1-21-2008 - Rolex 24 hour preview

CONCORD, N.C. -- Roush Fenway Racing driver Colin Braun is going to start Speedweeks at Daytona International Speedway a bit earlier than most of his fellow competitors in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Braun will be racing this weekend in the Rolex 24 event which starts Saturday afternoon, and concludes Sunday.

Braun will be driving for AIM Autosport in the No. 61 Exchange Traded Gold Ford-powered Riley. He will be teamed with Mark Wilkins, Brian Frisselle and Andrew Ranger. The four drivers will comprise one of the youngest teams in Rolex Sports Car Series competition. Wilkins and Frisselle are both 24 years old, Ranger is 21 and Braun is only 19.

Braun raced in his first Rolex 24 at the age of 16 in 2005, and went on to set a record at Daytona when he won the Brumos 250 at Daytona. Braun helped co-driver Jorg Bergmeister claim the 2006 Daytona Prototype title.

"I knew that I wanted to be in this race again so when Ford asked if I could run for AIM, I jumped at the chance," Braun said. "I saw how this team worked last season and I think Ian Willis (AIM team principal) has put a great group together. I think the move to Ford power is really going to raise what this team is capable of doing and the driver line up is a strong one that I'm really happy to be a part of."

Live coverage of the Rolex 24 will begin on FOX at 1 p.m. (EST) on Saturday, January 26. Coverage on FOX will continue for 90 minutes, and then switch to SPEED at 2:30 p.m. (EST). SPEED will broadcast live coverage for 15.5 hours of the event beginning at 2:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. EST. SPEED will resume coverage Sunday morning, January 27 at 6 a.m. (EST) through the checkered flag and post-race interviews.

Braun will return to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in his No. 6 Con-way Freight Ford F-150 at Daytona on Friday, February 15 for the season-opening race.

Colin quotes from Ford Racing

THIS week you’ll be back behind the wheel of a Rolex Daytona Prototype car in the 24-hour race WITH AIM AUTOSPORT.

“I really enjoy driving the Grand-Am Series. And for me, to have Ford power again in the car is really going to make it a lot more fun. I got my first win in a prototype back in 2006 at Daytona with a Ford-powered Riley chassis car, and we’ve basically got that same package going back this year for the 24-hour race. I’m really looking forward to going back there for the race and I think that we’re going to be really competitive.”

How did driving duties with AIM in the 24-HOUR race come together?

 “Well, I’ve known Ian [Willis, team principal] ever since I was racing Formula cars when I was a younger teenager, and the people at Ford asked me if I wanted to go race the 24-hour race and, of course, I told them that I would love to. They said that there was an open seat with AIM, so I said yes, and I’ll be racing with Mark Wilkins and Brian Frisselle and Andrew Ranger, so we’ve really got a strong driver lineup there.”

The AIM team will be one of the youngest, if not the youngest, team of the weekend with no driver older than 24. How can your TEAM use that to your advantage?

 “Well, I think that with all of us being young, we get along really well together. We’re all young guys and interested in the same kind of stuff. We had that test there in early January and we were all really open with each other and Ian Willis really understands the whole endurance racing series and the mindset and he’s been teaching all four of us drivers on how we’re going to win this race. Nobody has a big ego or wants to go out and prove how fast they are, we just are going to go out with the common goal of winning the 24-hour race no matter who is fast, we all just want to win. I just think that is something that’s really going to help us out a lot.”

The race that started as an endurance race has almost become more of a 24-hour sprint race.

“Absolutely. I think Daytona is one of those races that you’ve got to go flat out as hard as you can every lap. And you have to do it while at the same time taking care of the car. It’s being quick and smart through traffic. You’ve got to be smart and fast and I think that is something that all four of the drivers that Ian has are smart about it.”

Quotes from AIM Autosport

Youngest member Braun comes with a resume that might make a more seasoned driver jealous. Last year he scored six Rolex podiums and a class podium at Le Mans in addition to making his ARCA series debut. His pace at the January test only confirmed that despite sampling a variety of new race cars, and trucks, he hasn't lost a thing on his DP skills. For Braun, who will nearly qualify as a resident of Daytona Beach as he spends time at the worlds Center of Speed preparing for his NASCAR Craftsman Truck rookie season with Roush Fenway Racing, he's happy to be where he knows he has a shot at success.

"It's great to be back in a Ford powered Daytona Prototype and I have to say that AIM made the right decision there," said Braun. "The Rolex 24 is a great event and an awesome race. For me as a driver knowing we have a fast car, a good driver line up and a strong team, it means everything because none of us are here just to be a part of the race. We all want to open this year with a win, and it's great to be in an environment where everyone is focused on exactly that. I just can't wait to get going."