2-8-2008 - Colin -  Daytona preview

Colin will be racing chassis RK-52 at Daytona. This truck finished third last year at Daytona with Travis Kvapil.

Although Colin has not started a race on the oval at Daytona, he has competed on the road course five times in the Grand Am division. He won the Brumos 250 Grand Am Rolex Daytona Prototype Series race in July 2006 at the age of 17.

Colin will compete for the 2008 Raybestos Rookie of the Year. Five Roush Fenway Racing drivers have previously won it (Biffle ’98, Kurt Busch ’00, Edwards ’03, Kluever ’05, Darnell ’06).

Quoting Colin Braun:
“We’ve done a lot of testing in the off-season and now it’s time to get down to business. Although we had an accident in testing, the guys have worked hard to make the truck just as good, if not better than it was. All the Roush Fenway teams showed they were fast at the test since we were 1-2-3 on the first day. I just have to adjust to the aero of the truck. It is still something I have to consciously think about – how the trucks around me affect the aero of my truck. Running up front at Daytona is important, but our goal is to finish the race. I want to run all the laps, and gain all the experience I can. It’s easy to lose sight of the big picture when you are fast and up front. You gotta be there at the end.”

Quoting Mike Beam - Crew Chief:
“We should have a really good truck for Daytona. It was fast at the test, but we had to replace the right side and the front clip after the accident the first day of testing. Based on the wind tunnel data, I feel confident the truck will be every bit as good, if not better, than it was at the test. Colin is learning more about the trucks every time he takes a lap, so after the Daytona and Atlanta tests last month, I think he’s ready for this challenge.”