Racetrack Insider - News and Views of the Motorsports Industry from Insiders Drew Patey and Buddy Judy

Grand Am Sports Cars at Birmingham

Now this was a wild race at the Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama this past Sunday. Alex Gurney held off Scott Pruett in a 20-minute battle to win the Daytona Prototype class and take the point lead with only four races remaining in the 2009 Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series. In the closing laps of the race, it was a true battle of horsepower and driver will. Gurney was in first, dodging and blocking at every corner, followed by Scott Pruett, who was trying to pass for the lead, but had to hold off a tough Michael Valiante, who wanted to take as many positions as possible before the finish. But on a tight track, passing was hard. At the flag, Gurney was able to hold on for the win. Now the series points are tied with Gurney and Pruett on top as the team's race at Watkins Glen in three weeks. Another great run in the Daytona Prototypes was turned in by past Indy 500 winner Buddy Rice with co-driver Antonio Garcia, who finished fourth. In the GT class, it was Andrew Davis and Robin Liddell scoring their second victory of the season in the Stevenson Automotive Pontiac. Shawn Kelly and Todd Williamson from the Dolomite branch took care of the Barber track and did a fantastic job of servicing the teams and keeping the rain from washing away the Recycling Center on Friday. Good job.