6-25-2007 - Colin testing for Roush and Krohn

Drivers take advantage of test time at Barber

For Rolex Sports Car Series rookie Memo Rojas, Thursday's practice day at Barber Motorsports Park was a day to get some seat time at a challenging track before the series returns to Birmingham for the Porsche 250 weekend July 20-22.

For 18-year-old Colin Braun, it was a chance for a rising motor sports star to hone his already formidable skills before he jumps to the ARCA RE/MAX Series next year.

Braun, who sat on the pole and then won last year's Daytona Prototype race at Barber with co-driver Jorg Bergmeister, was understandably excited about returning to the track that's been good to him.

"I love coming to Barber. My first Daytona Prototype race ever was here, I got a pole here, I got a win here, so I've done a lot of good things here."

The Ovalo, Texas, native and driver of the Krohn Racing Ford finished fifth in series points last year despite missing three races, and he's in fifth place this year after seven races. His sports car prowess has earned him a full-time ARCA ride in 2008, a change that will hopefully move him one step closer to his goal of Nextel Cup racing.

"I just signed up to drive ARCA in 2008 with Jack Roush and the Fenway Group, as well as Ford Motor Company," Braun says. "I'm going to do two ARCA races, Gateway and Chicago, at the end of 2007, and then a full season in 2008."