ORLANDO (June 25, 2014) - Shea Racing captures the team’s first double race win with Shea Holbrook taking her fourth class win of the season and Paul Holton his first career win at the historic 14-turn, 4.048 mile, Road America race track located in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.
The team is also eager to announce their newly formed partnership with the leading generator manufacturer, Honda Generators.
“Honda Generators gives us the power we need over pit wall and to power our race transporter. We’re thrilled to represent Honda Generators as they stand by all of us in times of need and in times of fun,” said Shea Holbrook, co-owner and driver at Shea Racing.
In Race 1, weather conditions put a spin on Friday’s schedule as rain rolled in. Holbrook, No. 67 TRUECar/Lucas Oil/Radium/ Hendrick Honda Civic Si, started second but inherited the TCA lead on Lap 5 when the leader went off course opening the door for Holbrook which she went on to win the race and move up in points to lead the championship. Teammate, Jason Cherry, in the No. 13 Autism Society of America/Avpro/Purposeful Architecture Mazda MX-5, slid his way into third.
In TCB, Paul Holton, in the No. 65 Radium/TRUECar/Lucas Oil Honda Fit took the lead on Lap 2 after qualifying second and held the gap to the rest of the field for the remainder of the race securing his first win in the Pirelli World Challenge. Holton’s pass for the lead earned him the Invisible Glass Clean Pass of the Race. P.J. Groenke, in the No. 66 Verax.ca/Tundra/Mulligan Gold Honda Fit ran the fastest lap of the race with a 3:12.015 making him the polesitter for Race 2.
“It’s truly an amazing feeling when your hard work plays off in this sport. Earning this win is extremely gratifying and I’m so thankful for the support, coaching and partners to help us get here. Putting my No. 65 Radium/TRUECar/Lucas Oil Honda Fit on the top step was such an awesome feeling,” Holton said.
In Race 2, the TCA race featured a three-way battle for the lead between Cherry, Holbrook and Jason Wofle. The pair of Shea Racing teammates ended second and third. Holbrook, made it to second and just 0.450 of a second back of Wolfe in her Women’s Sports Foundation Hendrick Honda Civic Si.
“What a fantastic three-way battle. I had a bit of a hard time working through traffic this race which pushed me back a bit in P3 but I was able to close the gap when I most needed it to regain second,” said Holbrook.
Jason Cherry, led the first six laps, plus Lap 9 of the 4.048-mile road course. One of his lead passes secured him the Invisible Glass Clean Pass of the Race award. Cherry took the checker in third but was a constant threat throughout the race to secure his first series victory.
“It was quite the race between driver and manufacturers. At any point I thought any one of us could win. I’ll be working my hardest going into the next race at Mid-Ohio to take my first win,” Cherry said.
In TCB, Paul Holton, secured his second podium of the day as he moved up a spot from fourth to third making it his second podium in his rookie season. Groenke on the other hand had an eventful Race 2 starting on pole leading the first 5 laps. On Lap 7, Groenke, fell back to the third position but was able to utilize TC traffic to regain second at the infamous “Kink,” Turn 11. Approaching the last corner onto the front straight, Groenke was punted into the gravel which he was unable to come back from finishing thirteenth.
“The end of Race 2 was devastating for me and the team after qualifying on pole and leading. We had a shot at winning and it was taken away from us. The positive was the car felt great and we’re making strides for the long run. We still have time and if we continue having the performances minus the bad luck we’ll be on podium sooner rather than later,” said Groenke.
Holbrook is neck-in-neck in TCA championship only 5 points out of first with 902 points and Cherry securing third with 762 points. In the TCB championship Holton moved up to third with 697 points and Groenke sixth with 527 points.
The next rounds for the TC, TCA and TCB classes are Rounds 9 and 10 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, August 1-3, 2014.
Watch the live streaming of the Road America races at www.world-challengetv.com and check out the broadcasts from Barber Motorsports Park and Canadian Tire Motorsport Park on www.MAVTV.com
