Aasco Motorsports Makes One Day Attack with Daytona Rolex Series Return

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., July 1, 2005 � Aasco Motorsports attacked the newly paved Daytona International Speedway (DIS) circuit as it made its return to Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series competition. However, the momentum of the Brumos Porsche 250 was halted when an incident removed the car from contention. Fender damage incurred as a result of the accident and a penalty handed down by the sanctioning body for the team's part in the on-track altercation ended Patrick Long (Las Vegas, Nev.) and Pat Flanagan's (Aliso Viejo, Calif.) move through the GT class field. The No. 26 New Century Mortgage Porsche 911 GT3 Cup would take the checkered flag 12th in class, three laps down to the GT class winner. Long would not let the challenges stop him as he rallied back to set the fastest race lap (one minute, 55.599 seconds) for a GT car in the event.The traditional 250-mile race under the lights of the newly paved DIS road course was only the third start for the Aasco team in 2005 Grand American competition. The 3.56-mile road course has been a favorite of both Long and Flanagan and, with the infield portion freshly paved, the track looked like the perfect place for the two to get their first podium finish of the season. The one day schedule� which would see the New Century Porsche practice, qualify and race all in one day� put a premium on quickly learning and adapting to the track's new surface. Coupled with the fast track, the DIS course was a perfect fit for Long's aggressive but analytical approach to driving. The No 26 qualified 16th. Flanagan started the white, gold and green Porsche but gave-way to Long after an early pit stop. The young Porsche “works” driver then began an impressive charge through the GT class field. However, the incident with the No 21 BMW under a caution period damaged the New Century Porsche's front fender. Hope for a podium was lost when Grand American officials called the California-native, now living in Nevada, in to serve a stop-and-go penalty as retribution for his part of the incident. Patrick Long: “All-in-all it was a great strategy call early on. We made a good pit stop and I was able to get into the car and get out of the pits on the lead lap. Unfortunately, I had a misunderstanding under the yellow flag with one of the BMWs that, theoretically, ended our race. We had a little bit of fender damage and got a penalty. The penalty is disputable as to whose fault it was. To salvage the fastest lap of the race was quite a feat. We'll look forward to getting to our next race at Watkins Glen. We'll try and get one of these Grand American races on the podium.”For more, please visit www.AascoMotorsports.com. To learn more about New Century Mortgage, please log on to www.NewCentury.com. ###