Watkins Glen, NY (August 9, 2007) - This Friday’s Crown Royal 200 at The Glen marks Round 12 of 14 in the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series. The competitors will take to the fast 2.45-mile, 11-turn “short course” on the historic Watkins Glen International circuit in Watkins Glen, New York for a two-hour “sprint” race format.
The Krohn Racing team, who normally runs strong at Watkins Glen, will field two cars – the No. 76 Krohn Racing Pontiac Riley of team owner/driver Tracy Krohn and 2004 Grand-Am Daytona Prototype champion Max Papis; and the No. 75 Krohn Racing Pontiac Riley, shared by teammates Colin Braun and Nic Jönsson. Krohn Racing’s Tracy Krohn and Nic Jönsson won the Six Hours at the Glen in 2005 and Krohn teammates Jörg Bergmeister and Boris Said won the same event in 2006.
Max Papis, driver, No. 75 Krohn Racing Pontiac Riley:
The Krohn team has had success at Watkins Glen, including victories the last two years and you are a two-time winner at Watkins Glen, any expectation for Friday’s race?
“I’m expecting to be competitive and have a great car as we’ve had in the last couple of events. My goal will be to get the Truman Award for Tracy and it will be really special to bring the 76 car on the podium.”
Regarding your third-place finish in the Busch race in Montreal last weekend and plans for this weekend:
“It was a great event for me. I really enjoyed having Tracy come over and shake my hand before and after the race. It was pretty special to have him there and that he had the time to come by. I was happy that I was able to show him a good result. I ran together with the best of the business and finishing in the Top 3 in just my second road course race in a Busch car is like a win. It was a great weekend from beginning to the end.
This weekend I will be running again in the same car with the same team (No. 1 Phoenix Racing Chevy). It’s going to be another exciting race. I think I’m going to benefit from running in both classes, especially since they are focused on different days. We still have two extra steps to take from third to be on the top in winner’s circle. I’m going to do everything I can to repeat the good show that I had at Montreal and trying to see if we can add something to it.”
Fellow Krohn driver Nic Jönsson and his wife just had a baby and named him Max. Any thoughts or advice?
“It’s awesome. He told me that he and his wife liked the name Max. Although there is only one “Mad Max”, there is room for other Max’s in the world. I want to congratulate Nic and his wife on their son. I don’t think he’s realized all that it means being a father yet, but he will have a whole new world awaiting in front of him. It’s a fantastic day and I want to congratulate him because it is a day he will remember forever.”
The Krohn Racing team continues in fourth place in the Rolex Series Prototype team points chase with the No. 75 entry and 11th place with the No. 76 entry after 11 of 14 races. Braun has five podium finishes, Papis four and Jönsson one. Braun has also captured two pole positions. Krohn has one Top Five and four Top Ten finishes so far this year.
Krohn Racing won the 2006 Daytona Prototype Driver’s Championship with driver Jörg Bergmeister and finished second in the DP Team Championship. The team collected three victories, six podiums, eight Top Five finishes, 13 Top Ten finishes and two pole positions.
The Crown Royal 200 at The Glen is a 200-mile/82-laps/two hour race and will be televised taped delay on SPEED TV at 8:00 p.m. EDT on Friday night, August 10th. For more information, please see www.grand-am.com and www.krohnracing.net.