Thursday

The Month of December was Full of Excitement for Tim George Jr.

Tim George Jr.

To start, George Jr. spent Tuesday, December 8th and Wednesday, December 9th testing for the Rolex 24 at Daytona in TRG’s #67 Porsche GT3. While his main focus is stock cars, the 2008 Rolex Series MESCO “Building for the Future” Rookie of the Year does not forget his roots in road racing and early success in the Rolex Series. George Jr. rejoined his former TRG team for the two-day test with past teammate, Spencer Pumpelly; 2009 Rolex 24 GT class winner, Andy Lally; American Le Mans racer, Wolf Henzler; and NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion, Bobby Labonte. The #67 Porsche GT3 was fast both days, soaring to the top of the speed charts, as the fastest Porsche.

“The test went really well. It was great to be back in a Rolex GT Porsche. We had really quick times and were the fastest Porsche at the test,” George Jr. said. “I am excited to be in a lead Porsche car. The competition will be tough with the Mazda, BMW and new Camero, and I am excited to team up with Spencer and Andy. They are both great Rolex competitors. It will be fun to add Wolf to the team and see how that changes the dynamic, after last year’s incident. It is awesome to also be teammates with a championship NASCAR Sprint Cup driver. I can’t wait to get in the car in January.”

Then, on Saturday, December 19th, Tim George Jr. made his first laps in the #31 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, once again, at Daytona International Speedway. Aware of the near 100% chance of rain for the first day of the open test, the RCR team made the decision to wait until the second day of the open test to start their 2010 ARCA Racing Series Season, presented by RE/MAX and Menards. Struggling to find handling, George Jr. was 42nd fastest among 63 cars in the morning session, completing his fastest lap in 50.548 seconds.

The afternoon session brought the opportunity to draft, and George Jr. and the #31 team took advantage that, getting up to 12th fastest. The new RCR team had time to test and learn about their back-up car in order to finish building a brand new car for the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 in February. The day was very successful; however, late in the afternoon they had an issue with the right front, lost grip, and #31 car found the turn 3 safer barrier. Thankfully, the car sustained minimal cosmetic damage.

George Jr. is ecstatic about his new team, saying, “I am very excited to drive a Chevrolet for RCR. The power is phenomenal. It is great to drive for such a well-respected organization, and have such a good team put around me. In the past few weeks alone, I have noticed a jump in my fan-base and on my website. I feel very lucky to be in this situation and am excited for the opportunities that it brings.” George Jr. continued, “Earlier in the week, I went to the RCR Christmas party and realized how big of an organization RCR is, and I am honored to drive for such a great, championship-winning team. I got to meet some of my teammates in NASCAR and got along well with them. Clint Boywer sort of threw me under the bus when he went up on stage, and I am definitely looking forward to getting him back! Mike Dillon and Richard Childress have both been very great, and I thank them for having the desire to help me learn. It will be a fun year.”

Tim is also very grateful for the team he will work with next year. “I am excited to get to know and work with Jerry, as my crew chief, and all of the #31 team. They are very hard workers, and I really appreciate all of their dedication.”

George Jr. went to Miami following the December ARCA test to celebrate his 29th birthday, which is on Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year. Being a graduate of the University of Miami, he had a lot of local friends, long-time high school friends, his first team owner Jep Thornton, and racing buddies alike in attendance. From there, George Jr. flew to Charleston in order to have an early Christmas/birthday dinner with his mother, get a quick round of shooting in, and then headed to New York City to celebrate Christmas. For New Year’s, the savvy new member of RCR will venture off for some winter sports and training in Aspen, Colorado. As soon as 2010 starts, George Jr. will find himself back at Daytona for the Roar Before the 24 test days, January 8-10.

The New York native will compete in the full 2010 ARCA Racing Series Season, driving the #31 Richard Childress Racing Chevy. “I am very excited about ARCA adding the road course race in Palm Beach, and NASCAR’s recent news of a race at Road America. I think it is great that both series are diversifying their schedules. I look forward to competing at Palm Beach and would love to run the NASCAR Nationwide race at Road America; a track where I have found previous success.” In addition to the ARCA Racing Series, George Jr. will compete in the 2010 Rolex 24 at Daytona for TRG in the #67 Porsche GT3. George Jr. is looking forward spending some time with his friends and family in the off-season but is ready get the 2010 racing season started.

About Tim George Jr.

The New York, N.Y., native began racing in the Skip Barber Racing School regional series in 2005. In 2007, he ran the Grand-Am KONI series before moving up to the Grand-Am Rolex series in the GT class. In 2008, Tim George Jr. was named Rolex Series MESCO “Building for the Future” Rookie-of-the-Year. He has two GT class podium finishes in the Rolex 24 at Daytona, finishing third in 2008 and second in 2009. The 28-year old driver made his transition to stock cars in 2009, running full-time in the ARCA Racing Series, finishing 11th in the point standings with one top-5 and two top-10 finishes. George Jr. will pilot the No. 31 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet full-time in the ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards in 2010.

For more information, please visit www.timgeorgejr.com

- Richard Childress Racing Press Release