8-1-2006 - Colin cleared to drive at Watkins Glen

YOUNG RACER CAN COMPETE AT GLEN

Colin Braun, one of the most talented young American racers, won't have any restraints to keep him from making his debut at Watkins Glen International next weekend.

Controversy followed the 17-year-old Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series driver at the Glen during the Watkins Glen Indy Grand Prix presented by Tissot weekend in June. He had been banned from competing in the Rolex Series Sahlen's Six Hours of the Glen support event of the IndyCar Series weekend because of a tobacco legislation law forbidding minors from competing in events with tobacco sponsors. The Team Penske IndyCar team is sponsored by Marlboro cigarettes.

Braun's Krohn Racing team took the case to court a few days before the race, and a local judge granted the teenager the right to compete. He eventually withdrew when it became apparent that his competing there could still cause legal concerns.

While no tobacco sponsorship is involved during the Glen Nextel Cup weekend, his age would still have prevented him from competing in the Crown Royal 200 Rolex Series support race on Aug. 11. The Glen has a policy forbidding anyone under the age of 18 from competing there because of legalities with signing the track's standard liability waiver.

"That policy still holds here, but in his case he has been emancipated by the court system and is cleared to sign a waiver as an adult, so he can race here," Eiron Smith, senior manager of public relations for WGI, said Wednesday.

Braun and teammate Jorg Bergmeister have won back-to-back Rolex Series events. including Sunday's Porsche 250 presented by Bradley Arant at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Ala.

Boris Said subbed for Braun in June and teamed with Bergmeister to win the Sahlen's Six Hours of the Glen for Krohn Racing.

Braun will team with Bergmeister at the Glen next weekend in the N. 76 Ford Riley Daytona Prototype.