From Communiqué Grand Am
Raphael Matos bookended the 2008 Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series season. After winning the GT class in the season-opening Rolex 24 At Daytona back in January, Matos made his return to the series by winning in his first Daytona Prototype start.
Matos joined regular drivers Ian James and John Pew to give the No. 6 Michael Shank Racing Ford Riley its first Rolex Series victory.
The 137-lap race on the 4.486-mile circuit saw 16 lead changes among 14 drivers and 10 cars. A record nine of the 10 lead-lap finishers led the race.
However, Matos pulled away on the restart following the sixth and final caution. He lead the final 28 laps - most in the event - cruising to a 29.398-second margin of victory over the No. 10 Pontiac Dallara of Max Angelelli and Michael Valiante.
Meanwhile, Scott Pruett and Memo Rojas wrapped up the 2008 Daytona Prototype championship with a ninth place finish in the No. 01 Lexus Riley, joined by Alex Lloyd.
Fogarty and Alex Gurney concluded their season as the reigning series champions in the No. 99 Pontiac Riley with Jimmy Vasser, taking third place. The outgoing titlists won once in 2008.
Joao Barbosa and JC France finished fourth for the fifth time in six races in the No. 59 Brumos Racing Porsche Riley, taking third in the final team standings behind the No. 01 and No. 99 teams.
Polesitter Ricardo Zonta and Nic Jonsson finished fifth in the No. 76 Krohn Racing Pontiac Lola.
The race was marked by a mid-race deluge that led to five laps under caution, although the track quickly dried as the percipitation dissipated.
Pruett and Rojas drove a consistent - but not completely trouble-free race, finishing ninth in the No. 01 Lexus Riley. The car spun twice, yet with a season-high six victories, Pruett and Rojas only needed to complete 30 minutes each to share the championship.
Pruett drove the first stint from the second starting position, driving an hour-and-a-half before Rojas got in. Alex Lloyd, the 2007 Firestone Indy Lights champion, also earned seat time.
In GT, race winners Kelly Collins and Paul Edwards claimed the championship, winning by more than a lap over Robin Liddell and Andrew Davis, second in the final points.
Edwards took the lead late in the race and distanced himself enough to make a late splash for fuel without losing the lead.
Edwards and Collins won the championship by nine points after winning a season-best four times.
Raphael Matos bookended the 2008 Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series season. After winning the GT class in the season-opening Rolex 24 At Daytona back in January, Matos made his return to the series by winning in his first Daytona Prototype start.
Matos joined regular drivers Ian James and John Pew to give the No. 6 Michael Shank Racing Ford Riley its first Rolex Series victory.
The 137-lap race on the 4.486-mile circuit saw 16 lead changes among 14 drivers and 10 cars. A record nine of the 10 lead-lap finishers led the race.
However, Matos pulled away on the restart following the sixth and final caution. He lead the final 28 laps - most in the event - cruising to a 29.398-second margin of victory over the No. 10 Pontiac Dallara of Max Angelelli and Michael Valiante.
Meanwhile, Scott Pruett and Memo Rojas wrapped up the 2008 Daytona Prototype championship with a ninth place finish in the No. 01 Lexus Riley, joined by Alex Lloyd.
Fogarty and Alex Gurney concluded their season as the reigning series champions in the No. 99 Pontiac Riley with Jimmy Vasser, taking third place. The outgoing titlists won once in 2008.
Joao Barbosa and JC France finished fourth for the fifth time in six races in the No. 59 Brumos Racing Porsche Riley, taking third in the final team standings behind the No. 01 and No. 99 teams.
Polesitter Ricardo Zonta and Nic Jonsson finished fifth in the No. 76 Krohn Racing Pontiac Lola.
The race was marked by a mid-race deluge that led to five laps under caution, although the track quickly dried as the percipitation dissipated.
Pruett and Rojas drove a consistent - but not completely trouble-free race, finishing ninth in the No. 01 Lexus Riley. The car spun twice, yet with a season-high six victories, Pruett and Rojas only needed to complete 30 minutes each to share the championship.
Pruett drove the first stint from the second starting position, driving an hour-and-a-half before Rojas got in. Alex Lloyd, the 2007 Firestone Indy Lights champion, also earned seat time.
In GT, race winners Kelly Collins and Paul Edwards claimed the championship, winning by more than a lap over Robin Liddell and Andrew Davis, second in the final points.
Edwards took the lead late in the race and distanced himself enough to make a late splash for fuel without losing the lead.
Edwards and Collins won the championship by nine points after winning a season-best four times.