- Paraplegic racer Tim Horrell teams with Trans-Am champ Rafa Matos in BWM GT4 M4
- Defending TCX series champion Ruud hopes to add to his 2022 win total at the Glen
- Garrett Adams & Olivia Askew make their Glen debuts with Fast Track Racing TCX cars
WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (July 20, 2022) – Young racer Jacob Ruud comes back to the New York State this weekend (July 22-24) when the recent Rochester Institute of Technology graduate seeks more TC America road racing victories at the famed Watkins Glen International road circuit, part of the SRO America national sports car campaign.
Ruud, the 22-year-old driver from Racine, WI, graduated with a master’s degree in Cybersecurity in June and continued his winning ways in his No. 1 ArmiClenz/Fast Track Racing BMW M2 CS sports car earlier this season with four wins in six starts in the TCX class. Jacob is the defending series champion and will seek two more 40-minute sprint race wins this Saturday and Sunday at the historic. 3.45-mile, 11-turn road course.
Ruud, winner of ten of 14 TCX rounds in 2021, returns to one of the favorite racetracks after winning last year in the TCX division and he hopes to expand his first TCS driver point standings when practice opens Friday at 9:15 a.m. EDT. The Fast Track Racing cars are sponsored by Sewell Automotive Companies.
"Watkins Glen is an amazing place to race,” said Ruud. “It's very high speed and requires big commitment to extract lap time there. Strong slipstream (drafting) and lots of opportunities to pass should make for an exciting race to watch with how close the racing has been thus far. Having gone to college at nearby RIT, I'm expecting a larger than normal turnout, so hopefully I can get back up on the top step of the podium with them in attendance this weekend.
“Last year we had a bad break on Saturday when I hit some debris off some crashed cars. I came through the scene and clipped some stuff on the track. Just bad timing for that one and it cost us a win. But, on Sunday, the Fast Track Racing crew had the car working very well and it was fun to win again.”
Ruud will lead the Fast Track Racing TCX three-car effort this weekend at Watkins Glen International with his two teammates, Garrett Adams and Olivia Askew, making their Glen debuts with their respective machines, No. 54 Garrett Adams Racing BMW M2 CS and No. 29 SmartCert BMW M2 CS.
Adams, the college student from Oviedo, FL, and Askew, a recent college graduate from Salt Lake City, UT, recently tested their cars at Watkins Glen International to get acclimated to the legendary road circuit. And both came away with outstanding reviews.
“Watkins Glen and the surrounding areas are beautiful,” said Adams. “I feel refreshed to be on a new track, and excited for the TCX competition. The testing was good with the BMW M2 and Jacob has plenty of experience at the track. We will use his knowledge to assist us this weekend.”
“Our testing went well and the Watkins Glen track is so much fun to drive,” said Askew, the former teenage freestyle skiing champion. “You have to be very tidy with your driving at the Glen. The Esses and Bus Stop turns are unique, and your concentration level must be high. The long straights are good areas for passing too. I’m exciting to race at such a historic place. Jacob’s success at the Glen will help Garrett and I with our setups and knowledge of the circuit.”
The 40-minute TCX doubleheader races are scheduled for Saturday at 1:10 p.m. EDT and Sunday at 10:05 a.m. EDT and will be televised live on www.sro-america.com.
In the highly competitive Pirelli GT4 America events, Fast Track Racing will field the pairing of paraplegic driver Tim Horrell, originally of Oakdale, PA, now residing in Coral Springs, FL, and former Trans-Am series champion Raphael Matos of Boca Raton, FL, in the No. 10 Sewell/Fast Track Racing BMW M4 GT4 sports car. Horrell, utilizing hard controls inside his race car, has won a Pro-Am class pole position already in the 2022 GT4 America action.
Matos, a former Indy Lights champion and two-time Indy 500 starter, has been impressive in the sports car competition in recent years including capturing two Trans-Am Class 2 series championships.
“I am very excited to have some family watching at my home track after being from Pennsylvania,” said Horrell. “Rafa and I are keeping a positive mind for a good finish at Watkins Glen. We believe we can be competitive this weekend.”
“Watkins Glen is one of my favorite tracks in North America,” said Matos. “We are hoping to get our first podium this weekend. Hopefully the BOP (Balance of Performance rules) will be on our side this weekend and we will be competitive. I really love driving the Watkins Glen circuit.”
The Pirelli GT4 America doubleheader races are set for Saturday at 4:05 p.m. EDT and Sunday at 11:10 a.m. EDT. All SRO America events at Watkins Glen will be shown live on www.sro-america.com.
# # #