Ferrari Challenge Celebrates Summer at Lime Rock Park Saturday, July 20

2013 is 20th anniversary of the North American championship

LAKEVILLE, Conn. (July 19) – Continuing the momentum of the 2013 season, the North American Ferrari Challenge Series will stop at Lime Rock Park in Connecticut for its fifth race of the year, July 20. The Lime Rock Park circuit, a short drive from New York City and nestled in Connecticut’s rolling hills, is a long-standing favorite for the Ferrari community and racing fans.

For the occasion, Ferrari will have a special 20th Anniversary Ferrari Challenge display showcasing an example of each of the cars that have taken the track in the longest running single-make gentlemen’s racing series in the U.S. The Ferrari Challenge models on display will include the 348, 355, 360, F430 and 458. In addition, there will be a display with the current product line-up as well as a Classiche vintage car, the 275 GTB.
(more…)

Bad Break For Kobyluck, Mohegan Sun Racing At Lime Rock Park

Lakeville, CT (August 16, 2009): Sometimes, no matter how hard you prepare, things just don’t go right.

Matt Kobyluck and the Mohegan Sun race team were keyed up about the Mohegan Sun 200 at Lime Rock Park this weekend. Not only was Mohegan Sun sponsoring the race, but Kobyluck’s record to date at the 1.53-mile course has been stellar. They were expecting nothing less than a podium finish. After setting fast time in both practice sessions, all indications were pointing to just that. But then the car stalled in the esses on his first qualifying lap.

Things just went downhill from there.

Kobyluck’s crew cleaned out the fuel cell, including drying out the foam, flushed out the lines, and changed out the carburetor. They replaced spark plugs and got the car running again. Because the NASCAR Camping World Series East event was an impound race, Kobyluck had no chance to take the No. 40 Mohegan Sun Casino Chevrolet out for a test drive.

The team was still optimistic despite a 21st starting position, but on the first lap of the 200-mile race, Kobyluck’s No. 40 came to a stop in the esses once again. The tow trucks were summoned and Kobyluck went to the pits.

There, he went 32 laps down while the crew addressed the problem once again. He did return to the track and Kobyluck was fast. He posted the second fastest lap of the day and gained a lap back by passing the leaders.

“We changed the fuel pump twice and changed the carburetor on pit road. When we pulled behind the wall we discovered there was a problem with the fuel pick up line. It had collapsed,” said Kobyluck. “When we did get back out there, we were running a second or so faster than everybody. If everything had gone right we had a shot at winning the race, but it is what it is.”

Kobyluck’s bad luck didn’t end there, however. At lap 70, Kobyluck was thrown into a dangerous situation that ultimately ended his day.

“The back end started coming around a little bit on me after I wheel-hopped it going into the corner on the uphill,” explained Kobyluck. “I got into the tire barrier, and I couldn’t back up so I was sitting there waiting for the local caution. It never came. After the 10 tagged me, it spun me around into the middle of the track. No one slowed down. It was one of the most unsafe positions I could be in. I was very fortunate because I was in the racing groove with my driver side door at traffic.”

Fortunately, Kobyluck was not hurt in the incident, but the No. 40 Mohegan Sun Casino Chevrolet was done. There was damage to both the front and rear of the car.

“It’s extremely frustrating,” said Kobyluck. “We’re out of the championship hunt now. Mathematically we still have a shot, and we will give it everything we’ve got, but with the way the 00 is running it’s going to be hard.”

For more information on Matt Kobyluck, Mohegan Sun Casino, or Mohegan Sun Racing, visit www.mattkobyluck.com.