Catchfence

Alton, VA, (April 24, 2010) - TRG’s Andy Lally will make his 100^th career Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask no. 16 race start today.  Lally becomes only the second driver in Grand-Am history to reach the century mark in starts, the other is Darren Law with 128.

Lally made his made his first start in the series behind the wheel of a SRPII Lola at Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin’s Road America in July of 2000.  Lally has won class championships in four Grand-Am classes and has posted 20 wins in GT, SGS and SRPII.  In addition to Rolex starts, Lally is also closing in on the hundred mark in the Grand-Am Continental Tire Sportscar Challenge Series with 89.

“I hadn’t been counting the races until someone mentioned I was at 90 last year,” Lally said.  “I thought that is cool, it was right around the time that Darren made his 100^th start.  I realized I was second in line and would be only the second driver to make 100.  It is a pretty neat feeling to realize that in the series I call home, I am one of the more senior drivers out there in experience.  I am not the new guy trying to make in this sport any more.  A decent amount of time has passed and it is cool to look back at the accomplishments and statistics along the way.  I have met numerous car owners and sponsors that have put me in good rides over the years.  It has been a real pleasure.

“My first 30 starts were all in the prototype class.  I didn’t race in the GT class until 2004.  In the first four seasons of Grand-Am it was all prototypes.  I was fortunate to meet Kevin Buckler and have been a part of his program since 2005 running Porsche and Pontiac GT cars.  I’ve also had fun occasionally jumping into a Crawford for Dyson or Howard.  I am living my dream and I am looking forward to the possibility of 100 more.”

“I am also the overall leader in Continental Series starts.  This will be Grand-Am event number 190 for me.  If I stay healthy and am able to keep getting into good rides this year I will have a combined start count of 200 by the end of the season.”

Team owner Kevin Buckler has been a strong Lally believer and supporter since 2005.

“Andy and I have a great working relationship and a terrific friendship too,” Buckler said.  “We have been through the war together – both up and down.  We have also won championships to together and of course the Rolex 24 hour.  Andy works with us on so many aspects of our racing programs and brings a lot to our overall business model.  He helped us get our start in NASCAR and did a great job for us at Watkins Glen in last year’s Sprint Cup race as well.  It has been really neat to see him grow and to be a part of his winning history in the series.”

Lally will drive the No. 66 AXA/TRG/Porsche in the Rolex race today at Virginia International Raceway and he will also be in the No. 10 Kia Forte in the Continental Challenge Series making his 100^th and 90^thstarts respectively.

The Grand-Am race from VIR will be televised live on the SPEED Channel starting at 2:00 p.m. ET today.  The race will also be carried live on MRN radio.

TRG was founded in 1993 and has been competing at the top level of motor racing ever since. The team has the most wins of any team in the Grand-Am Rolex Series with 26, including the 2005 and 2006 Rolex Series GT championship trophy to go along with wins at the Rolex 24 at Daytona and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

TRG is a manufacturer and distributor of high-performance racing parts. The group specializes in engine and chassis tuning as well as full service professional race car preparation. The company also provides electrical and mechanical engineering services, driver development and arrive-and-drive opportunities. TRG is based in Petaluma, California, near its home track of Infineon Raceway in Sonoma. The company’s NASCAR operation is based in Mooresville, North Carolina and competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup series in car No. 71 with Bobby Labonte. TRG is also developing a new state-of-the-art motorsports complex at the New Jersey Motorsports Park that should be finished in early 2011.

- TRG Motorsports, Press Release