LIME ROCK Race Report

Nuzzo Motorsports No. 20 Unichip/ MINI USA.com/ G-Dezine Ltd/ Hawk Performance Brakes/ Red Line Oil MINI Cooper S piloted by driver Shane Lewis qualified on the front row for Saturday's Memorial Day weekend Grand-Am Cup ST event at Lime Rock Park.

This marked the second time the Nuzzo Motorsports MINI would start a race from the front row.

In 2003 and 2004 while co-driving with team owner Tony Nuzzo Shane drove this same MINI to its first professional pole position in North America, shattering the previous Homestead-Miami track record by almost 3 seconds. As starting driver, he also was the first to lead a race in a MINI in North America. At the Virginia International Raceway in 2003 the track record was set by this team of Lewis, and Nuzzo.

Newcomer to team Nuzzo is Trevor Hopwood who was just edged out of the fifth spot on the last lap of qualifying by just three one tenth of a second putting the Nuzzo Motorsports No. 22 MINI Financial Services/ G-Dezine Ltd/ Hawk Brakes/ Red Line Oil sixth on the starting grid.

When the green flag dropped to start the race the No. 95 BMW 330 beat the No. 20 MINI into turn one. Both cars battled hard. On Lap 8 the No. 20 MINI looks to the inside of the No. 95 BMW in Turn, one for the overall lead, but the No. 95 BMW holds the position. The two machines have opened up a five-second lead on the rest of the field.

On Lap 9, the No. 20 MINI passes the No. 95 BMW for the overall lead in Turn 1.

The MINI would lead for the next six laps until a belt failure forced it to coast to the side of the course.

Trevor would run the No.22 car up to third position when a tire failure in turn one force him to limp the car the entire length of the track and back to pit lane. The tires where changed, the car refueled and finishing driver Randy Smalley would take over but several laps down on a track that is very difficult to gain positions.

You can read all about Nuzzo Motorsports racing in the latest issue of Mc2 Magazine,

Nuzzo Motorsports races the No. 20 and 22 MINI Cooper S's next at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course the weekend of June 23-25.

To learn more about Nuzzo Motorsports, visit http://www.nuzzomotorsports.com
To learn more about Unichip, visit http://www.unichip.us