 2^nd place overall in Sunday’s 9 hour race. For the 2017 event, Team Sahlen returned hoping to improve on the prior year’s results.  The mission was successful, with an Overall Victory in both Saturday’s and Sunday’s 9 hour races.  The Sunday victory was especially memorable as the team’s winning Cayman was equipped the Porsche PDK Transmission.  This win was the 1^st Overall Victory in an endurance sport car race by the Porsche PDK automatic transmission in a production based race car.

For last year’s event, Team Sahlen secured the overall victory on both Saturday (15 seconds) and Sunday (2 Seconds) by the narrowest of margins

Will Nonnamaker shared his thoughts on the last year’s narrow victories – “Its hard to believe that you can race for a total of 18 hours and secure Overall Victory in both races by less than 20 seconds combined.  But this is exactly what we achieved last year.  I think that is just a testament to the level of intense, competitive racing that has become the Summit Racing – American Endurance Racing Series.”

For this weekend’s race, Team Sahlen will again be returning with their  2 PDK Automatic Transmission equipped Porsche Caymans entered in the Group 5 class; the premier top overall class with the fastest cars in the series.  This class has become very competitive with several fast teams and cars entering the race for overall honors.  Some of the makes include Ferrari, BMW, Corvette, Audi, and Ford Mustang.  It will be no easy task for Team Sahlen in this event. 

Joe Nonnamaker shared his thoughts leading up to this weekend “This is our 5^th year racing in Summit Racing - American Endurance Racing.  In that time, we have seen the series grow in both quantity and quality of teams on the track.  We have been working hard in the off season to be prepared.  We have worked on several improvements to our Caymans in the off season, and hope to be able to see those efforts pay off at the conclusion of each day’s 9 hour endurance race.”

The last time Team Sahlen was on track with the Summit Racing -American Endurance Racing series was at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course Fall 2018 event.  Team Sahlen faced stiff competition, but also combatted blistering cold, rainy weather all weekend.  In the end, Team Sahlen secured overall victory in Sunday’s 9 hour endurance event.

Drivers for the weekend will be Joe Sahlen and Joe, Wayne & Will Nonnamaker.  Joe Sahlen shared his thoughts leading up to the weekend, - “I am very excited about this weekend.  Watkins Glen is my home track.  I am excited to get back on track racing this year, and to drive our enhanced Porsche Caymans at the Sahlen’s Sports Car SpringFest at the Glen event.”

Wayne Nonnamaker added his thoughts to the upcoming weekend – “There are over 60+ cars entered for the Sahlen’s Sports Car Springfest at the Glen.  Our driver line up has experienced 100+ car races at Watkins Glen, when we have competed at the Memorial Day weekend Sahlen’s Champyard DOG at the Glen.  The track is a lot more crowded and managing traffic is key to not only quick lap times, but avoiding contact on the track. It will be a tough weekend, but I am confident in our team executing both on the track and in the pits to be there at the end of the race to contest for the top spot on the podium.”

Sahlen’s Sports Car Springfest at the Glen

with American Endurance Racing

Weekend Schedule

Day/Time/Event

Friday – April 20th

9 am - Noon = Practice

1 pm – 5:30 pm = Qualifying

6 pm = Tailgate Party - Featuring Sahlen's Hot Dogs

Saturday – April 21^st   

8 am = Race Start

5 pm = Checkered Flag

5:30 pm = Awards Ceremony

Sunday – April 22^nd    

8 am = Race Start

5 pm = Checkered Flag

5:30 pm = Awards Ceremony

2019 Team Sahlen Campaign Partners

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