Alex Job Racing (AJR) is headed to Road America for the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) presented by Tequila Patron Time Warner Cable Road Race Showcase to be run Aug. 18-20. AJR regular Bill Sweedler is rejoined this weekend by Brian Wong in the No. 23 Battery Tender/Robert Graham/William Rast/AJR/GTC Porsche.
Road America, located 90-minutes north of Milwaukee in Elkhart Lake, is the longest circuit on the ALMS schedule measuring four-miles and encompassing 14-turns. The race is also a little longer on the watch at four-hours. The team and drivers are looking to rebound from a tough outing at Mid-Ohio two-weeks ago when a call by the ALMS Officials, put the team down a lap due to confusion with a Pace Car period. Sweedler, Westport, Connecticut, and Wong, Newport Beach, California, are determined to comeback this weekend with a podium finish.
“Road America is definitely the pinnacle of North American road racing,” Sweedler said. “During the season we rarely shift into sixth gear, but at Road America, we do it three times. For a racer, it is just awesome to combine high speed, elevation change, with nearly every type of turn. Critical to a strong lap at Road America is exiting the Carousel thinking you can be flat through the high speed kink – that’s when you know your car is hooked up! Our Battery Tender/AJR/Porsche has been consistent and strong all season thanks to the entire team. Brian and I are ready to get the team back to the top of the podium.”
Wong loves the Road America circuit, but knows there is compromise between speed and handling at the long natural terrain road course.
“I have only run Road America a handful of times,” Wong said. “I have yet to score any victories, but I love the track. Road America is a really long and fun circuit. The track poses a lot of challenges when trying to set the car up. It has three really long straights, so you need to have a low down force set-up. At the same time, you need to have a little down force to help stop the car in the heavy braking zones, and get through some of the technical sections like the Carousel. The key parts to having a quick lap at Road America is first getting off the corners before the long fast straights, and brake as late as possible at the end of those straights. I am really looking forward to getting back in the AJR/Batter Tender car and working with Bill.”
Alex Job, team owner, will be looking for his team’s third win (2002, 2004) at the tough Road America circuit and a little redemption from Mid-Ohio.
“We are still a little steamed over what happened at Mid-Ohio two-weeks ago (referring to a call by the ALMS Officials that cost AJR a lap on the GTC field),” Job said. “Road America is a little longer race at four-hours, so we will need to have our strategy right-on for this weekend. Bill and Brian both like the track and are motivated to get back on the podium this weekend. We need to put a string of strong finishes together as we are making the run to the end of the season and Petit Le Mans.”
TheAmerican Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patron Time Warner Cable Road Race Showcase will be run at Road America, Aug. 18-20. The race can be viewed live on ESPN3.com starting at 2:45 p.m. CT, Saturday, Aug. 20 and rebroadcast on ABC at 4:30 p.m. ET, Sunday, Aug. 21.
Source: Alex Job Racing
