AASCO Motorsports Ready For Rolex 24 Endurance Classic

Despite an incident infirst-round qualifying on Thursday, the No. 16 AASCO Motorsports Porsche911 GT3 Cup entry with Craig Stanton (Long Beach, Calif.), David Murry(Cumming, Ga.) and Tim Sugden (Leeds, Great Britain) is prepared to makea serious assault for the Super Grand Sport (SGS) class title intomorrow's 42nd Annual Rolex 24 of Daytona (International Speedway).Overnight, the car was sent to a local Daytona body shop where the framewas straightened and bodywork repaired on the right rear quarter-panelof the classic German sports car. The team returned to the track fortoday's final practice session setting the second fastest time in theSGS class (1 minute, 58. 710 seconds) with Stanton behind the wheel.Although the No. 16 will be starting last in the 55-car field,confidence is high for the Anaheim, California-based race team. Theteam's second car, the No. 17 of: Gary Becker (Encino, Calif.), DerekClark (Corona Del Mar, Calif.), Pat Flanagan (Laguna Beach, Calif.) JoeKunz (Laguna Hills, Calif.) and Mark Webber (Hidden Hills) will start51st. Tomorrow's opening round of the Grand American Rolex Sports Car Serieswill start at 1 pm and will be broadcast live on SPEED from the startuntil 9:30 pm and will return for the finish at 6 am on Sunday throughthe waving of the checkered flag.Dennis Aase, team owner/manager: "We are back on plan again. Thestrategies are the same that they were. The No. 17 is a 'wait and letthe race unfold' strategy while the No. 16 is a bit more aggressive. Thedrivers are happy with both cars; at least they are only complainingabout little things."David Murry, driver, no. 16: "The crew did an awesome job putting thecar together. This Porsche is better than ever before. I feel asconfident as if we were on the pole."Tim Sugden, driver, no. 16: "I'm really excited. I think we have abrilliant chance. I'm really pleased because when I came here I didn'tknow what I was getting into. I didn't know anyone here. What I foundwas a brilliant team with brilliant people. I hope it all comestogether."Joe Kunz, driver, no. 17: "I'm anxious for the start of the race. I'mreally looking forward to it. Of the 17-car, only Derek has run thisrace before but we have a seasoned crew. We're looking for a really goodRolex 24. No one is nervous. Everybody feels fresh. We're ready to go."

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