Daytona International Speedway
Daytona Beach, Florida
Roar Before the Rolex 24
There’s something about the early days of a new season that we love at Racing to End Alzheimer’s. The offseason almost always feels too long, and by the time that first green flag is waved and a new high-speed pursuit of victory begins, we’ve been racing in our dreams for weeks. What we really want is to be out on that track, smelling the rubber, hearing the roar of high-powered engines and feeling our hearts pound as the checkered flag approaches.
Luckily for the whole team, the Roar Before the Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway offered a weekend jammed to the gills with all of the things we love about racing.
Honing the machine
The Roar, though not technically part of the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge, offered drivers and crew an opportunity to spend what was essentially three full days zeroing in on the perfect setup for the No. 19 Ford Mustang before the season kickoff. It was also a chance for drivers to compete at full speed and see where they stood in a talented field.
If this weekend was any indication, Sean Quinlan and Greg Liefooghe should be feeling pretty good about the upcoming season.
Both drivers showed their grit and skill, with Quinlan competing in two 45-minute VP Racing SportsCar Challenge races, then teaming up with Liefooghe for five IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge test sessions.
Good signs
Quinlan ran at blistering speed in both of his VPRC races. After getting his racing feet under him with a couple of practice laps, Sean hit the green flag of the first race feeling confident in his setup.
Almost immediately though, the reality of competitive racing reared its head and the field forced the No.19 to the outside on turn one. The car lost a few positions as Quinlan worked to recover and it became clear that he would have to work hard for the podium on this one.
Over the next 45 minutes, Sean inched unrelentingly through the field, picking off positions and gaining ground in true mid-season form. By the time the checkered flag waved, the No. 19 had battled its way into fourth place for a Bronze Cup victory.
Florida in January
On Sunday morning, blue skies greeted the team as it wrapped up its test sessions with a field-leading 1:53.590 lap from Liefooghe. But, by the time it was Quinlan’s turn to close out the VPRC races in the afternoon, temps had dropped 20 degrees and the clouds opened up with rain.
Undeterred, Quinlan steered the No. 19 into turn one with rain tires and a plan. Sean barreled into the early corners aggressively, trusting his setup to stick the car to the track. The gamble paid off, and he made his way into the lead position.
As Quinlan settled in, he ran at speeds that made the whole team feel good about the races to come. He eventually dropped a couple of spots and crossed in third, but you wouldn’t have found a soul on the Racing to End Alzheimer’s/Stephen Cameron Racing crew who was upset with the performance.
The car looks good. The drivers look ready.
It’s time to race.
More soon.
