- Defending TCX champ Jacob Ruud takes series point lead into TCX RA doubleheader
- Young Garrett Adams seeks to continue podium performances in BMW M2 at RA
- Former Skiing champion Olivia Askew looks for podium finish at Road America
- Tim Horrell/Rafa Matos pairing set to challenge in BMW GT4 M4 in Pirelli GT America
ELKHART LAKE, WI (August 18, 2022) – To say that Jacob Ruud of Racine, WI, is excited about racing this weekend at Road America would an understatement as the defending TCX sports car champion returns to his home track at Road America for the SRO America doubleheader weekend on August 19-21.
Ruud, winner of ten of 14 races in 2021, dominated the TCX division in the division’s initial season for Fast Track Racing in the No. 1 ArmiClenz/Fast Track Racing BMW M2 CS (Cup) sports car. Now, the recent college graduate (Rochester Institute of Technology) currently leads the TCX category point standings with a 28-point margin with the doubleheader sprint races this Saturday and Sunday.
Already scoring five victories in 2022 in eight rounds, Ruud seeks to expand his point advantage in the two 40-minute races against a solid TCX field at the historic four-mile, 14-turn road course.
“Road America is my favorite track in the country,” said Ruud, who begins action Friday in two rounds practice in the busy SRO America weekend. “Being only an hour from my childhood home, I’ve been coming to here before I can remember. I also won my first ever club race here in 2016, so there’s definitely a lot of good memories here over the years.
“There’s so much history at this place, and yet the track layout continues to stand the test of time as new facilities are being built. I’m really excited to race in front of my home crowd sporting the Wisconsin flag this weekend!”
The Fast Track Racing team, sponsored by Sewell Automotive Companies, brings a three-car effort to Road America in the TCX division with Ruud being joined by two other youngsters, Garrett Adams and Olivia Askew, also piloting BMW M2 CS (Cup) machines.
Adams comes to Road America after recording his first podium (top-three) appearance of the season with a third-place last month at Watkins Glen. Garrett, the college student from Ovieda, FL, will drive the No. 54 Garrett Adams Racing/Fast Track Racing BMW M2 CS car.
Askew, the former skiing champion from Salt Lake City, UT, recently scored a top-five placing in her No. 29 SmartCert/Fast Track Racing BMW M2 CS mount.
“Road America will bring its challenges for every driver on the track,” said Adams. “It has high speed turns and low grip to offer. I am hoping for some tight racing and fun time out there. Of course, another podium finish would be awesome too.”
“I am so excited to be going back to Road America because it has always been one of my favorite tracks,” said Askew. “I love how weather is always up in the air and we usually have to deal with a bit of rain and shine. After testing last week, I feel prepared and ready to go this weekend.”
In addition to the TCX class cars for Fast Track Racing at Road America, the Texas-based team will field a BMW M4 GT4 car in the Pirelli GT America twin bill with 60-minute, two-driver races this weekend.
The duo of paraplegic racer Tim Horrell of Coral Springs, FL, and multi-time sports car champion Raphael Matos of Boca Raton, FL, will team up in the No. 10 Fast Track Racing BMW M4 in an effort to score podium placings on Saturday and Sunday.
“I’m looking forward to the next rounds of the season the legendary Road America,” said Horrell. “It’s where we can hopefully some of the changes that we have made with the race car and recording better finishes in the one-hour events.”
Matos, the former Trans-Am T2 champion, has driven a variety of cars at Road America and hopes to return to his past success at the Wisconsin racing plant.
“We are excited for the races at Road America,” Raphael explained. “We had a chance to test the car for a couple of days last week and we are pretty confident that we found some good things with BMW’s setup. Our lap times looked competitive, and we are hoping to have a trouble-free weekend.”
The busy SRO America weekend at Road America gets underway this Friday with practice rounds at 9:15 a.m. CDT and 2:30 p.m.CDT for the TC America powered by Skip Barber Racing School. Qualifying will take place at 8:30 a.m. CDT Saturday. The two 40-minute, sprint events are scheduled for Saturday at 1:10 p.m. CDT and Sunday at 10:05 a.m. CDT.
Action for the Pirelli GT America series this weekend starts Friday with practice at 12 p.m. CDT and 5:15 p.m. CDT followed by qualifying on Saturday at 10:40 a.m. CDT. The two GT4 America 60-minute contests are set for Saturday at 4:05 p.m. CDT and 11:10 a.m. CDT on Sunday.
The TC America telecast of the Road America highlights will be televised on CBS Sports Network on Sunday, Aug. 28, at 12 p.m. EDT with the Pirelli GT4 America events will be shown on CBS Sports Network on Sunday, Aug. 28, at 8 p.m. EDT.
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ABOUT FAST TRACK RACING: Fast Track Racing was founded in 2005. Fast Track Racing has sold 117 BMW factory race cars to our customers in the past five years. Fast Track Racing has earned six championships in the SRO World Challenge series, and two S.C.C.A. National Championships. Fast Track Racing is the first and only United States team to win the BMW Sports Trophy. In total, Fast Track Racing has earned 26 professional wins and over 100 total wins, including 22 poles and 113 podiums, with 23 of the fastest laps in SRO competition. As BMW Motorsport experts, Fast Track Racing also races these vehicles and knows them inside and out. Fast Track Racing is tenured, with track-tested experience. Fast Track Racing has engineering expertise and provides coaching and consultation to ensure a driver’s performance is maximized.