10-2-2007 - VIR Preview

Ovalo TX - Over 160 competitors will be on hand this weekend at the season finale for the Grand-Am KONI Challenge Series Grand Sport (GS) and Street Tuner (ST) divisions, featuring 12 hours of racing at Virginia International Raceway in Alton, Va. Stars from around the globe who have made their name from the silver screen to various forms of motorsports are hoping for award-winning performances in the twin six-hour races.

NASCAR-bound Colin Braun and second-generation driver Jack Roush Jr. have ties beyond just teaming together this weekend. Roush's father Jack signed Braun to a driver development deal earlier this season with his Roush Fenway Racing team in NASCAR, and Braun has already competed for Jack Roush in a handful of ARCA races. Braun, who competed in 13 of the 14 Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Special Reserve races this season and won twice in Daytona Prototype competition a season ago, ran his second-ever Daytona Prototype race at VIR in 2005. Roush Jr. made his KONI Challenge debut at VIR a year ago and learned to road race under the tutelage of one of America's most talented road racers, Boris Said. Roush and Braun will co-drive the No. 59 Rehagen Racing Roush Performance Products Ford Mustang GT.