SHEA RACING OPTIMISTIC AFTER 2013 SEASON DEBUT
Orlando, FL – Shea Racing Team kicked-off their 2013 season with strong results in the Pirelli World Challenge tripleheader weekend at Circuit of the Americas (COTA). The newly expanded three-car Team left the technical 2.3 mile short course with cars in fourth, seventh and eleventh in the Championship point standings.
“The top-notch facility provided a perfect showcase for our partners and the technicality of the track layout made for intense competition,” said Shea Holbrook, co-owner and driver.
Jon Miller
Jon Miller, driver of the No. 68 Shea Racing Civic Si, made a stellar debut in the series with three top-five finishes. His on track performance, showcased by his captivating livery featuring Titan Motorsports, loudbasstard, Walter D’Andrea BodyWorks, Muhu.mx and TrueCar, proved he will be a contender for future podium finishes this season. Miller finished fifth in both of Saturday’s races and fourth on Sunday to place him fourth overall in the Touring Car driver points.
“Austin was awesome,” said Miller. “We had some killer BBQ and the local craft beers were really tasty. And other than and odd moment where my car got towed out of the paddock, only to be dropped off safely in the parking lot outside, the little racing facility they built there was pretty nice! It’s difficult to expect big results right out of the gate with a new program, but we came away with three top-five finishes and a better understanding of where we are in comparison to the competition. I can’t wait until Lime Rock on July 4th weekend, I just hope the team stops in Georgia to stock up on the good fireworks on their way!”
Shea Holbrook and Touring Car B teammate P.J. Groenke experienced some challenges in the spec class competition throughout the weekend.
“While the season opener is always tough because it’s the first time we are all on track together, its important because it gives us, and the Series, the opportunity to see the level of competitiveness” said Holbrook. “P.J and I were happy with our overall progress and on-track performance but were not satisfied with our end results. We will continue to work hard to achieve the most we can from the driver’s seat and look forward to our ongoing collaboration with Honda Racing HPD and the Series as they work to level the playing field so we can continue to provide bumper-to-bumper, intense, clean racing.”
P.J. Groenke
P.J. Groenke, Canadian driver of the No. 66 Mulligan Gold, Tundra, Verax.ca and TrueCar Honda Fit, took home three top-ten finishes. Groenke, making his second start in the TCB class (he competed at Mosport last year), posted ninth, seventh and eighth place finishes respectively, which put him seventh in the drivers’ championship.
“It was awesome to finally meet Shea and the Shea Racing team in person. This was the first time I have raced outside of Canada and I felt at home with the team from the very beginning. We came out of the first race weekend with good results, and the team will be working very hard to achieve great results for rest of the season,” said Groenke.
Shea Holbrook
Holbrook’s No. 67 Radium, TrueCar, Lucas Oil Honda Fit captured two top-ten finishes on Saturday and a seventeenth on Sunday. She is currently in 11th place in the Championship.
“We had some contact at the start of race three which put me a lap down and we ended up finishing seventeeth. Although my results didn’t reflect what we know we are capable of, especially since we finished fourth in the Championship last year, it was thrilling for me to debut our new multi-car effort.
We spent a lot of time during the off-season building our new program with tremendous support from our sponsors, new and old, and it’s very inspiring to see the culmination of these efforts on the track. I am determined to get back on the podium and know that my teammates will be right there with me,” said Holbrook.
The Team returns to the racetrack July 4th weekend at Lime Rock Park with Pirelli World Challenge.
Watch the Shea Racing Team on TV
Be sure to catch all of the action on NBC Sports, Sunday, June 16th at 5PM eastern.
To watch Live Streaming Playback of the TC/TCB Rounds 1 and 2 click here and to watch Round 3 click here.
Follow the team on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and for more information visit www.shearacing.com.
The team and drivers thank their partners for their continued support and look forward to a successful season: Radium, TRUECar, Lucas Oil, Mulligan Gold, Tundra Technical Solutions, Verax.ca, Titan Motorsports, loudbasstard.com, Eibach Springs, CoolShirt, P2R, VisionX Custom Graphics, Hendrick Honda, K&N Filters, Penta Water, OMP, Bell, and E3 Spark Plugs, Clairhaven Ltd., Martinrea International Inc., TPL Lighting, Warp Speed Computers Inc., Walter D’Andrea Bodyworks, Muhu.mx, ARS Access Restoration Services, Affinity Luxury Car Rentals, Alpha Laboratories Inc., Amsterdam Beer, Confident Paintless Dent Removal, Desson Manufacturing Ltd., Diplomat Trucking Ltd., Eventscape Inc., Payne Capital Corp., Pelto Agri Investments, Proprint Services Inc., Ro-Ro Property Management Corp., and 4Print.
