NASA Spec Racers Pursue a Mission: the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona

Five racers from the NASA Spec E30 series are on  mission: to race in the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona in 2011.  A fireside chat at a NASA Mid-Atlantic event in October 2009, initiated by Skip Bennett, a Spec E30 competitor and Ferrari Challenge series alumni, has evolved into a grassroots effort to pursue a racers dream--a chance at the big stage at one of the most prestigious motorsports events in North America. Skip has formed Bennett Racing Enterprises to field a team of five Spec E30 drivers piloting a Ferrari F430 GT.  Mission Daytona will be the title of their documented journey to the Rolex 24.  The Editor-in-Chief of Grassroots Motorsports, Tim Suddard, has agreed to document their endeavor in the pages of the magazine throughout 2010. The drivers are no strangers to competition, as they all have competed in the very competitive NASA Spec E30 class, driving 1987 – 1991 spec-prepared BMW 325i’s.  Mike Skeen and Chris Cobetto are current and past national champions, while Mike Davidson, Jon Allen, and Skip Bennett have acquired multiple wins and podium positions throughout their tenure in the class.  The team is in the process of developing the car, having already secured the services of Ladislav Kovacyk as crew chief, former crew chief for the winning team of Alegra Motorsports in the 2006 Rolex-24.  Grand American racing, now a division of NASCAR, recently announced that the entire 2010 season of the Rolex Sports Car Series will be featured live on the Speed Channel.

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