Barber Motorsports Park CTSCC Event Will Not Change All-Out Strategy to Win Title
With the intense spotlight of the 50th Anniversary running of the Rolex 24 At Daytona now behind him, one might think Bryan Sellers will fall into a conservation-mode with a goal on winning the 2012 Grand-Am Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge (CTSCC) title. He isn't letting the competition off so easy. The Braselton, Ga.-resident wants to win the GS class championship but he plans to do it on the shoulders of victories, not back into it with "points racing". After a strong run at the Daytona season-opener, Sellers and his team owning teammate Mark Boden (Winnetka, Ill.) enter Saturday's Porsche 250 at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Ala. third in team and driver points. The pair nearly missed a victory at Daytona by wringing everything out of the No. 46 BCKSTGR/Fall-Line BMW M3 Coupe and Sellers has no plans to change the "all-out" strategy in their pursuit of the season trophy. Daytona or Barber, it's all the same to Sellers' intense approach. The two-hour, 30-minute CTSCC race at Barber - scheduled to take the green flag at 4 p.m. (CDT) - will be waged on a very different track than Daytona's round one. Barber Motorsports Park is considered North America's most pristine racing venue. Beautifully laid out just north of Birmingham, the 2.3 mile, 17-turn road course enjoys a true park-like setting offering incredible vantage points to race fans. Despite its immaculate surroundings, the race track at Barber does not offer the BMW M3 Sellers will race a venue to display its greatest assets. The V8 powering the BCKSTGR BMW earns its edge at the end of long straights. However, though the track has several straights, none is long enough to help the Fall-Line car gain an advantage. Sellers' fight for another podium result will put a premium on aggressive but intelligent driving. With 76 entries on-track in the two-class race (GS and ST), opportunities will present themselves as others make mistakes. However, the tight confines of the track and large car count will make each move both fortuitous and perilous for the No. 46. Balancing the risk and reward of each move will be the determining factor in Saturday's race for Fall-Line Motorsports. Sellers will be forced to miss the May 13 race at New Jersey Motorsports Park due to other racing demands. However, he has set as a personal goal to help the Fall-Line Motorsports team win a team and driver championship in 2012. As part of that task, the Barber Park event is critical in keeping momentum and helping to carry into the second-half of the season. The former open wheel racing-champion and now sports car stalwart ran in both the CTSCC and the Rolex 24 Hours At Daytona Rolex Series events in Daytona. However, at this time, he will commit all of his attention on Grand-Am weekends towards the Fall-Line operation. He continues to compete in other professional motorsports series and is a factory race and development driver for Falken Tire. SPEED will air the BMW Performance 250 on Sunday, April 8 at 12:00 p.m. (EDT).
Quotes
Bryan Sellers:
On Barber Motorsports Park: "Barber is not the BMW's strongest track. There is really nowhere for the M3 to stretch its legs and show its advantage, which is top-end speed. It will be a difficult race but we have to make the most of it and find a way to maximize our strengths. Barber is very unique in all aspects. It is altogether challenging. Passing is one of the most difficult aspects of the circuit because there are no really good passing zones. You have to create a lot of opportunities here and when you get your chances you must take advantage of them."On maintaining momentum in the championship: "It is all about momentum. You want to start the season off showing your competitors, as well as your team, that you are a powerful force. Barber is a difficult race and it can certainly throw a wrench into any program. It can really set the tone for the remainder of the races." On his season-long strategy:"Sports Car Challenge is such a competitive form of racing. In my mind there is no such thing as points racing. I feel like you race as hard as possible and try and win every race. Ultimately, you must accept the position you are given on any day but you have to strive for the win.Every round is an important round for the championship so we pushed as hard at Daytona as I will at Barber and I'll be doing the same thing at Lime Rock at the end of the season."
